Overview
The query function in VitalSource Bookshelf allows you to do both word queries and exact phrase matching. Whether you use the search function in the Bookshelf Window or in the Book Window, it operates the same way.
- Type the query criteria into the Search box located at top right of the Bookshelf Window (for Bookshelf queries) or above the Table of Contents in a single VitalBook.
- Press the RETURN key. At the bottom of the Bookshelf Window, you will see a status bar to show you the progress of the query.
- Individual Vitalbook queries: the query returns (or hits) are displayed in the Table of Contents (for text) and in the Figures list (for graphics), nd in the Notes list (for notes and highlights). Bookshelf queries: results are displayed in the right side of the window. Query returns in the Bookshelf Window display results in multiple books and in the notes and highlights in those books.
- Double-click on any of the query returns to go to that place in the VitalBook.
- To clear the search, click the "x" button next to Search box.
- PLEASE NOTE: When you query an individual book, you are searching all three tabs. You must hit the "clear" button to return to your full notes and figures list.
Query Criteria
You can fine-tune your query results by adding words to your search. If you type in one word and get back too many hits, you can add additional words to your query to narrow down your results. Please note, you do not need to add the words "a", "and", "or", "the", or "an."
For example, if you type in Abraham and get back too many results, then add the word Lincoln and you will find every occurrence where these two words are in the same paragraph, caption, figure, or title. If there are still too many hits, add the word Gettysburg and the results will be all those places where all 3 words are in the same paragraph, etc.
In addition, Bookshelf will pass terms it does not find in Title/Author fields to the book. For example, if you search in the Bookshelf Window for Shakespeare love, Bookshelf will find all instances of Shakespeare or love in the Author/Title. If it does not find one of those in a given book, that term will be passed to the book and the book will be searched using that term. You can tell Bookshelf found matches inside the book when "XX text results" appears under the title of the book in the middle pane of the Bookshelf Window.
You can also fine-tune your query by doing an Exact Phrase Match. See Below.
Advanced Search
Click on the magnifying glass icon in the search box in the Bookshelf Window to access the Advanced Search feature. In this box you can specify where you would like your terms to be queried. This is a powerful way to effectively search books for the content you are looking for.
Exact Phrase Matching
Exact Phrase Matching is used to refine your search to specific phrases. It is an excellent (not to mention efficient) way to quickly find a specific phrase or sentence. Exact Phrase Matching can be used to search the entire Collection or a single book.
Quotation Marks - the key to Exact Phrase Matching
- In the Search text entry box, type "I think therefore I am" (including quotation marks). The query returns will include any text block containing that phrase. If you do not use quotation marks, the query will look for any paragraph, caption, figure, or title containing all of your words.
Multiple Book Search
One of the most powerful features of the Query function is the ability to quickly search multiple books and/or multiple categories for a word, words or exact phrase. This is done in the Bookshelf Window.
Select one of the Category Folders and the contents of the Folder display in the Resource Section. Also notice that the name of the Category displays under the Search box in the upper right hand corner of the Bookshelf. When you search this Category you are searching all the content, including notes and highlights you have inserted into the VitalBooks.
You can also search your own Custom Folders (see Bookshelf, Custom Folders) so that the search results can be very specific to the information you need. Simply select your custom folder and type in the query criteria.
To search multiple categories, select the first folder and you will see the resource list and the name of the Category under the Query box. Hold down the "Ctrl" key - (lower left hand corner of the keyboard) - and now select the other category folders that you want to add to the search. You will see the Resource List grow as you add Categories, and you will see the name under the Query box change to reflect the number of categories. Add as many Categories as you need, enter the word, words or exact phrase into the Query Box and hit enter to begin the query.
Define Terms
With Bookshelf you have the ability to look up any word in any VitalBook simply by selecting the word, right clicking and choosing Search for "[term here]" in... [choose reference book].
Relevancy Ranking
When querying a term in a reference book, the results will be returned ranked by relevancy.