HELP FILE FOR SEARCH QUERIES
WHAT TO TYPE:
  • Single words/terms/names should be typed as single words.
  • Two or more words/terms/names should be typed in quotes. EXAMPLE: "Bryant Walker"
  • In ADVANCED SEARCH, use two letter abbreviation for STATE.
  • In ADVANCED SEARCH, use the actual archives folder name for the PARISH/COUNTY.
I don't have a definition for the "File Type" and "File SubType" fields in the ADVANCED SEARCH form at this time.

BOOLEAN SEARCH OPTIONS

Boolean operators allow words/terms to be combined for more restricted searches. This search engine supports "OR", "AND", "+", "NOT" and "-". Boolean operators must be ALL CAPS.
  • The "OR" operator links two terms and finds a matching document if either of the terms exist in a document. The "OR" operator is the default conjunction operator. This means that if there is no Boolean operator between two terms, the OR operator is used.
    • EXAMPLE 1: "Bryant Walker" OR Bryant (Finds either "Bryant Walker" or Bryant if "Bryant Walker" does not exist)
      EXAMPLE 2: "Bryant Walker" OR Walker (Finds either "Bryant Walker" or Walker if "Bryant Walker" does not exist)
  • The "AND" operator matches documents where both terms exist anywhere in the text of a single document. This is equivalent to an intersection using sets. The symbol "&&" can be used in place of the word "AND".
    • EXAMPLE 1: "Bryant Walker" AND "Van Walker" (Finds any occurrence of "Bryant Walker" or "Van Walker" in the search parameters)
      EXAMPLE 2: "Bryant Walker" AND Whatley (Finds any occurrence of "Bryant Walker" or Whatley in the search parameters.)
  • The "+" or required operator requires that the term after the "+" symbol exist somewhere in a the field of a single document.
    • EXAMPLE 1: +Louisiana Walker (Finds all documents that contain the term "Louisiana" and may contain Walker.)
  • The NOT operator excludes documents that contain the term after NOT. This is equivalent to a difference using sets. The symbol "!" can be used in place of the word NOT. Note: The "NOT" operator cannot be used with just one term.
    • EXAMPLE 1: "Bryant Walker" NOT "Van Walker" (Finds all documents that contain the terms "Bryant Walker" and excludes any that contains "Van Walker".)
  • The "-" or prohibit operator excludes documents that contain the term after the "-" symbol.
    • EXAMPLE 1: "Bryant Walker" -"Bayou Chicot" (Finds all documents that contain the terms "Bryant Walker" and excludes documents that contain "Bayou Chicot".)