TIPS ON SEARCHING

This page will provide tips for how to do an on-line search using keywords and options from the Advanced Search menu.

Click on "Advanced Search."
Determine the parameters of your search. The "Operators" section below outlines the options available for conducting an advanced search.
Type the first word of the advanced search you have decided to conduct in the "Find all documents that contain . . ." box.
Click on the icon for the first operator of your advanced search.
Type in the second word or phrase of your advanced search.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all the words, phrases, and operators you wish to use. You can use up to 16 operators in one query.
Click on the number of results per page you would like to see and the way you would like them sorted.
Press the "Search" button to begin the search.

The screen displays your search query in "The current OAGA query is . . ." box. You can use your browser's "Back" button to go back and edit your last query. The "Reset" button clears the search and allows you to begin a new search.

After processing your query, the screen displays the documents that match your keywords. It also shows the number of hits for your keywords. You can then browse the documents. In each document, each keyword hit is highlighted. Click on a highlighted keyword to proceed to the next highlighted keyword hit.

Operators

The following operators will help you be very specific about your search:

AND which ALSO contain…
finds documents that contain both of the entered words or phrases — for example, documents that contain record and that also contain sales.
OR which contain…
finds documents that contain any one of the entered words or phrases — for example, documents that contain evaluate or that contain assess.
BUT do NOT contain…
finds documents that contain the first word or phrase, but not the second — for example, documents that contain record but do not contain expense.
Within a PARAGRAPH of…
finds documents that contain both words or phrases, but also within a paragraph on either side of each other — for example, documents that contain record within a paragraph of sales.
In the same PARAGRAPH as…
finds documents that contain both words or phrases in the same paragraph — for example, documents that contain payment in the same paragraph as consultant.

The difference between the operators Within a PARAGRAPH of… and In the Same PARAGRAPH as… is that Within a PARAGRAPH of… will find words that are not in the same paragraph, but that are in successive paragraphs.

For example, the query: record Within a PARAGRAPH of profits
will find the following document:

It’s been a record year for sales.
Our profits are at their highest levels.

But the query: record In the Same PARAGRAPH as profits
will not find this document.
Within 10 WORDS of…
finds documents where both words or phrases appear in the same paragraph and within ten words of one another — for example, documents that contain Cabinet within 10 words of directive.
Followed anywhere by…
finds documents where the first word or phrase is followed anywhere by the second — for example, documents that contain business plan followed anywhere by outcome.