Filters for multple display regions-2 tables

Hello,

I just wanted to run this by everyone to get your thoughts before I spend a lot time only to find I've done it wrong.

Here's what I want to do: I've got a results page that will display data in several different repeat regions, one is for new products, another for articles, one for videos and one where I would like to pull related threads from my forum. Since I want to pull data from the forum threads that also means I'll have to use 2 tables.

I would like to have it set up to filter the information in all regions so that when a search was done it would update all display regions to that search term. I would like to have two search options, one search option would be a drop down list and the other method would be a search text box to do a fulltext search.

Can I accomplish all of this with DataAssist Search?

Please remember that this is my first bout with PHP so unfortunately I need the answers to be explained rather well. I'm learning as fast as I can but I've also got to get this site up and running as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Roger