LOCATION: HOME PAGE: SEARCH TIPS

Search Tips Contents

You may never have to design a database, but chances are you may need to search one. These strategies can help you search data more efficiently and quickly, both for "traditional" databases and for the "disguised" databases like the Internet or Excel.

The Strategies

Multiple Keywords & Synonyms

Choosing the right keywords or a series of related keywords can help you extract data from large databases.

Wildcard Searches

Specifying just part of a search string can help you find material across multiple variants of a keyword.

Using Boolean Operators

Using Boolean operators or conjunctions such as AND, OR and NOT can help define your search across multiple categories.

Null Searches

Sometimes for database maintenance or other functions, you need to search for a record in which a category is unspecified.

Defining Ranges

Specifying alphabetical, numerical or date ranges is another way to extract a set of data.

Sorting Your Data

If your search results in more than one record, then different sorts such as alphabetical, numeric or chronological can help you organize your data quickly for analysis.

Dissecting Category Codes

Understanding the structure of seemingly arbitrary codes such as a zip code or a call number can help you search for and understand data even more clearly.

Googling Efficiently

Although there are lots of wonderful databases out there, especially from the Penn State Libraries, Google is still an important tool. Here are some tips for making your Google search more efficient.

Next: Different Search Models

Top of Page

OTHER SECTIONS: Home Page | Site Map | Glossary | Teaching Ideas

© 2004-2005 The Pennsylvania State University.

This Website is maintained by Elizabeth Pyatt (ejp10@psu.edu) for Teaching and Learning with Technology, a unit of Information Technology Services.

Last Update: August 1, 2005