conduct a search

search methods

Three search methods are available:

Quick search “All search criteria” allows one to type a term in the text field.

Simple search allows the user to select a search criterion and type a term in the text field.

Expert search crosses multiple types words with multiple search criteria. It uses the Boolean operators: AND, OR, EXCEPT.

Boolean operators

The Boolean operators AND, OR, EXCEPT allow one to create a “dialogue” between the search criteria in an expert search.

And implies that the group of terms in the search is contained in the result pages.

• Ex: Search terms: Mask and Benin
• Search results: Mask from Benin

Or implies that one or the other of the search terms is contained in the result pages.

• Ex: Search terms: Mask or Benin
• Search results: Mask from Benin, Asian Mask, Mask from Oceania, Loincloth from Benin, Statue from Benin, Jewelry from Benin

Except implies that the term following EXCEPT does not appear in the result pages.

• Ex: Search terms: Mask except Benin
• Search results: Asian Mask, Mask from Oceania, Mask from Africa (except Benin)

search criteria

The search criteria are present in simple and expert searches. They are determined by the content of each catalog and sub-catalog. They guide the user in the possible searches: Title, Inventory number, People and Institutions or Places for example. The selection of a search criteria, with a click of the mouse, allows one to type a term in the text field.

search assistants

The search assistants simplify the search on simple and expert search pages. They appear by clicking on the icon   that appears once a research criteria is selected. This click opens a new window.

• In the new window appear keywords organized in alphabetical lists or thesaurus lists organized by keywords.
• In the case of thesaurus lists, only the most general terms appear upon the opening of the new window. The more precise terms appear by clicking on +. It is possible to launch a search on each of the terms listed, from the most general to the most specific.
• In objects catalog searches, the search criteria with search assistants are Places, Ethnicities, Materials and techniques, People and Institutions, Type of objects, Location.
• In iconographic media catalogs searches, the search assistants are Places, Ethnicities, People and Institutions, Subjects.
• In museum and archival documentation catalog searches, the search assistants are Title of collection, Themes, People and Institutions, Original museums.. The key words listed correspond to the information in the professional database.

sub-catalogs of the objects catalog

For the objects catalog, sub-catalogs permit selection of a group of objects to conduct a more refined search.

Five sub-catalogs are available:

• exhibited objects,
• musical instruments,
• new acquisitions of objects,
• History collections,
• textiles.

Specific search criteria, in particular of the thesaurus Types of objects, assist in refining the requests.

The History collections are shared between the objects catalog and the iconographic library catalog.

rules for text search

The selection for search criteria is required before typing a term in the text field, for simple and expert searches.

It is necessary to provide one or more search criteria.

The search terms can be typed regardless of uppercase or lowercase, with or without accent.

It is unnecessary to type the following: articles, conjunctions, prepositions.

refine a search

Refining a search is a function accessible in the result and history pages. It allows one to keep previous search terms and refine them in an expert search.

search aids

There are two types of search aids.

Asterisk,*, is the truncator used to replace one or more letters in a word:

• Ex: Search term : hach*
• Search results: the search is made on terms that begin with hach : hache, haches, hachoir, etc...

• Ex: Search term : *ache
• Search results: the search is made on terms that end with ache : hache, cache, bache, etc...

It is possible to combine the asterisk before and after the search word.

The quotation marks indicate a search on an exact expression:

• Ex: Search term : "hache"
• Search results: the search is made on the exact term hache.

• Ex: Search term : hache
• Search results: the search is made on terms that contain the word hache.

combined search

The combined search allows one to combine different sources to explore a search theme and enrich the results of the search. The search is made on common elements of the catalogs.

thematic collections

The thematic collections complete the search on the catalogs by updating the requests registered around thematic foci.

presentation of results

search recall

The result pages recall the combination of the search performed and specify the number of results.

There is no limit to the maximum number of results.

listing of results

The listing of result occurs in three stages:

1. The user chooses the first format of results listing.
• the list of results, with an abbreviated entry,
• the slide library, that presents results in visual format.
2. The complete entry opens by clicking on the small image in the list of results or the slide view
3. The full-screen image opens by clicking on the small image in the full entry.

cross-function tools

Cross-functional tools serve to use the search results:

• a zoom permits full-screen detail
• a history serves to find searches conducted,
• a basket allows saving selected entries,
• an e-mail function allows entries to be sent to an e-mail address
• a function allows printing and downloading of entries.

The presentation of terms of on-line usage allows understanding of editorial, legal, and ethical conditions applied to the largest number of data in the catalogs.