my altavista: adventures with advanced keyword mary strouse maiug 4 october 25, 2002

My AltaVista:My AltaVista: Adventures with Adventures with

Advanced KeywordAdvanced Keyword

My AltaVista:My AltaVista: Adventures with Adventures with

Advanced KeywordAdvanced Keyword

Mary Strouse Mary Strouse MAIUG 4MAIUG 4

October 25, 2002October 25, 2002

MAIUG 10/25/02 MMSMAIUG 10/25/02 MMS 22

AVS ToolboxAVS Toolbox

• Advanced Keyword Fundamentals

• Basic Decisions: Screens, Segments & Limits

• The Fine Print: WWWOptions, Tokens, Javascript

• Advanced staff searching


Why Advanced Keyword?Why Advanced Keyword?

• Speed – faster results, faster indexing

• Phrase searching

• Segmentation – keyword in title, etc.• Cross-index searches – Author/Title,

Subject/Genre, etc.

• Wildcarding


Why Advanced Keyword? Why Advanced Keyword?

• Pre-search limits & sorts

• Bells & whistles

– Proximity operators (near & within n),

– Relevance ranking (title, then author, then subject!)

– Keyword highlighting


What Hasn’t ChangedWhat Hasn’t Changed

• Only indexed fields are searched

• Result is a list of titles

• No cross-references

• Limit on retrieval (32,000 vs. 5,000 “bib record entries”)

• Keyword synonyms list


Cross-ReferenceCross-Reference


Subject Search ResultSubject Search Result


Keyword Search ResultKeyword Search Result


Basics: 3 Search Screens (+1)Basics: 3 Search Screens (+1)

The X,Y and Z of it:

X – Advanced Boolean (pre-search limits

& sorts)

Y – Simple Boolean (w/o limits/sorts)

Z – “AltaVista Style” searching


““AltaVista” SearchingAltaVista” Searching

• Broader search (default “Or”)

• Use + and – to include/exclude

• Relevance ranking of results

• No segments, limits, or boolean operators

• Auto wildcarding to end of word


Simple Boolean (Y)Simple Boolean (Y)


Advanced Boolean (X)Advanced Boolean (X)


The Search-builder (X+)The Search-builder (X+)


Basics: 4 SegmentsBasics: 4 Segments

• Author (a:) , Title (t:) and Subject (s:)– Use same fields as existing indexes

• Notes (n:) – Fields customizable at setup

• All fields must belong to at least one segment (… or limit)

• No custom segments (but….)


Basics: Choice of FieldsBasics: Choice of Fields

• Maximalist approach (default) – includes most 5xx fields

• Minimalist approach – 505, 520

[& 970 subfields not already included]• “Notes” segment can include other fields

or subfields (ex. GMD from 245 |h )


GMDs in Notes SegmentGMDs in Notes Segment


Basics: Choice of LimitsBasics: Choice of Limits

• Pre-Search Limits can be:• Fixed length codes

• Special fields (006, 008)• Variable fields

• Existing Post-Search limits as default (minus “search as words”)

• Custom limits allowed


Custom Limit Using 006Custom Limit Using 006


Custom Limits, Good and BadCustom Limits, Good and Bad

• Variable field limits function like custom segments

• Pre-search limits are indexed

• Use caution. Data from limits added to general (unsegmented) search

ex. Publisher limit


Variable limit in Cross-Index SearchVariable limit in Cross-Index Search


Limit Used as ExclusionLimit Used as Exclusion


Variable Limit as Drop-downVariable Limit as Drop-down


Publisher LimitPublisher Limit


““Noise” RetrievalNoise” Retrieval


Display WWWoptionsDisplay WWWoptions

• KEYWORD_COLOR=Controls color highlighting

– On/Off

– Color choice

– What fields/field groups apply

• DROP_DOWN= Controls inclusion & order of indexes in the

“search widget”


Keyword HighlightingKeyword Highlighting


Keyword in Search WidgetKeyword in Search Widget


AVS WWWoptionsAVS WWWoptions

AVS_TAG=XYZ– Determines what search varieties are

allowed (Must have search screens to match)

– May still choose not to offer all 3 screens in mainmenu

– Consider impact on pass-through searches (e.g. Partners, INN-Reach)


AVS WWWoptionsAVS WWWoptions

• ASSEARCH (Release 2000 Update D)(Replaces ASTRUNCATE)

1 Change “no hits” search to "AND"

2 Change to "OR"

3 Strip off field limits … Etc.

• Coming: option to restore “and”default(Rel 2002 Phase 3)


AVS WWWoptionsAVS WWWoptions•AVS_RELEVANCE_FORMAT=Controls display -- text vs. graphics

(also IMAGE_AVS#= )


……and a System Optionand a System Option

A = Alphabetical D = Date R = Relevance

First code is the default (controls in Telnet, Millennium, & when sort undefined).

Tokens Take OverTokens Take Over

AVS Required Tokens:

•  Error message

Needed to generate “no hits” message

•  creates search input box


““No hits” MessageNo hits” Message

What [else] Required Tokens DoWhat [else] Required Tokens Do

 also:

• Preserves search criteria on “modify search”

• Triggers color highlighting of keywords


The Java JiveThe Java Jive

Javascripts library on CSdirect:

• Expand “no hits” search to other catalogs/scopes (various versions)

• Search-builder (coming soon?!)

• [Your idea here]


Partners Link from Search ResultsPartners Link from Search Results


Pass-through “no hits” ScreenPass-through “no hits” Screen


Advanced Advanced StaffStaff Searching Searching

• Advanced Keyword in both Telnet and Millennium

• In Millennium and Telnet Search , default is simple Boolean (Y) search

• In Telnet staff modules, use command language to specify search (X,Y or Z)


Staff Command Line QualifiersStaff Command Line Qualifiers• Segments (a:, t:, s:, n:) &

variable limits (publisher, genre)• Fixed-length limits

– mattype:mattypen– lang:langn– branch:branchn

• Default sort• Post-search limiting (not recommended)


Staff Command Search Staff Command Search Telnet (X)

Millennium (Y)


DocumentationDocumentationManual (Rel. 2002) is best source• Advanced searching (OPAC) -- #101241• Search screens & tokens -- #102136 • “AltaVista” syntax -- #101242• Boolean syntax -- #101243• Index and field qualifiers -- #101244• AVS WWWoptions -- #102170 • Relevance ranking options -- #101916• Millennium -- #105367


Other DocumentationOther Documentation

• Advanced Search WWWoptions http://csdirect.iii.com/faq/woptions_avs.shtml#assearch

• CSdirect FAQ http://csdirect.iii.com/faq/adv_sch.shtml

• Javascript Libraryhttp://csdirect.iii.com/faq/avs-java.shtml

• The searchbuilder screen http://www.iii.com:81/search/X


Contact:Contact:

Mary M. Strouse,Head of Technical ServicesJudge Kathryn J. DuFour Law

LibraryThe Catholic University of America(202) 319-5547 [email protected]

my altavista: adventures with advanced keyword mary strouse maiug 4 october 25, 2002

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