Quick search
You can perform a quick search by using the box at the top right hand side on the home page. This option searches across all the title and description fields in the catalogue database.
Simply type the word or words you wish to search on into the search box. Where more than one term is entered, the search will automatically retrieve records which contain both terms. These terms may not always appear next to each other in the text.
If you want to search for an exact phrase (so the words appear adjacent to each other in the text), e.g. John Smith, enter the text with double quotation marks, thus "John Smith".
How is the information from a search presented?
The results of your search will be presented in three columns:
Finding Number – the number you will need to order a document
Title
Date
The total number of catalogue records retrieved will be given at the top of the display; if your search has retrieved more than 10 records, use the Next, Previous, Start and End links at the top of the screen to view all the records in your hitlist.
Please note that the search term(s) may not appear in the text displayed in the hit list; if not, it will appear in the more detailed catalogue descriptions which can be viewed by clicking on the Finding Number.
How do I sort the records in the 'search results' hitlist?
By default, records in a hitlist are presented in Finding Number order. However, you can also sort the records by Title or by Date by clicking on the appropriate column heading above the displayed records.
How can I find out more information about an entry displayed in the 'search results' hitlist?
By clicking anywhere on the text of a particular entry, the full description and all other relevant information will be displayed. Click on the Finding Number if you then want to see the record in its hierarchical context (i.e. how it relates to other records in the collection) and to see other records in the same catalogue.
Advanced search
To undertake an advanced search, click on the 'Advanced Search' button on the top bar.
Any text
Use this field to search across all the text fields in the catalogue database. Where more than one term is entered, the search will automatically retrieve records which contain both terms. These terms may not always appear next to each other in the text.
The Advanced Search cannot (currently) search for hyphenated words (e.g. Stratford-upon-Avon) and the message "The server has stopped responding to requests" is displayed. If you omit the hyphen (-) the Advanced Search will locate records that include both Stratford upon Avon and Stratford-upon-Avon.
If you want to search for an exact phrase (so the words appear adjacent to each other in the text), e.g. John Smith, enter the text with double quotation marks, thus "John Smith".
Simply type the word or words you wish to search on into the 'any text' search box, and click on the 'Search' button at the bottom of the screen.
Finding Number
If you know the Finding Number (also known as AltRefNo) of a particular collection or the specific item you require, you can enter it in this search field.
Level
As well as detailed descriptions of individual documents, the online catalogue includes descriptions of entire collections. Archives are arranged into collections called 'fonds' and then sub-divided as needed into 'sub-fonds' (or sub-collections), 'series', 'files' and 'items'. Please see the glossary for further information about these archival terms.
This field has a drop down picklist to allow you to select one of the available terms used in the catalogue database.
Title and Description ('Refine Search Criteria')
If you wish to narrow down your search, instead of choosing the AnyText option, enter your search term under either the Title or Description field. The results will only call up instances where your chosen term appears in the title or description of the record.
If you have entered more than one word, you can further refine your search by selecting 'Refine Search Criteria'. This gives you three options: to search only for records that contain all of your search terms ('all words'), to search for records that contain at least one, but not necessarily all, of your search terms ('any words') or to exclude from your search certain words or phrases that you are not interested in and that might otherwise be called up by the search criteria that you have chosen ('exclude words'). For example, if you wish to do a broad sweep search for anything relating to metal industries but have no interest in iron, you could enter 'metal industry' as your search term and choose to exclude 'iron' from your search.
Date
You can narrow your search down to a particular date, or a date range (e.g. 1837, 1910-1950, or 18th century).