# Retriever

Retriever is optimized for speed and allows you to search for text patterns in the names of symbols in the database. To search for text patterns in source files, use Source-Navigator's Grep tool (see Grep).

## Using the Retriever

To find a symbol, enter its search pattern surrounded by asterisks (for example `*agent*`) in the Pattern text box and click Search. The `*`, `?`, `[`, and `]` wildcard characters are supported.

#### Retriever Window

The Retriever displays all the symbols it found containing the pattern being searched.

#### Retriever Window Showing Search Results

Double-clicking an item in the list opens the Editor showing the symbol in context in the source code.

For more information on reusing windows for multiple searches, see Reusing Windows.

### Retriever Filter

Click on the Filter button to bring up this dialog box. The symbols displayed by Retriever are included based upon these settings.

If the Exclusive Search box is selected, you may choose one symbol type to search for; if it's deselected, you may combine symbol types for more complex searches.

## Retriever with Cross-Referencer

If you're looking at a unique symbol in the Editor and you click the Xref tab to see its cross-references, the Xref window appears.

However, if you're looking at a symbol that is not unique (there's more than one symbol with that name in the database), the Retriever displays a message saying that it has found multiple matches and requests that you choose the correct one to display.

If you don't want to see this warning in the future, but want to go straight to the retriever dialog, click the box in the dialog. This can also be changed in the Others tab of the Project Preferences dialog (see Others Tab).

Double-click on the symbol for which you want cross-reference information, and the Xref Retriever window appears (see Cross-Referencer for more information).