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How to Do an Advanced Search for Assets

xAssets IT Asset Management User Guide
How To

How to Do an Advanced Search for Assets

xAssets provides several ways to search for assets beyond the basic search box. This guide covers all the search methods available, from instant search to tree navigation and dashboard queries.

The fastest way to find an asset.

  1. Locate the Search box in the toolbar at the top of the screen.

  2. Type any text -- a location name, custodian name, computer name, asset description, or asset reference number.

  3. Results appear instantly as you type, matching against:

    • Asset description
    • Category name
    • Location name
    • Custodian (user) name
    • Computer name

  4. Click a result to open the asset record.

Method 2: Switching Search Types

The search box can search different types of data, not just assets.

  1. Type your search text into the Search box.

  2. Click the search box area (or the search options area that appears) to see available search types:

    Search Type What It Searches
    Assets General asset search (default)
    IP Address and Computer Name Search by IP address or computer name
    Incidents Search for incidents or related assets
    Custodians Search the custodian/user list
    Locations Search the location hierarchy
    Configuration Items Search queries, transformations, settings (for administrators)
    Help Topics Search xAssets documentation

  3. Select the search type you need. The results update to show matches from that category.

Method 3: Tree Navigation

Use the tree panel to browse assets by classification.

  1. Look at the tree panel on the left side of the results screen.

  2. Click any node (e.g., a category like "PC - Laptop", or a location like "London Office") to filter results to assets in that node and its sub-nodes.

  3. The tree hierarchy depends on the query you are viewing. Different queries use different trees:

    • Category tree -- groups assets by type
    • Location tree -- groups assets by physical location
    • Department tree -- groups assets by department
    • Cost Centre tree -- groups assets by cost centre

  4. Click All Items in Query at the top of the tree to remove the filter and see all results.

Method 4: Dashboard Queries

Pre-built queries on the Asset Inventory Dashboard provide targeted views.

  1. Navigate to Asset > Asset Inventory Dashboard.

  2. Use the dashboard tabs to find specific groups of assets:

    • Inventory Queries -- queries grouped by Classification, Hardware, and Software
    • Asset Health -- assets with health issues
    • Disposal and Obsolescence -- disposed assets and end-of-life candidates
    • Additions and Changes -- recently added or modified assets

  3. Click any query link to see its results.

Tips

  • If you know the exact asset reference number, type it into the search box for the fastest result.
  • Combine tree navigation with the search box: first narrow by category or location using the tree, then search within that subset.
  • If you frequently search for the same type of information (e.g., by serial number or IP address), ask your administrator to create a custom search query that includes those fields.
  • Use the column sort in any results screen to quickly find assets by sorting on a specific column.