Searching for assets or media files

Introduction
You may search for media content by simply writing your search phrase in the search frame. To enhance your search, you may use google style parameter and wildcards to your search. 

If you frequently use the search function, Mediabank provides the possibility to take use of a more advanced search function, named Saved Searches.

You can define multiple Saved searches and switch between them with a click.

You can even make it your default search, allowing Mediabank to start your Saved search during Login and provide the media content you are working on, instantly.

Configure it with date/time filters to make the Saved search provide the media content that is up to x hours/days/weeks old only. 

Note!
You must perform a manual refresh to include new incoming assets in your list/thumb view.

To ensure that you always know the filters in use, they are placed directly below the regular search frame.

The below table provides an overview of search and asset management capabilities from the different applications.

First, a short introduction to the "manual" search asset function.

Note!
You can use the "manual" search asset in combination with an active Saved searches to temporary refine your search results.

Search assets

Mediabank use a standard "Google" style search function.

Note!
The search function does not only search in the file name, title or subtitle The search will include all of the assets properties (metadata). It is also case insensitive.

A few examples:

• Writing  just will search for any asset containing the word just and return those assets. All assets not containing the word just is excluded. If the word just exists in any part of the assets metadata or properties, it will also be displayed.
• A combination: just* is the same as above, but will also include word like justify and any other word that starts with just.....
• To perform a more specific search, you can search for a string by using "your text inside". Searching for "just 10 feet above" will not return anything unless the criteria for the string filter is met.
• You can also include or exclude words in your search. A search phrase like League +Sunday !Monday will search for any assets that contains League and Sunday but exclude any asset that contains Monday. You may omit the + sign in front of Sunday but to exclude a search parameter, you must use the minus "!" sign.

Note!
Mediabank use the symbol "!" to exclude instead of the commonly used minus "-" sign.
Google or any other database search use the minus "-" in front of the word you wish to exclude. However, in the media environment, metadata often contain the minus "-" sign as a separator and metadata are sometimes used to name (identify) media clips. Since your Library most likely will hold mediafiles with a minus "-" sign, Mediabank use the "!" sign to avoid search conflicts. 

Saved Searches

Saved searches are available from 3 Mediabank applications. Library, Review & Approval and Compliance. However, differences are as follows:

• Review & Approval and Compliance share the same "Saved searches". They both have predefined default filters active when you log in. This default filter is Read only and can only be edited from Administrative Tasks, Account settings.  You must have administrative rights to alter the "Default filter". You can however, modify or create a new filter and replace the default filter with a different name. When removing your "personal default filter" the Mediabank default filter will once again be activated.
• Library has its own "Saved searches" (filters) that are separated from the above applications. It is also free from a default active filter.

Using "Saved searches" in your daily work provides several benefits.

• Accuracy - If your daily routines include working with assets from specific categories, or you are working with assets in a project with defined metadata content, it is easy to mis-spell a manual search parameter. Using a predefined "Saved search" will remove the risk of non consistent search result.
• Efficiency - Using the predefined "saved searches" will greatly improve your asset search. You can switch between different saved searches with a simple click, and you can even mark your favourite search as active. During logon, Mediabank will search for an active predefined search-filter and execute it, resulting in an up to date thumb or list-view when your application is loaded.
• Quality - Create "saved searches" that always provide the correct result. You can even test your search result while configuring it simultaneously to optimize it for the best result.

Starting in your default thumb or list view, your search module will have a similar look as the below image. From here, you can search and select your active Saved searches. You may perform an additional manual search to refine your active search. However, to create your own Saved searches, you must open the editor.

Press the editor button (1) , illustrated in the below image. You have entered the editor with a Saved search active (Cross country Sochi). The additional message below indicates that you are not using your own search and therefore, not enabled to edit it.

You may modify any visible Saved searches as long as you save it with a new name. If you like the active search, you may use it as your default search when logging in by clicking the default search button below your active search.   

Match: Select all of the following rules. This means that all of the rules must comply in order to list the selected media files. The alternative any does not work as "strict" as all since only one match will return a positive.

Now is time to select the Category available. You can only choose from existing Categories. Scroll down or just start to type in the letters until you locate the preferred Category.

Next step is to choose the filter (search rule). With these filters, you have the tools to create very advanced search functions. The most common, is equal is selected. Move on to the subcategory.

Once Sub Category is selected, you have created your search. You can continue to create additional filters or continue to refine your search.

The below image is a continuance of the above image. Follow instructions and press Save As or Create when done.

Finally, choose to make the search:

Private = only for me
Make visible for group(s) =  I select from the available work-groups defined in my organization
Make public = Everyone in the company can see and use the search.

To many Saved searches
Working in large organisations, you may experience a large number of Saved searches that are of no interest to you. From both the main menu and the editor, you can click on the X to the right of the name to hide it. You are not deleting them.

A few words about the difference with making Saved searches vs. Project:

Project:
You add the files manually you need to your project and they will remain static. If you need to add or remove an asset you must do it manually.

Saved Searches:
In contrast to Project, where you add the assets manually and save the asset-list for later use, you now add the search criteria in Smart search and save the search for later use. When you select the smart search next time, it will initiate a new search and list the assets matching your search criteria.