The Search Screen
Entering Search Criteria
Using the Glossaries
Simple Searches
Advanced Searches
"All Files" Searches


The Search Screen

For all types of searches, the basic search screen contains two zones:

• the zone in which you enter search criteria is on the left,
  
  
• the zone on the right allows you to define: 1) how the results will be sorted (by title, by country, etc.); 2) the number of records you want to be displayed per page (the higher the number, the longer it will take for the search results to be displayed; the default value is 10 records per page); and 3) a result heading (optional): this allows you to define the title that will be displayed on the top of each page of search results. This can be useful if you want to print out the result pages to save your search results.
  

Sort Criteria

You can define the order in which your search results will be displayed. You can combine up to three different criteria.

Please not that the search results are first displayed in the form of an abbreviated list. Accordingly, some of the fields by which you are sorting might not appear in this abbreviated list.

Entering Search Criteria

You can either type the search value directly into the field or select the value from the glossary.

You can also use wildcards (*) to search for records containing words or partial words. For example, if you want to search for records on fruits, you can:

• select the term "FRUIT" in the glossary or type it directly into the field;
  
  
• if you add a wildcard before the word FRUIT (type: "*fruit"), the search will be extended to all records whose keywords contain the word "fruit": records on dried fruits, candied fruits, etc. If you do not use wildcards (either before or after the word), only the records indexed on the word FRUIT will be sought.
  

NOTE: If you want to see all the records in the database, all you have to do is run a search without entering any criteria.


How the Glossaries Work

There are two types of glossaries: glossaries in drop-down lists and glossaries available by clicking on the "glossary" buttons.



Glossaries accessible using the "glossary" button are large (keywords, for example). They offer two possibilities:

• the alphabet in the lower right corner allows you to display a list of terms starting with a particular letter,
  
  
• if you do not know the specific term you want in the glossary, the search function lets you display all the terms containing a specific term: search for all keywords containing the word "fruit" for example. All you need to do is type the word in the search field and click on the "find" button: all the terms in the glossary containing the word "fruit" will be displayed (dry fruits, candied fruits, etc.).
  

Simple Searches

Simple searches are carried out on a limited and pre-determined number of search fields.

You can fill in one or several search fields. All the proposed criteria are optional.

Only one search value can be indicated per section. When more than one search sections are filled in, the search operator "AND" is activated between the different values sought. Example: keyword "fruit" AND country "Senegal".


Advanced Searches

Advanced searches let you customise your searches by choosing which fields you want to search and choosing how to combine them using the operators "AND", "OR", and "BUT NOT".

You can combine three different search fields. At each stage, select the field you want to search from the drop-down list and choose your search operator. In the example below: the search combines the fields "keywords" and "country".

"All Files" Searches

All folders searches allow you to run a search on all 6 folders or on a sub-selection of 2, 3, 4, or 5 folders. To select the folders that you want to search, place your cursor over the name of the first folder you want to search, click on the name, and then press and hold down the "ctrl" key on your keyboard to select additional folders by clicking on their names. Keep the "ctrl" key pressed while you select additional folders to search.

Then enter your search criteria. When more than one search sections are filled in, the search operator "AND" is activated between the different values sought.