- Advanced Search: Complete Guide to Using Keywords

Introduction

Advanced Search in Tenders Alerts provides powerful tools to find tenders with high precision. By using include and exclude keywords, you can refine search results and access the most relevant tenders for your business.

What is Advanced Search?

Advanced Search is a sophisticated search system that allows you to:

• Add include keywords: Search for tenders containing specific words
• Add exclude keywords: Exclude tenders containing certain words
• Choose match mode: Search with all keywords or any keyword
• Search in BOQ: Include Bill of Quantities content in search
• Smart suggestions: Get AI-powered keyword suggestions

Activating Advanced Search

Step 1: Access Search Settings

To start using Advanced Search, you need to activate it from search settings:

1. Click on the settings icon (⚙️) in the search bar
2. Enable the "Advanced Search" option
3. Click "Save" to apply changes

Step 2: Advanced Search Interface

After activation, you'll see the Advanced Search interface:

The Advanced Search interface includes:

• Settings button: Quick access to search settings
• Input field: To add keywords
• Tender search button: Quick search for a specific tender
• Smart suggestions button: Get AI-suggested keywords
• BOQ toggle: Include Bill of Quantities content in search
• Search button: Execute the search
• Clear filters button: Remove all keywords and filters

Adding Keywords

Adding Include Keywords

Include keywords are words that must appear in search results:

1. Type the keyword in the search field
2. Press Enter to add it
3. The keyword will appear in blue (included keyword)

Adding Exclude Keywords

To exclude certain tenders, you can convert a keyword to an exclude keyword:

1. Click the toggle icon (−) next to the included keyword
2. The keyword will turn red (excluded keyword)

Managing Keywords

When you click on the search field, a dropdown will appear showing all keywords:

In this dropdown you can:

• View all included keywords: With their count at the top
• Choose match mode:
  • "Any word" (OR): Search for tenders containing any of the words
  • "All words" (AND): Search for tenders containing all the words
• View all excluded keywords: With their count
• Toggle between include and exclude: By clicking the icon
• Delete keywords: By clicking the (×) mark

Match Mode

Search with Any Word (OR)

When selecting "Any word", the system will search for tenders containing any of the included keywords.

Example: If you add the keywords "maintenance", "roads", "buildings"

• Tenders containing "maintenance" or "roads" or "buildings" will appear
• Any tender containing at least one word will appear in results

Search with All Words (AND)

When selecting "All words", the system will search for tenders containing all the included keywords.

Example: If you add the keywords "maintenance", "roads"

• Only tenders containing both "maintenance" and "roads" will appear
• Tenders containing only one word will not appear

Smart Keyword Suggestions

The system provides smart suggestions using artificial intelligence:

How to Use Smart Suggestions

1. Click on the star icon (✨) in the search bar
2. Enter the search term you want suggestions for
3. Click "Generate"
4. A list of suggested keywords will appear
5. For each keyword, you can:
   • Add it to include by clicking (+)
   • Add it to exclude by clicking (−)

Searching in Bill of Quantities

You can include Bill of Quantities (BOQ) content in your search:

1. Enable the BOQ toggle button (table icon)
2. The button will turn green when activated
3. The system will search in BOQ content in addition to tender title and description

Benefit: This feature is very useful for finding tenders containing specific materials or services mentioned only in the Bill of Quantities.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Search for Road Maintenance Tenders

Goal: Find road maintenance tenders and exclude cleaning tenders

Steps:

1. Add "maintenance" (include)
2. Add "roads" (include)
3. Add "cleaning" (exclude)
4. Choose "All words" match mode

Example 2: Search for Building or Facility Tenders

Goal: Find tenders related to buildings or facilities

Steps:

1. Add "buildings" (include)
2. Add "facilities" (include)
3. Choose "Any word" match mode

Example 3: Search for Specific Materials in BOQ

Goal: Find tenders containing "cement" in Bill of Quantities

Steps:

1. Add "cement" (include)
2. Enable BOQ search
3. Click "Search"

Tips for Effective Advanced Search

1. Use Specific Keywords

• Use specific keywords instead of general ones
• Example: Instead of "maintenance", use "preventive maintenance" or "periodic maintenance"

2. Leverage Exclusion

• Exclude words that appear in unwanted results
• Example: If searching for "operation", exclude "operation and maintenance" if you only want operation

3. Try Both Match Modes

• Start with "Any word" for broader results
• Use "All words" to narrow down results

4. Use Smart Suggestions

• Leverage AI to get relevant keywords
• Try different search terms for varied suggestions

5. Enable BOQ Search When Needed

• Use this feature when searching for specific materials or services
• Remember that enabling it may slow down the search slightly

Integration with Other Filters

You can combine Advanced Search with other available filters:

• Geographic filters: Region, City
• Agency filters: Government agency
• Classification filters: Activity, Sub-classification
• Date filters: Publication date, Closing date
• Value filters: Estimated value

When using filters with Advanced Search, a counter will show the number of active filters, and you can clear them all with one click.

Saving Advanced Search

After setting up Advanced Search with keywords and filters:

1. Click the "Save Search" button
2. All settings will be saved including:
   • Included and excluded keywords
   • Match mode
   • BOQ search status
   • All other filters
3. You can access the saved search later from the "Saved Searches" page

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Advanced Search with regular text search?

Yes, you can combine text search in the main search field with advanced keywords.

What's the difference between Advanced Search and regular search?

Regular search only searches in tender title and reference number, while Advanced Search allows you to:

• Search with multiple keywords with different match options
• Exclude specific keywords
• Search in Bill of Quantities
• Get smart suggestions

Is BOQ search available for all tenders?

BOQ search is only available for tenders that have Bill of Quantities in the Etimad platform.

How many keywords can I add?

There's no specific maximum limit, but it's recommended to use 3-5 keywords for best results.

Can I save more than one advanced search?

Yes, you can save unlimited advanced searches and access them from the "Saved Searches" page.

Conclusion

Advanced Search in Tenders Alerts is a powerful tool that helps you:

• Improve search accuracy: Through specific keywords
• Save time: By excluding unwanted results
• Discover new opportunities: Through smart suggestions
• Comprehensive search: By including Bill of Quantities

Start using Advanced Search today and discover the most relevant tenders for your business with greater efficiency!