Command |
Description |
Example |
Detailed Explanation |
"" |
Use quotation marks to group words into phrases. |
To find records dealing with plasma fusion, but not any other
type of fusion, search for "plasma fusion". |
Use quotation marks to find records containing a specific phrase
of two or more words; records not containing the exact phrase
will not be returned. |
AND |
Using AND includes all search terms. |
To find records containing "plasma" AND "fusion" AND "magnetic",
just type the three terms: plasma fusion magnetic. (The AND is
a default). |
By default all words used in the search are included -- that
is, only results containing all of the search terms will be returned.
(Note: AND is assumed between words.) |
OR |
Using OR, broadens your search. |
"plasma fusion" OR "magnetic fusion". This example finds all
records which contain either of the phrases above.
Examples of other valid search methods include: "nuclear fusion" OR "nuclear
fission" (i.e., search for records containing at least one of the phrases nuclear
fusion, nuclear fission) |
Searching for terms connected by OR returns all results containing
at least one of the search terms. |
NOT
(also the minus sign) |
Using NOT restricts the search |
"hot fusion" NOT "cold fusion" (search for records containing
the phrase hot fusion but NOT the phrase cold fusion.)
The Library Catalog recognizes a minus sign as shorthand for NOT so another
way to write the same search is: "hot fusion" -"cold fusion" |
Searches with terms preceded by NOT or a minus sign will return
results not containing those terms. |
GROUPING TERMS |
Terms can be nested by using parentheses for more complex searches. |
(divertor AND diagnostics) OR (Alcator AND C-mod AND "edge
plasma" AND tokamak) (i.e., search for records containing either
both the terms divertor AND diagnostics, OR all
the terms Alcator, C-mod, edge plasma, tokamak.)
When you want to use multiple boolean operators you can use parentheses
in this way, and the Library Catalog will understand. NOTE: since the
Library Catalog uses AND by default, another way to write this search
is: (divertor diagnostics) OR (Alcator c-mod "edge plasma" tokamak) |
Terms can be grouped using parentheses in order to specify
precedence of operators in your search query. |
