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Search multiple databases simultaneously

ArticleExplorer

Logging in | Basic search | Advanced search | Limitations | Icons used in ArticleExplorer | Using Boolean operators | Phrases/wildcards/truncation | Number of results retrieved | Watching the search progress | Viewing the search results | Getting the article | Exporting records (e-mail/save/print) | Logging out

Logging in 

The ArticleExplorer interface requires you to login using your name and library barcode. This is done so that you are authenticated to use the subscription databases that are to be searched during your session without having to log on to each database individually.

Basic search 

On the ArticleExplorer introduction page, enter your search terms in the search box and use the Search ArticleExplorer button to run your search. The default is to search for terms as keywords in the Getting Started list of databases.

If you don't know your topic very well, the best place to start is with the default option, Getting Started. The Getting Started option will search across LexisNexis Academic (primarily newspapers), ABI/INFORM, Factiva, and Academic Search Complete (these three search newspapers, trade magazines, and scholarly journals across a variety of disciplines). You can select one or more of the subject groups of databases under the search box.

You can select where the terms you enter are to be found. Choices are: keywords, author, title, and subject. Caution: subject terms are often used in a specific manner by each database. If you use a subject search, be aware that one database may use a subject term such as MRI, while another database will use a different term, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

To view databases in each category, use the Advanced Search feature. For more information, see the Advanced Search help below.

Advanced search 

By using the Advanced Search option, you can see a list of the databases included in each subject group. You can also select specific databases to search within and across disciplines.

For example, you could select the Engineering box to automatically select all engineering resources, or you could select specific engineering resources, such as Compendex, IEEE Xplore, and INSPEC and not search the other engineering resources.

Or you could select databases across disciplines, such as ASCE Civil Engineering from the Engineering list, Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management from Agriculture & Life Sciences, and ScienceDirect Ejournals from Natural Resources.

Limitations of ArticleExplorer 

While it is easy to search multiple databases with ArticleExplorer, limitations of this kind of search must be acknowledged.

It is important to note that search results are displayed in the order they are received by the ArticleExplorer system: the initially active database displayed was the fastest to respond, and the 40 results were the first 40 returned. There is no relevance ranking among the databases or the list of results. For more control over the results returned, search the individual databases in their native interfaces.

The ArticleExplorer interface does not give you access to any of the powerful search features of the individual databases: subject searching, limiting search results by date, format or source, or (as noted below) using advanced phrase and boolean search options. We suggest beginning your search with ArticleExplorer, noting databases that return the best set of results, and continuing your search in those databases' native interface.

Icons used in ArticleExplorer 

Search one concept using predetermined databases grouped together to search.

Combine multiple terms, concepts or phrases in search, can select specific databases in or across subjects.

Use to submit search into all selected resources.

Start a new search in basic or advanced search, depending on which option was used in previous search.

Returns search to default search of Getting Started resources.

Use to take selected citations and print or email.

View items in your My Library Account, including saved database groups.

Return to Addison.

End session.

Using Boolean operators 

Each database has its own configuration as to how it handles terms in the search box. In the basic search, some databases will recognize the Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT) while others will include them as a part of the searching phrase.

For example, a simple search for 'cat or feline' will result in some of the databases to look for the full phrase "cat or feline" and not the individual terms of "cat" OR "feline". To remedy this, use the advanced search option, and place the words cat and feline in separate boxes, like below:

Note, it is important to use the "Construct search as" option so ArticleExplorer understands which terms are to be grouped together. For example the following search of cat OR feline AND disease would be read as ("cat" OR "feline") AND ("disease") using Order1, but it would be ("cat") OR ("feline" AND "disease") using Order2.

Phrases/wildcards/truncation 

Similar to the problem with Boolean searching in the above example, it is also impossible to say how phrases, wildcards, and truncation will be handled through ArticleExplorer. Each database handles search terms in slightly different ways. For example, while many databases support the use of the asterisk (*) to find multiple characters after a root word (e.g. forest* would retrieve forest, forests, forestry, foresters, etc), other databases do not recognize the asterisk and use a question mark (?) as their truncation symbol. You can use such symbols when searching ArticleExplorer, but it is generally not advised.

Number of results retrieved 

Each database is limited to returning 40 items. If there are more than 40 items retrieved, you must go to the database and run the search in order to access any additional articles.

Watching the Search Progress 

After the search begins, ArticleExplorer displays a dynamic Search Progress report at the top of the results screen. The report identifies the specific resources being searched. The values in the report are updated as the search continues through each resource until the status is "Done." Other statuses you may see are:

Working

ArticleExplorer is searching the resource

Done

ArticleExplorer has retrieved results from the resource

Failed

The search has failed. Common reasons are that the database is offline, all user licenses are in use, or the access has changed. (Ask a Librarian for assistance if refreshing the page continues with failed searches.)

Viewing the search results 

Each database has its own tab along the left hand column of the display. ArticleExplorer will display the results of the database that completed the search first in the right hand column. To view items retrieved from other resources, click on the database name in the left hand column.

Getting the article 

To view an article from a list of items retrieved, click on the article title in the right hand column. You will be taken to the database's interface to view options to access the article. If a PDF version of the article is not available directly through the database, click on the Get VText icon to determine how you can access the article.

Exporting records: emailing/saving/printing 

To e-mail or print records using ArticleExplorer, follow the steps below:

1. mark the box next to the records you want to export
2. click on the View, Print & Email Saved List
3. print or email your records (note, email records will often include a hyperlink in the article title to the database record)

However, when possible, we recommend that you e-mail, save and print records from the individual databases, and NOT from ArticleExplorer. Why? You will never get the full text if you export directly from ArticleExplorer, and your records will not contain as much information.

Logging out 

There are two logout options to be aware of:

Some databases have a limited number of simultaneous users. As ArticleExplorer opens a new tab for each article you click on in the results retrieved list, it is possible for one user to use all seats if the window is closed before logging out. So whenever you access an article, be sure to log out of the resource before closing the window.

When you are finished using ArticleExplorer, make sure to click on the logout icon to finish your session.

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