Brief Description of the Search Functions in the Missing Link Database

This page gives a brief overview of the search functions of Missing Link's database.

Figure 1 shows the contents of the search page. The area above the break (1) is for searching by keyword in the book database; the area below the line is for searches in subject areas.

Search by Keywords in the Book Database

Figure 1

Four fields are available for search term entry ((2), (5), as well as the two unmarked fields below them). In each of these fields any number of search terms can be entered. The search terms within a field are linked by "and". Any series of letters and numbers, of any length, counts as a search term. Any other symbols are treated as spaces. One or several empty spaces separate search terms.

With the help of pop-up menus (3) the search can be limited to one part of the book record. The following search areas are available:

• Entire Database - no restriction; the entire database is searched.
• Author - author, co-author, editor, etc.
• Title - title, subtitle, series title, etc.
• Description - description of content, and the contents page of the book
• Publisher
• Binding - in most cases hardcover or paperback
• ISBN
• Author-Title Code - an abbreviation of the form "AAAA-TTTT" or "TTTT-AAAA", in which "AAAA" stands for the first four letters of the author's last name and "TTTT" for the first four letters of the significant portion (that is ignoring "the" and similar words) of the title.
• BIC Code - An identifier for a subject area. A single asterisk at the end can be used as a wild card.
• (Ignore entry) - The search terms to the right of this menu are ignored, that is, the field is treated as empty.

Groups of search terms (for example, (2) and (5)) can be linked with the operators at (4): "and," "or," and "and not".

Keyword search in subject areas

Figure 2

Figure 2 shows again the lower portion of the search page. In field (1) one or more search terms can be entered. When the button is clicked, the list of subject areas is searched for these words. The search results will only show subject areas that contain all of the search terms simultaneously. As in the direct search in the database (see above), here also only complete words are found. However, unlike the direct search, here it is possible to extend the search to words of which the search terms form a part; this is done by clicking on the button at (2).