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help:hpb:search_operators [2013/02/28 15:20] – created hentschkehelp:hpb:search_operators [2013/02/28 15:27] – [Boolean operators] hentschke
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 With HPB you can modify your query in such a way that you search for a specific subject, publication or author. Using Boolean, wildcard and proximity operators you can modify a general query so that the search more closely approximates your expectations. With HPB you can modify your query in such a way that you search for a specific subject, publication or author. Using Boolean, wildcard and proximity operators you can modify a general query so that the search more closely approximates your expectations.
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   * [[#Search using search operators]]   * [[#Search using search operators]]
-  * [[#Search for approximate matches]] 
-  * [[#Mandatory and non-mandatory terms]] 
   * [[#Parentheses: nesting multiple search operations]]   * [[#Parentheses: nesting multiple search operations]]
-  * [[#Combining Search operators: complex search operations]]+  * [[#Combining Search operators: Examples of complex search operations]]
   * [[#Articles, prepositions and other fill words]]   * [[#Articles, prepositions and other fill words]]
-  * [[#Overview of search operators]] 
  
 Descriptions of the search keys available from the drop-down menus can be found on [[simple_search#menu_2|Simple Search help page]]. An extensive documentation of all available search keys is available on this separate [[.search_keys#overview_of_all_search_keys|help page]] Descriptions of the search keys available from the drop-down menus can be found on [[simple_search#menu_2|Simple Search help page]]. An extensive documentation of all available search keys is available on this separate [[.search_keys#overview_of_all_search_keys|help page]]
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 |The search terms must be **near to each other**  |[[#Boolean operators|NEAR]]  | |The search terms must be **near to each other**  |[[#Boolean operators|NEAR]]  |
 |Search for a **Phrase**, i.e. an exact word sequence  |[[#Boolean operators|"Phrase"]]  | |Search for a **Phrase**, i.e. an exact word sequence  |[[#Boolean operators|"Phrase"]]  |
-|The terms must occur in the **specified order**.  |There can be ... terms between the search terms: [[#Search for approximate matches|any number - maximum one term - exactly one term - no terms]]  |+|The terms must occur in the **specified order**.  |There can be ... terms between the search terms: [[#Proximity operators|any number - maximum one term - exactly one term - no terms]]  |
 |You don't know the **exact** spelling of the key term or name  |[[#Wildcards]]  | |You don't know the **exact** spelling of the key term or name  |[[#Wildcards]]  |
  
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   fish "not" meat   fish "not" meat
   fish \not meat   fish \not meat
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- 
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----- 
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-===== Search for approximate matches ===== 
-You can search for approximate matches using the ''/n'' operator. By adding ''/n'' to the search term you can specify how many 'variables' are allowed in the search term, where ''n'' stands for the number of variables. Each addition, deletion or replacement of a character counts as a variable. \\ For example: ''rachmaninov/2'' finds titles that contain two variables or less, such as ''rachmaninov, rachmaninoff and rachmaninow''. However, for technical reasons the first three characters must be correct, which means that this search will not find ''ragmaninov''. 
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-===== Mandatory and non-mandatory term ===== 
-Your can precede a search term by the ''+'' character. This means that this word is mandatory. Your can also precede a search term by the ''-'' character. This means that this word must not appear. \\ For example: ''transport -car'' finds all titles that contain the word ''transport'', but do not contain the word ''car''. 
  
 ===== Parentheses: nesting multiple search operations ===== ===== Parentheses: nesting multiple search operations =====
 You can also use parentheses in a query. Without parentheses, a query is performed according to the hierarchy of the search operators. That is, the operator that is highest in the hierarchy takes precedence. Proximity operators have the highest position in the hierarchy, followed by AND and then OR. Parentheses ensure that this hierachy is ignored. This enables you to nest your search operations. \\ For example: ''(auto OR bicycle) AND (transport OR highway)'' finds titles that contain ''auto'' and/or ''bicycle'' and that also include ''transport'' and/or ''highway''. You can also use parentheses in a query. Without parentheses, a query is performed according to the hierarchy of the search operators. That is, the operator that is highest in the hierarchy takes precedence. Proximity operators have the highest position in the hierarchy, followed by AND and then OR. Parentheses ensure that this hierachy is ignored. This enables you to nest your search operations. \\ For example: ''(auto OR bicycle) AND (transport OR highway)'' finds titles that contain ''auto'' and/or ''bicycle'' and that also include ''transport'' and/or ''highway''.
  
-===== Combining Search operators: complex search operations =====+===== Combining Search operators: Examples of complex search operations =====
 It is possible to compose complex queries by combining search operators such as Boolean, wildcards and proximity operators. It is possible to compose complex queries by combining search operators such as Boolean, wildcards and proximity operators.
  
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 ===== Articles, prepositions and other fill words ===== ===== Articles, prepositions and other fill words =====
-Every word in a title is indexed with the exception of fill words. Fill words are words that are ignored during a search to prevent irrelevant information from being displayed. Articles, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions are examples of fill words. Words that appear, but have no relevance during a search. For example: ''the'', ''him'', ''a'', ''of'', ''in'', etc. +Every word in a title is indexed with the exception of fill words. Fill words are words that are ignored during a search to prevent irrelevant information from being displayed. Articles, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions are examples of fill words. Words that appear, but have no relevance during a search. For example: ''the'', ''him'', ''a'', ''of'', ''in'', etc. FIXME //check//
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-===== Overview of search operators ===== +
-Below is an overview of the search operators supported in HPB: +
- +
-<box width 100%> +
-  * **AND, &** \\ Boolean operator; searches in two directions; finds titles that contain both words. For example: ''einstein AND gravity''. +
-  * **OR, |** \\ Boolean operator; searches in two directions; finds titles that contain either of the two words or both of them. For example: ''einstein OR gravity''. +
-  * **NOT, -** \\ Boolean operator; searches in two directions; finds titles that contain either of the two words or both of them. For example: ''einstein OR gravity''. +
-  * **NEAR, ~** \\ Proximity operator; searches in two directions; searches for words that are located in close proximity. For example: money NEAR spend. Moreover, it is possible to specify the number of intervening by using ''NEAR/N''. For example: ''money NEAR/3 spend''. +
-  * **/n** \\ Search operator; searches for approximate matches by adding ''/n'' to the word, where ''n'' stands for the number of 'variables' permitted. For example: ''gorbatsjov/3''. +
-  * **"** \\ Searches for the exact phrase entered between the quotation marks. For example: ''"fourth symphony"''. +
-  * **?, *** \\ Wildcard operator; replaces a random number of characters. For example: ''use?'' or ''use*''.\\ Proximity operator; searches from left to right; replaces a random number of words. For example: ''use ? drugs'' or ''use * drugs''. +
-  * **#** \\ Wildcard operator; replaces no or one character. For example: ''use#''. \\ Proximity operator; searches from left to right; replaces no or one word. For example: ''use # drugs''. +
-  * **!** \\ Wildcard operator; replaces one character. For example: ''use!'' \\ Proximity operator; searches from left to right; replaces one word. For example: ''use ! drugs''. +
-  * **%** \\ Searches titles for which the sequence of the words is not specified. For example: ''john % kennedy''. \\ Ensures that an operator that searches from left to right also searches from right to left. For example: ''john #% kennedy''. +
-  * **+** \\ Search operator; searches titles that at a minimum contain the added word. For example: ''+auto bicycle''. +
-</box>+
 help/hpb/search_operators.txt · Last modified: 2015/11/05 18:50 by kittelmann

 

 

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