Search operators help you build more precise queries in Project Intelligence, so you can find the right projects and companies faster. This article explains how to use quotation marks, parentheses, AND, OR, NOT, and wildcards when building searches.
When to use search operators
Search operators are most useful when you need to:
- Include multiple brands, materials, or companies in one search
- Require several terms at once (for example, manufacturer + product type)
- Exclude results containing a specific word or phrase
- Match multiple versions of a word or code
- Find words that appear near each other in a document
Operators work in the Search bar and affect both:
- Results on the Search page
- Highlighting in Document Viewer
Quick reference: search patterns
Use this table as a quick guide to common search types and syntax:
| Type | Example | What it does |
| Keyword (broad) | fence | Matches related forms (fence, fencing, fenced) |
| Exact word | "fence" | Matches only the exact word |
| Phrase | "temporary fencing" | Matches exact word sequence |
| AND | fence AND rail | Matches both terms |
| OR | fence OR railing | Matches either or both terms |
| NOT | fence NOT railing | Excludes a term |
| Wildcard | fenc* | Matches word variations |
Punctuation and capitalization
Follow these basic rules to avoid unexpected results:
- Remove most punctuation except quotation marks and parentheses
- Search is not case-sensitive (roof, ROOF, and Roof are treated the same)
- Always capitalize operators so they are recognized:
- AND, OR, NOT
Quotation marks: smart vs. exact search
Quotation marks (" ") control how strictly your search matches words and phrases.
Smart search (no quotation markes)
When you search without quotes, Project Intelligence uses Smart Search:
- Example: floor
- Returns floor, floors, flooring, and related forms
- Best for broader results
Exact search (quotation marks)
When you use quotes, Project Intelligence uses Exact Search:
- Example: "floor"
- Returns only the exact word floor
You can combine quotation marks with other operators:
- "Brand A" AND "Brand B"
- "temporary fencing" AND permit
Basic operators: AND, OR, NOT
These operators control how terms are combined.
These operators control how terms are combined.
Operator summary
| Operator | Purpose | Example | Result |
| AND | Require all terms | "Brand A" AND "Brand B" | Results must include both |
| OR | Allow any term | "Brand A" OR "Brand C" | Results include either or both |
| NOT | Exclude terms | "Brand A" NOT "Brand C" | Includes A, excludes C |
AND
Use AND when all terms must be present.
- "Brand A" AND "Brand B" AND "Brand D"
Returns results containing all terms.
OR
Use OR when any term can be present.
- "Brand A" OR "Brand C"
Returns results containing either or both.
Combine AND and OR with parentheses:
- ("Brand A" OR "Brand C") AND "Brand D"
NOT
Use NOT to exclude terms.
- flooring NOT concrete
Returns results with flooring but not concrete.
Rules
- NOT affects the results you see, not just what is highlighted
- Leading with NOT is not supported (NOT Brand E is invalid)
- Always capitalize NOT
Parentheses
Parentheses group parts of a query so they are processed together.
Why they matter
They are essential when combining AND and OR, ensuring the system interprets your intent correctly.
Rules
- Make sure every opening parenthesis has a matching closing one: ( )
- If parentheses don’t match, your search may fail or return incomplete results
Example: brand grouping
Query:
("Brand A" OR "Brand C") AND "Brand D"
Meaning: results must include Brand D and either Brand A or Brand C.
Example: synonyms + AND
Query:
(roof OR roofing) AND membrane
Meaning: results must include membrane and at least one instance of either roof or roofing.
Without parentheses:
roof OR roofing AND membrane
This may return unintended results.
When to use parentheses
Use them when you:
- Combine synonyms with OR and connect them with AND
- Build longer or more complex queries
Suggested Workflow
- Start with a simple search
- Add one set of parentheses at a time as you expand the search.
- Rerun the search after each change and confirm results.
Wildcards
Wildcards let you match multiple word variations using an asterisk (*) to the end of a partial word.
How they work
- arch* → arch, arches, architect, architectural
- fenc* → fence, fencing, fenced
When to use them
- Product names or codes
- SKUs or model numbers
- Words with many variations
Rules
- Use at least three characters before *
- Valid: fenc*
- Not valid: bi*
- Do not use inside quotation marks
- Not valid: "temporary fenc*"
- Use one wildcard per term when possible
Best Practices
A few guidelines can help you get more precise, useful results:
Start simple, then add operators
Begin with a single keyword or phrase, then add AND, OR, NOT, and wildcards
Use Exact Search for critical phrases
Put names or exact phrases in quotes (for example, "Brand A", "fire alarm").
Group logic with parentheses
Use parentheses to keep your intent clear, especially when combining AND and OR.
Avoid extra punctuation
Besides quotes and parentheses, remove unnecessary punctuation from search terms.
Use wildcards for uncertain spellings or codes
If you are not sure of a spelling or want to see multiple variants, use three or more characters plus *.
Review results in Document Viewer
When searching within Documents, open a result and use the purple highlights to confirm that the context matches what you are looking for.
 Adding Filters to Your Search in Project Intelligence | Working with Your Search Results in Project Intelligence  |
Related Articles
Keyword Search in Project Intelligence
Keyword Highlighting in Document Viewer
