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Search operators

To combine search fields these search operators are used in the search screen:

AND

All search terms must occur in the search results.

OR

At least one search term must occur. This is useful when you use synonyms.

NOT

Excludes records containing a given search term.

These options can be selected in the dropdown menu’s between the search bars, but you can also use search operators within a search box, for example “social media” AND friend*. Use quotation marks to search for exact phrases in topic or title searches.

Truncation can be used to control plurals and variant spellings.

*

Any number of characters, for example friend* gives also friends, friendship, friendly.

$

To replace zero or 1 character, for example colo$r gives color and colour.

?

To replace 1 character, for example wom?n gives women and woman.

In the Advanced Search two extra search operators are available:

SAME

Can be used in Address searches – the entered terms appear in the same address. In other searches SAME works like AND.

NEAR/n

Finds records where the search terms are within n number of words of each other.