Tips for searching the online directory

The directory will only return a limited number of results per query. The limit is generally around 40 results and it's all or nothing.

One important thing to know about the directory is that its data comes from multiple sources across the state and each source may specify information in a different manner. For example, a person's full name may be entered with a full middle name, or with just the middle initial. This sort of thing needs to be taken into account when quering the directory.

Another thing to remember about the directory is that it knows nothing about nicknames, standard abbreviations, etc. Searching for Chris when the fellow is really named Christopher won't work. Neither will searching for Bill when the name is actually William. There is a field to specify a nickname, but it is up to the individual to put something in the nickname field. It will initially be empty.

One final point is that some people go by their middle name instead of their first name. The directory doesn't know this and searching this way will most likely fail unless the person has thought to add their middle name as their nickname.

Keeping the above things in mind, the following are general rules for successfully querying the directory:

• Enter at least a first and last name. Avoid using the middle name if possible. Some entries have middle names, but others have only middle initials. If you must use the middle name, consider using a wildcard middle initial.
• The order of the names is important. Albert Wilson is not the same as Wilson Albert.
• Omit titles (Mr., Mrs., Dr., Jr., Sr., III, etc.). This information is not stored in the directory.
• Omit punctuation. The only punctuation character allowed in the search is the hyphen. For example, Albert Wilson-Lewis is acceptable.
• Avoid using nicknames. Maybe use William instead of Bill, Albert instead of Al, or Elizabeth instead of Liz, etc.
• The asterisk (*) can be used as a wildcard. Use it sparingly, it can significant degrade performance, match too many items to return successfully, or cause the search to timeout because it takes too long.

For example to find Dr. Albert Eric Wilson, Jr., DDS, try entering one of the following:

albert wilson

albert e* wilson

a* wilson

Note: the search string you specify is matched against a number of directory attributes. The common name (cn), given name, surname (sn), netid (uid) and department (ou) attributes may all be searched to find matching entries. This may cause more stuff to be returned than you intended, so formulate your queries carefully.