So, I could select a parcel graphically with this tool, then switch to the spatial search and buffer the selected parcel and grab the parcels inside the buffer correct?
<expression useforspatial="true">upper(PPIN) = upper('[value]%')</expression>
then you would only have to have the actual parcel number in the second layers where textbox. so instead of PPIN = '1998' than you would have just 1998. In my cadastral data a PPIN is a small unique ID for each parcel so that you don't have to type the whole 16 digit parcel number.