Latest Update: 6-8-2026
Universal Search is a keyboard-driven search feature, accessible from any view in your project. It searches your project's elements by name or ID, and surfaces results in real time as you type.
Open Universal Search from the search box at the top left, next to the project name, or press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Command+K (Mac).
One search runs across element names, table columns, notes, and comments at the same time.
Click any result to jump straight to it. The matching keyword is highlighted so it is easy to spot.
See also: [Using Universal Search] (main article) and Adding Comments and Notes to an Element.
How to Open Universal Search
Press CMD+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows) from anywhere in your project, or click the Search icon on the top of your screen, left of your project name
When the search modal opens, type at least 2 characters to start seeing results
Note: Search is not case sensitive and matches against both names and IDs
Press Escape or click outside the modal to close Universal Search
Navigate to an Element
Use Universal Search to jump directly to any activity, task, milestone, or group by name or ID
Open Universal Search and type the name or ID of the element you're looking for
Matching results appear under the Elements section. Each result shows the element name and its WBS breadcrumb path so you know exactly where it lives in your schedule.
Click on a result, or use the ↑ / ↓ arrow keys to highlight it and press Enter, to navigate directly to that element
How to Navigate to a Code in the Table
Open Universal Search by pressing CMD+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows), or click the search icon in the toolbar.
Type the name of the column header you're looking for. Matching table headers will appear in the results.
Click the result or press Enter to navigate directly to that column in the project table.
Search Your Notes and Comments
Press CMD+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows) from anywhere in your project, or click the Search icon on the top of your screen, left of your project name. Start typing any word from your note or comment to quickly navigate to it.
Search Table Columns
Open Universal Search and type the name of the column you want, for example "Early Start" or a trade code.
Click the column result to jump straight to that column in your table.
Tips and Shortcuts
Use partial matches: you don't need the exact name. Type "concrete" to find "Concrete Foundation Pour"
Search by ID: if you know the element ID, type it directly for instant results
Use Escape to close the search modal without selecting a result
The search function works across your entire project schedule
Keep your hands on the keyboard: use CMD+K / Ctrl+K to open, ↑ / ↓ to navigate results, Enter to select, and Escape to close
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open Universal Search?
Press Cmd+K on Mac or Ctrl+K on Windows and Linux. You can also click the Search button (magnifying glass) in the top navigation bar.
Can I search by activity ID?
Yes. Type the full or partial activity ID and Universal Search will return matching elements. This is useful if you have the ID from a report or communication.
What if my search returns no results?
Check the spelling of the activity or milestone name, or try a different keyword. The search uses partial matching, so fewer characters often return broader results. If the element exists in your project, a partial match should find it.
Can I search across multiple projects at once?
No. Universal Search works within a single project schedule. Open the project first, then use Universal Search to find elements within that project.
Can I search notes and comments at the same time?
Yes. A single search runs across element names, table columns, notes, and comments together, so you do not have to pick a category first.
When I click a result, will it show me what I searched for?
Yes. Planera takes you to the matching activity, note, comment, or column and highlights the keyword so it is easy to spot.
Why can't I find a comment I wrote in a different version of the schedule?
Universal Search looks within the version of the project you currently have open. It does not search across other project versions. Comments are version-specific, if you need information to be available across versions be sure to use notes.