SearchContext

SearchContext manages searching of properties on one or more DataObject types, based on a given set of input parameters. SearchContext is intentionally decoupled from any controller-logic, it just receives a set of search parameters and an object class it acts on.

The default output of a SearchContext is either a SQLSelect object for further refinement, or a DataObject instance.

SearchContext is mainly used by ModelAdmin, as it powers the DataObject::$searchable_fields configuration.

Usage

Defining search-able fields on your DataObject.

namespace App\Model;

use SilverStripe\ORM\DataObject;

class MyDataObject extends DataObject
{
    private static $searchable_fields = [
        'Name',
        'ProductCode',
    ];
}

Customizing fields and filters

In this example we're defining three attributes on our MyDataObject subclass: PublicProperty, HiddenProperty and MyDate. The attribute HiddenProperty should not be searchable, and MyDate should only search for dates after the search entry (with a GreaterThanFilter).

namespace App\Model;

use SilverStripe\ORM\DataObject;
use SilverStripe\ORM\Filters\GreaterThanFilter;
use SilverStripe\ORM\Filters\PartialMatchFilter;
use SilverStripe\ORM\Search\SearchContext;

class MyDataObject extends DataObject
{
    private static $db = [
        'PublicProperty' => 'Text'
        'HiddenProperty' => 'Text',
        'MyDate' => 'Date',
    ];

    public function getDefaultSearchContext()
    {
        $fields = $this->scaffoldSearchFields([
            'restrictFields' => ['PublicProperty','MyDate'],
        ]);

        $filters = [
            'PublicProperty' => PartialMatchFilter::create('PublicProperty'),
            'MyDate' => GreaterThanFilter::create('MyDate'),
        ];

        return SearchContext::create(
            static::class,
            $fields,
            $filters
        );
    }
}

In case you need multiple contexts, consider name-spacing your request parameters by using FieldList->namespace() on the $fields constructor parameter.

See the SearchFilter documentation for more information about filters to use such as the GreaterThanFilter.

Customising the general search field

On tabular views like the GridFields and ModalAdmins, the search context is rendered as a search bar with advanced options. To customise this field, see the Scaffolding documentation.

Generating a search form from the context

namespace App\PageType;

use App\Model\MyDataObject;
use PageController;
use SilverStripe\Forms\FieldList;
use SilverStripe\Forms\Form;
use SilverStripe\Forms\FormAction;

class SearchPageController extends PageController
{
    // ...

    public function searchForm()
    {
        $context = MyDataObject::singleton()->getDefaultSearchContext();
        $fields = $context->getSearchFields();

        $form = Form::create(
            $this,
            'searchForm',
            $fields,
            FieldList::create(
                FormAction::create('doSearch')
            )
        );

        return $form;
    }

    public function doSearch($data, $form)
    {
        $context = MyDataObject::singleton()->getDefaultSearchContext();
        $results = $context->getResults($data);

        return $this->customise([
            'Results' => $results,
        ])->renderWith('Page_results');
    }
}

Pagination

For pagination records on multiple pages, you need to wrap the results in a PaginatedList object. This object is also passed the generated SQLSelect in order to read page limit information. It is also passed the current HTTPRequest object so it can read the current page from a GET var.

Notice that if you want to use this getResults function, you need to change the function doSearch for this one.

The change is in $results = $this->getResults($data);, because you are using a custom getResults function.

namespace App\PageType;

use App\Model\MyDataObject;
use PageController;
use SilverStripe\ORM\PaginatedList;
// ...

class SearchPageController extends PageController
{
    // ...

    public function doSearch($data, $form)
    {
        $context = MyDataObject::singleton()->getDefaultSearchContext();
        $results = $this->getResults($data);

        return $this->customise([
            'Results' => $results,
        ])->renderWith('Page_results');
    }

    public function getResults($searchCriteria = [])
    {
        $start = ($this->getRequest()->getVar('start')) ? (int)$this->getRequest()->getVar('start') : 0;
        $limit = 10;

        $context = MyDataObject::singleton()->getDefaultSearchContext();
        $query = $context->getQuery($searchCriteria, null, ['start' => $start,'limit' => $limit]);
        $records = $context->getResults($searchCriteria, null, ['start' => $start,'limit' => $limit]);

        if ($records) {
            $records = PaginatedList::create($records, $this->getRequest());
            $records->setPageStart($start);
            $records->setPageLength($limit);
            $records->setTotalItems($query->unlimitedRowCount());
        }

        return $records;
    }
}

Another thing you can't forget is to check the name of the singleton you are using in your project. the example uses MyDataObject, you need to change it for the one you are using

The pagination template

to show the results of your custom search you need at least this content in your template, notice that Results.PaginationSummary(4) defines how many pages the search will show in the search results. something like:

Next 1 2 3 4 5 … 558

<% if $Results %>
    <ul>
        <% loop $Results %>
            <li>$Title, $Author</li>
        <% end_loop %>
    </ul>
<% else %>
    <p>Sorry, your search query did not return any results.</p>
<% end_if %>

<% if $Results.MoreThanOnePage %>
    <div id="PageNumbers">
        <p>
            <% if $Results.NotFirstPage %>
                <a class="prev" href="$Results.PrevLink" title="View the previous page">Prev</a>
            <% end_if %>

            <span>
                    <% loop $Results.PaginationSummary(4) %>
                    <% if $CurrentBool %>
                        $PageNum
                    <% else %>
                        <% if $Link %>
                            <a href="$Link" title="View page number $PageNum">$PageNum</a>
                        <% else %>
                            &hellip;
                        <% end_if %>
                    <% end_if %>
                <% end_loop %>
            </span>

            <% if $Results.NotLastPage %>
                <a class="next" href="$Results.NextLink" title="View the next page">Next</a>
            <% end_if %>
        </p>
    </div>
<% end_if %>

Available searchFilters

See SearchFilter API Documentation

API documentation

Edit on Github

SearchContext#

Usage#

Customizing fields and filters#

Customising the general search field#

Generating a search form from the context#

Pagination#

The pagination template#

Available searchFilters#

Related documentation#

API documentation#