This guide is an overview of creating custom string searches for commonly searched terms in the Management interface.  The guide should be read in conjunction with the Search Strategies for MackinVision document which sets out in detail the types of searching available including Wildcard Searching, Boolean Searching, Phrase Searching and Relational Searching.

General Notes

Double quotes are required for search terms containing spaces (i.e. phrases) e.g. Title = “Harry Potter”.   Single terms do not require any quotes e.g. Bibtype = M.

Search terms and field names are case insensitive e.g. Title or title or TITLE will all work to restrict a search to the Title field.

Boolean search operators (AND,OR, NOT) must be entered in upper case.

Searchable Field Names

One way of finding the field names available for searching is to go to Resources, Copies, Patrons, etc., click on Browse and then select Sort from the function menu on the right of the page.  The list of Available Fields can be used in your search queries.

Resources Searching

Resource ID

A Resource can be identified by searching for the Resource ID value if it is available.

Search Result - This search will return the Resource with the matching Resource ID

Title Searches

A Title can be searched using a specific search string, with or without other search criteria. Examples include:

	Search Result - The search will return any Resource with a title including the value of “1, “, and with a copy that has a current status of ‘On Loan’.
	Search Result - The search will display any Resources in the range of titles that begin with a numerical value, rather than a letter.
	Search Result - The Resources displayed will include any with a textbook Bibtype, which have copies not included in the Textbook Hire branch.

Reading Lists

It is common to require a list of Titles included in a Reading List.  The information can be viewed through Cataloging > Authority Control, selecting Open Lists or alternatively, the Reading List term can be included in the Cataloging > Resources search details:

NOTE:  The term 'readinglist' can be also be used instead of 'topiclist'.

Thumbnails

The thumbnail field stores the cover image which will be displayed in the OPAC, which can be added to MackinVision through SCIS or by uploading a cover image manually.  If Resources without a thumbnail image are required to be identified, the recommended search is included below:

Attachments

If details of whether Resources include Attachments is required, a search in Cataloging > Resources can be used with the criteria in the Any words field:

Accelerated Reader

Locating Accelerated Reader Resources of particular levels is commonly required to create Reading Lists. Examples of searches in Cataloging > Resources for Accelerated Reader Quiz IDs or Levels are:

Tag Searching

Any Resources with a Tag can be searched using the tagname field and search strings, such as:

Copies Searching

Cost and Price Searching

Searching based on Cost and Price fields can identify an exact value, a range of values or a 0 value. Examples include:

Call Number Searches

Searching of call numbers can be narrowed to a specific value or across a range.

	Search Result - Provides a list of Copies with a classification that matches exactly.
	Search Result - Any copies that have a classification in the range AAA to AZZ will be returned by this search.

Missing Items

Details of copies made missing during the year or over a period of time can be obtained by using the search term below in the Any words field:

Another time when a list may be required of missing items is copies that have been made missing by finalizing an inventory. A search in Copies with the search criteria shown, can produce this information:

Equipment Searches

Equipment can be easier to locate in the catalog when you have specific details such as the make, model or serial number.  When searching for equipment, the following field names are available:

Examples of equipment searches are shown below and will provide the results as indicated:

Alert Messages

If a copy contains an alert message, a search can be used to identify messages which contain a specific value or all copies with an alert message.

Tag Searching

Any Copies marked with a Tag can be searched using the exact value or a portion of the Tag name, such as:

Weeded Copies 

A list of the Copies Weeded over a year or for a specific period may be obtained with the following Any words search in Cataloging > Weeded, selecting the Weeded Resources drop-down in the upper right and clicking [OL1] the Open Weeded Copies option:

Patron Searching

Fields related to a Patron record which are not visible on the Patron Search screen can be included in the ‘Any words’ search field to tailor the results of a search. Types of patron searches which may be useful are:

User Role Searches

To search for all users with a specific User Role, a search can be performed using the exact User Role name or using a portion of the name:

Text Hire Participation

It may be beneficial to identify a list of students who are part of the Text Hire scheme, or alternatively, not included.  The search term below can be used:

Email Searches

The library staff may wish to identify if there are patrons without an email address, with a specific email address or an email address with only a portion of the email value. The following examples can be used for the email address and the Alt Email address (replace email with ‘altemail’:

Tag Searching

Patrons may be tagged to identify new patrons, students who have left or for the ability to easily search a group of patrons with a specific characteristic. To search for patrons tags in Circulation > Patrons in the Any words field:

Searching Current Checkouts, Checkout Histories or Overdues from Circulation > Home

From the Circulation > Home screen, the Current Checkouts, Overdue Checkouts or Checkout Histories can be selected and searched to restrict the results to specific criteria, such as Patron Type, Homeroom, Bibtype, Resource Loan Category and DateDue.

Current Checkouts and Overdues

After the value next to Current Checkouts or Checkouts are overdue are chosen, the list of checkouts is displayed.  Select to Search Checkouts to display the search screen.

Search criteria can be added directly to the ‘Any words’ field or can be added using the Field name and search term.  Choose a field name by selecting the appropriate field and entering the value for searching in the search term box, then click Add. The example below shows the selection of Field name of homeroom and search term of 4B. Multiple fields can be searched.

The result of adding the search term is to display the field and term selected in the ‘Any words’ field:

Select ‘Search All Fields’ to run the search.

Search of Checkout Histories

The Search screen for Checkout Histories provides additional search fields of Patron Alias, Item Barcode, Return Date and Checkout Date. Field Names can be selected from the dropdown list, a search term entered and Add selected.  Multiple fields can be added, with the example showing a search of the year field of ‘11’ and the Resource Loan Category of General, which have been checked out during a specified period. Click Search All Fields to display the results.