How do I search in the Instructure Community?
You can use the Community search bar to find content in the Community. Suggested search results display as you type in the search bar, but you can also view all the results categorized by posts, members, or places.
To reduce the number of search results or to more easily find the ones you want, you can sort or filter the search results. You can also adjust the number of results that display per page.
Note: To search, you do not need to be signed in to the Community.
Search from Home Page
To search from the Community Home page, enter text in the Search bar. You can enter words, partial words, phrases, or questions.
Enter Optional Search Modifiers
By default, search results include any of the words as you enter. Optionally, you can use search modifiers for a more precise search. There are three options:
- To search for an exact phrase, enclose the phrase in quotes [1].
- To add an additional key word, enter a plus sign followed by a word [2].
- To exclude a key word from the search results, enter a minus sign followed by a word [3].
Search Tips
The Instructure Community platform uses an open source search tool that supports several standard search functions to improve search functionality:
- Stemming
- Boolean operators
- Wildcards
- Prefix Search
Stemming
Stemming enables a search engine to compare the roots of search terms to community content. For example, if a user enters speakers as the query, the search engine reduces the word to its root speak and returns all content containing the root such as speaking, speaker, and speaks.
Boolean operators
Boolean operators are used in keyword searches to combine or exclude search terms. Search supports these basic Boolean operators:
- The OR operator is used by default, meaning that if there is no Boolean operator, the OR operator is used. To search for documents that contain either quizzes or exams use the query quizzes exams or quizzes OR exams. You can also use the symbol || in place of OR.
- The AND operator matches documents where both terms exist in the text of a single document. The symbol && can be used in place of the word AND.
- To search for documents containing exams and quizzes, use the query exams AND quizzes.
- The + operator requires the term you enter after the + symbol to exist somewhere in the field of a single document.
- To search for documents that must contain quiz and may contain multiple choice use the query +quiz multiple choice.
- The - operator excludes documents that contain the term after the symbol. To search for documents that contain quiz but not multiple choice, use the query quiz -multiple choice.
Wildcard search
Wildcard searches are used as a placeholder for any sequence of characters or words. You can use single character or multiple character wildcard searches within single terms (not within phrase queries).
- To perform a single character wildcard search use the ? symbol.
- For example, to search for text or test you can use the search te?t.
- To perform a multiple character wildcard search use the * symbol.
- For example, to search for test, tests or tester you can use the search test*.
Search by Product
If you are searching from a Community page other than the Home page, you can search specific areas of the Community. Hover over the Product Resources link [1] and select a product from the product lists [2] to choose a search product.
On the product's community page, enter text in the Search bar.
View Suggested Results
As you type search criteria text, suggested search results display.
Each search result displays a title and details [1]. Details may include partial content, question status, and the result location.
The system displays words that match your search text [2], and you can open suggested content by clicking the result title link [3]. Alternatively, you can view all results.
View All Results
To view all results after entering search criteria, press the Enter key on your keyboard.
To view search results, click any of the following tabs:
- Posts [1]: view results located in product guides, question forums, groups, and release notes
- Articles [2]: view entire guides and other Community knowledge bases that match your search
- Places [3]: view Community locations that match your search
- Events [4]: view Community events that match your search
- Members [5]: view Community user profiles that match your search
View Posts
The Posts tab [1] displays search results contained in discussions, ideas, question forums, and release notes.
The total number of results displays [2].
Each result displays a location icon [3]. This shows information about the author and the result location. To view the authors profile, click the author link [4]. Then, click the location where the post was published [5].
To open a result, click the title link [6].
Question forum posts display their status as Answered or Unanswered [8].
Note: The Posts page contains a default number of results per page. However, you can change the number of results per page.
Sort Posts
By default, results on the Posts page are sorted by best match to your search text. To view all sort options, click the Sort By drop-down menu [1] and select one of the following sort options:
- Best Match [2]: sort results by number of words that match your search text
- Newest [3]: sort results by the most recent creation date
- Oldest [4]: sort results by the earliest creation date
- Top [3]: sort results by the highest-ranked content
- Hot [4]: sort results by the most active or currently trending content
Filter Posts
By default, the Posts page displays all matching results. However, you can use filters to limit the results by title [1], author [2], date created [3], date updated [4], category [5], tags [6], and type of post [7].
To make your changes, click the Filter button [8].
View Members
The Members tab [1] displays search results contained in user names or ranks [2].
The system displays the total number of results [3] and shows each members number of posts, registered date, and last active date [4].
Note: A default number of results displays on the Users page. However, you can change the number of results per page.
Sort Members
By default, results on the Users page are sorted by best match to your search text. To sort by other user criteria, click the Sort By drop-down menu [1] and select one of the following sort options:
- Recently Active [2]: sort members by most recent activity
- Name [3]: sort members by username
- Oldest Members [4]: sort members by earliest registration date
- Newest Members [5]: sort members by most recent registration date
- Posts [6]: sort members by number of posts they have posted
Filter Members
By default, the Members page displays all matching results. However, you can use filters to limit the results by username [1], email [2], registered date range [3], role [4] and ranks [5]. Click the Clear All button [6] to remove filters or the Filter button [7] to apply changes.
To view more filters, click the More Filters button [8].
The More Filters section shows the same options [1] and adds extra filters, including Canvas Roles [2], Canvas Root Account UUID [3], Canvas Root Account URL [4], Mastery Visitor ID [4], and Mastery Account ID [5].
View Places
To view search results that are collections of posts (such as entire guides) or places in the Community, click the Places tab [1]. Each search result displays a title, description, and other details [2].
To open a search result, click the title link [3].
Note: Places can only be sorted by Best Match or Name.
Filter Places
By default, the Members page displays all matching results. However, you can use filters to limit the results by title [1], description [2] and type of place [3]. To apply changes, click the Filter button [4].
