Text-Only Version
Search Strategies
Note: The following is a guide to searching Brecht's Works in English: A Bibliography. For detailed information about database features, or if you need assistance using the database please see the database helpfile.
Jump to: Subject Headings | Record Display Formats | About Keyword Searching | Truncation Character | Proximity Character | Search Session | Search History | Saving Records | Emailing Records
Keywords search (basic search)
Enter any keyword(s) into the empty search box and click on the search button beside it. Combining keywords using AND, OR or NOT is allowed here. Note that all fields will be searched for any and all of your terms. If you enter the words Willett or Bentley, you will obtain not only records where "Willett" or "Bentley" appear in the editor field, but also records for any items in the bibliography which were translated by these individuals.
Subject headings
This method allows you to browse an alphabetical list of genre designations in the bibliography. If you enter "poem", you will retrieve a listing of subjects beginning with poem and the number of poetry entries. If you click on the number, you will then retrieve all those poem records.
Guided search
This method allows you to specify which field(s) in the item record--name, title, subject (genre), date, and so forth--are to be searched for each of your terms. Use the drop-down menu's option "any of these" to apply 'or' between your terms; "all of these" to apply 'and' between your terms; and "as a phrase" to look for your terms as a phrase. Also, see below under Truncation character for helpful hints about looking for multiple forms of the same word (e.g., woman and women).
Record Display Formats
Retrieved records may be displayed in Brief or Full formats. Click on "Select View" under the query term(s).
About keyword searching
In both basic and guided searches, keywords may be entered as single terms, phrases, or combinations. AND, OR or NOT may be used to connect them, but AND is unnecessary. Typing in the words without connectors will have the same results as using AND. If you are linking more than one search condition, each should be placed within parentheses, or use the multiple fields in Guided Search (see below). If you would like to look for a specific phrase, you do not need to use quotation marks around the terms, but instead must use a proximity operator (see below). Here are some examples:
| Keyword(s) Used | Will retrieve the following |
|---|---|
| Louis Wery farm | All records containing Louis and Wery and farm, not necessarily in that order |
| dance and voice | All records containing BOTH terms |
| dance or voice | All records containing EITHER term |
| (Zuni or Oneida) and voice | All records containing either "Zuni" OR "Oneida" AND that also contain "voice" |
| (Zuni or Oneida) and (voice not sacred) | All records that contain either "Zuni" or "Oneida" AND that also contain "voice" but NOT "sacred" |
One useful strategy is to search using words that focus on the subject (genre) of interest, such as poem, then perform new searches by clicking on the translator name or citation from the records retrieved to retrieve more records with those same terms.
Truncation character
The asterisk (*) is a wildcard or truncation character; it will retrieve all variants of the root term to which it is attached or inserted. For example, searching for man* will retrieve man, man's, Mann, Manheim, etc. The character can also be inserted in the middle of a word to find varying forms or spellings. For example, searching for wom*n will retrieve women and woman and womyn.
Top of Page Proximity operator
You may also use the proximity operator nX, where X is a number expressing the maximum number of words which may be in between your search terms. (For example, a search for man* n3 man would retrieve records where the words "man" and "man" are no more than 3 words apart, e.g., two different translations of Mann ist Mann: A Man's a Man and Man Equals Man) This technique allows you to retrieve words or phrases that appear near to each other in the text. This can be very useful if the subject term for your area of interest is ill-defined or variable, or if you need to narrow a broad search.
Search session
From the time you enter the Digital Collections databases until you exit counts as one "search session". You may perform an unlimited number of searches per session, and you may move between databases. A search history is maintained (see "Search history," below). You may repeat or combine searches at any time, but once you choose the Exit option the session is terminated and your search history will be erased. Your search session will also time out after several minutes of inactivity on your part, and you will have to start a new session.
Search history
The database retains a history of all the searches you have performed in the current search session. You may see a listing of these searches by clicking on the History button in the menu bar (top of the screen, right).
Saving records
After you have executed a search and reviewed the records that result, you may mark any records you wish to save by clicking on the small check box to the upper left of each. If you want to save all of the records in a page of results, use the shortcut "Save All" button. You will have to do this for each individual results page.
These records will be placed on your Saved Records clipboard and will be available to you for the duration of your search session. To see your saved records, from any screen, click on "Saved Records" from the toolbar at the top of the screen (you may have to scroll up to find this toolbar). You will see a clipboard containing the records you have marked, in Full display. If you change your mind about any or all of the records, you may "unsave" them individually or by choosing "Unsave All."
E-mailing records
Once you have saved records, you can then email them to yourself or someone else. Choose "Saved Records" from the upper menu bar. You will see a clipboard containing your saved records. If you change your mind about which records you want, you may "unsave" any or all of them now. When you are satisfied with the list displayed, click on the e-mail icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen and fill in the desired e-mail address. A default subject will appear; you may change this if you wish, or add any desired comments. Then click "Send."