Help for E-Resources/Article Databases

Searching

1. Select database from the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.
2. Type a word or phrase in the search box.
3. Click on SEARCH.

Combining Terms

Use OR to connect similar terms. OR broadens your search.

Example: wetland or marsh

Use AND to connect separate concepts. AND narrows your search.

Example: prairie and restoration

Truncating Terms

Use * to replace one or more characters at the end of a search term.

Example:bird* (retrieves bird, birds, birding)

Use ? to replace more than one or no characters.

Example: wom?n (retrieves woman, women)

Proximity Searching

Use n# to find terms with a specified number(#) of words regardless of the order in which they appear..

Example: social n3 geography (retrieves social geography, social and cultural geography)

Combining Search Sets

1. Click on SEARCHING.
2. Click on PREVIOUS SEARCHES on the main search screen.
3. Click in the box(es) to the left of desired search sets to combine.
4. Click on AND or OR at COMBINE USING:.
5. Click on SEARCH/COMBINE.

Author Searching

1. Click in AUTHOR box.
2. Type the last name and first name and enclose in quotation marks.
   

   Example: "brown susan"

3. Click on SEARCH.

Author Browsing

1. Click on ADVANCED SEARCH.
2. Type the last name and first initial in the SEARCH FOR box..
   

   Example: brown s

3. Choose AUTHOR PHRASE from the drop down menu in the KEYWORD box.
4. Click on the BROWSE icon with the double arrows to the right of the SEARCH FOR box.
5. Click on desired author name.
6. Click on SEARCH.

Journal Searching

1. Click on ADVANCED SEARCH.
2. Type the journal name in the SEARCH FOR box..
   

   Example: journal of avian biology

3. Choose TITLE PHRASE from the drop down menu in the KEYWORD box.
4. Click on the BROWSE icon with the double arrows to the right of the SEARCH FOR box.
5. Click on desired journal name.
6. Click on SEARCH.

Displaying Search Results

1. Click on a title to view the full display. Click on LIST OF RECORDS on the left of the screen to return to the list of titles.
2. Use SCROLL BAR to move through records.
3. Click on PREV or NEXT to move to the next or previous list of records.
4. Click on SEE MORE DETAILS FOR LOCATING THIS ITEM to find if electronic or print copies of this item are on campus.
5. Click on Search the catalog at UW Madison to check availability.

Selecting Records

Up to 100 records may be marked at any one time.

1. Click in the box to the left of the record to mark it for later printing, saving or emailing.
   (Optional) Click on MARK ALL at the bottom of the screen to mark all the records on a page.

Printing Search Results

Records will be printed in brief format. Click on Detailed Records for full format.

Printing One Record

1. Click on the title of the desired record to display the full format.
2. Click on the Printer icon to the left of the screen.
3. Click on PRINT.

Printing Selected Records

1. Click on MARKED RECORDS at the left of the screen.
   (Optional) Click on DETAILED RECORDS for full format if desired.
2. Click on the Printer icon to the left of the screen. Records will be formatted for printing.
3. Click on PRINT.
4. Click on RETURN to return to results screen.

Saving Search Results

Saving One Record

1. Click on the title of the desired record to display the full format.
2. Insert removable storage device. (i.e. flash drive, memory stick, 3 1/2" disk ...)
3. Click on MARKED RECORDS at the left of the screen.
   (Optional) Click on DETAILED RECORDS for full format if desired.
4. Click on EXPORT at the top of the screen.
5. Click in the circle to the left of TEXT FILE at the EXPORT TO: box.
6. Click on EXPORT.
7. Type the disk drive letter, the filename (up to 8 characters) and .txt in the FILE NAME box.
   

   Example: a:myfile.txt

8. Click on SAVE.

Saving Selected Records

1. Insert removable storage device. (i.e. flash drive, memory stick, 3 1/2" disk ...)
2. Click on MARKED RECORDS at the left of the screen.
   (Optional) Click on DETAILED RECORDS for full format if desired.
3. Click on EXPORT at the top of the screen.
4. Click in the circle to the left of TEXT FILE at the EXPORT TO: box.
5. Click on EXPORT.
6. Type the disk drive letter, the filename (up to 8 characters) and .txt in the FILE NAME box.
   

   Example: a:myfile.txt

7. Click on SAVE.

Emailing Search Results

Emailing One Record

1. Click on the title of the desired record to display in full format.
2. Click on E-MAIL.
3. Click in the circle to the left of desired choice at the RECORD DETAIL: box.
4. Type complete email addresses in the TO E-MAIL ADDRESS box.
5. Click on SEND.

Emailing Selected Records

1. Click on MARKED RECORDS at the left of the screen.
2. Click on E-MAIL.
3. Click in the circle to the left of desired choice at the RECORD DETAIL: box.
4. Type complete email addresses in the TO E-MAIL ADDRESS box.
5. Click on SEND.

Beginning a New Search, Getting Help, and Exiting

Beginning a New Search

1. Click on SEARCHING at the left side of the screen.

Getting Help

1. Click on HELP for on-screen help.

For further assistance, consult library staff.

Exiting

1. Click on EXIT to the right of the screen.
2. Click on HOME at the top of the screen to return to the UW-Madison Libraries Web site.

Databases Covered by this Guide

• Alternative Press Index
• GEOBASE
• WorldCat