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Boolean Searching

Note: Boolean searching only works from the Advanced Search page.

Boolean search allows you to specify complex expressions that describe your exact search criteria.

In an Advanced Search, you may carry out a Boolean search by using the area called Use this form to construct your query:

Form interface for building a search query, with fields to include or exclude keywords and options to add additional fields.

OR searches

The website's default behaviour is to include ALL the words in a search. This is also known as a Boolean AND search.

However, if you want to specifically allow either one of several words, you can use the OR operator by changing the Include drop-down to ANY.

Dropdown menu to select either “ALL” or “ANY” as the type of Boolean search.

To create a Boolean search for “railways OR railroads”, first set the Include drop-down to ANY, then type the keyword “railways” into the Keyword Anywhere field. Then add another field by clicking on the Add Another button.

Option to add more fields for additional keywords to be included in a search.

In the new field, type the keyword “railroads”. You will see how the Boolean OR query is automatically constructed at the top of the Advanced Search page.

To run the search, either press the Enter key, or click on the blue Search button.

Advanced Search form with options to select either “ANY” or “ALL” keywords to include, and options to add more keyword fields.

Terms you want to exclude

You can also use a Boolean NOT search to exclude records that you do not want. For example, you can search for J.R.R. Tolkien materials other than The Lord of the Rings.

From the Advanced Search Page, in the area called Use this form to construct your query:

  1. Include the keyword “Tolkien”
  2. But do not include the keyword “rings”
  3. Press Enter, or click on the blue Search button
Advanced search form with distinct “Include” field and “But do not include” field separates search terms that will either be included or excluded in a Boolean search.

You can also search for J.R.R. Tolkien materials other than both The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. To exclude more than one keyword, you would do this by adding another field to the “but do not include” area. Click on the Add Another button and then type the keyword “hobbit”. Press Enter, or click on the blue Search button.

Advanced Search Form with options to add more fields when excluding multiple keywords from a Boolean search.

More Help with Advanced searching:

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