Do you know how to design a user friendly search system?

❌ Figure: Bad example - Search fields are on the same form as the data entry controls

✅ Figure: Good example - Search functionality on a dedicated form with a recently updated records and standard search

Therefore, I believe search system should:

1. Importatnt - Separate it from the data entry fields (on a different form) - this avoids confusion
2. Have a "Simple" tab this shows minimum fields, that is just one like Google. E.g. A customer calls, they said they were from Winkleton, but I'm not sure what that is. Do I put it in the Region, City or Address fields? so you need to simply search in all fields with one single text box.
3. Have a "Recent" tab this shows the most recent records opened/updated
4. Have a "Common" tab this shows the common fields Note: Preferred over customers needing to learn prefixes like Google (for example, "city:winkleton").
5. Have an "Advanced" tab only for power users for building up a WHERE clause

We have a program called SSW .NET Toolkit that implements this cool Search Control.