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Search guidelines, indexes, and examples

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Find search guidelines, indexes, and examples for use in Connexion client.

WorldCat searches

Database Identifier: WC

The search string for the Search macro command should follow the same format for a keyword/numeric or derived search that you would enter in the Command Line Search of the Search WorldCat window.

 Caution: Do not use the Search macro command to browse WorldCat. You must use the macro command Browse.

Guidelines:

  • Omit the Find command (fin) from a derived or keyword search.
  • Include index labels in a keyword search.
  • When you use index labels, include the following punctuation:
    • Colon (:) for single words
    • Equal sign (=) for phrases and whole phrases
    • Enclose whole phrases in a double set of quotation marks ("" "")
    • Do not use spaces before and after the punctuation
  • Index labels are optional for a derived search if it is the first or only search; if you combine searches, index labels are required.
  • Enter an OCLC Control Number search with the index label (no:) or precede the number with an asterisk (*) or number sign (#).
  • If you include qualifiers, begin each qualifier with a slash or an index label followed by a colon (:).
    • Use slashes or index labels with the following four types of qualifiers: type of material, years, microform, or source (/dlc).
    • Use index labels only to qualify a search by Internet/non-Internet or a language.
  • For slash qualifiers, you can include only one qualifier of each type and the qualifiers must be in the last position of the search statement.
  • Combine searches using Boolean operators (and, or, not).
  • In a keyword search, you can specify proximity and order of terms with proximity operators with (w) or near (n).
  • To expand a term in a keyword or numeric search, replace characters or endings with symbols for wildcards (# or ?), truncation (*), and plural stemming (+). See Use wildcards, truncation, and plural stemming in searches for details.

     Caution: Wildcard and truncation symbols must be preceded by at least three characters.

See Search WorldCat interactively for more information and for lists of selected indexes and examples.

See Searching WorldCat Indexes for comprehensive descriptions of indexes, guidelines, and examples.

Online bibliographic save file searches

Database Identifier: BS

Guidelines:

  • Enter an index label (see list below), a colon, and then the search term.
  • You can combine searches using Boolean operators. To distinguish the words and, or, or not when they are part of your search term (not used as Boolean operators), you must enclose in single quotation marks (‘).
  • The search is not case-sensitive: you can enter the search string in upper- or lowercase.
    Example: "ti:red 'and' the black"
  • To retrieve all records in the save file, leave the search string parameter empty: CS.Search "BS", "". 
Online bibliographic save file searches: Indexes and labels - Table
Index Label Values
Save File Number sf: (default) You supply
OCLC Control Number an: You supply
Title ti: You supply
URL am: You supply
Used Date us: You supply
My Status ms: You supply
Action Status as:
  • delete holdings completed
  • delete holdings failed
  • export completed
  • export failed
  • export ready
  • label completed
  • label failed
  • label ready
  • produce completed
  • produce failed
  • replace completed
  • replace failed
  • update holdings completed
  • update holdings failed
  • validate completed
  • validate failed
Workflow Status ws:
  • completed
  • in process
  • in review
  • new
Source Status ss:
  • derived
  • extracted
  • imported
  • oclc
  • workform
Review rs: submitted

 

 Note: If you record rather than write a macro, statuses are recorded with no spaces between words. When you write macros, you can retain the spaces. Values you enter are not case-sensitive.

Online bibliographic constant data searches

Database identifier: BD

Search examples:

  • CS.Search "BD", "nm:bibconstantdata" (retrieves a constant data record named bibconstantdata)
  • CS.Search "BD", "" (retrieves all bibliographic constant data records)

Indexes and labels:

  • Constant Data Name (nm:) (default)
  • My Status (ms:)

Local bibliographic save file searches

Database identifier: BL

Follow the same guidelines as for online bibliographic save file searches (except use the database identifier BL).

Local bibliographic save file searches: Indexes and labels - Table
Index Label Values
Save File Number sf: (default) You supply
OCLC Control Number an: You supply
Title ti: You supply
Name nm: You supply
Date dt: You supply
Standard Number sn: You supply
Holding Library Code cd: You supply
My Status ms: You supply
Workflow status ws:
  • completed
  • in process
  • in review
  • new
Action Status as:
  • delete holdings completed
  • delete holdings failed
  • delete holdings ready
  • delete holdings notset
  • export completed
  • export failed
  • export ready
  • export notset
  • label completed
  • label failed
  • label ready
  • label notset
  • produce completed
  • produce failed
  • produce ready
  • produce notset
  • replace completed
  • replace failed
  • replace ready
  • replace notset
  • update holdings completed
  • update holdings failed
  • update holdings ready
  • update holdings notset
  • validate completed
  • validate failed
  • validate notset
Source Status ss:
  • derived
  • extracted
  • imported
  • oclc
  • workform
Format ft:
  • books
  • computer files
  • maps
  • mixed materials
  • scores
  • serials
  • sound recordings
  • visual materials
Held Status hl:
  • true
  • false
Library lb:
  • dlc
  • pcc
  • nlm
  • gpo
  • agl
  • ukm
  • nlc
Retrieval order ro:
  • save file number
  • oclc control number
  • date/time added
  • name
  • title

 Note: If you record rather than write a macro, statuses are recorded with no spaces between words. When you write macros, you can retain the spaces. Values you enter are not case-sensitive.

Local bibliographic constant data searches

Database Identifier: BC

See examples for online bibliographic constant data searches (except use the database identifier BC).

Indexes and labels:

  • Constant data name (nm:) (default)
  • My Status (ms:)

Online bibliographic review records

Database Identifier: BR

Use to find bibliographic records sent to your library for review by another library you specify by institution symbol. This works the same as selecting the Review File Records for Institution check box and entering your institution symbol in the Search Online Bibliographic Save File window via Cataloging > Search > Online Save File.

Index and label

  • Records sent for review (sm:)

    Enter a valid institution symbol (in uppercase) for a library whose records you want to retrieve for review.

    Example:
    num = CS.Search(“BR”, “sm:OCL”)
    MsgBox(“Found “ & num & “records”)

Authority File searches

Database Identifier: AF

Guidelines:

  • Enter an index label (see list below), a colon, and then the search term.
    Example: CS.Search “AF”, “pn:mitchell”
  • You can combine searches using Boolean operators. To distinguish the words and, or, or not when they are part of your search term, you must enclose them in single quotation marks (‘).
    Example: CS.Search “AF”, “pn:mitchell”
  • The search is not case-sensitive: you can enter the search string in upper- or lowercase.

Indexes and labels:

  • Personal Names (pn:) (default)
  • Corporate Names (co:)
  • Conference Names (cn:)
  • Title (ti:)
  • Topicals (to:)
  • Geographic Names (gg:)
  • Children's Subjects (sj:)
  • LCCN (ln:)
  • ISBN (bn:)
  • ISSN (in:)
  • LCSH (su:)
  • OCLC ARN (an:)
  • Subdivision Headings (sb:)
  • LC Name (nw:)
  • Derived Personal Name (pd:)
  • Derived Corporate/Conference/Geographic (cd:)
  • Derived Title (td:)
  • Derived Topical Subject (sd:)

Online authority save file searches

Database Identifier: AS

Guidelines:

  • Enter an index label (see list below), a colon, and then the search term.
  • You can combine searches using Boolean operators. To distinguish the words and, or,or not when they are part of your search term (not used as Boolean operators), you must enclose in single quotation marks.
    Example: CS.Search "AS", "ti:red 'and' the black"
  • The search is not case-sensitive: you can enter the search string in upper- or lowercase.
  • To retrieve all records in the save file, leave the search string parameter empty: CS.Search "AS", "". 
Online authority save file searches: Indexes and labels - Table
Index Label Values
Save File Number sf: (default) You supply
Personal Names pn: You supply
Corporate Names co: You supply
Conference Names cn: You supply
Titles ti: You supply
Topicals to: You supply
Geographic Names gg: You supply
Children's Subjects sj: You supply
LCCN ln: You supply
LCSH su: You supply
OCLC ARN an: You supply
Subdivision Headings sb: You supply
Replace Date rp: You supply
Workflow Status ws:
  • completed
  • in process
  • in review
  • new
  • responded
  • imported
Review Status rs:
  • submitted

 Note: If you record rather than write a macro, statuses are recorded with no spaces between words. When you write macros, you can retain the spaces. Values you enter are not case-sensitive.

Online authority constant data searches

Database Identifier: AD

Search examples:

  • CS.Search "AD", "nm:authconstantdata" (retrieves a constant data record named authconstantdata)
  • CS.Search "AD", "" (retrieves all authority constant data records)

Index and label:

  • Constant Data Name (nm:) (default)

Local authority save file

Database Identifier: AL

Follow the same guidelines as for online authority save file searches (except use the database identifier AL).

Local authority save file: Indexes and labels - Table
Index Label Values
Save File Number sf: (default) You supply
OCLC ARN an: You supply
Heading he: You supply
Workflow Status ws:
  • complete
  • in process
  • in review
  • new
My Status ms: You supply
MARC Organization Code cd: You supply
Record Locked lk:
  • true
  • false
Action Status as:
  • add completed
  • add failed
  • add ready
  • add notset
  • replace completed
  • replace failed
  • replace ready
  • replace notset
  • submit completed
  • submit failed
  • submit ready
  • submit notset
  • export completed
  • export failed
  • export ready
  • export notset
Retrieval order ro:
  • save file number
  • oclc arn
  • date/time added
  • heading

 Note: If you record rather than write a macro, statuses are recorded with no spaces between words. When you write macros, you can retain the spaces. Values you enter are not case-sensitive.

Local authority constant data searches

Database Identifier: AC

See examples of online authority constant data searches (except use the database identifier AC). 

Indexes and labels:

  • Constant data (nm:) (default)
  • My Status (ms:)

Online authority review records

Database identifier: AR

Use to find authority records sent to your library for review by another library you specify by institution symbol. This is the same as selecting the Review File Records for Institution check box and entering institution symbol in the Search Online Authority Save File window via Authorities > Search > Online Save File.

Index and label:

  • Records sent for review (sm:)

    Enter a valid institution symbol (in uppercase) for a library whose records you want to retrieve for review.

    Example:
    num = CS.Search(“AR”, “sm:OCL”)
    MsgBox(“Found “ & num & “records”)