SEARCH LANGUAGE

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Searching in OJ OnlinePlus is logical and easy. There are search forms for searching the whole database and those to search a particular section.

The retrieval software searches by default for search terms next to each other and in the order they are entered onto the search form, eg: health safety

In addition you can use the following search tools to refine your search:

 

Boolean Operators

Parenthetical searching

Proximity searching

Wildcards

Boolean Operators

Boolean operators AND, OR, WITH and NOT can be used to combine two or more search terms within a field. Boolean operators are also used to combine search fields.

Tips:

• To search for a phrase containing a boolean operator you must place it between quotes, eg: health "and" safety
• If you are uncertain about the use of a hyphen search both words and combine with OR, eg: price-fixing OR price fixing

Examples:

 

AND (&)	transport&hazardous waste transport and hazardous waste This will retrieve all records containing both the word TRANSPORT and the phrase HAZARDOUS WASTE and retrieves fewer records than using one of the words on its own.
WITH (|)	food|marketing food with marketing This will retrieve all records containing both the words FOOD and MARKETING occurring in the same paragraph, and retrieves fewer records than using one of the words on its own.
OR (,)	health care,healthcare health care or healthcare This will retrieve all records containing the phrase HEALTH CARE and also all records containing the word HEALTHCARE.
NOT (\)	pollution\water pollution not water This will retrieve all records containing the word POLLUTION but will reject any which contain the word WATER.

Parenthetical searching

Parentheses are useful in searching for variations of words and for complex searches, eg:

(car or vehicle or motor).10.(hire or rental*)

The search engine will sort through the results of "car OR vehicle OR motor" first, then identify those that have hire or rental(s) within 10 words of the other terms.

Note: Records retrieved at least one paragraph that matches the exact criteria. The software however also highlights individual hits in other paragraphs.

Boolean operators between search fields

Each field on the search form is connected to the other fields by a Boolean operator. These are located to the left of the field name. The default settings link fields with the boolean operator AND. You can change any of these boolean operators by selecting the required operator in the pull down list.

Proximity searching

It is also possible to search for words within a set number of words from each other (maximum 10), for example A within 3 words of B (in the order they are entered onto the search form). The syntax for this is: A.5.B

It is also possible to enter: A.-5.B which performs a search of the two words in either direction, i.e. waste.-5.recycling searches for waste.5.recycling OR recycling.5.waste

Wildcards

Wildcards (* and ?) can be used to search for words beginning with a common root or alternative spellings.

 

Examples:

 

*	med* retrieves medical, medicinal, medicine
?	wom?n retrieves women or woman