Searching for documents quickly and efficiently is critical for managing your workload. The Full Text Search feature in ProLaw allows you to locate documents based on their content, saving time and effort. This detailed guide will walk you through how to use this feature effectively.
Full Text Search enables you to find documents containing specific text by searching the content within them. You can also refine your search results using filters like Matter ID or author, making it easier to locate exactly what you need.
However, keep in mind that Full Text Search does not retrieve all file types. For instance:
It does not include images, audio files, or scanned PDFs (those that are scanned images of text documents).
The search is limited to documents stored in the ProLaw database as word processing files, such as Word or text-based PDF documents.
Now that you know its benefits and limitations, let's see how it works.
Step 1: Open the Documents View
Navigate to the Events module on your ProLaw dashboard.
From the left shortcuts pane, select the Documents View to get started.
Step 2: Define Your Search Criteria
Select Matters Events and fill out the available search fields to refine your results.
You can choose to narrow your search by specific Matter ID, Event Class, or other defined filters.
Step 3: Enter the Search Term
Locate the Full Text search field and input the word or phrase you’re looking for.
Click the Find Documents button to initiate the search.
Step 4: Review Search Results
Once the results appear, click on the View Document button. To access the first result, select the link labeled Click here to go to the first hit at the top of the document.
Step 5: Navigate Within the Document
Your search term will appear bolded within the document, highlighted by navigation arrows to help you move through all occurrences quickly.
Want to edit the document? Simply click the green checkmark icon to open it for editing.
To make your search even more powerful, ProLaw supports Boolean operators. Use these to create refined searches tailored to your needs. Examples include combinations like:
AND - Ensures results include all the specified terms.
OR - Retrieves documents with at least one of the specified terms.
NOT - Excludes documents containing a specific term.
For instance, searching for “contract AND lease” will find documents containing both terms, while “contract NOT lease” excludes documents with the word “lease.”
ProLaw also accommodates Wildcards, similar to those in Westlaw research tools, to broaden your search scope:
? - Replaces a single character. For example, “wom?n” will find “woman” and “women.”
**\*** - Substitutes multiple characters. Searching “manage\*” returns results like “manager,” “managed,” and “management.”
Experiment with these to enhance efficiency and find documents faster.
With this guide in hand, locating the right documents in ProLaw has never been easier. Save time, stay organized, and get back to focusing on what truly matters!
If you have any questions or run into any issues, please reach out to the Sophus Support Team by clicking the Contact Us button. Thank you.