Create the full-text index
While Notes client users are able to search a Notes database that isn't full-text indexed, Web users will get the following error message back from the Domino server if they try to do so:

The only way to remedy this is to create a full-text index for the database.

Create a new shared action called Search
I recommend creating this new action as a shared action so that any views or $$ViewTemplates you add it to will all use the same instance of this action.

If you'll be adding this action to view action bars, I recommend changing the action's hide/when properties so that it'll be hidden from Notes 4.6 client users (as well as those with later versions). That way, you won't confuse Notes client users who are already accustomed to using the Search Toolbar button to show the search bar.

Since I have an affinity for the image resources used in the R5 templates, I used the search.gif in the "Discussion - Notes & Web (R5.0)" template (discsw50.ntf) as the custom icon for this action.

You may note that all of the nifty image resources used in the R5 templates have been removed starting with the 6.0 versions of these templates.

Finally, insert the following @Command into the Search shared action's programming pane:

Add the Search shared action to all user views
Depending on how you've Web-enabled your Notes database, you may need to add this action to just the $$ViewTemplateDefault form (or page), or to several $$ViewTemplate forms (or pages).

Using the Search action
Web users of your Notes application will now see the new Search action when they open a view, as in Figure C.

FIGURE C


Users will now see the search action. Roll over picture for a larger image.

When a user selects this action, Domino executes the @Command([ViewShowSearchBar]) and the default search form, seen in Figure D, is opened on the Domino server.

FIGURE D


The default search form appears when the action is selected. Roll over picture for a larger image.

This form is called search.html and resides in the Domino\Icons directory. This form is always displayed when browser users show the search bar, provided that a form with a name or alias of "$$Search" does not exist in the database (more on this later).

The default search form is a Web version of the search bar available in the Notes client. It provides a way for Web users to experience some of the functionality available via the search bar in the Notes client.

As you may have noticed, the search conditions available in the Notes client are not available in this form. This form can be used to enter a word or a phrase to search for, set one of the advanced search query options, and then initiate the search by clicking on the Search button.

When a user initiates a search, Domino searches the view from where the default search form was launched, and displays the results using the same view. You can see the results in Figure E.

FIGURE E


Domino displays the search results in the same view. Roll over picture for a larger image.