1. A method for searching documents created in a collaboration environment, comprising: a user entering search criteria in a search engine for a database comprising documents of users of a collaboration environment, wherein the search criteria comprises a short-hand notation; searching the user's short-hand dictionary according to the search criteria, wherein interpretations for the short-hand notation found in the user short-hand dictionary are obtained; updating the search criteria by adding obtained interpretations for the short-hand notation; and passing the updated search criteria to a server, said server receiving the updated search criteria, locating documents in the database comprising the updated search criteria, and providing a list of located documents to the user; wherein if the updated search criteria comprises a short-hand notation whose interpretation was not found in the user dictionary, documents are searched for the short-hand notation; locating documents in the database comprising the short-hand notation; combining the located documents comprising the short-hand notation with the located documents comprising the updated search criteria; and passing the combined located documents to the user; wherein if the updated search criteria comprises a short-hand notation whose interpretation was not found in the user dictionary and a full search is desired, searching the short-hand dictionaries of all users working on the located documents comprising the short-hand notation; adding interpretations of the short-hand notation from their short-hand dictionaries to the search criteria; locating documents in the database comprising the updated search criteria; and passing the located documents to the user.