I have searched the forums and looked all over - is there any way to search within one specific book (on the web, not the app)? A friend bought several books and is content sharing them so I can run Hoard of the Dragon Queen for a group. I often want to search only the DMG for something, or only HotDQ, but I can't seem to find anyway to limit the search that way. (I do see I can filter by monsters, items, spells, compendium, etc.)
Right now I have to try a bunch of searches in the universal search and scrub through tons of results, or I have to guess at the chapter and use my browser to search for a word / phrase
Am I missing something, or do I need to go post in Feedback?
We need this feature. I need to search for particular books all the time and it wastes so much time at the table looking the current way. Opening a book is faster most of the time.
When I needed to look up an optional rules like "groups of monsters attacking". I didn't remember the search words "handling mobs", but I know it is in the DMG somewhere. I even know which page but not the section heading. So the book was faster. Then there's when I know the encounter, rule, or random table I want is in for example Ghost of Saltmarsh.
The funny thing is in the app for DnDBeyond you can search in a book, but it's not an option on the website.
Regarding the ability to find the information in the book faster, that has to do with your familiarity with the text. But I agree that it might be useful to be able to fine tune the filter.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
As the DM (I'm guessing you're the DM by the way you phrased the problem), you need to be more prepared than the players. The DM has to have notes on where some of these obvious sections are in the book, you shouldn't be suddenly thinking "Oh, here's an encounter with 6 x-type creatures and 4 y-type creatures against the party... How do I do mass combat?" especially when you knew that was a situation in the adventure you are running.
Homework's terrible, but it becomes easier, and after an adventure or two, you know exactly what pages/sections you need to turn to. You need to prepare at least for what you know is going to happen. Players already do the weirdest stuff at the most random of times and its a fair call when you have to say "Uh, let me look that up...".
Seth Skorkowsky (a very cool youtuber) calls it the Social Contract. there's what the DM is supposed to do and what the players are supposed to do. Being prepared is everyone's role.
I'm talking about during prep. I do not know which pages to turn when an adventure spreads NPC information across multiple chapters (like HotDQ) even though I've read the book, because I might only kind of remember "didn't it say something about X..."
This feature, which is already in the mobile app but not on the website, would be useful for prep, before and after having first read the adventure, during play for those that like to reference the book during play, and when trying to find rules information and the general search returns way too many results to be useful. (I can't remember the search term I used recently, but an example would be searching for stats for basic equipment. It brought up results from nearly every adventure. Being able to turn off all the books except the one or two I think I read it in, would be helpful.)
I'm talking about during prep. I do not know which pages to turn when an adventure spreads NPC information across multiple chapters (like HotDQ) even though I've read the book, because I might only kind of remember "didn't it say something about X..."
This feature, which is already in the mobile app but not on the website, would be useful for prep, before and after having first read the adventure, during play for those that like to reference the book during play, and when trying to find rules information and the general search returns way too many results to be useful. (I can't remember the search term I used recently, but an example would be searching for stats for basic equipment. It brought up results from nearly every adventure. Being able to turn off all the books except the one or two I think I read it in, would be helpful.)
Same for me. I was prepping/brainstorming a horde encounter and know there is a faster way handle it in the DMG.
It is absurd that it is over a year later and they still haven't created searchable text. When someone tells me "it's on page 191 of the PHB" I need the ability to actually go to page 191 of the PHB and not guess how many chapters into the book page 191 is.
Unfortunately it's still not what I'm looking for. :( This is limited to searching monsters, spells, etc. I'm trying to search the actual text of the books. Like, an NPC or city name. Or "I remember it talked about the Zhentarim but I can't remember where." That kind of stuff. Also, it'd be helpful just for searching rules, because I can search for say, "equipment" looking for the section in the PHB on equipment, but get a ton of different hits. The option to quickly limit sources in the "everything" search would be super helpful. Or even, just a search field at top of the page in all the sources, that searched only the book you were in at the moment. Control/Command - F is helpful, but is still limited to only one chapter at a time.
Think like, just wanting a search a PDF of the book. You just search in that document and you're good to go. I'd like the same possibility here. :)
Well, if you use the search bar at the top of the screen, once you’re on the results page you can limit it to just compendiums or other things like that. So when I search that piece of equipment and get I’ll those results as soon as I limit the search to “compendiums” then usually what I actually was looking for shoots to the top of the results page. Does that help at all?
Thank you. It is helpful, and I do use that. I just have a lot of times where I know what I'm looking, or part of what I'm looking for, but when I search for it I get a HUGE list of things that have one or some of the words in it. If I could quickly narrow the search to a book, it would just save me a lot of time digging through results.
A random example. Let's say I remember my players got a pony statue as loot, but I forgot to tell them how much it's worth, or maybe I didn't want to tell them until they try to sell it. It's been months, now they try to sell it If I search for "pony" I find all sorts of stuff, but if I could limit it to the adventure we are running, chances are that word only comes up a few times and I could instantly find it. (This isn't a great example because this is an easy thing to make up on the spot, but you get the idea.)
I know there are a lot of things that can help narrow searches, and I'm grateful for them. This just seems like a pretty basic request—"be able to search (just) the book I bought"—in fact this feature exists in the mobile app—so I'm always frustrated when I run into the (many) times I could use it. I've run adventures in other systems out of PDFs before, and being able to search just that PDF is super useful.
I know it's not a huge thing, but it's something that, for me, would really enhance the experience, and all the bits of time it would save add up.
I have searched the forums and looked all over - is there any way to search within one specific book (on the web, not the app)? A friend bought several books and is content sharing them so I can run Hoard of the Dragon Queen for a group. I often want to search only the DMG for something, or only HotDQ, but I can't seem to find anyway to limit the search that way. (I do see I can filter by monsters, items, spells, compendium, etc.)
Right now I have to try a bunch of searches in the universal search and scrub through tons of results, or I have to guess at the chapter and use my browser to search for a word / phrase
Am I missing something, or do I need to go post in Feedback?
I don't see a way to search a specific book either, which is a shame.
The quickest way I can think of would be to go to "Compendium" then select the DMG, then search that table of contents page and go from there.
If it's a feature you want (and I agree it would be a helpful one) posting it in Feedback is a good idea.
We need this feature. I need to search for particular books all the time and it wastes so much time at the table looking the current way. Opening a book is faster most of the time.
Could you give an example?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
When I needed to look up an optional rules like "groups of monsters attacking". I didn't remember the search words "handling mobs", but I know it is in the DMG somewhere. I even know which page but not the section heading. So the book was faster. Then there's when I know the encounter, rule, or random table I want is in for example Ghost of Saltmarsh.
The funny thing is in the app for DnDBeyond you can search in a book, but it's not an option on the website.
Regarding the ability to find the information in the book faster, that has to do with your familiarity with the text. But I agree that it might be useful to be able to fine tune the filter.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
As the DM (I'm guessing you're the DM by the way you phrased the problem), you need to be more prepared than the players. The DM has to have notes on where some of these obvious sections are in the book, you shouldn't be suddenly thinking "Oh, here's an encounter with 6 x-type creatures and 4 y-type creatures against the party... How do I do mass combat?" especially when you knew that was a situation in the adventure you are running.
Homework's terrible, but it becomes easier, and after an adventure or two, you know exactly what pages/sections you need to turn to. You need to prepare at least for what you know is going to happen. Players already do the weirdest stuff at the most random of times and its a fair call when you have to say "Uh, let me look that up...".
Seth Skorkowsky (a very cool youtuber) calls it the Social Contract. there's what the DM is supposed to do and what the players are supposed to do. Being prepared is everyone's role.
I'm talking about during prep. I do not know which pages to turn when an adventure spreads NPC information across multiple chapters (like HotDQ) even though I've read the book, because I might only kind of remember "didn't it say something about X..."
This feature, which is already in the mobile app but not on the website, would be useful for prep, before and after having first read the adventure, during play for those that like to reference the book during play, and when trying to find rules information and the general search returns way too many results to be useful. (I can't remember the search term I used recently, but an example would be searching for stats for basic equipment. It brought up results from nearly every adventure. Being able to turn off all the books except the one or two I think I read it in, would be helpful.)
Same for me. I was prepping/brainstorming a horde encounter and know there is a faster way handle it in the DMG.
It is absurd that it is over a year later and they still haven't created searchable text. When someone tells me "it's on page 191 of the PHB" I need the ability to actually go to page 191 of the PHB and not guess how many chapters into the book page 191 is.
Yeah its a pain when you are searching for spells and a lot of other stuff comes up . Then I have scroll through the list to find the PHB entry.
Obviously it does make a lot of things easier but it would nice to restrict the sources being searched.
You can restrict sources when you search. Follow the link and click/tap “Show Advanced Filters”
https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells?filter-class=0&filter-search=&filter-verbal=&filter-somatic=&filter-material=&filter-concentration=&filter-ritual=&filter-sub-class=&filter-source=4&filter-source=2
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Well that is well hidden, finally I can search only the monster manual too
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters?filter-class=0&filter-search=&filter-verbal=&filter-somatic=&filter-material=&filter-concentration=&filter-ritual=&filter-sub-class=&filter-source=4&filter-source=2
Happy to help.
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Thanks! This is helpful! I use it often.
Unfortunately it's still not what I'm looking for. :( This is limited to searching monsters, spells, etc. I'm trying to search the actual text of the books. Like, an NPC or city name. Or "I remember it talked about the Zhentarim but I can't remember where." That kind of stuff. Also, it'd be helpful just for searching rules, because I can search for say, "equipment" looking for the section in the PHB on equipment, but get a ton of different hits. The option to quickly limit sources in the "everything" search would be super helpful. Or even, just a search field at top of the page in all the sources, that searched only the book you were in at the moment. Control/Command - F is helpful, but is still limited to only one chapter at a time.
Think like, just wanting a search a PDF of the book. You just search in that document and you're good to go. I'd like the same possibility here. :)
Well, if you use the search bar at the top of the screen, once you’re on the results page you can limit it to just compendiums or other things like that. So when I search that piece of equipment and get I’ll those results as soon as I limit the search to “compendiums” then usually what I actually was looking for shoots to the top of the results page. Does that help at all?
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Thank you. It is helpful, and I do use that. I just have a lot of times where I know what I'm looking, or part of what I'm looking for, but when I search for it I get a HUGE list of things that have one or some of the words in it. If I could quickly narrow the search to a book, it would just save me a lot of time digging through results.
A random example. Let's say I remember my players got a pony statue as loot, but I forgot to tell them how much it's worth, or maybe I didn't want to tell them until they try to sell it. It's been months, now they try to sell it If I search for "pony" I find all sorts of stuff, but if I could limit it to the adventure we are running, chances are that word only comes up a few times and I could instantly find it. (This isn't a great example because this is an easy thing to make up on the spot, but you get the idea.)
I know there are a lot of things that can help narrow searches, and I'm grateful for them. This just seems like a pretty basic request—"be able to search (just) the book I bought"—in fact this feature exists in the mobile app—so I'm always frustrated when I run into the (many) times I could use it. I've run adventures in other systems out of PDFs before, and being able to search just that PDF is super useful.
I know it's not a huge thing, but it's something that, for me, would really enhance the experience, and all the bits of time it would save add up.
I don’t argue, I am just a helpful site user trying to inform you of all the options currently available to us as users. Just trying to be helpful.
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And you have been! Thanks!
I cannot tell if you are too nice for the internet, or just nice enough to be the internet’s Kryptonite, but don’t ever change.
PS- Glad to be of assistance.
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