Nested Search

Search can be nested. For example, search for some topics, then form a new search for each topic found in the first search. The idea is to build the nested search string using a formatted search in the first search.

Here is an example. Let's search for all topics that contain the word "culture" (first search), and let's find out where each topic found is linked from (second search).

• First search:
  • %SEARCH{ "culture" format="   * $topic is referenced by: (list all references)" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%
• Second search. For each hit we want this search:
  • %SEARCH{ "(topic found in first search)" format="   $topic" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%
• Now let's nest the two. We need to escape the second search, e.g. the first search will build a valid second search string. Note that we escape the second search so that it does not get evaluated prematurely by the first search:
  • Use $percnt to escape the leading percent of the second search
  • Use \" to escape the double quotes
  • Use $dollar to escape the $ of $topic
  • Use $nop to escape the }% sequence

Write this:

%SEARCH{ "culture" format="   * $topic is referenced by:$n      * $percntSEARCH{ \"$topic\" format=\"   $dollartopic\" nosearch=\"on\" nototal=\"on\" }$nop%" nosearch="on" nototal="on" }%

To get this:

• ATasteOfTWiki is referenced by:
  • ATasteOfTWiki NewUserTemplate TWikiUsersGuide WebLeftBar WelcomeGuest
• FormattedSearch is referenced by:
  • ActionTrackerPlugin BlackListPlugin BreadCrumbsPlugin CalendarPlugin EditTablePlugin EmptyPlugin FilterPlugin FlexWebListPlugin FootNotePlugin GluePlugin IfDefinedPlugin InterwikiPlugin ManagingWebs MySideBarTemplate NatEditHelpText NatEditWordHelpText NatSkinPlugin PreferencesPlugin RedDotPlugin RenderListPlugin SearchHelp SearchPatternCookbook SlideShowPlugin SmiliesPlugin SpreadSheetPlugin TWikiForms TWikiHistory TWikiMetaData TWikiReferenceManual TWikiReleaseNotes04x00 TWikiReleaseNotes04x01 TWikiScripts TWikiSearchDotPm TWikiSiteTools TWikiUISearchDotPm TWikiVariablesQuickStart TreeBrowserPlugin TreePlugin VarMETA VarSEARCH VarURLPARAM WebLeftBar WelcomeGuest
• TWikiAccessControl is referenced by:
  • EditTablePlugin FileAttachment MainFeatures ManagingTopics ManagingUsers SitePermissions SourceCode TWikiAccessControl TWikiForms TWikiFuncDotPm TWikiHistory TWikiPreferences TWikiReferenceManual TWikiReleaseNotes04x01 TWikiScripts TWikiSiteTools TWikiTopics TWikiTutorial TWikiUserAuthentication TWikiVariables VarSEARCH WebPreferences WebPreferencesHelp WikiCulture WikiWord
• TWikiSite is referenced by:
  • AdminToolsCategory InstantEnhancements InterwikiPlugin ManagingWebs StartingPoints TWikiGlossary TWikiI18NDotPm TWikiInstallationGuide TWikiPreferences TWikiReferenceManual TWikiScripts TWikiSite TWikiTopics TWikiTutorial TWikiUserAuthentication TWikiUsersGuide WabiSabi WebLeftBar WebSiteTools WelcomeGuest WhatDoesTWikiStandFor WhatIsWikiWiki WikiCulture WikiReferences
• WabiSabi is referenced by:
  • AttachmentListPlugin TWikiSite WabiSabi WhatIsWikiWiki WikiCulture
• WhatIsWikiWiki is referenced by:
  • TWikiReleaseNotes04x00 WikiCulture
• WikiCulture is referenced by:
  • TWikiAccessControl TWikiSite WabiSabi WhatIsWikiWiki

Note: For $pattern(reg-exp), specify a RegularExpression that scans from start to end and contains the text you want to keep in parenthesis, like $pattern(.*?(from here.*?to here).*). You need to make sure that the integrity of a web page is not compromised; for example, if you include a table make sure to include everything including the table end tag.

Nested Search

Search can be nested. For example, search for some topics, then form a new search for each topic found in the first search. The idea is to build the nested search string using a formatted search in the first search.

Here is an example. We want to search for topics, do a nested search with each hit, and show the result as nested bullets. Parameters like scope="text" regex="on" nosearch="on" nototal="on" are omitted for simplicity.

• First search:
  • %SEARCH{ "freedom" format="   * $topic" }%
• Second search. For each hit we want this search:
  • %SEARCH{ "(topic of first search)" format="      * $topic" }%
• Now we nest the searches. We need to escape the second search, e.g. the first search will build a valid second search string:
  • %SEARCH{ "freedom" format="   * $topic: $n$percntSEARCH{ \"$topic\" format=\"      * $dollartopic" }$nop%\" }%

Note that we escape the second search so that it does not get evaluated by the first search:

• $percnt to escape the leading percent of the second search
• \" to escape the qouble quotes
• $dollar to escape the $ of $topic
• $nop to escape the }% sequence