How to use the advanced search
If you would like to create a more precise search, you can do so by using the advanced search.
Step 1
Navigate to the Advanced Search screen and type one or more terms into the search bar.
Step 2
Limit your search to a specific field/s from the All Fields drop down menu next to the search bar.
By default, ALL metadata fields are searched. To search within the full text of content, select All Fields and Full Text.
Tips
- Enclose a phrase within quotation marks for an exact match: "civil war" finds content containing that exact phrase
- Use a question mark (?) wildcard to represent one character: ta?k finds content containing talk, task, tank...
- Use an asterisk (*) wildcard to represent zero or more characters: *travel* finds content containing travel, travels, travelling...
Note: Wildcards do not work at the start of a search term or within quotation marks
Combine search fields by using boolean search
You can combine multiple search terms and define the relation of those terms using operators:
- Add more search fields by clicking on the + icon
- Type additional search terms as required and select the appropriate search field type
- Set the boolean operators of the different search bars by selecting: And, Or, Not
Tip: Keep related terms together in one search bar, for example: "advanced care" OR "end of life".
Select databases
By default you are searching all databases your institution has access to. To limit your search to specific databases, click on the Change Databases button above the search bar. You can read more about this topic under databases selection.
Limit your search
Depending on your needs, you can also limit you search by adding other filters:
- Full text - Search for results that contain full text only
- Open Access - Limits your search to results with open access
- Peer Reviewed - Only returns results that have been reviewed by subject matter experts
- Resource Type - Determine which resource type you would like to search for
- Language - Select results in a certain language or languages
- Media Genre - This filter is only relevant if you are searching for EduTV and TVNews content
- Access Type - Limit your search only to content you have access to
- Publication date - Limit your search to a data range
For further information please refer to the Advanced Search Guide.
Still Need Help?
If you have further questions on how to use the advanced search, please reach out to us at support.informit@rmit.edu.au