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When web sites and applications include large-scale data, it's important to give users an opportunity to navigate through the content hierarchy (typically through a persistent navigation feature) and to search. Most sites offer users both methods for discovering content. The MIT-BI applications should allow both browse and search options when a hierarchy exists. In addition, simple keyword search may not be robust enough for the kind of searching required in the DM-BI applications. For instance, searching within a date-limited set is a common use case.
Solution
Usability research shows that most users prefer a Google style single text entry field for basic keyword search. In the case of RAFT, advanced search is required for users to find specific worksets and cost objects within profit centers and time periods, etc.
We provide both a simple keyword search with the type-ahead feature to reduce the typing burden. Users need only type three characters before the site provides suggestions from which to select. And we provide the advanced search for searching use cases that are complex, i.e., cannot be handled with keyword search and require more options for users.