< User Guide > New Search
Quick Search
The Quick search option is available on all iMapp System pages and allows to run a quick search by location or location keyword. The Quick Search bar is located in right side of the header bar of the iMapp page. The most common use for this is to quickly type an address of a property you are interested in. As you type the address, possible matching properties will pop up in a list below the quick search bar. You do not need to type the entire address, nor city or zipcode to find a match. Click on the desired result to go to a report or map for that property. Alternatively, you can type in an owner's name and find properties with owner's that match the name (and partial names) that you type.
Properties search via New Search button
New Search interface allows you to conduct many types of queries and find the matching properties using Property Tax, MLS and Foreclosure data. To access the updated Search interface, click the New Search button in the left side menu at any time. The selected tab at the top of the search page selects a data source within which your search will be focused. The search interface is flexible enough to include everything from very simple requests to very intricate and exact filters.
Important: You do not need to fill in all lines of the search interface. Only fill in the lines that meet your requirements. A simple search may only fill one or two lines (example below):
In this example, clicking on Start Search will cause iMapp to return any properties owned by William Smith in the county indicated. It is not necessary to fill in all parameters in all Search Values….iMapp simply skips any lines that aren’t populated. You also may skip any map limitation if you are okay using the “Property Location” area on the top line.
Steps to run a search: Click the tab that matches the set of data you are interested in searching→ use drop downs to change parameters → select operators in Search Type for each parameter → enter values you want to set for search parameters in Search Values fields → click on the map area if you want to specify the area of the search → click Start Search. When you fill in criteria on multiple lines, those criteria will be combined and your search will only return proprieties that match ALL of the differing criteria.
New Search Tabs and Parameters
Tax Search, MLS Search and Foreclosure Search tabs include their own list of data fields from the core property database you specify. Note: each tab runs a separate search within a different database, the parameters from different tabs are not combined. Foreclosure Search will search only among properties that are in the preforeclosure and foreclosure process. MLS Search will search only among properties that are or have been listed for sale in the available local MLS database. Tax Search will search among all properties in the selected area.
Search Field, Search Type and Search Value parameters
The Search interface includes a series of Search Field, Search Type and Search Value data parameters, plus the possibility to add Search Area on the map. Search Field includes the list of parameters you can use: the list of fields is populate with common fields by default, but you can customize these search fields. Click the parameter's drop down to see the full list of data fields options to select: you can change each criterion according to customize your searches based on your search requirements.
Search Type selects the operators (or conditions) which can be used for each field selected in the Search Field: depending on the parameter and your search requirements, you can include, exclude, specify, narrow or extend the search results. The default Search type for each field is often sufficient, but the Search Types may changed depending on your needs and the type and characteristics of the data in that field. Click on the search type drop down to see the options available for specific parameter and select the one you need:
Important: For date fields, the Search Type “Greater Than” indicates “More recent than” or “After” the date you enter. “Less Than” indicates “Earlier than” or “Before” the date you enter. To search for a date range, you can specify “Greater Than” the start date on one line and then “Less Than” the end date for the same field on another line. You can also use “today”, “yesterday” in date searches, or relative intervals like “-1 year” to search for the date one year ago. This can be helpful for saved searches (see below).
In the Search Value fields you need to enter manually your search criteria. Pay attention and enter the values according to your selected parameters in Search Field and Search Type. The type of Search Value can vary depending on if the Search Field is a number, text, date, value list, etc. Many fields have a ”hint” that will pop up when you hover over this Search Value area to explain what type of data is in that field.
Search Area Reference Map parameter
Search Area Reference Map allows you to add a geographic filter to your search by selecting the area where the properties you’re looking for should be located. Clicking on the Search Area Reference Map will bring up a map interface that includes interactive map tools:
- Zoom in and out using +/- buttons and mouse
- Map layers to find the best view and context
- Tools to highlight the area you’re interested in: free form (lasso), polygon, rectangle, and circle
- Quick search bar to find a location you’re interested in
To work with Search Area Reference Map: click on the map → the pop-up screen with extended map appears → zoom in/out using your mouse or +/- buttons → select the necessary Map Layers → choose the tool to draw the area → draw the area using your mouse or touch pad → when the area is selected confirm your choice by clicking “Confirm Selection” (or “Cancel” to start drawing again) → you’re taken to Search screen, selected area is already added to Search Area Reference Map. Changing the search area may alter existing search criteria: after changing search area don’t forget to review search criteria before performing a search.
Click X on extended map if you don’t want to set up any area as for now: you’ll be taken back to Search page. If you want to focus only on location in your search and use map for this work, try iMapp’s Map Browse option.
New Search options: Reset to Default, Clear All Fields, and Save Template
When working on a search, you can easily clear the data and parameters you’ve changed and reset the settings to default values. To do this, click Reset To Default Fields.
If you want to set up all parameters from scratch, click Clear All Search Fields: this option will remove all default selections in Search Field drop downs, clear up all Search Types operators and delete data in Search Value fields (if anything was entered there). This can be helpful to ensure you haven’t accidentally typed something in a field which is interfering with your search. In case you want to see default values again, just click on “Reset to Default Fields” or reload the page.
If you have the list of specific search fields and types you want to use again in the future, you can use the Save Template option to save time. It will save the search parameters you’ve selected as a template, so that you don’t need to repeat selection again. Click Save Template, add the name for the template, and save it. Your saved template will be available all the time in the My Saved Searches section.
After you do a search, you can also click the “Save Search” button on the results page, label your saved search and click Save Search. This new Saved Search will also show up in the My Saved Searches section. Important: A Saved Template contains a customized list of fields, ready for you to fill in your Search Values and then run the search. A Saved Search contains your list of fields AND Search Values, ready to run the search.
New Search options: Suggested Searches and My Saved Searches
The Suggested Searches section contains a few pre-populated search templates you can use as a head start in learning how to maximize the value of searching: select one from the list and click Play button or Start Search. If you like the settings set up in Suggested Searches, but want to add some details, you can easily do this: select the suggested search from the list → change the parameters/operators/values → click Start Search.
To see your saved templates and suggested searches list, click pop-up on button on My Saved Searches option: there you can check the templates, find ones you are interested in using, and remove any of your saved templates that you don’t need it anymore:
If you need more ideas on how to work with search results and set up your own marketing strategy with iMapp, see Prospecting and Direct Marketing guide.