Searching the Database

Basic Search

You can perform a basic search using a single index and a single search term.

You can search for a word(s), phrase or number, and use upper or lower case letters in your search term. Most search terms do not need punctuation.

Select the index from the index list. Type your term in the entry box.

Click the Submit button to complete your search.

Tips:
Make your search more precise by using more than one word. For example: burr, henry

Use quotation marks when searching a phrase so that the search interface will avoid independent words. For example: "When you and I were young, Maggie"

For more ways to control your search, see Advanced Search.

Advanced Search

The Advanced Search screen enables you to refine your search.

You can narrow a search that finds too many records. For example, you can search Henry Burr's works to find only those with Maggie in the title.

To broaden a search that finds too few records, try adding a term. For example: Victor AND Columbia.

Narrowing a Search

You can narrow a search that finds too many records. For example, you can search Henry Burr's works to find only those with Maggie in the title.

AND

You can use AND to combine two or more search terms. Use keyword indexes to obtain faster results.

Select one or more indexes and enter your search terms:

Find works by Henry Burr with Maggie in the title

1. Select the Advanced Search screen
2. Select the Name keyword index from the Index list
3. Type burr henry in the entry box
4. Select the operator AND
5. Select the Title keyword index in the second row
6. Type maggie in the second entry box
7. Click the Submit button

Tip:
Avoid combining a keyword with an exact term in your search. Using two keywords gives better results.

NOT

You can use NOT to exclude a term from the search results. Use keyword indexes for faster results.

Find works by Henry Burr that do not have Maggie in the title.

Follow the steps above and replace AND with NOT in step 4.

" " (quotation marks)

You can use quotation marks to search for a phrase or string of keywords.

Find titles with the phrase When you and I were young, Maggie.

1. Select the Title keyword index on the Basic or Advanced Search screen
2. Type "When you and I were young, Maggie" (with quotation marks) in the entry box
3. Click the Submit button

Limiters

The Advanced Search also allows you to limit your search results by using limiters such as digital content, genre, language, size of disc (7", 10", 12"), release year and province/country.

Find works by Henry Burr accompanied by RealAudio.

1. Select the Name keyword index
2. Type burr henry in the entry box
3. Select Real Audio in the digital content box
4. Click the Submit button

You can also use multiple limiters, but be careful as they can slow down your search.

Find works by Henry Burr released after 1938 and accompanied by a RealAudio file.

Repeat steps 1 to 3 above and then complete the steps below.

1. Select > (the after symbol) beside the date box
2. Type 1938 in the date box
3. Click the Submit button

Broadening a Search

You can broaden a search that finds too few records. For example: Search Victor to also find Columbia by searching Victor AND Columbia.

OR

You can use OR to broaden your search to find items that include either one term or another. Use keyword indexes for faster results.

Find items with Victor or Columbia as the transcribed label.

1. Select the Advanced Search screen
2. Select the Transcribed Label index
3. Type Victor in the entry box
4. Select the OR operator
5. Select the Transcribed Label index in the second index box
6. Type Columbia in the entry box
7. Click the Submit button

Wildcards: ? (question mark) or # (number sign)

You can broaden your search with two wildcards: ? or #

Use ? to replace zero or more characters. Never start a term with ?.

Find titles containing Donohue or Donahue.

1. Select the Title Keyword index
2. Type Don?hue in the entry box
3. Click the Submit button

Use the # to replace a single character; multiple # replace multiple characters. Never start a term with #.

Find titles containing the words Toreador or Toréador (French form).

1. Select the Title keyword index
2. Type tor#ador in the entry box
3. Click the Submit button