TWiki Formatted Search Results

Inline search feature allows flexible formatting of search result

The %SEARCH{...}% variable documented in TWikiVariables has a fixed format for the search result, that is, a table consisting of topic names and topic summaries. Use the format="..." parameter to specify a customized format of the search result. The string of the format parameter is typically a bullet list or table row containing variables (such as %SEARCH{ "food" format="| $topic | $summary |" }%).

Syntax

Two parameters can be used to specify a customized search result:

1. header="..." parameter

Use the header paramter to specify the header of a search result. It should correspond to the format of the format parameter. This parameter is optional.
Example: header="| *Topic:* | *Summary:* |"

2. format="..." parameter

Use the format parameter to specify the format of one search hit.
Example: format="| $topic | $summary |"

Variables that can be used in the format string:

Name:	Expands To:
$web	Name of the web
$topic	Topic name
$topic(20)	Topic name, "- " hyphenated each 20 characters
$topic(30, -<br />)	Topic name, hyphenated each 30 characters with separator "-<br />"
$topic(40, ...)	Topic name, shortended to 40 characters with "..." indication
$text	Formatted topic text
$locked	LOCKED flag (if any)
$date	Time stamp of last topic update, like 21 Nov 2024 - 23:51
$isodate	Time stamp of last topic update, like 2024-11-21T23:51Z
$rev	Number of last topic revision, like 1.4
$wikiusername	Wiki user name of last topic update, like Main.JohnSmith
$username	User name of last topic update, like JohnSmith
$summary	Topic summary
$formfield(name)	The field value of a form field; for example, $formfield(TopicClassification) would get expanded to PublicFAQ. This applies only to topics that have a TWikiForm
$formfield(name, 10)	Form field value, "- " hyphenated each 10 characters
$formfield(name, 20, -<br />)	Form field value, hyphenated each 20 characters with separator "-<br />"
$formfield(name, 30, ...)	Form field value, shortended to 30 characters with "..." indication
$pattern(reg-exp)	A regular expression pattern to extract some text from a topic. For example, $pattern(.*?\*.*?Email\:\s*([^\n\r]+).*) extracts the email address from a bullet of format * Email: ....
$n or $n()	New line
$nop or $nop()	Is a "no operation". This variable gets removed; useful for nested search
$quot	Double quote ("). Alternatively write \" to escape it
$percnt	Percent sign (%)
$dollar	Dollar sign ($)

Note: For $pattern(reg-exp), specify a RegularExpression that scans from start to end and contains the text you want to keep in parenthesis, like $pattern(.*?(from here.*?to here).*). You need to make sure that the integrity of a web page is not compromised; for example, if you include a table make sure to include everything including the table end tag.

Nested Search

Search can be nested. For example, search for some topics, then form a new search for each topic found in the first search. The idea is to build the nested search string using a formatted search in the first search.

Here is an example. We want to search for topics, do a nested search with each hit, and show the result as nested bullets. Parameters like scope="text" regex="on" nosearch="on" nototal="on" are omitted for simplicity.

• First search:
  • %SEARCH{ "freedom" format="   * $topic" }%
• Second search. For each hit we want this search:
  • %SEARCH{ "(topic of first search)" format="      * $topic" }%
• Now we nest the searches. We need to escape the second search, e.g. the first search will build a valid second search string:
  • %SEARCH{ "freedom" format="   * $topic: $n$percntSEARCH{ \"$topic\" format=\"      * $dollartopic" }$nop%\" }%

Note that we escape the second search so that it does not get evaluated by the first search:

• $percnt to escape the leading percent of the second search
• \" to escape the qouble quotes
• $dollar to escape the $ of $topic
• $nop to escape the }% sequence

Examples

Bullet list showing topic name and summary

Write this:

%SEARCH{ "FAQ" scope="topic" nosearch="on" nototal="on" header="   * *Topic: Summary:*" format="   * [[$topic]]: $summary" }%

To get this:

• Topic: Summary:
• TWikiFAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About TWiki This is a real FAQ, and also a demo of one easily implemented knowledge base solution. See how it's done, click Edit . SEARCH ...
• TWikiFaqTemplate: FAQ: Answer: Back to: NOP TWikiFAQ WIKIUSERNAME DATE
• TextFormattingFAQ: Text Formatting FAQ The most frequently asked questions about text formatting are answered. Also, TextFormattingRules contains the complete TWiki shorthand system ...

Table showing form field values of topics with a form

Write this in the Know web:

| *Topic:* | *OperatingSystem:* | *OsVersion:* |
%SEARCH{ "[T]opicClassification.*?value=\"[P]ublicFAQ\"" scope="text" regex="on" nosearch="on" nototal="on" format="| [[$topic]] | $formfield(OperatingSystem) | $formfield(OsVersion) |" }%

To get this:

Topic:	OperatingSystem:	OsVersion:
IncorrectDllVersionW32PTH10DLL	OsWin	95/98
WinDoze95Crash	OsWin	95

Extract some text from a topic using regular expression

Write this:

%SEARCH{ "__Back to\:__ TWikiFAQ" scope="text" regex="on" nosearch="on" nototal="on" header="TWiki FAQs:" format="   * $pattern(.*?FAQ\:[\n\r]*([^\n\r]+).*) [[$topic][Answer...]]" }%

To get this:

TWiki FAQs:

• How do I delete or rename a topic? Answer...
• How do I delete or rename a file attachment? Answer...
• Why does the topic revision not increase when I edit a topic? Answer...
• TWiki has a GPL (GNU General Public License). What is GPL? Answer...
• How do you log off? Suppose I log in with the guest username but later I want to use another username, how do I log off from the guest user name? Answer...
• I've problems with the WebSearch. There is no Search Result on any inquiry. By clicking the Index topic it's the same problem. Answer...
• What happens if two of us try to edit the same topic simultaneously? Answer...
• I would like to install TWiki on my server. Can I get the source? Answer...
• So what is this WikiWiki thing exactly? Answer...
• Everybody can edit any page, this is scary. Doesn't that lead to chaos? Answer...

-- PeterThoeny - 16 May 2002