Queen's University - Utility Bar

Queen's University Library

QCAT: Advanced Search

Learn to Search QCAT:

Purpose

Use this guided search type if you are looking for specific items or if you would like to create a precise search strategy. Search keywords located anywhere in a record, or only in a specific field: Title; Author; Keyword Anywhere; Subject; Publication Date; Publisher; More.... For example:

  • Title and Date:
    ozone (title) and 2000 (publication date)
  • Author and Publisher:
    smith (author) and queens university (publisher)
  • Subject:
    french language dictionaries (all of these words, subject)

Combine Words

  • combine words within box using pull-down menus:
    all of these, any of these, as a phrase
  • omit punctuation
  • combine boxes with connecting operators: and, or, not

[QCAT Advanced Search]

[QCAT Advanced Search]

Truncation

  • truncate words by using ?
    adolescen? (retrieves adolescent, adolescents, adolescence)

Search Suggestions

  • combine a word from a title and a publication date:
    ozone (title) AND 2000 (publication date)
  • search for periodicals on a topic:
    deviant behaviour [title words] AND add the search limit: Journals & Other Serials
  • search for government documents:
    policy analysis (any of these) AND gun control (phrase)
  • search for a work with missing information such as the exact title:
    language (title) AND logan (author)

Limits

  • limit by language, location, year, format, material type, place of publication, publication status
  • available in all search types
  • 2 ways to apply limits:
    • 1) After doing a search:
      • a) enter keyword(s) and perform search (can search by Subject, Author, etc)
      • b) on the following results page, click Post Limit
    • 2) Prior to doing a search:
      • a) click More Search Limits
      • b) set limits
      • c) enter Keyword(s), Title, or Journal Title (not Subject, Author... ) and perform search
  • remove limits using Remove Search Limits

Search Tips

  • click Search to execute search
  • click Clear button to clear search
  • click Search History to edit and click number to change

Last Updated: 25 October 2010