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 parameter 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 - 19:10 |
$isodate | Time stamp of last topic update, like 2024-11-21T19:10Z |
$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
$pattern(.*?(from here.*?to here).*). You need to make sure that the integrity of a web page is not compromised; for example, if you include a table make sure to include everything including the table end tag.
Examples
Bullet list showing topic name and summary
Write this:
%SEARCH{ "FAQ" scope="topic" nosearch="on" nototal="on" header=" * *Topic: Summary:*" format=" * [[$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:
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...
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. Let's search for all topics that contain the word "culture" (first search), and let's find out where each topic found is linked from (second search).
- First search:
-
%SEARCH{ "culture" format=" * $topic is referenced by: (list all references)" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%
- Second search. For each hit we want this search:
-
%SEARCH{ "(topic found in first search)" format=" $topic" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%
- Now let's nest the two. We need to escape the second search, e.g. the first search will build a valid second search string. Note that we escape the second search so that it does not get evaluated prematurely by the first search:
- Use
$percnt to escape the leading percent of the second search
- Use
\" to escape the double quotes
- Use
$dollar to escape the $ of $topic
- Use
$nop to escape the }% sequence
Write this:
%SEARCH{ "culture" format=" * $topic is referenced by:$n * $percntSEARCH{ \"$topic\" format=\" $dollartopic\" nosearch=\"on\" nototal=\"on\" }$nop%" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%
To get this:
--
PeterThoeny - 16 May 2002
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