[#4352] Searching the user database

There are two capabilities I’d like to implement in Community Builder that I can’t figure out how to do, which have to do with the results of users searching the user database on the front end:

1) When all search fields are blank, and a user clicks “Find Users”, he/she is presented with the entire user database. Instead, I want to tell the user they must input some sort of search criteria; that all blank entries are not allowed. How can I do this?

2) There are two users that I do not want to be searchable. The system administrator, and one other special account I have set up. Is it possible to block certain users from being searched on and displayed?

2) - open community builder/List management
- select your user list, click edit
- in field "User Groups to Include in List:" select user groups you want to be searchable.

(so in your case simply by ctrl+left mouse button click off the superuser, special, admin etc.)

1) When all search fields are blank, and a user clicks “Find Users”, he/she is presented with the entire user database. Instead, I want to tell the user they must input some sort of search criteria; that all blank entries are not allowed. How can I do this?

Add an external Joomla menu link for the search mode URL of your userlist. This URL is found at the top of your userlist while editing it within CB > List Management.

2) There are two users that I do not want to be searchable. The system administrator, and one other special account I have set up. Is it possible to block certain users from being searched on and displayed?

jupco's reply is correct regarding this.

Hello Kyle,

Yes, jupco's reply worked just fine (thanks, jupco!). But for my other issue, adding the external menu link for the search mode URL produced the same results - with nothing entered in the search fields, the entire database is displayed after clicking the Find Users button. Do you have any other suggestions?

Regards, Dave

Searching with no search criteria will always do the same as "List All". You can't disable this. We're too close to release to be adding any further features, but I'll see if it's a simple addition to get this in.

Ok, reviewed and is a simple addition.

forge.joomlapolis.com/issues/4352

I've implemented this for next release. The new parameter "Hide Empty Searches" will allow your userlist to hide empty search results as well as hide the "List All" feature. This means the only way for your userlist, when using this feature, to show users is to provide valid search criteria.