# Search documents You must have added documents in Datashare before. Check how for [Mac](/datashare/local-mode/install-datashare-on-mac/add-documents-to-datashare-on-mac.md), [Windows](/datashare/local-mode/install-datashare-on-windows/add-documents-to-datashare-on-windows.md) and [Linux](/datashare/local-mode/install-datashare-on-linux/add-documents-to-datashare-on-linux.md). ## Search bar Expand the menu to go to '**Search**' > '**Documents**':

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with the 'Documents' entry in the 'Search' category in the menu highlighted

Make room by closing the menu:

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with the menu open and its top right X icon highlighted

**Type terms** in the search bar and **press Enter**:

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with highlighted 'Ikea' typed in the search bar

## Default operator is OR If you type **several terms** separated by space, as the **default operator is OR**, Datashare will search for all documents containing at least one of the searched terms. For instance, Datashare finds documents containing **either 'ikea' or 'paris' or both terms here**:

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with highlighted 'Ikea paris' typed in the search bar

## Linked entities As you type a term, Datashare **suggest linked entities** - only if a task to find entities in this project was completed. Press **Esc** on your keyboard to close the dropdown or **click on one of the entities** to replace your term in the search bar:

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea paris' typed in the search bar and a dropdown with linked entities below highligted

## Search in a field Search within a specific field only, by using the dropdown '**All fields**':

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea' typed in the search bar and the 'All fields' dropdown button highlighted at the right of the search bar

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea' typed in the search bar and the 'All fields' dropdown highlighted at the right of the search bar

## Search breadcrumb To see your queries in the **search breadcrumb**, click on the icon on the left of the search bar:

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea' typed in the search bar and the 'Your search' icon button highlighted at the left of the search bar

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea' typed in the search bar and the 'Your search' breadcrumb open and highlighted below the search bar

If you'd like to remove all searched terms from the search bar, click '**Clear query**':

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea' typed in the search bar and the 'Your search' breadcrumb open and its 'Clear query' button highlighted

## Results settings To change the page settings, click the **Settings icon** on the top right:

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea paris' typed in the search bar and the top right Settings icon button highlighted

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea' typed in the search bar and and the 'Results settings' panel open and highlighted at the right of the page

You can change **Sort by**, **Documents per page**, **Layout** and also **Properties**:

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea' typed in the search bar and and the 'Results settings' panel open and its 'Properties' category highlighted at the right of the page

Ticking these properties will change **which document's metadata are displayed in the results**, in the document cards, in all 3 layouts (List, Grid, Table):

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea paris' typed in the search bar and the 'Results' column open and highlighted at the left of the page in a List layout

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea paris' typed in the search bar and the first document card highlighted at the left of the page in a Grid layout

Screenshot of a Datashare's search documents page with 'Ikea paris' typed in the search bar and the first document card highlighted at the top of the results in a Table layout

You can now make your search more precise [with operators or Regex (Regular Expressions)](/datashare/usage/search-with-operators.md). --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/usage/search-documents.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.