The Dashboard and the Search Bar

Introduction

This article provides an overview of the Artshell Desk and its search and navigation. Learn what the icons in the two main menus mean and how to use search operators to combine multiple terms and find the information you need in just a few moments.

The Artshell Desk

Artshell's menus are designed to provide a simple and intuitive browsing experience.

The horizontal menu at the top allows you to quickly navigate between the main sections of the software: Artworks, Artists, Contacts , and Events.
The vertical menu on the left provides quick access to the Home page, other features (such as Email, Insights, and Export History), Apps, and the Settings panel.

Both menus feature intuitive icons and clear labels to make navigation easier:

Horizontal menu (at the top):

Artists	This section lists all the artists in your Artshell account. Go to the Artists section of the guide.
Artworks	This is the section you see when you log in to Artshell; it contains all the Artworks your Artshell account. Go to the section of the guide dedicated to Artworks.
Contacts	This section lists all the Contacts your Artshell account. Go to the section of the guide dedicated to Contacts.
Events	This section is dedicated to events; here you can list your events and exhibitions. Go to the Events section of the guide.
	Search: Click the magnifying glass icon to search within the current section. Later in this article, you’ll find a complete guide on how to use the search bar.
	Sorting: allows you to organize content based on criteria such as date, alphabetical order, creation date, etc.
	Selection: Allows you to manually select items.
	Add: Clickthe+iconto add new content, depending on the section you're in.

Vertical menu (on the left):

	Home: Takes you back to the section Artworks.
	On this page, you'll find your emails, insights, and export history.
	Apps: Here you'll find the apps linked to Artshell.
	Settings panel: Here you can manage your account information.

The search bar

Artshell features an advanced search system that allows you to quickly find content within the sections Artworks, Contacts, Artists, Events, and attached documents.

You can search in two ways:

by typing a word or phrase into the search bar;
by using search operators—predefined filters that allow you to search for information in a specific field.

For example: A simple search looks for the entered term broadly within the section. An operator, on the other hand, allows you to narrow your search to specific information, such as a tag, an artist, a list, or another available field.

To start a search, click the icon in the horizontal menu at the top. A dropdown menu with available operators will appear. Alternatively, you can type the word you want to search for directly into the search bar.

Once you've entered your search, press SUBMIT on the keyboard to view the results.

Note:If it's easier for you, you can also open the search bar using your keyboard. UseCommand + Kon Mac computers and theWindows key + Kon Windows computers.

See the table below for the search options available for each section. Click on Advanced Search, you'll find more detailed instructions.
Each operator is accompanied by a brief, intuitive explanation that clarifies how it works; you can expand these explanations by clicking
Search for suggestions.

Search the Artworks section

#tag, @Artist, Contact – to search for Artworks with tags, artists, or Contacts.
$ – to search for Artworks within your network by a specific contact.
in: – to narrow your search to a specific field record . When you select "in:", you must then choose the specific field you want (for example, collection, location).

is: / isnot: – to include or exclude values in dropdown menus or checkboxes.
empty: / full: – to search for empty or filled-in fields.

Search the Artists section

#tag – to search for artists tagged with a specific tag.
in: – to narrow the search to a specific field in the record . When you select "in:", you must then choose the specific field you want (for example, nationality, movement).
empty: – to find empty fields.
full: – to find non-empty fields.

Search the Contacts section

In the Contacts section, Contacts create folders to organize documents related to your Contacts, such as contracts, administrative documents, notes, images, or shared materials.

Search the Events section

#tag, @Artist, Contact – to search for events associated with tags, artists, or Contacts.
$ – to search for events shared within your network by a specific contact.
in: – to narrow your search to a specific field in record . When you select "in:", you must then choose the specific field you want (for example, "edited by," "organizer," "activity type," etc.).

attr: – search the event attributes.
empty: / full: – to search for empty or filled-in fields.

Advanced Search Syntax

In addition to search operators, Artshell supports advanced syntax for constructing more complex searches:

"" (Quotation marks): to search for an exact phrase. Example: "Lucio Fontana".

.. (Two consecutive colons): to search for a numerical range. Example: "1950..1970".

- (Hyphen): to exclude a term from the search. Example: "modern - surrealism".

OR: by default, all searches in Artshell follow AND logic. To search for one or more alternative values, you can use the OR symbol. Example: "tag1 OR tag2".

() (Parentheses): To group multiple operators and establish the order of the query. Example: "(in:artist "Fontana") OR (in:tag #spatialism)".

Conclusions

The Artshell Dashboard is your starting point for navigating your account and quickly accessing the software’s main sections. Understanding the functions of the menus, icons, and search bar will help you navigate more confidently through Artworks, artists, Contacts, events, and attachments.

By using the free-text search and advanced operators, you can find the information you need more quickly, making it easier, more accurate, and more efficient to search and manage your archive.

Continue exploring Artshell with the following articles: