free2auction has a powerful search feature that allows you to refine your search results to
just about any possible set of criteria.
Search wildcards
The following wildcards may be used in any free2auction search field to improve
your results:
examples
_ (underscore) = Matches exactly one character
* (star) = Finds any number of characters between two strings
; (semicolon) = AND, breaks up search strings, results must contain each string
: (semicolon) = OR, breaks up search strings (or groups of AND search strings), results may contain either string
! (exclamation) = Exclude, if you enter an exclamation mark at the start of a search string it means that you do not want to find records that contain that string
"xx"
(double quotes) = enclose search strings in double quotes
to only match records that completely equal the string.
If you wish to find empty records enter two double quotes.
<
(less than) = Numeric fields only (eg '<25')
>
(greater than) = Numeric fields only (eg '>5')
<= (less than or equal to)
= Numeric fields only (eg '<=25')
>=
(greater than or equal to) = Numeric fields only (eg '>=5')
Searching by category and region ids
The category and region search fields are effective ways
to refine your search, you can choose to search at any
level of the category or region trees, by choosing a lower
branch you remove listings that
were placed at a higher level on the tree. free2auction
uses category and region code numbers. You can use the
category
selector to find the appropriate category code you
are looking for, or export the entire category
listing. You can use the region
selector to find the appropriate region code you are
looking for, or export the entire region
listing.
examples
Hints
When searching try to use specific words to
find the item you are looking for, keep the search to only
a few words at a time, try adding or removing the proceeding
's' of words (e.g.: 'mouse pad' instead of 'mouse pads').
Keep punctuation
in your searches to a minimum and only search for 'the', 'and',
'or' words if they are necessary.
Search related notes
Search fields only accept text search strings, html and markup language are not processed.
Some of the search fields are classed as filters and are stored and reused during your active session, these filters may also be set to defaults for your account from your options page.
filter help
Wildcard examples
bad_cat will return results that contain "bad cat" but not "badcat" or "bad big cat" or "cat bad"
bad*cat will return results that contain "bad cat" and "badcat" and "bad big cat" but not "cat bad"
bad;cat will return any result that contains "bad" and "cat" including "bad big cat" and "cat bad"
bad*cat;big will return results that contain "bad big cat" and "big bad cat" but not "cat big bad" or "big cat bad"
bad:big will return any results that contain "bad" or "big"
"" will only return records that have an empty field
"bad*cat" will return results that start with "bad" and end in "cat"
bad;!cat:sad
will return any result that contains "bad"
and NOT "cat", OR any results that contain "sad"
>5;<20:>=100
will return any result between 5 AND 20, OR any result larger than or equal to 100
Category and region tree examples
If a digital camera is listed in category 805010-Cameras, it
will come up on a search in the 8050-Cameras & Equipment and 805010-Cameras categories,
but not in a search that is filtered to the 80501030-Digtial camera sub-category.
If an item is listed in the 10034-North Carolina region, users who browse in 10034-North Carolina,
100-USA, or no region will be able to view the item, however people who browse in the
sub-branches 1003401-Charlotte, 1003402-Greensboro and 1003403-Raleigh-Durham will not
see the listing.
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