# Search documents

You must have added documents in Datashare before. Check how for [Mac](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/local-mode/install-datashare-on-mac/add-documents-to-datashare-on-mac), [Windows](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/local-mode/install-datashare-on-windows/add-documents-to-datashare-on-windows) and [Linux](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/local-mode/install-datashare-on-linux/add-documents-to-datashare-on-linux).

## Search bar

Expand the menu to go to '**Search**' > '**Documents**':

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-efc64183ce2e200d85af72599fcf2a2c406c046e%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.18.13.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with the &#x27;Documents&#x27; entry in the &#x27;Search&#x27; category in the menu highlighted"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Make room by closing the menu:

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-47d0a4641fdfa4f3c9f3b8dd1a3ea24f2686c2eb%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.21.04.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with the menu open and its top right X icon highlighted"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-35571621efc53c6eddfa4049a4cf9a07528fffd8%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.23.54.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with highlighted &#x27;Ikea&#x27; typed in the search bar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## 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**:

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-35d282408d95e9d45403ccb95662f96447bee455%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.26.51.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with highlighted &#x27;Ikea paris&#x27; typed in the search bar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## 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:

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-65526dc28070e7930d9a2f3634f81fb308d611b2%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.35.23.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea paris&#x27; typed in the search bar and a dropdown with linked entities below highligted"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Search in a field

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

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8191ce8d30c24c5d927675516b22df32bc21c514%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.43.06.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea&#x27; typed in the search bar and the &#x27;All fields&#x27; dropdown button highlighted at the right of the search bar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-50fe5fc2e85b9cef9cc3a4a7de2cf0ec90dac32a%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.43.39.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea&#x27; typed in the search bar and the &#x27;All fields&#x27; dropdown highlighted at the right of the search bar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Search breadcrumb

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

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bc674db8a99c9633fe37c536ae31a897e9178b83%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.40.14.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea&#x27; typed in the search bar and the &#x27;Your search&#x27; icon button highlighted at the left of the search bar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-94c6a609e582d831ee044f802ab8b47539362bc5%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.44.52.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea&#x27; typed in the search bar and the &#x27;Your search&#x27; breadcrumb open and highlighted below the search bar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f1f89921f1a600a9bbd7651d0af345b5661ad890%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.46.32.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea&#x27; typed in the search bar and the &#x27;Your search&#x27; breadcrumb open and its &#x27;Clear query&#x27; button highlighted"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Results settings

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

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a19bde1e576f3553709c1825eb714c47c03348f4%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.51.56.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea paris&#x27; typed in the search bar and the top right Settings icon button highlighted"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3b77499650c110145deb92266a23bc0b48933f76%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.51.25.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea&#x27; typed in the search bar and and the &#x27;Results settings&#x27; panel open and highlighted at the right of the page"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6ea0aab40009c27064bfaf5ba92db679109d05e8%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.54.47.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea&#x27; typed in the search bar and and the &#x27;Results settings&#x27; panel open and its &#x27;Properties&#x27; category highlighted at the right of the page"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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):

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-105eeabc74db39544f39c7bae1d788ac6bff9eeb%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.56.25.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea paris&#x27; typed in the search bar and the &#x27;Results&#x27; column open and highlighted at the left of the page in a List layout"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a5e426d9421ab061cde4ad851debc7fba9e24853%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.58.17.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea paris&#x27; typed in the search bar and the first document card highlighted at the left of the page in a Grid layout"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ad28f0d7e23d4e69afc915db8eda95ebe640043c%2FScreenshot%202025-06-07%20at%2007.58.48.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of a Datashare&#x27;s search documents page with &#x27;Ikea paris&#x27; typed in the search bar and the first document card highlighted at the top of the results in a Table layout"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You can now make your search more precise [with operators or Regex (Regular Expressions)](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/usage/search-with-operators).
