xamxam/docs/search.md

Search Feature Documentation

Overview

The search feature allows users to search across theses using multiple criteria including full-text search and advanced filters.

Files Created/Modified

New Files

1. search.php - Main search interface page
2. create_test_db.php - Script to generate test database with sample data
3. search.md - This documentation file

Modified Files

1. Database.php - Added search methods:

   • searchTheses() - Search with multiple filters
   • countSearchResults() - Count matching results
   • getAvailableYears() - Get all years from published theses
   • getOrientations() - Get all orientations
   • getApPrograms() - Get all AP programs
   • getFinalityTypes() - Get all finality types
   • getUsedKeywords() - Get keywords used in published theses
   • getFormatTypes() - Get all format types
   • getLanguages() - Get all languages

2. inc/header.php - Added "Rechercher" link to navigation

Searchable Fields

The search feature allows filtering by:

1. Full-text query - Searches across:

   • Title
   • Subtitle
   • Synopsis
   • Author names
   • Supervisor names
   • Keywords

2. Year - Filter by specific year

3. Orientation - Filter by artistic orientation:

   • Arts Numériques, Dessin, Cinéma d'animation, Installation-Performance
   • Peinture, Photographie, Sculpture, Vidéographie
   • Graphisme, Typographie, Design Numérique, Illustration
   • Bande-Dessinée, Sérigraphie, Gravure

4. AP Program - Filter by atelier pratique:

   • Narration Spéculative
   • Design et Politique du Multiple (DPM)
   • Atelier Pratiques Situées (APS)
   • Lieux, Interdisciplinarités, Écologie, Nécessité, Systèmes (LIENS)

5. Finality - Filter by master finality:

   • Approfondi
   • Enseignement
   • Spécialisé

6. Format - Filter by work format:

   • Site web, Audio, Vidéo, Performance
   • Objet éditorial, Installation, Autre

7. Language - Filter by language (Français, Anglais)

8. Keyword - Filter by specific keyword

9. Type - Filter by thesis type:

   • TFE (final thesis projects)
   • Doctoral theses

Testing the Search Feature

1. Create Test Database

Run the script to generate sample data:

cd /home/padlock/dev/posterg-website/front-backend
php create_test_db.php

This will create test.db in the formulaire/ directory with:

• 6 sample theses (various years, orientations, and programs)
• 5 sample authors
• 3 sample supervisors
• 20 keywords
• Complete relationships (authors, supervisors, keywords, formats, languages)

2. Access the Search Page

Navigate to: search.php

3. Test Search Scenarios

Scenario 1: Full-text Search

• Enter "urbain" in the search field
• Should find: "Espaces Urbains et Narration Collective"

Scenario 2: Filter by Year

• Select year: 2024
• Should find: 3 theses from 2024

Scenario 3: Filter by Orientation

• Select orientation: "Installation-Performance"
• Should find: 2 theses

Scenario 4: Filter by AP Program

• Select AP: "Narration Spéculative"
• Should find: 2 theses

Scenario 5: Combined Filters

• Enter "performance" in search field
• Select year: 2024
• Should find: 1 thesis ("Corps et Technologies")

Scenario 6: Keyword Search

• Select keyword: "écologie"
• Should find: "Écologies Affectives"

Database Schema Reference

The search uses the v_theses_public view which combines:

• Main thesis data from theses table
• Related authors via thesis_authors junction table
• Related supervisors via thesis_supervisors junction table
• Related keywords via thesis_keywords junction table
• Related formats via thesis_formats junction table
• Related languages via thesis_languages junction table
• Predefined values from lookup tables (orientations, ap_programs, finality_types, etc.)

Features

Pagination

• Results are paginated (20 items per page)
• Previous/Next navigation
• Numbered page links

Result Display

• Shows total number of results
• Card-based layout matching the main index page
• Displays: title, author, year, synopsis excerpt
• Links to full thesis detail page

User Experience

• All filters are optional
• Filters can be combined
• "Réinitialiser" button to clear all filters
• Maintains filter state during pagination

Security Considerations

• All user inputs are sanitized using htmlspecialchars()
• SQL queries use prepared statements with parameter binding
• No direct SQL injection risk
• Only published theses are searchable (is_published = 1)

Future Enhancements

Potential improvements:

1. Auto-complete - Suggest keywords/authors as user types
2. Faceted search - Show filter counts (e.g., "Peinture (12)")
3. Sort options - Sort by year, title, relevance
4. Save searches - Allow users to bookmark search queries
5. Export results - Export search results as CSV/JSON
6. Advanced boolean search - Support AND/OR/NOT operators
7. Search highlights - Highlight matching terms in results
8. Related theses - Show similar works based on keywords
9. Statistics - Show search analytics and popular queries
10. AJAX search - Live search without page reload

Technical Notes

• Uses SQLite LIKE operator for text matching (case-insensitive)
• Searches across GROUP_CONCAT fields in the view for many-to-many relationships
• Efficient use of indexes defined in schema.sql
• Compatible with existing Database.php singleton pattern