diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 9550eeb..5d376de 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 ## GENERAL
     * search allow noo
+        - PREFS:
+            - allow default and choosing search noo 
+            - can't force fullscreen on page load, so remove it from prefs
+        - also need to extend the OPT.order / eval usage to the Fold views
+        -- also, does search of matching dirname give all entries of subdirs of subdirs, etc. (think not) -- maybe a TODO?
 
     * [DONE] order/ find face with largest size and at least show that as unmatched
         - could also try to check it vs. other faces, if it matches more than say 10? we offer it up as a required ref img, then cut that face (with margin) out and use it is a new ref image / person
diff --git a/files.py b/files.py
index 3f7e63a..6710733 100644
--- a/files.py
+++ b/files.py
@@ -200,26 +200,17 @@ def GetEntriesInFlatView( OPT, prefix ):
     entries=[]
     num_entries=0
 
-    if OPT.noo == "Oldest":
-        entries+=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).order_by(File.year,File.month,File.day,Entry.name).offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()
-        last_entry=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).order_by(File.year.desc(),File.month.desc(),File.day.desc(),Entry.name.desc()).limit(1)
-    elif OPT.noo == "Newest":
-        entries+=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).order_by(File.year.desc(),File.month.desc(),File.day.desc(),Entry.name).offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()
-        last_entry=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).order_by(File.year,File.month,File.day,Entry.name).limit(1)
-    elif OPT.noo == "Z to A":
-        entries+=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).order_by(Entry.name.desc()).offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()
-        last_entry=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).order_by(Entry.name).limit(1)
-    else:
-        entries+=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).order_by(Entry.name).offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()
-        last_entry=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).order_by(Entry.name.desc()).limit(1)
+    join = "Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix)"
+    entries = eval( f"{join}.{OPT.order}.offset({OPT.offset}).limit({OPT.how_many}).all()" )
+
     if OPT.first_eid == 0 and OPT.offset == 0 and len(entries):
         OPT.first_eid = entries[0].id
 
     if OPT.last_eid==0:
-        num_entries=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).join(PathDirLink).join(Path).filter(Path.path_prefix==prefix).count()
-        le=last_entry.all()
-        if len(le):
-            OPT.last_eid = le[0].id
+        num_entries = eval( f"{join}.count()" )
+        last_entry = eval( f"{join}.{OPT.last_order}.limit(1).first()" )
+        if last_entry:
+            OPT.last_eid = last_entry.id
 
     return entries, num_entries
 
@@ -278,76 +269,111 @@ def GetEntriesInFolderView( OPT, prefix ):
     entries += file_entries;
     return entries, num_entries
 
+
+################################################################################
+# GetEntriesInSearchView: func. to retrieve DB entries appropriate for Search view
+# Defaults search is for any matching filename, contents of any matching dirname
+# and any match with AI / face for that term.   Explicit, only AI match via
+# AI:<tag> syntax
+################################################################################
+def GetEntriesInSearchView( OPT ):
+    search_term=OPT.orig_search_term
+    if 'AI:' in OPT.orig_search_term:
+        search_term = search_term.replace('AI:','')
+    join=f"Entry.query.join(File).distinct().join(FaceFileLink).join(Face).join(FaceRefimgLink).join(Refimg).join(PersonRefimgLink).join(Person).filter(Person.tag.ilike('%{search_term}%'))"
+    if 'AI:' in OPT.orig_search_term:
+        all_entries = eval( f"{join}.{OPT.order}.offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()")
+        if OPT.last_eid == 0:
+            OPT.num_entries = eval( f"{join}.count()" )
+            last_entry = eval( f"{join}.{OPT.last_order}.limit(1).first()" )
+            if last_entry:
+                OPT.last_eid = last_entry.id
+    else:
+        file_data=eval( f"Entry.query.join(File).filter(Entry.name.ilike('%{search_term}%')).{OPT.order}.offset({OPT.offset}).limit({OPT.how_many}).all()" )
+        dir_data =eval( f"Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).filter(Dir.rel_path.ilike('%{search_term}%')).{OPT.order}.offset({OPT.offset}).limit({OPT.how_many}).all()" )
+        ai_data  =eval( f"{join}.{OPT.order}.offset({OPT.offset}).limit({OPT.how_many}).all()")
+
+        # remove any duplicates from combined data
+        all_entries = []
+        for f in file_data:
+            all_entries.append(f)
+        for d in dir_data:
+            add_it=1
+            for f in file_data:
+                if d.name == f.name:
+                    add_it=0
+                    break
+            if add_it:
+                all_entries.append(d)
+        for a in ai_data:
+            add_it=1
+            for f in file_data:
+                if a.name == f.name:
+                    add_it=0
+                    break
+            if add_it:
+                all_entries.append(a)
+
+        # for all searches first_entry is worked out when first_eid not set yet & offset is 0 and we have some entries
+        if OPT.first_eid == 0 and OPT.offset == 0 and len(all_entries):
+            OPT.first_eid = all_entries[0].id
+        if OPT.last_eid == 0:
+            by_fname=  f"select e.id from entry e where e.name ilike '%%{search_term}%%'"
+            by_dirname=f"select e.id from entry e, entry_dir_link edl where edl.entry_id = e.id and edl.dir_eid in ( select d.eid from dir d where d.rel_path ilike '%%{search_term}%%' )"
+            by_ai     =f"select e.id from entry e, face_file_link ffl, face_refimg_link frl, person_refimg_link prl, person p where e.id =  ffl.file_eid and frl.face_id = ffl.face_id and frl.refimg_id = prl.refimg_id and prl.person_id = p.id and  p.tag ilike '%%{search_term}%%'"
+
+            sel_no_order=f"select e.*, f.* from entry e, file f where e.id=f.eid and e.id in ( {by_fname} union {by_dirname} union {by_ai} ) "
+
+            #num_entries 
+            num_e_sql = f"select count(1) from ( {by_fname} union {by_dirname} union {by_ai} ) as foo"
+            num_e_result = db.engine.execute( num_e_sql )
+            for res in num_e_result:
+                OPT.num_entries=res.count
+
+            last_entry_sql= f"{sel_no_order} order by {OPT.last_order_raw} limit 1"
+            last_entry=db.engine.execute( last_entry_sql )
+            # can only be 1 due to limit above
+            for l in last_entry:
+                OPT.last_eid = l.id
+            # store first/last eid into prefs
+            pref=PA_UserState.query.filter(PA_UserState.pa_user_dn==current_user.dn,PA_UserState.path_type==OPT.path_type,PA_UserState.orig_ptype==OPT.orig_ptype,PA_UserState.orig_search_term==search_term).first()
+            UpdatePref( pref, OPT )
+    return all_entries
+
+################################################################################
+# set up "order strings" to use in ORM and raw queries as needed for
+# GetEntries*Search*, GetEntries*Flat*, GetEntries*Fold*
+################################################################################
+def SetOrderStrings( OPT ):
+    if OPT.noo == "Newest":
+        OPT.order="order_by(File.year.desc(),File.month.desc(),File.day.desc(),Entry.name.desc())"
+        OPT.last_order="order_by(File.year,File.month,File.day,Entry.name)"
+        OPT.last_order_raw=f"f.year, f.month, f.day, e.name"
+    elif OPT.noo == "Oldest":
+        OPT.order="order_by(File.year,File.month,File.day,Entry.name)"
+        OPT.last_order="order_by(File.year.desc(),File.month.desc(),File.day.desc(),Entry.name.desc())"
+        OPT.last_order_raw=f"f.year desc, f.month desc, f.day desc, e.name desc"
+    elif OPT.noo == "Z to A":
+        OPT.order="order_by(Entry.name.desc())"
+        OPT.last_order="order_by(Entry.name)"
+        OPT.last_order_raw=f"e.name"
+    else:
+        # A to Z
+        OPT.order="order_by(Entry.name)"
+        OPT.last_order="order_by(Entry.name.desc())"
+        OPT.last_order_raw=f"e.name desc"
+    return
+
 ################################################################################
 # /GetEntries -> helper function that Gets Entries for required files to show
 # for several routes (files_ip, files_sp, files_rbp, search, viewlist)
 ################################################################################
 def GetEntries( OPT ):
     entries=[]
+
+    SetOrderStrings( OPT )
     if OPT.path_type == 'Search' or (OPT.path_type == 'View' and OPT.orig_ptype=='Search'):
-        search_term=OPT.orig_search_term
-        if 'AI:' in search_term:
-            search_term = search_term.replace('AI:','')
-            all_entries = Entry.query.join(File).distinct().join(FaceFileLink).join(Face).join(FaceRefimgLink).join(Refimg).join(PersonRefimgLink).join(Person).filter(Person.tag.ilike(f"%{search_term}%")).order_by(File.year.desc(),File.month.desc(),File.day.desc(),Entry.name).offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()
-            if OPT.last_eid == 0:
-                OPT.num_entries = Entry.query.join(File).distinct().join(FaceFileLink).join(Face).join(FaceRefimgLink).join(Refimg).join(PersonRefimgLink).join(Person).filter(Person.tag.ilike(f"%{search_term}%")).count()
-                last_entry=Entry.query.join(File).distinct().join(FaceFileLink).join(Face).join(FaceRefimgLink).join(Refimg).join(PersonRefimgLink).join(Person).filter(Person.tag.ilike(f"%{search_term}%")).order_by(File.year,File.month,File.day,Entry.name.desc()).limit(1).all()
-                if len(last_entry):
-                    OPT.last_eid = last_entry[0].id
-        else:
-            file_data=Entry.query.join(File).filter(Entry.name.ilike(f"%{search_term}%")).order_by(File.year.desc(),File.month.desc(),File.day.desc(),Entry.name).offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()
-            dir_data=Entry.query.join(File).join(EntryDirLink).join(Dir).filter(Dir.rel_path.ilike(f"%{search_term}%")).order_by(File.year.desc(),File.month.desc(),File.day.desc(),Entry.name).offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()
-            ai_data=Entry.query.join(File).join(FaceFileLink).join(Face).join(FaceRefimgLink).join(Refimg).join(PersonRefimgLink).join(Person).filter(Person.tag.ilike(f"%{search_term}%")).order_by(File.year.desc(),File.month.desc(),File.day.desc(),Entry.name).offset(OPT.offset).limit(OPT.how_many).all()
-
-            # remove any duplicates from combined data
-            all_entries = []
-            for f in file_data:
-                all_entries.append(f)
-            for d in dir_data:
-                add_it=1
-                for f in file_data:
-                    if d.name == f.name:
-                        add_it=0
-                        break
-                if add_it:
-                    all_entries.append(d)
-            for a in ai_data:
-                add_it=1
-                for f in file_data:
-                    if a.name == f.name:
-                        add_it=0
-                        break
-                if add_it:
-                    all_entries.append(a)
-
-            # for all searches first_entry is worked out when first_eid not set yet & offset is 0 and we have some entries
-            if OPT.first_eid == 0 and OPT.offset == 0 and len(all_entries):
-                OPT.first_eid = all_entries[0].id
-            if OPT.last_eid == 0:
-                by_fname=  f"select e.id from entry e where e.name ilike '%%{search_term}%%'"
-                by_dirname=f"select e.id from entry e, entry_dir_link edl where edl.entry_id = e.id and edl.dir_eid in ( select d.eid from dir d where d.rel_path ilike '%%{search_term}%%' )"
-                by_ai     =f"select e.id from entry e, face_file_link ffl, face_refimg_link frl, person_refimg_link prl, person p where e.id =  ffl.file_eid and frl.face_id = ffl.face_id and frl.refimg_id = prl.refimg_id and prl.person_id = p.id and  p.tag ilike '%%{search_term}%%'"
-
-                sel_no_order=f"select e.*, f.* from entry e, file f where e.id=f.eid and e.id in ( {by_fname} union {by_dirname} union {by_ai} ) "
-                order_desc=f"f.year desc, f.month desc, f.day desc, e.name"
-                order_asc=f"f.year, f.month, f.day, e.name desc"
-
-                #num_entries 
-                num_e_sql = f"select count(1) from ( {by_fname} union {by_dirname} union {by_ai} ) as foo"
-                num_e_result = db.engine.execute( num_e_sql )
-                for res in num_e_result:
-                    OPT.num_entries=res.count
-
-                last_entry_sql= f"{sel_no_order} order by {order_asc} limit 1"
-                last_entry=db.engine.execute( last_entry_sql )
-                # can only be 1 due to limit above
-                for l in last_entry:
-                    OPT.last_eid = l.id
-                # store first/last eid into prefs
-                pref=PA_UserState.query.filter(PA_UserState.pa_user_dn==current_user.dn,PA_UserState.path_type==OPT.path_type,PA_UserState.orig_ptype==OPT.orig_ptype,PA_UserState.orig_search_term==search_term).first()
-                UpdatePref( pref, OPT )
-
-        return all_entries
+        return GetEntriesInSearchView( OPT )
 
     # if we are a view, then it will be of something else, e.g. a list of
     # import, storage, or bin images, reset OPT.path_type so that the paths array below works
diff --git a/internal/js/files_support.js b/internal/js/files_support.js
index e41639a..affe785 100644
--- a/internal/js/files_support.js
+++ b/internal/js/files_support.js
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+// this is needed as serliazeArray doesnt handle spaces in values
+// so we wrap it in this func
+$.fn.serializeAndEncode = function() {
+    return $.map(this.serializeArray(), function(val) {
+        return [val.name, encodeURIComponent(val.value)].join('=');
+    }).join('&');
+};
+
 // grab all selected thumbnails and return a <div> containing the thumbnails
 // with extra yr and date attached as attributes so we can set the default
 // dir name for a move directory - not used in del, but no harm to include them
diff --git a/states.py b/states.py
index bec0f8f..d289c73 100644
--- a/states.py
+++ b/states.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ class States(PA):
                 else:
                     # is a search so...
                     print( "For now, search defaults for noo / folders are hardcoded" )
-                    self.noo = 'Oldest'
+                    self.noo = 'Newest'
                     self.folders=False
                 
             self.cwd=self.root
diff --git a/templates/files.html b/templates/files.html
index 058cd05..5995298 100644
--- a/templates/files.html
+++ b/templates/files.html
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@
                         <span class="alert alert-primary p-2">Searched for: '{{search_term}}'</span>
                     </div class="col my-auto">
                     <script>
-                        $('#noo').prop('disabled', 'disabled').removeClass('border-info').addClass('border-secondary').removeClass('text-info').addClass('text-secondary');
                         $('#folders').prop('disabled', 'disabled').removeClass('border-info').addClass('border-secondary').removeClass('text-info').addClass('text-secondary');
                     </script>
                 {% endif %}
@@ -258,11 +257,11 @@
                 <input type="hidden" name="cwd" id="cwd" value="{{OPT.cwd}}">
                 <div class="row">
                     <div class="col my-auto d-flex justify-content-center">
-                        <button aria-label="prev" onClick="$.each( $('#main_form').serializeArray() , function( index, value ) { $('#nav_form').append( '<input type=hidden name=' + value['name'] +' value='+value['value'] + '>' ); })" id="prev" name="prev" class="prev sm-txt btn btn-outline-secondary">
+                        <button aria-label="prev" onClick="$.each( $('#main_form').serializeAndEncode() , function( index, value ) { $('#nav_form').append( '<input type=hidden name=' + value['name'] +' value='+value['value'] + '>' ); })" id="prev" name="prev" class="prev sm-txt btn btn-outline-secondary">
                             <svg width="16" height="16" fill="currentColor"><use xlink:href="{{url_for('internal', filename='icons.svg')}}#prev"/></svg>
                         </button>
                         <span class="sm-txt my-auto">&nbsp;{{OPT.how_many}} files&nbsp;</span>
-                        <button aria-label="next" onClick="$.each( $('#main_form').serializeArray() , function( index, value ) { $('#nav_form').append( '<input type=hidden name=' + value['name'] +' value='+value['value'] + '>' ); });" id="next" {{nxt_disabled}} name="next" class="next sm-txt btn btn-outline-secondary">
+                        <button aria-label="next" onClick="$.each( $('#main_form').serializeAndEncode() , function( index, value ) { $('#nav_form').append( '<input type=hidden name=' + value['name'] +' value='+value['value'] + '>' ); });" id="next" {{nxt_disabled}} name="next" class="next sm-txt btn btn-outline-secondary">
                             <svg width="16" height="16" fill="currentColor"><use xlink:href="{{url_for('internal', filename='icons.svg')}}#next"/></svg>
                         </button>
                     </div>