What are acceptable Searches?

Simple Searches
The simple search searches for words in the title and description fields of the Catalogue database. To perform a simple search use the "Google-style" search box in the top left hand corner of the page.

Type the word you wish to search for into the box and click the Search button.

You may wish to combine search terms in your simple searches using the Boolean "and, or, not" searching options:

+ represents Boolean And, meaning the search result must include this word
- represents Boolean Not, meaning the search result must not include this word
| represents Boolean Or, meaning the search result may include this word

Place one of these symbols before a word or phrase to apply it. If a phrase is used but no symbols are added it will be assumed that the search result must include all of the selected words. For example:

Railway -Station

Searches all fields for the word 'Railway' and excludes any records with the word 'Station' from the search results.

If you enter a field name followed by a colon then a search term, only that particular field will be searched. If no field names are specified, all configured fields are searched. For example:

Title:Railway

Searches for the word 'Railway' in the Title field only, whereas if you were to just type Railway then it would search all configured fields for the word 'Railway'.

It is important to enter search words/phrases carefully to ensure you find the intended results. For example:

Title:Railway Station

Searches for records which have the word 'Railway' in the Title field and the word 'Station' in ANY configured field.

You can also use (double) quotes around a search term to return exact matching phrases. For example:

"Railway Station"

Searches all fields looking only for the exact phrase 'Railway Station' i.e. the two words together with a space between, in the specified order.

However if you were to type:

Railway Station

This would perform a search looking for all fields for the words 'Railway' and 'Station' anywhere i.e. not necessarily next to each other or in the specified order.

Advanced Searches
Unlike quick searches, advanced searches do not require you to enter command syntax such as the Boolean symbols or to specify field names.

To perform an advanced search you just need to follow the on-screen annotations next to and inside the search entry boxes. These provide guidance on performing searches for records containing all the words entered, records containing at least one of the words entered or records without the words entered.

By default, the Boolean "And" is assumed, for example if you enter Train in the Title field and Station in the Description field, only records containing both 'Train' and 'Station' (in the respective fields) will be found, records containing just one of these words will not be shown in the search results.