Search Hints

Simple search options
Advanced search options
Wildcards

Simple search options

By default, a simple search will look for items in which any of the words appear. For example, if you enter wheat fertiliser and hit ´go´, items containing both "wheat" and "fertiliser" would be found.

Select ´All sites´, ´All journals´, or ´Books & CDs´ using the drop down menu to search on a particular section. For example, if you enter wheat fertiliser and select ´Books & CDs´, items from ´Books & CDs´ containing both "wheat" and "fertiliser" would be found.

When searching within a journal subsite, you can search on content for that journal only by selecting ´This journal´ from the drop down menu. For example, if you are in Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, enter wheat fertiliser and select ´This journal´,  items from Australian Journal of Agricultural Research containing both "wheat" and "fertiliser" would be found.

Advanced search options

There are two advanced search options, Books & CDs and Journals.

Books & CDs

You can refine your search by selecting one or more of the options provided.

Search on one or more categories

• Select one or more categories to search across specific subject categories.

Search by keyword on one or more fields

• Use the drop down menu to select a field and enter the search string to search across Title, Author Last Name, ISBN, Description.
• This option uses "exact phrase" to search for items containing the exact search string in your search. For example, if you choose this option and enter "The Waterbug Book", only items containing the phrase "The Waterbug Book" would be found.

Search by date

• The default option will search on ´All publication dates´, or you can refine your search by searching on ´Titles between these publication dates´. Use the drop down menu to select the dates you wish to search between.

Sort results by

• Select ´Title´ to sort results alphabetically by title, or select ´Date´ to sort results by date (most recent first).

Journals

You can refine your search by selecting one or more of the options provided.

Search on one or more journals

• Select one or more journals to search across specific journals.

Search by keyword on one or more fields

• Use the drop down menu to select a field and enter the search string to search across Article Title, Author Last Name, Keywords, Volume, Issue. Enter the search string next to the Abstract field to search on the journal abstract.
• This option uses "exact phrase" to search for items containing the exact search string in your search. For example, if you choose this option and enter "Australian merino sheep", only items containing the phrase "Australian merino sheep" would be found.

Search by date

• The default option will search on ´All content´, or you can refine your search by searching on ´Content between these publication dates´. Use the drop down menu to select the years you wish to search between.

Sort results by

• Select ´Title´ to sort results alphabetically by title, or select ´Date´ to sort results by date (most recent first).

Wildcards

The asterisk (*) can be used as a wildcard for any string. For example, a search for fern* would find items authored by Fern or Ferness, as well as articles about ferns or fern-leafed plants.

The question mark (?) can be used as wildcard for any character. For example, a search for te?t would find items containing the words tent, teat or test.