Using the Results List
A successful search produces a results list of titles of documents that match your search criteria. Results list items typically list key publication information for the document and display icons or links that summarize the content and retrieval options available for the document. In this way you can tell at a glance if you want to view the full document. To view a document using the document display page, simply click its underlined document title.
| Note: For a list of the links and icons you'll find on the results list for a particular collection, refer to the "Results Items in Product Name" topic from the table of contents at the left. |
Results Grouped by Tab
Whenever your search examines at least two content areas, you will see tabs that group your results into similar types of documents. By default, results on the left-most tab will be displayed. As part of the tab name, you'll find a count of the results for that tab.
Navigating the List
Below the tab bar, the Previous and Next links (also repeated at the bottom of each page) let you go backward or forward, respectively, one page at a time through the results found for the tab currently displayed. If multiple tabs are displayed, you can view results on another tab by clicking the tab name (you will see the name change to a hyperlink as you mouse over it). Tabs with no results are "grayed out" and will not work. The tab you are currently viewing will be highlighted in a contrasting color to distinquish it from the other tabs.
Search Terms Highlighted
You may see your search terms highlighted wherever they appear within the results list, depending on the type of search used and if you have selected this option as part of your Preferences. The system may also display the number of words in each document.
Your Search Query is Displayed, Providing a Link Back to the Search Page
A summary of the search that produced the results list is displayed just below the page banner. Click the hyperlinked name of the search to to return to the search page and revise your search. You can also click the Back button that appears to the left, above the Search sidebar to return to the previous page. Any stop words included in your search query will be highlighted. Shown below is a sample summary for a Basic Keywords search with stop words. To revise this search, click the Basic Search link.
Info Notes Displayed Under Your Search Query
When your search query includes an one of the following words: and, or, not, without the use of quotation marks, an info note will appear. The note is to remind you that the use of and, or, or not will be used as a logical operator. If in fact you wish the word to be used as part of your search query as a normal word (as shown in the example below), you must enclose your search query in quotation marks. For example: "pride and prejudice"
Relevancy and Changing the Sort Order
Depending on the collection you are searching and the search type used, you may find a relevancy percentage shown for your results list items. The relevancy percentage gives you an idea of how closely the document matches your search query. In most cases, you can change the sort order of results using the Sort by drop-down list box found at the far right on the tab bar.
Search Limiters on the Tab Bar
When viewing your results list, you may find directly below the tab name one or more ways to limit your current results. The search limiters displayed depend on the tab you are viewing.
You may click the checkbox next to a search limiter to narrow your results. Conversely, if you had selected the limiter when you created your search, you may click to remove checkmark (removes the limit) and expand your search results.
Examples
- By placing a checkmark in the "documents with images" limiter you will be able to limit the results to show only documents that contain some type of image or graphic.
- When viewing the Multimedia tab, you won't find any limiters referring to "full-text" or "peer-reviewed journals" as these don't apply to multimedia content.
- The "peer-reviewed journals" limiter will only appear on for tabs that could contain articles from academic journals.
Using the Search Sidebar
Use the Search sidebar in the left-hand margin to do any of the following: search within your current results, narrow your current results, or perform a new search of the database.
| Note: Items on the results list are not official bibliographic citations. To cite a document for notes and bibliography entries, use a standard style. |