Using expert searching

'Expert' searching allows you to quickly specify complex search criteria using a single command line. You can enter expert searches into any Control Number field which has an adjacent Bib.Search button.

To use expert searching

1. From any Control Number field, enter an expert search expression using following format:

2. <database prefix>/<search type code>=<string>
   
   Where:

• The database prefix specifies the database to be searched (i.e. Talis Base Union). Note that this prefix is optional; if omitted, Talis Alto will search against your main catalogue. A full list of database prefixes is provided below: 
  Database prefixes

  Database Prefixes
  Database	Prefix
  Main Catalogue	LM
  Talis Base ALL	T
  Talis Base Union	TU
  Talis Base Askews	TASK
  Talis Base BDS	TBDS
  Talis Base BLDSC	TBL
  Talis Base BNB BCM	TBN
  Talis Base CILLA	TCI
  Talis Base Cramer	TCR
  Talis Base HMSO	TH
  Talis Base Library Of Congress	TL
  Talis Base Peters	TP
  Talis Base Whitaker	TW
  Talis Base Woodfield Stanley	TWS

   

• The search type code specifies the type of search to be performed (i.e. Title). A full list of search type codes is provided below:
  Search type codes

  Search type codes
  Search type	Code
  For local databases
  Title	TP
  Author name	A
  Keywords	K
  Control number	N
  Dewey	CD
  LC call number	CL
  For TalisBase
  Title phrase	TP
  Author name	A
  Title words	TW
  Control number	N
  Dewey	CD
  LC call number	CL
  Bib level	BL
  Corporate/conference phrase	CP
  Corporate/conference words	CW
  Exact author	EA
  Exact Dewey	ECD
  Exact LC call number	ECL
  Exact name as subject	ENS
  Language code	L
  LC subject heading	SH
  Material type	MT
  Name as subject	NS
  Note phase	NP
  Note words	NW
  Record type	RT
  Standard identifier	SI
  Subject words	SW
  Year of publication	Y

   

• The string is the term to search for (i.e. "lord of the rings"). If the string consists of more than one word, the string should be enclosed in quotation marks.
  
  For example, to search the Talis Base Union database for "The Lord Of The Rings", you would enter the following:
  
  tu/tp="lord of the rings"
   

3. If required, you can use standard boolean operators ('AND', 'OR', 'AND NOT') to combine any number of search expressions to form more complicated queries. For example, to search the entire Talis Base catalogue for the works by Tolkien with titles containing 'lord of the rings' or 'hobbit' you would type t/a=tolkien AND tp="lord of the rings" OR tp=hobbit.
   
   Note that you can substitute the + symbol for 'AND' and the | symbol for 'OR'. The above example using this format would therefore read t/a=tolkien + tp="lord of the rings" | tp=hobbit.

4. If required, you can include restrictors to limit the number of records returned by a search of the local catalogue only. To include a restrictor, add the following structure to the end of your search expression: +<restrictor code>=<string>. For example, a=tolkien +D=1990- would only return works by Tolkien published since 1990.

• A full list of restrictor prefixes is provided below:
  Restrictor codes

  Restrictor codes
  Restrictor	Code
  Date	D
  Format	F
  Language	L
  Opus	O

   

• For more information on using restrictors, refer to the restrictors section within the topic 'Searching local catalogues'.

5. When you are satisfied with your search criteria, click the Search button.
   
   The Results tab is displayed containing rows of matching Works.

Notes

• Talis Alto validates your search. If you have entered an invalid search expression you will be prompted to re-enter your search.

• If the search fails to retrieve any results the reason is displayed in a box at the foot of the search screen.

• Your searches carried out in the current session and are added to the History tab, where they can be re-run if required.