Search for a Customer

Access

Use this screen to search for existing customers in the system by entering or selecting the desired search criteria from any of the fields in the sidebar on the left. Click the blue Search button to initiate the search. The results populate in the grid where they can be selected or you can filter A pattern through which data is passed. Only data that matches the pattern is allowed to pass through the filter. the results by performing another search. The search results are read-only and cannot be edited in this routine. Double-click on the customer to transfer the selected customer information to the process in which you are working (e.g., Enter a Sales Order, etc.). The Search for a Customer window closes automatically.

If no names in the system match your criteria, the "No search criteria specified" message appears. Click OK to return to the Search for a Customer window, where you can try another search or click on the Exit button to return to the entry routine. Depending on the routine you are in, you may be able to create a new customer on-the-fly or access the Customer Settings screen directly, depending on your permissions.

About this search window

The search filters on the left are divided into the following categories: Customer Name, General, Address, and Other. Note that these categories are collapsible but are expanded by default. Although you can collapse the expanders, their state is not preserved and are always expanded upon accessing this screen. The associated scroll bar allows you to access all the search options and appears when the number of search options do not fit into the sidebar.

The Search for a Customer screen is a responsive design meaning that its contents automatically re-size if you re-size the window.

If you access this screen directly from a menu, the grid is display-only and you cannot directly access the Customer Settings or any other program (for example, Sales Order Entry) by double-clicking on a grid item.

If the search finds a credit application co-applicant who is not a customer, the grid displays A) the co-applicant's name and address and B) the primary applicant's customer code appended by a plus sign (+). In this case, double-clicking on the grid item accesses the primary applicant's information, not the co-applicant's.

If a customer does not display on the search list, you can check and see if the customer record was merged by going to the Inactive Date field on the Advanced tab in Advanced Customer Settings.  If the customer has been merged it displays the date the customer became inactive.

Search Method

You can search for customers using either of the following methods:

• Starts With - If you check the box at the Starts With field, the program searches for customers whose last name begins with the characters you enter into the Last Name and/or First Name field.  

• Soundex - If you leave the Starts With field blank, the program uses the Soundex method to search for customers.

Customer Name

Last NameTo search for a customer by name, enter the customer's last name here. You may enter the whole or partial name. This field is not case-sensitive.

Starts WithCheck this box to search for customers whose last name begins with the characters you enter into the Last Name field and/or First Name. This search is not case-sensitive. Note that this search ignores names containing an apostrophe. This field is checked by default.

First Name

Middle

Prefix

Suffix

General

Phone

EmailTo search for the customer code by email address, enter the customer's email address in this field. Note that the program searches by primary email address only, and not by additional email address.

SSNTo search for the customer code by social security number, enter a minimum of four digits and a maximum of nine digits into this field.  

Address

Street

CityTo search for a customer by address, enter the customer's city. This field is not case-sensitive and ignores punctuation.

Zip CodeTo search for a customer by address, enter the customer's zip code. Customers that have an extended zip code are included in the search results even when only the base zip code is searched. If the search is performed for the extended zip code, only customers exactly matching the search criteria are returned.

Other

Finance ProviderUse this field to search for customers associated with a specific finance provider. Click the arrow to choose from a list of available finance providers.


This field is active only if you have active finance providers in your system.