Keyword Ranked Search

• This search functions like many World-Wide Web search engines. A Keyword Ranked Search retrieves any of your search terms (that is, it assumes the Boolean Operator OR). Even if you enter several terms, records containing only one of them will be retrieved.
• Search results are are ranked higher for the following reasons
  • The results contain a greater number of your search terms
  • The results contain search terms which you have indicated are essential
  • The results contain search terms which you have indicated are important
• Enter any word(s) or phrase(s) into the Search for: box in any order.
• Use quotation marks to search phrases:  "united states"
• Use + to mark essential terms (results must include this term)

  For example +explorer

• Use * to mark important terms

  For example *internet

• Use ! to exclude records containing that term:

  For example !criticism

• Use ? to truncate:  comput?   retrieves "computer", "computers", "computing", etc.
• You may combine these symbols to create more complex and precise searches

  For example: +lincoln "civil war" "united states" presiden? !assassination

Displaying Search Results

• Search results from a Keyword search are displayed in the Keyword Titles Index.
  The Keyword Titles Index displays the type of search, the title(s), and other information.
• The Titles Index for a Keyword Search contains a Relevance column. This column indicates how much relevance (weight) each title has based on the search criteria you entered. The most relevant titles display at the top of the list. In addition, the Relevance column displays colored bullets. As the titles become less and less relevant to the search criteria you entered, the number of bullets in the Relevance column will decrease.

• Go to Guide to PILOT, Table of Contents

Send comments and suggestions to Dick Swain, rswain@wcupa.edu

These pages last updated on 3 January 2001