Find Anything on M-Board
One search bar for the entire platform — members, files, events, polls, elections, and notes — all accessible in seconds from any page.
Opening the Search Overlay
The search overlay is always one step away. Use the search icon in the navigation bar or press Ctrl + K (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ K (Mac) from any page. The full-screen overlay opens instantly — no page reload.
Search Scopes — 6 Categories
Use the scope strip at the top of the overlay to narrow your search to one content type. The active scope is highlighted in amber.
- Everything — searches all six content types simultaneously. Results are grouped by type.
- Members — search by name, role, designation, or department.
- Files — search by file title across all files you are permitted to see.
- Events — search published events by title.
- Notes — search published event notes.
- Polls — search active and upcoming polls by title.
- Elections — search active and upcoming elections by title.
Using Results
Results appear as you type — no need to press Enter. Each card is a direct link:
- Member cards open the full member profile.
- File cards open the file inline (PDF, image) or trigger a download, exactly as in the File Browser.
- Event cards go directly to the event detail page.
- Poll cards go to the poll response page.
- Election cards go to the ballot page.
- If there are more results than the initial set, a Load more button appears at the bottom of the results list.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + K / ⌘ K | Opens the search overlay from any page. |
| Esc | Closes the overlay and returns focus to where you were. |
Permission-Aware Results
Search results respect every visibility rule on the platform. Department-restricted files, private events, and member-only elections only appear if you are eligible to access them. You will never see a result you cannot open.
Mobile Behaviour
On small screens the scope strip scrolls horizontally so all six scopes remain accessible without wrapping. Results stack into a single column. File action buttons appear vertically on the right side of each file card to conserve space.
Troubleshooting Search
- No results returned — check your spelling, try a shorter term, or switch scope to Everything.
- Expected file not showing — the file may be restricted to a department or specific users you are not part of. Contact the file owner or an administrator.
- Overlay does not open with Ctrl+K — some browser extensions capture this shortcut. Try clicking the search icon in the navigation bar instead.
- Results seem stale — the search queries the server live on every keystroke. Retype your query or refresh the overlay.