--- title: "How do I create spotlight searches?" date: "2025-01-09T20:23:34+00:00" summary: image: type: "page" url: "/acquia-dam/how-do-i-create-spotlight-searches" id: "750c5907-454d-43e2-a117-ec5f630fa154" --- Table of contents will be added Spotlight searches visually highlight assets with specific search criteria and offer a convenient search option for users from the [dashboard](/acquia-dam/what-will-i-see-dashboard "What will I see on the dashboard?"). A [preview](Do-previews-display-when-I-upload-assets) of an asset from the spotlight displays in the Spotlight Searches zone on the dashboard. Click the preview or the search name to see assets in the search. If a user has permission to view at least one asset in a Spotlight Search, they will see the Spotlight Search preview on the dashboard. When the user clicks the Spotlight Search, only assets that user has permission to view will display.   Create and save spotlight searches ---------------------------------- With permission, you can create and save spotlight searches from the [advanced search](How-do-I-perform-an-advanced-search). To create and save spotlight searches: 1. Select the advanced search, then select from the available search options. 2. Select a [metadata field](/acquia-dam/what-are-metadata-fields "What are metadata fields?") or fields to search by. 3. Enter a name for the search in the Save As field, if desired, to save the search. 4. Click **Search**.   ![This is an example advanced search for two bike models.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/1c154b17-81b7-4f0b-a651-e34fd568e889/web/ka0Pb0000006yKr00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvRE.png)   The advanced search results will display, and you can save the search as a spotlight from there. To do that: 1. Select **Save Spotlight Search** in the upper right. 2. Select a preview for the spotlight from the search results or enter keywords to search for assets to use as the preview. Note that the canvas size for the preview should be 280 x 280 px in a square format. 3. Click **Set as Preview**.   ![Choose Set as Preview to select an image as a spotlight search preview.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/24588143-36dc-4e68-baac-714ddb7e9465/web/ka0Pb0000006yKr00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvR9.png)   The spotlight search will then display in the zone on the dashboard and in the Spotlight Searches table on the Saved Searches page. If you decide not to enter a name in the Save As field, advanced search results will display and you can save the search as a spotlight by clicking **Save** and selecting **Save Spotlight Search**. Note that clicking **Save Search** in this dropdown allows you to [save an advanced search](How-do-I-perform-an-advanced-search) without turning it into a Spotlight Search. ![From search results, select Save, then Save Spotlight Search to save the search for the future.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/b6e398be-eec7-487c-a4f9-77c89e4a9e50/web/ka0Pb0000006yKr00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvRA.png) ### _Save spotlights from the Saved Searches page_ Spotlight searches can also be saved by clicking the Spotlight Search link on the Saved Searches page. ![From the Saved Searches page, click Spotlight Search to save it as spotlight.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/937b1216-17b9-421b-8b9b-3570e8bb851e/web/ka0Pb0000006yKr00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvR7.png) ### _Search criteria_ Note that searches saved as spotlights with two or more values selected in the same metadata field will be saved following Boolean "or" logic. Boolean "and" logic is followed when two different metadata fields are selected for the saved search. For example, if you select bike models of Explorer and Bliss, both of which are in the “Model” metadata field, search results will include assets tagged as Explorer OR Bliss ![Here's an example of an advanced search that will be saved following Boolean "or" logic.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/24585436-d05f-4f83-a066-f93bf300ff15/web/ka0Pb0000006yKr00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvRD.png) On the other hand, if you select date added and file format, which are two different metadata fields, search results will include assets with both a date added and the file formats selected as metadata. ![Here's an example of an advanced search that will be performed following Boolean "and" logic.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/1929dcd9-39e6-4190-8e05-4f1cb1b10975/web/ka0Pb0000006yKr00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvR8.png) Edit spotlight searches ----------------------- Edit search results for spotlight searches on the Saved Searches page. Access the page from Saved searches > View all in the More dropdown. ![Edit a spotlight search by selecting Saved searches from the More dropdown.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/7db0ba7e-7cf3-44a5-bdea-951754f595c9/web/ka0Pb0000006yKr00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvR6.png) To edit a spotlight search: 1. Go to the Saved Searches page. 2. Click **Edit** for the spotlight search to change. 3. Select advanced search metadata fields and specific metadata fields to narrow results. 4. Click **Search**.   Save the search results that display as a spotlight by clicking Save Spotlight Search.   ![Click Edit from the Saved Searches page to make changes to a saved spotlight search.](https://acquia.widen.net/content/c9269fc0-e81a-46e8-baba-af08ab600f4e/web/ka0Pb0000006yKr00N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvRC.png) Change previews --------------- Change a preview for a spotlight search by clicking the Change Preview link in the Spotlight Searches table on the Saved Searches page. Hover over the preview in the Preview column to see a larger version of the image that's being used. Create spotlight searches for categories ---------------------------------------- With permission, you can create spotlight searches for parent [categories](How-do-I-add-assets-to-categories) from the advanced search. To create spotlight searches for categories: 1. Select the **Category** advanced search option in the left navigation. 2. In the Category box, enter the exact category name listed on the site. Text entered for the category name isn't case sensitive. 3. Click **Search**. 4. From search results, follow the steps listed above to save the spotlight search. Delete spotlight searches ------------------------- You may want to remove a spotlight search from the dashboard if it's no longer a popular search or if many of the assets included have expired or been archived. Removal of spotlight searches can be done from the More dropdown. 1. Click **Saved Searches**. 2. Click **View all**. 3. Click **Delete** to remove the spotlight.