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Table of Contents
The search gateway on the BC Archives web site is used to access the indexes and on-line descriptions of textual records, visual records, cartographic records, library holdings, and web pages maintained on the BC Archives Web Server. It has the following features:
It utilizes a full text retrieval search engine, therefore almost every single word in each textual description or document is indexed and independently searchable. It operates in a similar manner to many of the general search engines available on the World Wide Web.
Note: the searching functions of the Vital Events Indexes differ as they are based on traditional database searching functions. Please consult the Vital Events Indexes web pages for specific details on searching that information resource.
It uses a form as the primary interface to the gateway.
Check boxes and radio buttons on the form can be used to set search operators.
Initial query pre-processing of search terms has been implemented, and the modified search terms are displayed back to the user.
Multiple indexes can be queried through one form submission.
Searches can be easily be refined as the form is returned at the bottom of the results page, retaining the previous search and selections.
The total number of matches and the item range are displayed for each index. Where an individual index contains more items than are displayed in the initial results, it can be explored further by using the "More" button.
The maximum number of items returned in any search is set at 40, except in the case of multiple indexes which attempt to return at least 10 items per index selected.
Items with associated objects such as images and finding aids, are indicated in the results list by a blue bullet.
Most objects are now returned as some form of html document. Notably, records in the visual records database with associated images on-line, will now display the thumbnail as an inline image, and as a hyperlink to the medium size image.
Search Criteria
Capitalization
Search capabilities are case insensitive, i.e. using either capitals or lowercase will produce the same results.
Boolean Search Operators
Boolean operators such as: AND OR NOT are also supported. Note that to facilitate searching on phrases, the system defaults to include a logical AND in between multiple search words. Consequently a search on: victoria fire department, will only retrieve files that contain ALL of these words.
An asterisk can be used at the end of a word as a wildcard to search for various versions i.e. train* will match both train, trains, and training. A search on gold mining 189* would match files containing the words gold and mining, with a date in the 1890s. Note: DO NOT use a wild card with only a single letter, such as: a* as the search will time out and not be completed.
Punctuation
Punctuation is generally ignored by the indexing system, and therefore should not be included with search keywords, for example a name may be stored on the system as Douglas, Sir James but should be searched for by entering: Sir James Douglas
Please note that the system interprets the hyphen character (i.e. -) as being part of a word, consequently hyphens should not be used to string individual search keywords together. (i.e. do NOT try to search on Victoria-inner-harbour as this would be intrepreted as all one word). If a description in the database does contain hyphenated words, the system indexes it both ways, once as a single word item and again as separate words.
Sample Searches
victoria fire department
Lists all files with both victoria AND fire AND department (though not necessarily one right after the other). Note: This is the same as searching on victoria and fire and department
ships or marine or boats
Lists all files with ANY ONE or more of these words
ships or boats not sail*
Lists all files that contain the word ships or the word boats, but not any of the words sail or sailing or sailboats
Linked Items
Unless otherwise specified, all related items in the textual database are returned, whether or not they have associated items such as images. To filter the search to only include files with attached items, include the word LINK in your search criteria. For example: gold mining and link.
Search Results
The list of items returned from a search is always in priority order, based on the number of occurences of the search terms in each text file. If multiple indexes are searched, the results from each index will be listed within its own section, and each section is priorized independently. The total number of matching items is displayed at the top of each index section.
The results are returned as a hypertext list. Items with "linked objects" will be highlighted with a blue bullet. Non-linked items will have a black bullet. Selecting an item from the results list will retrieve the item for display, with any associated objects listed as hyperlinks within the item.
Additional matching items, beyond what is displayed on the results screen, may be accessed by clicking on a "See Matches ..." button (if present) at the bottom of the index section.
The Visual Records Database also provides the capability to select individual items (those with images available online) from a search result and display the related thumbnail size images in groups similar to a photographic contact sheet.
Effective Searching Techniques
First try a fairly broad type of search
If too many items are returned, or if they are not as narrow as you want, then start adding additional criteria to narrow the search down. For example: try typing victoria legislative buildings not aerial to show all photos of the victoria legislative buildings that are not aerial photographs.
If your search returned no items, two possibilities exist:
1) The search criteria may be too restrictive. Try broadening it out by using multiple words on the line with the word "OR" in between.
2) The information may not yet be in the database or desribed in exactly the manner you expect.
Try using synonyms or similar descriptive words. Also try using an asterisk as a wild card. For example, if searching for photographs on logging, try typing in forest* or log* to show files containing any of the following words: forest forestry log logs logging. Note that the asterisk can frequently be used to effectively narrow items down to a particular date or decade, for example logging and 192* would show any files with the word logging and in the 1920s.
Other Searchable Information: The Vital Events Indexes
Images - Suggestions for Accessing and Best Viewing
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| Home Page: | http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca | This Page: | http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/services/website/gateway.htm |
| Last Modified: | Thursday, 29-Mar-2001 08:31:30 PST | Maintained by: | webmaster@www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca |
| Copyright: | Information on this site is provided for research purposes only. Please review Access and Usage. Unless indicated otherwise, this page and all contents are Copyright ©, BC Archives, Royal BC Museum. | ||
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