Searches

Pozi’s Search offers users several options for searching for features and locations on the map.

• Standard
• Custom
• Preconfigured

Standard

Any layer that is enabled for WFS and queryable (and not configured to be hidden in the layer panel) is automatically available as a search option. Each such layer is listed in the Search drop-down list under ‘All searchable layers’. No special configuration is required to enable these layers as search options.

When a user selects a standard search, they can type in text to match any field in that layer. Alternatively, users can click the Advanced button to access Pozi’s table view for further search and filter options.

If you want to prevent a vector layer appearing as a standard search, you can set the layer to not selectable/identifiable.

QGIS > Project Properties > Data Sources > Layer Capabilities > Identifiable > untick

Doing this prevents the layer from being selectable and also prevents the layer appearing as a search option.

(Note: there is a layer option in QGIS called ‘Searchable’ that can be set to false, but this setting is not passed from QGIS to Pozi and doesn’t prevent the layer from appearing in Pozi’s search drop-down list.)

Custom

Custom searches are designed for searching within individual fields in large datasets.

When designing search options, focus on the fields that users actually recognise and search by, such as address, property number, or a familiar asset identifier. Keep the list of search options focused and manageable, and avoid exposing too many low-value or internal-only fields.

A large dataset such as a municipal property layer may not be available to use as a standard search. Its size means that it’s not practical to load in the browser in full. As such, large datasets are configured to be hidden from the layer panel, and Pozi doesn’t make them available as standard search options.

Instead, you can configure these layers with a custom search, which enables users to search within specified fields.

Prerequisites:

• The layer must be enabled for WFS
• The layer must be hidden in the layer panel

You can configure any of the layer’s fields to be searchable (using the searchFields keyword). Each field you specify will show up as a separate search item in the drop-down list.

Configuration

Use the searchFields keyword to nominate one or more attributes for searching. Each attribute can also be given a friendlier label for the search drop-down.

Format:

• searchFields=attribute|alias
• separate multiple attributes with a semicolon ;

Example:

• search by address, propid, and fid
• show those to users as Address, Property ID, and Feature ID

showInLayerControl=false, searchFields=address|Address;propid|Property ID;fid|Feature ID

In Pozi, users will then see these search options in the search drop-down using the aliases you provided. If you leave out the alias, the option will be shown in the format layer (attribute).

Custom search options appear in the Search drop-down list above the default standard layers. Users can select the search option for their desired field, and start typing to search. Pozi displays the matching records from that field, and when the user selects the target record, Pozi will zoom to the feature and display its details in the Info Panel.

Preconfigured

Your Pozi site may include one or more preconfigured searches that were included in your site’s initial installation. These typically include Address and other search services provided by external providers.

Where an address search is available, use labels and result formats that are familiar to your audience.

Preconfigured search options might include:

• Geocode Earth
• HERE
• government web services

If you require any changes to these searches, contact your Pozi support provider.