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Wildcards |
  
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Wildcards |
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When you are trying to find an existing contact, transaction, job or product, it will be necessary for you to enter search criteria into Code, Name or Description fields.
Often, you may not know the entire code, name or description, and so ManStat allows the use of Wildcards.
By using the % symbol it is possible to find a particular entry even if you only know part of the information to be entered into a search field (such as a name or an address). Simply type the "%" (percentage) symbol in place of the unknown characters, or the "_" (underscore) symbol if only one character is unknown.
For example, if you receive a telephone call from a contact verbally identifying himself only as Mr J. Smith you may needed to locate his contact records immediately. There are many Smiths in your records, and there are many names that begin with J, making it very difficult and time consuming to locate this particular contact's records. However if you entered "J%" in the First Name field and "Sm%th" in the Last Name field, ManStat will immediately list only the records that correspond to both these defined search parameters. This will result in the appropriate contact records being quickly located (even if the contact's name turns out to be Mr Joshua Smythe).
If only one character is unknown, the "_" (underscore) symbol can be used. For example, if you are searching for a four digit code and you know that it is between 1230 and 1240, simply type "123_" in the required field. ManStat will then list all four-digit numbers beginning with 123.
This quick location of the correct contact details allows you to provide better service as the records can be updated immediately, and the quick recall of personal details assures the caller that he or she is a valued client. Remember, an important aspect of seeking transactions is the building of a personal relationship.
ManStat will accept characters that are typed in higher case or lower case, however if a date is entered it is important to note that ManStat only accepts DD/MM/YY format.
In addition, entering a wildcard symbol for unknown characters at the beginning of a field (i.e. typing "%th" instead of "Sm%th") is not advised, as ManStat will require a lot more time to process this search parameter, resulting in delays in locating the relevant records.