When you need to find a member, jump to an event, or open a settings page, you do not have to click through the sidebar. Scoutworks has a keyboard-first search that opens anywhere in the app and jumps straight to what you need.
Opening the search
There are three ways to open it, depending on where you are:
| How | Where it works |
|---|---|
| Press Cmd + K (Mac) | Anywhere in Scoutworks |
| Press Ctrl + K (Windows, Linux) | Anywhere in Scoutworks |
| Tap the search icon | Top-right of the mobile header |
| Click Search in the sidebar | Desktop sidebar, above the navigation items |
The search dialog appears over whatever page you are on. Press Esc to close it and go back.
Cmd + K is one of many keyboard shortcuts in Scoutworks. For the full reference — jumping between pages with g then a letter, moving through tables with j / k, saving any form with Cmd + Enter, and Gmail-style email shortcuts — see Keyboard Shortcuts.
What you can find
Start typing and results appear as you go. Scoutworks searches across six areas of your group:
| Category | What it looks at |
|---|---|
| Members | First and last names, with their section shown as a sub-label |
| Events | Event titles, with the event date shown as a sub-label |
| Badges | Badge names, with the section or badge type shown as a sub-label |
| Files | File names in the Knowledge Base, with the folder as a sub-label |
| Risk Assessments | Assessment titles, with their status shown as a sub-label |
| Equipment | Item names, with asset number and category shown as a sub-label |
It also matches on:
- Navigation — type "camps", "badges" or "insights" to jump to that page
- Features & Settings — type "gift aid", "rsvp reminders" or "beta programme" to go directly to the relevant setting
Results are grouped by category, with the strongest matches at the top. If a category has more results than fit in the dialog, you will see a total count next to the heading — for example, Members (23).
Jumping to a result
Use your keyboard or your mouse:
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Up / Down arrows | Move through the list |
| Enter | Open the highlighted result |
| Click a row | Open that result |
| Click See all 23 members | Expand that category inside the dialog |
| Esc while expanded | Go back to the grouped results |
| Esc from the main view | Close the search |
When you open a member, event or risk assessment, Scoutworks takes you straight to its detail view — so you land exactly where you expected, without an extra click.
Recent items
When you open search without typing anything, the last few things you looked at appear at the top under Recent. This saves re-typing when you are moving between the same handful of members or events during a session.
Click Clear next to the Recent heading to wipe the list. Recent items are kept separately for each group you belong to, so nothing leaks between groups.
What happens when something goes wrong
The search is designed to stay out of your way even when the network has a wobble:
- Searching too fast? A yellow banner appears saying "You're searching too fast — results will appear in a moment." Keep typing; your next query will go through.
- Something unavailable? If one area of the app is slow, the banner reads "Some results may be unavailable" and the other categories still return results.
- No matches? You will see "No results for 'your search'" with a suggestion to try a different spelling or page name.
What's next
- Keyboard Shortcuts — the full reference for every shortcut in Scoutworks
- Navigating Scoutworks — a tour of the sidebar, user menu and context switcher
- Using the Dashboard — the home screen and the Actions button
- Managing Your Member List — the full members page that search opens into
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What's next?
Related guidesKeyboard Shortcuts
A reference for every keyboard shortcut in Scoutworks — navigation, actions, forms, tables, and email — with the full list always one key press away.
Read articleNavigating Scoutworks
A tour of the Scoutworks interface, including the sidebar, menus, and how to switch between groups.
Read articleUsing the Dashboard
How to use the Scoutworks dashboard to see upcoming events, pending actions, and quick-access features.
Read articleManaging Your Member List
How to view, search, filter, and perform bulk actions on your group's member list.
Read article