Free text

Free text searches include all keywords. Fields or types cannot be specified. They do not use Boolean operators. Instead, multiple terms are combined by an implicit OR operator, resulting in the most inclusive search results. The following symbols are available to provide more specific results.

• A plus sign (+) before a word means that it must appear in every record retrieved.
• An exclamation point (!) before a word means that it must not appear in any record retrieved.
• An asterisk (*) before a word gives that word higher relevance status.
• A question mark (?) after the word provides for truncation. The question mark may be combined with any of the other three emphasis signs.

Free text search results are ranked by relevance to your search, i.e., according to rules for emphasizing certain data elements over others. Relevance ranking is indicated by the number (and possibly the color) of the bars in the Relevance column of the results window. Most relevant results are ranked at the top, with more bars and redder color.

Free text search results appear in a Titles Index list.

By design, free text searches often retrieve large and unpredictable results that include "near-matches." Consider other means of searching.