Advanced Search
The Advanced Search functionality in Compass leverages a data warehouse. The data warehouse holds all Compass data in a separated, clean format, making data easier to retrieve, and preventing a heavy load on the application. The system copies data to Advanced Search every 15 minutes. Data in the warehouse is derivative data, meaning there are fewer restrictions, and the data is more readily ‘dressed up’ to suit reporting needs. This allows continuous development and enhancements related to data extraction and reporting from Compass.
The Advanced Search permission is within the Compass Administrator and Compass Foundation Administrator user permission groups. The permission structure does not allow you to exclude specific parties (by type, for example, Individuals, Chapters, Associations, Campaigns, etc.).
Advanced Search Instructions
Step 1: Select Search Perspective
The perspective identifies what each row in the output will represent. It’s the result of the search criteria. The perspective does not restrict your criteria or the data output, only the way you see the data. For example, when you use the Party perspective to perform a search, you will notice that (depending on your search criteria) your results are people, chapters, associations, etc..all of which are considered parties. If you choose Pledge as your perspective, you are performing a fundraising search and the rows in your output will be donations.
Advanced Search Basic Rules
- AND searches go across the page, (i.e. people who live in Alabama AND have a member status of initiate)
- OR searches go down the page (i.e. people who have a member status of new member OR who initiated within the last month)
- Within a field group, joining of multiple criteria occurs when you use an OR function, (i.e. member status is New Member OR Initiate)
- To remove all criteria and fully reset the search, select New Search
Step 2: Select Search Criteria
- Parameter | Select the Parameter, (the field you wish to use as criteria.) Take note of the header as some parameters may appear in multiple places.
- Operator | Select the appropriate operator (equals, not equal, like, null, not null, >, <, etc.)
- Value(s) | Identify the specific values. You may add multiple values. When you define multiple values within one field group, you are “or-ing” those together. For example, if we select ‘Current Member Status’ as the parameter, ‘Equals’ as the operator, and then ‘Alumnus’ and ‘Non-Member’ as our values, the search reads the statement as: “Display Individuals where current member status equals alumnus OR other.”
In contrast, if you utilize the plus sign to the right of the statement, you are “and-ing” the statements together. If we remove ‘Non-Member’ and add another statement that reads ‘Current Member Status’ ‘Equals’ ‘Non-Member’, the statement reads: “Select individuals where current member status equals alumnus AND individuals where current member status equals other.”
This search will yield 0 results as it is not possible for an individual to hold more than one current member status.
Again, to create joining AND statements, select the + sign to the right of the statement.
You may also create OR statements. To do so, select the + operator under the statement.
Let’s leave the first statement as is, select OR and then choose ‘Current Member Status’ ‘Equals’ ‘Non-Member’; the search reads the statement as: “Display Individuals where current member status equals alumnus OR other.” Note that while it looks different, the statement reads the same as it did when we included Alumnus and Other in the same value field.
Step 3: Select Optional Output/Supplemental Reports
Optional output and supplemental reports are used as data exploration tools allowing you to see addendum data on the rows in your output. The available options vary depending on the search perspective. This tool intends to promote data exploration and deeper searching of data, allowing you to find very specific information. It is not a requirement that you select anything on this step. If you do not wish to use include optional output or a supplemental report, select Search to proceed to Step 4.
Step 4: View Output and Export
On the output page, you can add data using the +/- columns feature, save the search, email parties, create labels and envelopes, and export the data. Columns may sort data in either ascending or descending order.