NetSuite's Global Search bar is the single most powerful navigation and data retrieval tool at your disposal. Located at the top of every page, it allows you to find records, transactions, pages, and reports instantly, bypassing the need to navigate through complex menu structures. Mastering its use is a key step in becoming an efficient NetSuite user. This guide provides a fact-checked and comprehensive collection of tips and tricks for using Global Search like a pro.

Tip 1: Use Prefixes for Precision and Speed

This is the most important Global Search technique. By adding a short prefix before your search term, you tell NetSuite exactly what type of record to look for, dramatically speeding up the search and providing more accurate results.

Syntax: prefix:search term

Most Common Prefixes

Using a prefix like cu:acme is significantly more efficient than just searching for acme, as it tells NetSuite not to waste time looking for vendors, contacts, or items with that name.

Tip 2: Use Wildcards for Partial Matches

You can use the percentage sign (%) as a wildcard to represent one or more unknown characters. This is useful when you only know part of the name or number.

• Example: `cu:acme%` will find customers whose names start with "Acme".

• Example: `in:%123` will find invoices that end with "123".

  
  

Tip 3: Navigate Directly to Pages

Global Search is the fastest way to move around in NetSuite. Instead of clicking through menus, simply type the name of the page you want to go to, using the pa: prefix for best results.

• pa:enter bill takes you directly to the Vendor Bill entry page.

• pa:saved searches takes you to the list of all saved searches.

• pa:set pref takes you to the Set Preferences page.

  
  

Tip 4: Open in a New Tab

After you type your search, you can hold down the Alt key and click on a result to open it in a new browser tab. This is extremely useful for looking up information without losing your place on your current screen.

Tip 5: Understand the Limitations

While powerful, Global Search is not all-encompassing. It is important to know what it cannot do:

• It does not search most custom field values.

• It does not perform a full-text search of memo fields or other long-text fields (though it may find partial matches).

• It does not search within file attachments stored in the File Cabinet.

• It does not find inactive records by default. To include inactive records in your search, you must add a + to the end of your search term (e.g., cu:acme+).

For these more complex search needs, you must use a Saved Search, which allows you to build criteria that can query any field in the system.

Tip 6: Troubleshooting - "Why Can't I Find My Record?"

If you are certain a record exists but Global Search is not finding it, check the following:

1. Permissions: Global Search respects NetSuite's role-based permissions. It is highly likely that your current role does not have permission to view the record.

2. Subsidiary Context (OneWorld): In a OneWorld account, Global Search results may be limited by the currently selected subsidiary. Try switching to the appropriate subsidiary or a parent subsidiary.

3. Spelling and Prefixes: Double-check your spelling and ensure you are using the correct prefix.

By making these tips and tricks a part of your daily NetSuite routine, you can navigate the system and find information with greater speed and accuracy.