Debounced Search with GlideAjax

1// Global variable to store timeout (outside function)
2var searchTimeout;
3
4function onChange(control, oldValue, newValue, isLoading, isTemplate) {
5  // Exit if form is loading
6  if (isLoading) {
7    return;
8  }
9
10  // Configuration
11  var debounceDelay = 500;  // Wait 500ms after user stops typing
12  var minSearchLength = 3;   // Minimum characters before searching
13  var resultsField = 'u_search_results';  // Field to display results
14
15  // Clear any existing timeout
16  if (searchTimeout) {
17    clearTimeout(searchTimeout);
18  }
19
20  // Clear results if search is too short
21  if (!newValue || newValue.length < minSearchLength) {
22    g_form.clearValue(resultsField);
23    g_form.hideFieldMsg(resultsField);
24    return;
25  }
26
27  // Show searching indicator
28  g_form.showFieldMsg(resultsField, 'Searching...', 'info', false);
29
30  // Set new timeout to execute search after delay
31  searchTimeout = setTimeout(function() {
32    // Make GlideAjax call to search
33    var ga = new GlideAjax('SearchUtils');  // Create corresponding Script Include
34    ga.addParam('sysparm_name', 'performSearch');
35    ga.addParam('sysparm_search_term', newValue);
36    ga.addParam('sysparm_search_table', 'cmdb_ci');  // Table to search
37    ga.addParam('sysparm_search_fields', 'name,serial_number');  // Fields to search
38
39    ga.getXMLAnswer(function(response) {
40      if (response) {
41        try {
42          var results = JSON.parse(response);
43
44          // Clear previous message
45          g_form.hideFieldMsg(resultsField);
46
47          if (results.count > 0) {
48            // Display results count
49            var message = 'Found ' + results.count + ' matching record(s)';
50            g_form.showFieldMsg(resultsField, message, 'info');
51
52            // Optionally populate a reference field with first result
53            if (results.records && results.records.length > 0) {
54              var firstResult = results.records[0];
55              // g_form.setValue('u_related_ci', firstResult.sys_id);
56            }
57
58            // Store results in hidden field or display in custom way
59            g_form.setValue(resultsField, JSON.stringify(results.records));
60          } else {
61            g_form.showFieldMsg(resultsField, 'No matching records found', 'warning');
62            g_form.clearValue(resultsField);
63          }
64        } catch (e) {
65          g_form.showFieldMsg(resultsField, 'Error parsing search results', 'error');
66          console.error('Search error:', e);
67        }
68      } else {
69        g_form.showFieldMsg(resultsField, 'Search failed - no response', 'error');
70      }
71    });
72  }, debounceDelay);
73}