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Cataloging: Search WorldCat

Judy Barnes
Last revised January 2008

Search WorldCat interactively

See also:

  • Client Quick Reference:OCLC Connexion Client Quick Reference at:
    http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/client/cataloging/catquickref/.
  • Searching WorldCat Quick Reference:Connexion: Searching WorldCat Quick Reference at:
    http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/refcard/.
  • Complete, detailed index descriptions:Searching WorldCat Indexes at:
    http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/searchworldcatindexes/.

Non-Latin scripts

The Connexion client supports using these non-Latin scripts for constructing WorldCat search terms: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Cyrillic, Devanagari, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Tamil, and Thai.

Follow procedures in topics on searching WorldCat. See guidelines below for using non-Latin script search terms.

Enter a command line WorldCat search

To type a complete search in a single string using full search syntax–all parts of a search in correct order and format, including index labels and punctuation, search terms, Boolean operators, and qualifiers–use the command line in the:

  • Search Worldcat window
  • WorldCat quick search tool on the toolbar
  • See procedures immediately below.

To open the Search WorldCat window:

  Action
1 Log on to the system.
Or
On the Cataloging menu, click Search > WorldCat, or click , or press <F2>, and let the client prompt you to log on before opening the search window.
2 In the Command Line Search area of the Search WorldCat window, type a keyword, numeric, or derived search, or a browse term, using full search syntax.
Or
Click the Command Line Search list and select a previous search (the list displays up to 10 of your last searches).

See "Command Line Search guidelines" below for details.

See more details and examples for specific types of searches in "Keyword, numeric, and derived search syntax and examples." See also "Browse WorldCat."

Notes:

  • Keyword/numeric and browse indexes include separate indexes/labels for words, phrases, and whole phrases.
  • For a description of all WorldCat indexes, with labels, fields/subfields indexed,and examples, see Searching WorldCat Indexes at:
    < http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/searchworldcatindexes >.
  • See descriptions of bibliographic institution record (IR) indexes (if you select the option to include IR indexes in WorldCat master record searches). See topics in Cataloging, Use Bibliographic Institution Records for more information. Institution record index information will be added to Searching WorldCat Indexes in the near future.
3 Optional. Select a search results display. See "Customize WorldCat search and browse interfaces" for details.

Note: The Display Search Results setting applies to command line and guided search results, and to results displayed when you open an entry on a Browse WorldCat List that contains more than one record.

4 Click OK or press <Enter> to send the search.

See "Use WorldCat search results."

See also "Enter WorldCat searches for batch processing."

Tip: If you use command line searching most of the time, click Collapse/Expand in the Search WorldCat window to show only the Command Line Search view of the window. Click again to restore the full view of the window. See "Customize WorldCat searching and browsing."

Note: New search indexes will become visible and usable in the client for SCIPIO record (Sales Catalog Index Project Input Online) searches, and some indexes will also be available for browsing, once SCIPIO records are added to WorldCat, as part of the integration of the RLG Union Catalog into WorldCat. The word SCIPIO precedes each index name in the alphabetized list for ease of finding them. The index lists include labels you can use for command line searching.

Alternative: Use the WorldCat quick search tool

By default, the client displays a quick tool on the toolbar for searching or browsing WorldCat:

To use the quick tool:

  Action
1 Optional. Log on to the system.
2 Click to place the cursor inside the quick search box and type a command line search or browse.
Or
Click the arrow directly to the right of the box to select from a search history list.

Note: The client keeps a list of all searches (not limited to the last 10), but does not retain them after you close the program.
3 Click the search icon, , or press <Enter> to send the search.

Note: If you did not log on before sending the search, the client prompts you to log on.
4 Optional. To clear the search history list, click the arrow directly to the right of the search icon, and then click Clear WorldCat Search History.

Result: The client retains only the most recent search you typed in the quick search box. When you close and re-open the client, all searches are cleared from the quick search box.

To hide or re-display the WorldCat quick search tool:

Action
Click View > Toolbars > Quick Tools. A checkmark indicates that the quick tools are displayed.

Command line search guidelines

Type the search in a single string with correct search syntax: search terms, index labels and punctuation, Boolean operators, and qualifiers, in correct order.

  • Include a command–Scan (sca)–only for a browse term. See also "Browse WorldCat."
  • Enter search terms using upper- or lowercase or both.
  • Keyword, numeric, and browse indexes are searchable by word, phrase, or whole phrase.
  • Required. (See three exceptions below.) Include index labels when you search for a number, word, or phrase, and in a browse query (index scan).
  • Required. Follow index labels with punctuation (no spaces before or after). Use a colon (:) for words or an equal sign (=) for phrases and whole phrases (whole phrase indexes have three letters; the third is always w).

    Note: To find the exact sequence of multiple words:
    • Using a word search: Enclose multiple words in quotation marks ("). If you do not, the system searches for each individual word anywhere in the record.
    • Using a phrase search or browse: Use an equal sign, not a colon. A colon indicates a word search
    • Examples: Type:
      ti:"gone with the wind"
      (ti:gone with the wind retrieves records that contain any instance of gone or wind; with and the are stopwords (not indexed)

      sca ti=gone with the wind
      (sca ti:gone with the wind only searches or browses for the word gone)
  • Exceptions in the required use of index labels:
    • Index labels and punctuation are optional in the command line for a derived search if it is the first or only search; otherwise the index label is required.

      Examples:
      dea,in,ve, and la:french
      la:french and td:dea,in,ve,
    • Index labels and punctuation are optional for an ISBN search if it is the first or only search in the command line.
    • You can precede an OCLC Control Number search with the index label (no:), an asterisk (*), or the number sign (#).

      Caution:       Connexion recognizes only an ISBN or a derived search without an index label. Otherwise, if you omit the index label, the system searches the Keyword (kw:) index, a general word index.
  • Optional–combine searches. Type Boolean operators and, or, not to combine multiple search terms for different indexes.
  • Optional–use proximity operators. In a word search, type proximity operators with (w) or near (n) with numbers (1 to 25) to find multiple terms in one index that have a specified number of intervening words, or enclose words in quotation marks to search for an exact sequence of words.
    Examples:
    ti:natural w1 foods     or ti:"natural foods"
  • Optional–qualify searches. Type qualifiers to focus a search. Begin each qualifier with a slash or with an index label followed by a colon (:).

    Use slashes or index labels and colons with the following four types of qualifiers: format, years, microform, or source (/dlc).

    Use index labels only (no slash) to qualify a search by Internet/non-Internet, by language, or by material type.
    Example:
    la:english and ti:thesaurus/bks/1960-5/dlc
    la:english and mt:dvv and ti:wizard/1970-
  • Include only one slash qualifier of any single type.
  • Slash qualifiers must be the last element of a search.
  • Optional–use wildcards, truncation, or plurals. In keyword searches, type symbols for wildcards (# or ?), truncation (*), or plurals(+) in place of characters or endings to retrieve different forms of a word. (See details below.)

    Notes:
    • Wildcard, truncation, and plural ending symbols must be preceded by at least three characters.
    • These symbols are not supported for non-Latin script search terms.
  • Many indexes are available for searching and browsing WorldCat. See
    Searching WorldCat Indexes at: http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/searchworldcatindexes.

Use the Keyword/Numeric Search area for guided searches

To enter a guided search that does not require that you remember full search syntax (index labels, etc.), enter search terms in text boxes and select indexes, Boolean operators, and qualifiers from lists. The client supplies correct syntax automatically when you send the search.

  Action
1 Log on to the system.
Or
On the Cataloging menu, click Search > WorldCat, or click , or press <F2>, and let the client prompt you to log on before opening the search window.
2 In the Search WorldCat window, under Keyword/Numeric Search, type a keyword, numeric, or derived search in the Search for box(es).
Or
Click a Search for list and select a previous search (the list displays up to 10 of your last searches).

Note: Use any Search for box(es) in any order.

See "Keyword/Numeric Search guidelines below for details.

See more details and examples for specific types of searches in "Keyword, numeric, and derived search syntax and examples" and in "Browse WorldCat.".

Tip:

  • To search a single index, combine search terms in a single Search for box. Type terms in any order. Using and to combine them is optional. The system "ands" the terms (finds records that contain all of the terms) unless you combine terms with or (to find records containing any of the terms) or not (to find records that exclude terms).
  • To search more than one index, enter search terms in separate Search for boxes, select Boolean operator(s) to combine the terms, and select a different index for each box.
3 To the right of the Search for box, select an index from the default short list of the 10 most used indexes, or customize the short index list, or switch to the full list of over 90 available indexes (the list displays the label and correct punctuation for each index).

See "Customize WorldCat search and browse interfaces" for details.

For a description of all WorldCat indexes, with labels, fields/subfields indexed,and examples, see Searching WorldCat Indexes at: < http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/searchworldcatindexes >.

Note: New search indexes will be available for SCIPIO records (Sales Catalog Index Project Input Online), and some SCIPIO indexes will also be available for browsing, once SCIPIO records are added to WorldCat as part of integrating the RLG Union Catalog. The word SCIPIO precedes each index name in the alphabetized list for ease of finding them.

4 Optional–combine searches. To combine multiple searches, type more search terms in the remaining Search for boxes.

Combine multiple searches by selecting a Boolean operator from the list to the left of the Search for box. Boolean operators specify relationship(s) among the search terms.

  • and finds records that contain both search terms in the same record
  • or finds records that contain either term
  • not finds records that contain the first term but not the second term

See "Qualify and combine searches" for more information.

5 Optional–qualify searches. Specify qualifier(s):
  • Select Format, Internet, Source, or Microform qualifiers from lists.
  • Select a Language qualifier from the default short list of the nine most used languages, or customize the short list, or expand the list to select from the hundreds of languages valid for MARC records.
  • Select Material Type qualifiers from the default short list of the ten most used, or customize the short list, or expand the list to select from over 100 material types indexed in WorldCat.
  • To qualify by Year, type a year or year range in the box.

See "Qualify and combine searches" for details.

6 Optional. Select the way you want search results to display.

See "Customize WorldCat search and browse interfaces" for more information.

Note: The Display Search Results setting applies to command line and guided search results and to results displayed when you open an entry on a Browse WorldCat List that contains more than one record.

7 Click OK or press <Enter>.

See "Use WorldCat search results."

Guided search guidelines

  • Type a search term (word, phrase, whole phrase, number, or derived) in any of three Search for boxes. (Note that you can search indexes for words, phrases, or whole phrases.)
  • To search one index using multiple terms, enter the terms in a single Search for box
    • Typing and to combine the terms is optional. The system "ands" terms by default; that is, it finds records that contain all of the terms.

      Type or between terms to find records containing any of the terms, or type not between terms to find records that exclude terms.
    • Type proximity operators with (w) or near (n) to combine the search terms. Add numbers (1 to 25) to specify the number of intervening words.
    • Enclose words in quotation marks to find the exact sequence of words.

      Examples:
      natural and foods
      natural w1 foods
      "natural foods"
  • To search multiple indexes, enter search terms in separate Search for boxes.
    • Select an index from the lists to the right of the Search for boxes.

      Note: You can also type an index label (with a colon or equal sign) preceding the search in the Search for box to override any selection in the index list. If you do not type an index label, Connexion always uses the index selected in the list.

    • Select an operator AND, OR or NOT from the lists to the left of the Search for boxes to combine search terms in separate boxes for separate indexes
    • For an OCLC Control Number search, select the index from the list, or precede the number with the index label (no:), an asterisk (*), or the number sign (#). To add the OCLC number index to the short index list, see "Customize WorldCat search and browse interfaces."
    • For an ISBN search, select the ISBN index from the list, or precede the number with the index label (bn:).
  • Optional–use wildcards, truncation, and plurals. For keyword searches, type symbols for wildcards (# or ?), truncation (*), and plural endings (+) in place of characters to expand a search term. (See details below.)

    Note:

    • Wildcard, truncation, and plural stemming symbols must be preceded by at least three characters.
    • These symbols are not supported for non-Latin-script search terms.

  • Optional. Enter or select qualifiers (see step 6 in the procedure above).

Search for words, phrases, or whole phrases

Searching and browsing using word, phrase, and whole phrase indexes are available for most keyword, numeric, and browse indexes.

Examples:
Title (ti:) [word index]
Title Phrase (ti=)
Title Whole Phrase (tiw=)

The following table shows how Connexion searches an index for words, phrases, and whole phrases and gives examples and guidelines:

Index Matches search against ... Examples/Guidelines for Command Line Search area*
Word
(Includes both keyword and numeric terms)

Use a colon (:)		 Individual words (or numeric term) anywhere in an indexed field Publisher:
pb:dakota

Dewey Class Number:
dd:616

LC Class Number: lc:Z5074.G8
Enter multiple words to search a single index.
Or
Enclose the words in quotation marks to match the exact sequence of words
Or
Use with (w) or near (n) with a number (1 to 25) to match the sequence of words with a specified number of words between 		Title:

ti:asian crisis (finds any instance of the presence of both terms in the title index)

ti:"asian crisis" (finds only instances of the exact term in the title index)

ti:asian w2 crisis (finds instances of the two terms when the first term precedes the second term within two words)
Phrase

Use an equal sign (=)		 Multiple words in sequence within a single subfield, beginning with the first word in the subfield and including all data in the subfield Personal Name Phrase: pn=james, henry

Publisher Phrase: pb=namgyal institute of tibetology
  • Enter multiple words in order from the beginning of the first subfield of an indexed field.
  • Enter all data from the subfield or truncate using the asterisk (*). Alternative: Use a browse search in the Command Line. It is the only type of search that automatically truncates phrases.
  • Omit initial articles in titles.
Whole phrase

Use an equal sign (=)

Whole phrase index labels end in the letter w		 Multiple words in sequence within a single field, beginning with the first word in the field, across multiple subfields, and including all data in the field. Personal Name Whole Phrase: pnw=james, henry 1843-1916

Subject Whole Phrase: suw=library science -- computer network resources
  • Enter multiple words in order from the beginning of the and include data from all subfields.
    Or
    Truncate data using an asterisk (*). Alternative: Use a browse search in the Command Line. It is the only type of search that automatically truncates phrases.
  • Omit initial articles in titles.
*In the Keyword/Numeric Search area, omit index label and punctuation and select index from list.
Caution: When you enter a phrase in the Command Line to browse, you must use an equal sign, not a colon. If you use a colon with a phrase, the system scans only for the first word of the phrase.

Example:
sca ti:gone with the wind browses only for the word gone
sca tiw=gone with the wind browses for the entire phrase

Use wildcards, truncation, and plurals

When searching keyword or numeric indexes, use the following symbols to broaden a search:

  • Use the # symbol or ? as wildcards (masking symbols) to match variant spellings:
    • Replace one unknown character with the # symbol.
      Examples:
      adverti#e retrieves advertise and advertize
      wom#n retrieves both woman and women
    • Replace multiple unknown characters with the ? or ?n symbol (n = number of characters; use single digits 1 through 9).
      Examples:
      computer? retrieves computer, computerization, or computerized
      col?r or colo?r retrieves color or colour
      int?net retrieves internet or intranet
  • Use the * symbol to truncate a word or number to retrieve variant endings.
    Example:
    invest* retrieves investor, investing, investment fraud, etc.
  • Use the + symbol at the end of a singular word to match plural forms ending in s or es.
    Example:
    business+ retrieves business or businesses
    lad+ retrieves lad or lads

Notes:

  • Wildcard, truncation, and plural ending symbols must be preceded by at least three characters.
  • These symbols cannot be used with non-Latin script search terms.

Use non-Latin script search terms

See more about using non-Latin scripts for cataloging in International/"Use non-Latin scripts for cataloging." The following are search guidelines for using non-Latin script terms.

  • Search for records containing non-Latin script data using either script data or romanized (Latin-script equivalent) data.
  • Both the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>) and the Enter Bibliographic Batch Search Key window (Batch > Enter Bibliographic Search Keys or <Alt><B><B>) support entering searches in non-Latin scripts.
  • Copy and paste non-Latin scripts into the Search windows or the WorldCat quick search box from any Unicode-compliant file.
  • Use the same WorldCat indexes (entering labels in Latin script) to search for both Latin and non-Latin script data. There are no separate indexes or index labels for retrieving non-Latin script records.
  • Add the same qualifiers (using Latin script) to both Latin and non-Latin script searches.
  • Generally, do not use truncation, wildcards, or plural ending symbols with non-Latin script searches.

    Exception: Use truncation for Bengali, CJK (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean), Devanagari, Tamil, and Thai scripts.
  • Do not use non-Latin scripts in derived searches.
  • See more details on display and sort order of search results that include records with non-Latin scripts in International/"Use non-Latin scripts for cataloging."
  • Scripts available are:
    • Arabic
    • Bengali
    • CJK (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean)
    • Cyrillic
    • Devanagari
    • Greek
    • Hebrew
    • Tamil
    • Thai
  • To view records containing a particular non-Latin script, use the index label vp: and the script designation:
    vp:ara
    vp:ben
    vp:cjk
    vp:cyr
    vp:dev
    vp:gre
    vp:hbr
    vp:tam
    vp:tha)

Note: View non-Latin scripts only in the Connexion client. You cannot view multiscripts in the Connexion browser, unless you save the records in the online save file using the Connexion client and then open the save file records in the browser. The browser display of non-Latin scripts in the online save file is read-only.

Tips for catalogers working with WorldCat Arabic and/or Persian records:

Go to Tools > Options > International to automatically transliterate romanized data into Arabic script data for Arabic and Persian WorldCat records when you retrieve them from WorldCat interactively (does not work for batch searching). The client automatically transliterates records that have the language code ara or per but no field 066. Also, select the fields you want auto-transliterated. In the International window (Tools > Options), click Choose Fields.
Or
Transliterate manually field by field using Edit > Transliterate > Arabic [or Persian].

Tips for catalogers working with CJK scripts:

Use Edit > MARC-8 Characters > Convert to MARC-8 CJK to automatically convert any invalid CJK characters in a record.

Use the build-in CJK E-Dicionary (Tools menu) to help select characters.

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Keyword, numeric, and derived search syntax and examples

See also:

  • Client Quick Reference:OCLC Connexion Client Quick Reference at:
    http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/client/cataloging/catquickref/.
  • Searching WorldCat Quick Reference:Connexion: Searching WorldCat Quick Reference at:
    http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/refcard/.
  • Complete, detailed index descriptions:Searching WorldCat Indexes at:
    http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/searchworldcatindexes/.

Enter keyword searches

Guidelines

  • In the Command Line Search area, always precede the search term with an index label and punctuation (use a colon (:) for words or an equal sign (=) for phrases).
  • Access method index (am:)
    • Each punctuation mark is treated as a word division. Thus, www.oclc.org is treated as three separate words: www, oclc, and org.
    • Omit http: and https:.
    • Include stopwords when searching the Access Method index (am:).

      Example:
      To search for URL www.poets.org in the Command Line, type am:poets.

    Internet qualifier (mt:)

    • Use the Internet qualifier to limit results to Internet resources only or to non-Internet resources only.
    • The system indexes only records containing field 856 with second indicator value <blank>, 0, or 1 as Internet. All other records are considered Non-Internet.
    • For a Command Line Search, type mt:url to limit to Internet resources. To limit to non-Internet resources, enter not mt:url.

Stopwords

The system ignores the following common words in a keyword search statement:

a but he it so to you
an by her its than was  
and for his not that were  
are from if of the when  
as had in on their which  
at has into or there with  
be have is she this would  

To use any of these words as search terms, enclose them in quotation marks.

Example: To search for the title And Then There Were None, which includes three stopwords, type ti:"and" then "there" "were" none.

Selected indexes and examples

The following table lists often used keyword indexes with labels and examples of word, phrase, and whole phrase searches:

Index Label Enter command line search Enter guided search (select index from list)
Corp/Conf Name cn:
(word)		 cn:enron enron
cn=
(phrase)		 cn=enron corp enron corp
cnw=
(whole phrase)		 cnw=american journal of nursing company american journal of nursing company
Name au:
(word)		 au:palatini palatini
au=
(phrase)		 au=bowers jane palatini bowers jane palatini
Personal Name pn:
(word)		 pn:salinger salinger
pnw=
(whole phrase)		 pnw=salinger, pierre salinger, pierre
Publisher pb:
(word)		 pb:thousand oaks thousand oaks
Series se:
(word)		 se:vgm opportunities vgm opportunities
sew=
(whole phrase)		 sew=gerontological care series no 453-458 gerontological care series no 453-458
Title ti:
(word)		 ti:gerontological gerontological
ti=
(phrase)		 ti:gerontological nursing gerontological nursing

Tips for entering guided keyword searches

  • Override the selected index by preceding the search term with another index label and punctuation (for example, in the Search for box, type ti=gerontological nursing to override another index that is selected in the adjacent list).
  • Search for an exact phrase in the selected word index by enclosing the words in quotation marks (for example, in the Search for box, type "gerontological nursing" with the Title (ti:) index selected).

Enter numeric searches

Guidelines

  • In the Command Line Search area, always precede the search term with an index label and punctuation (use a colon (:) for numbers or an equal sign (=) for number phrases).

    Exception: The index label and punctuation are optional for an ISBN search if it is the first or only search in the Command Line.
  • Type all numbers and letters in all types of number searches, including ISBNs, government document numbers, and publisher numbers (formerly music publisher number).

    Tip for entering ISBN ending in x: You must include the x if present in an ISBN.If you routinely enter ISBNs using the number keypad, you can continue to do so by typing the asterisk (*) on the keypad in place of the x to truncate the ISBN.
  • Omit spaces in numbers.
  • Class number searches
    • Include periods when searching for a Dewey Decimal, Library of Congress, National Agricultural Library, Library and Archives Canada, National Library of Medicine, or Universal Decimal class number.
    • Delete all other punctuation.
    • Delete spaces.

      Example:
      To search for National Agricultural Library class number (ag:) A280.29, type ag:a280.29 in the Command Line.

Notes:

  • The OCLC number has been an 8-digit number; it now also includes 9-digit numbers. The first nine-digit number will be 100000000. The system automatically duplicates the OCLC number from field 001 in field 035 in all records output from the system.
  • As a result of expanding the ISBN to the new 13-digit format, when you take a final action on a record that contains an ISBN in only one format, 10-digit or 13-digit, Connexion automatically generates the other format. ISBNs are stored in 020 fields (repeatable field).

    Search for either the 10- or 13-digit number to retrieve the record.
  • See Technical Bulletin 253: ISBN and OCLC Number Changes for details and examples at http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/tb/253/.

Selected indexes and examples

The following table lists six of the most often used numeric indexes with index labels, examples, and guidelines:

Index (label) Examples Guidelines
To find ... Enter command line search Enter guided search
(Select index from list)
ISBN (bn:) 0-8247-7142-7 0824771427

(first or only search term)

bn:0824771427

(not first or only search term)

 0824771427 Enter all numbers and x, if present.

Omit hyphen.
Or
Hyphen is optional if using index label.

Index label is optional in Command Line search if ISBN is first or only search term.

The system identifies the following as ISBNs (with or without hyphens):

1234567890
123456789x
123456789X
1234567890123

(See note preceding this table about 13 digit ISBNs.)
0-85109-130-x 085109130x

(first or only search term)

bn:085109130x (not first or only search term)

 085109130x
ISSN (in:) 1234-5678 in:1234-5678 1234-5678 Always include hyphen.
0098-3527 in:0098-3527 0098-3527
0018-165x in:0018-165x 0018-165x
LCCN (ln:) map32-14 ln:32000014
Or
ln:32-14		 32000014
Or
32-14		 Enter number with or without hyphen.

Omit leading zeros in serial number portion.

Include year portion (2 or 4 digits).

78-52051 ln:78-52051
Or
ln:7852051		 78-52051
Or
7852051
2002-580246 ln:2002-580246
Or
ln:2002580246		 2002-580246
Or
2002580246
Government document number (gn:) A 1.2:R31/14/984 gn:a12r3114984 a12r3114984 Enter all numbers and letters.

Omit punctuation marks.

NAS 1.2:SP1/46 gn:nas12sp146 nas12sp146
OCLC control number (no:) 10998406 no:10998406
Or
*10998406
Or
#10998406		 10998406

Or

*10998406

Or

#10998406

 For Command Line search, precede number with index label and colon (:), asterisk (*), or number sign (#).

For Keyword/Numeric Search for box, optionally, enter with asterisk or number sign instead of selecting an index.

Publisher number (mn:) CO 1979-AB5- mn:co1979ab5 mn:co1979ab5 Enter all numbers and letters

Omit punctuation marks.
BBC 001 mn=bbc 001 bbc 001

(select Publisher Number Phrase index)		 When searching the phrase index, include spaces in search term.

Enter derived searches

How to enter derived searches

A derived search uses a specific number of initial characters from words in a name and/or title. The "derived" segments of the words are separated by commas. The numberand pattern of letters and commas tells the system which WorldCat index to search.

The four derived search formats include the following required number of initial letters and commas:

  • Title (td:) 3,2,2,1
  • Personal name (pd:) 4,3,1
  • Corporate/conference name (cd:) =4,3,1
  • Name/title (nd:) 4,4

    Notes:

    • Even if a derived search has fewer than the number of words in a derived search sequence, you must type all required commas.
    • Enter all letters available, even if a name or title segment does not contain the requisite number of letters.

      Example:
      To search for the title Roots in the Command Line, type td:roo,,,

Guidelines

  • Use the correct format for the type of derived search you want to do, whether you use the command line or a guided search (the system does not automatically format derived searches).
  • In the command line, enter a derived search with or without an index label if it is the first or only search; otherwise you must use the index label (and punctuation).
  • In a guided search, enter only one derived search per Search for box.

    Note: You can type an index label and a colon preceding the derived search in the Search for box to override any selection in the index list.
  • Omit initial articles (a, an, the, and non-English equivalents).
  • Include articles found within titles. Include letters, numerals, and these characters:& $ * % @ £
  • Exclude punctuation, diacritics, and these characters: - # / + =
  • Use a circumflex (^) to narrow a search. For a name consisting of only two parts, type a circumflex in the third segment.
    Example:
    To search for Harvey, Henry, type harv,hen,^
    Exception:
    The circumflex is invalid in a derived title search.
  • If a personal name begins with Mc or Mac followed by an uppercase letter, type m and omit c or ac.
    Example:
    To search for MacDonald, Marion B., type mdon,mar,b

Stopwords

When constructing a Corporate/Conference Derived (cd:) search, omit the following stopwords from the first segment only. Also omit the stopwords when they appear at the beginning of a corporate/conference name in a Name/Title Derived (nd:). Include the stopwords when they are not the first element of a corporate/conference name.

& Conference Institution North Tennessee
a Congress International North Carolina Texas
A Connecticut Iowa North Dakota the
Alabama Council Joint of U.N.
Alaska Delaware Kansas Office U. N.
American Department Kentucky Ohio United Nations
an Dept. Louisiana Oklahamo United States
and Division Maine on University
Arizona East Maryland Oregon U.S.
Arkansas Federal Massachusetts Organization U. S.
Association Florida Meeting Parliament Utah
at for Michigan Pennsylvania Vermont
Australia France Minnesota Rhode Island Virginia
Board Georgia Mississippi School Washington
Bureau Great Britain Missouri Seminar West
California Hawaii Montana Senate West Virginia
Canada House National Society Wisconsin
College Idaho Nebraska South Workshop
Colloquium Illinois Nevada South Carolina Wyoming
Colorado in New Hampshire South Dakota  
Commission India New Jersey State  
Committee Indiana New Mexico Subcommittee  
Commonwealth institute New York Symposium  

The following table lists the four derived search indexes and gives examples and guidelines:

Index (label) Format Examples




To find ...		 In Command Line Search area, type ... In Keword/Numeric Search area, type ...
(select index from list)		 Guidelines
Corp/Conf Derived (cd:) 4,3,1

Minimum key: 4,1,blank

 Hershey Foods Corporation =hers,foo,c
Or
cd:hers,foo,c		 hers,foo,c Command line search:

Precede search with leading equal sign (=) or use index label and colon (:).

American Rock Garden Society =rock,gar,s
Or
cd:rock,gar,s		 rock,gar,s
Adrian College =adri,col,
Or
cd:adri,col,		 adri,col,
Symposium on a New International Order =new,int,o
Or
cd:new,int,o		 new,int,o
Name/Title Derived (nd:) 4,4

Minimum key: 4,4

 Hailey Hotel hail,hote
Or
nd:hail,hote		 hail,hote Minimum key for records without 1xx field: blank,4
Clarke 2001: a space odyssey cclar,2001
Or
nd:clar,2001		 cclar,2001
Personal Name Derived (pd:) 4,3,1

Minimum key: 4,1,blank

 Becker, George Joseph beck,geo,j
Or
pd:beck,geo,j		 beck,geo,j  
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus moza,wol,a
Or
pd:moza,wol,a		 moza,wol,a
cummings, e. e. cumm,e,e
Or
pd:cumm,e,e		 cumm,e,e
De Groot, Adriaan degr,adr,
Or
pd:degr,adr,		 degr,adr,
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth kubl,eli,
Or
pd:kubl,eli,		 kubl,eli,
Title Derived (td:) 3.2.2.1

Minimum key: None

 Realism in Modern Literature rea,in,mo,l
Or
td:rea,in,mo,l		 rea,in,mo,l Circumflex (^)cannot be used.
The Complete Circuit Training Guide com,ci,tr,g
Or
com,ci,tr,g		 com,ci,tr,g
I Believe in Unicorns i,be,in,u
Or
td:i,be,in,u		 i,be,in,u
Hotel hot,,,
Or
td:hot,,,		 hot,,,
Miracle on 34th Street mir,on,34,s
Or
td:mir,on,34,s		 mir,on,34,s

More search procedures

For instructions for entering command line versus guided searches, for more about the differences in word, phrase, and whole phrase indexes, and for instructions for entering searches in a file for batch processing, see the following topics in this system guide:

  • "Search WorldCat interactively"
  • "Browse WorldCat"
  • "Enter WorldCat searches for batch processing"
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Customize WorldCat search and browse interfaces

Use the WorldCat quick search tool

As an alternative to using the Search or Browse WorldCat windows, use the WorldCat quick search tool on the toolbar to enter and send a command line search or browse (index scan). The WorldCat quick search tool displays by default. Toggle between hiding or displaying it using View > Toolbars > WorldCat Quick Search. See instructions for using the WorldCat quick search tool in "Search WorldCat interactively" in this booklet.

The remainder of this topic covers ways to customize the Search and Browse WorldCat windows if you use them instead of the WorldCat quick search tool.

Show only command line search in search window

If you use only command line searches (entering full search syntax), collapse the search window to show only the command line:

Action
In the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>), click Expand/Collapse.

Result: The window collapses to show only the command line search area.

To restore the window to full view, click Expand/Collapse again.

Select short or full index list in search or brows window

When entering guided searches or browse terms, use short of long index lists from which to choose:

  Action
1 In the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>), in the upper right corner of the Keyword/Numeric Search area above the index drop-down

list, click to change to the comprehensive list of search indexes (over 90 indexes).
Or
In the Browse WorldCat window (Cataloging > Browse> WorldCat or <Ctrl><F2>), above the index list, click to change to the comprehensive list of browse indexes (over 50 indexes).

Default lists:
Short search index list of the 10 most used
Short browse index list of the 10 most used

Result:
  • The plus button becomes a minus button .
  • The client retains your selection only if you complete a search before closing the Search WorldCat window.

    Note: The index lists display labels and correct punctuation for each index. A single type of index may include separate indexes/labels for words, phrases, and whole phrases.

    Example:
    Title (ti:)
    Title Phrase (ti=)
    Title Whole Phrase (tiw=)
2 To restore the short list, click .

Note: The names of new indexes, along with the labels for command line searching, for retrieving SCIPIO records (Sales Catalog Index Project Input Online) will be included in the comprehensive index list, possibly as soon as July 2007. Some of the SCIPIO indexes will also be included in the Browse WorldCat comprehensive index list. The word SCIPIO precedes each index name in the alphabetized list for ease of locating the indexes.

SCIPIO records are due to be added to WorldCat after this version of Connexion client (2.00) is released. Adding these records is part of the process of integrating the RLG Union Catalog into WorldCat.

OCLC will announce the availability of SCIPIO records. The new indexes will become visible and usable in the client at that time.

Default short search index list:

Corp/Conf Name (cn:) Publisher (pb:)
ISBN (bn:) Publisher Number (mn:)
LCCN Phrase (ln=) Series (se:)
Name (au:) Standard Number (sn:)
Personal Name (pn:) Title (ti:)

Default short browse index list:

Corp/Conf Whole Phrase (cnw=) Publisher Phrase (pb=)
Dewey Class Number (dd:) Publisher Number (mn:)
LC Class Number (lc:) Series Whole Phrase (sew=)
Name Whole Phrase (auw=) Subject Whole Phrase (suw=)
Personal Name Whole Phrase (pnw=) Title Whole Phrase (tiw=)

Customize short index list in search or browse window

For guided searching or browsing, add or delete indexes or rearrange the short list:

  Action
1 In the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>), in the upper right corner of the Keyword/Numeric Search area, click .
Or
In the Browse WorldCat window (Cataloging > Browse> WorldCat or <Ctrl><F2>), click to change to the comprehensive list of browse indexes (over 50 indexes).
2 In the Customize Short List of Indexes window, click to select an index in the list, and then:
  • Click Move Up or Move Down to move one index at a time up or down to change the order of the list
  • Click Remove to remove the selected index
  • Click Restore Defaults to restore the list to its original state (see a list of default search indexes and a list of default browse indexes)
  • Click Modify to open the Choose Short List Items window to select or unselect indexes from the full list of all available indexes:
    1. Click cleared check boxes to select indexes or click selected check boxes to clear them from the short list.
    2. Click OK to save your changes or Cancel to cancel changes.

      Results:
      • You are returned to the Customize Short List of Indexes window.
      • The indexes you selected are now in the short list and indexes you cleared are now omitted from the short list.
3 When finished, click OK to save your settings or Cancel to cancel changes you made.
4 To save your settings, complete a search before closing the Search WorldCat window.

Establish a "default" search index

For guided searching or browsing, the client always keeps the last index you selected from online session to session, even if the Retain Search option is cleared, and even when you click Clear Search.

To "reserve a default" index:

Action
In the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>), select an index in any of the three index lists of the Keyword/Numeric Search area and complete a search using the index.

The client keeps the index selected when you reopen the program and the window. Do not change it.

In subsequent searches or sessions, always use the Search for box associated with your "default" index to search that index only. To search other indexes, use the other Search for boxes.


Select short or full language list in search window

For guided searching, use the short or comprehensive Language list in the Keyword/Numeric Search area to limit searches to items in a specific language:

  Action
1 In the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>),

to the right of the Language list, click to change the drop-down list of languages to the comprehensive list (includes the hundreds of languages valid for MARC records).

Default selection: Any
Default list: Short list of the nine most used languages

Result:
  • The plus button becomes a minus button .
  • The client retains your selection only if you complete a search before closing the Search WorldCat window.
2 To restore the short list, click .

Default short list of languages:

English (eng) Russian (rus)
French (fre) Chinese (chi)
German (ger) Italian (ita)
Spanish (spa) Latin (lat)
Japanese (jpn)

Select short or full material type list in search window

For guided searching, use the short or comprehensive Material Type list in the Keyword/Numeric Search area to limit searches to items in a very specific material type:

  Action
1 In the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>),

in the lower right, above the Material Type list, click to change the drop-down list of material types to the comprehensive list of over 100 indexed in WorldCat.

Default selection: Any
Default list: Short list of the ten most commonly used material types

Result:
  • The plus button becomes a minus button .
  • The client retains your selection only if you complete a search before closing the Search WorldCat window.
2 To restore the short list, click .

Default short list of material types:

Biography (bio) Government publication (gpb)
CD audio (cda) Juvenile (all types) (juv)
Computer game (cgm) Thesis/dissertation (deg)
DVD video (dvv) VHS tape (vhs)
Fiction (fic) Web access (web)

See a complete list of material type indexes in the Searching WorldCat Quick Reference at http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/refcard/.

See more details about what information is indexed for material types in Searching WorldCat Indexes at http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/searchworldcatindexes/.

Customize short material type list

For guided searching, add or delete material types or rearrange the short list:

  Action
1 In the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>), in the lower right, above the Material Type list, click .
2 In the Customize Short List of Material Types window, click to select a material type in the list, and then:
  • Click Move Up or Move Down to move one index at a time up or down to change the order of the list
  • Click Remove to remove the selected material type
  • Click Restore Defaults to restore the list to its original state
  • Click Modify to open the Choose Short List Items window, which contains the comprehensive list of material types. Select or unselect material types to add to or delete from the short list:
    1. Click cleared check boxes to select material types or click selected check boxes to clear them.
    2. Click OK to save your changes or click Cancel to cancel changes.

      Results:
      • You are returned to the Customize Short List of Indexes window.
      • The material types you selected are now in the short list, and material types you cleared are now omitted from the short list.
3 When finished, click OK to save your settings or Cancel to cancel changes you made.
4 To save your settings, complete a search before closing the Search WorldCat window.

Select type of display for WorldCat search results

  Action
1 In the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat or <F2>), click Settings.
2 In the Search WorldCat Settings window, under Display Search Results, select one of the following display options from the Display search results as list:
  • System default (default):
    • Search returns a single record: Results display as a full record
    • Search returns 2 to 5 records: Results display as a brief list
    • Search returns 6 to 100 records: Results display as a truncated list
    • Search returns 101 to 1500 records: Results display as a group list
  • Brief list (displays any number of records retrieved)
  • Truncated list (displays any number of records retrieved)
  • Full record (if multiple records are retrieved, displays the first full record in the list)

Results:

  • Your setting applies to the results of searches in both the Command Line and Keyword/Numeric Search area and to results displayed when you open an entry on a Browse WorldCat List that contains more than one record.
  • The client retains your selection only if you complete a search before closing the Search WorldCat window.

Note: If the search retrieves 101 to 1500 records, the group list displays no matter what display you selected.

Exception: A truncated list can contain more than 100 records if the records are for a single year. If so, only 100 entries display at a time. Use Next 100 Records or Previous 100 Records on the View menu (or <Page up> and <Page down>) to display other sets of records in the list.

Tip: While viewing a WorldCat results list, toggle between brief and trunctated list displays using View > List Type.

3 Click OK or press <Enter> to save your setting, or click Cancel to cancel changes you made.

Result: The Search WorldCat Settings window closes and you are returned to the Search WorldCat window.

Notes:

  • See Cataloging, Use Bibliographic Institution Records, "Set WorldCat search options for institution records" (IRs) for more about other settings for searching and displaying IRs.
  • An option to limit WorldCat searches to SCIPIO records (Sales Catalog Index Project Input Online) will become visible and usable in the WorldCat Search Options window after SCIPIO records are added to WorldCat (planned for July 2007). OCLC will announce the availability of SCIPIO records, and this option will become visible and usable in the client at that time.

Quick tips: Features of search and browse WorldCat windows

Use the following features of the Search WorldCat window:

  • Boldface text is visual cue for currently active search area.
    The client sends only one search at a time (the last search you entered). As a quick visual cue in the full window view, the client displays boldface text in either the Command Line area or the Keyword/Numeric area to distinguish the currently active search area.
  • Retain search check box.
    To keep the last search(es) you completed, click the Retain Search check box. The client supplies the last search(es) you completed, including search terms (in both the command line and guided search boxes), index, Boolean operator, and qualifier selections, whenever the window is closed and reopened.
  • Clear Search button.
    Click Clear Search to clear all search elements at once in both the command line and guided search areas of the Search WorldCat window, except index selections.

Use the following feature in either the Search WorldCat or Browse WorldCat window:

  • Search history list.
    The client retains up to ten of the last searches you entered in a drop-down list in the boxes where you enter searches. Click the arrow at the right of a box to display and select from a list of the last ten searches you entered in that box.
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Qualify and combine searches

Qualifiers

Qualify keyword and derived searches to narrow the results or make the searches more precise.

Note: You cannot qualify browse terms.

Qualifiers are simply indexes. Used alone, each might retireve an enormous number of records, but combined with searches in other indexes, they limit or focus the results by adding specific criteria.

WorldCat indexes useful for qualifying searches are:

  • Type of material (format) (mt: or mt=)
    Includes:
    • Format slash qualifiers. Precede one of the following codes with a slash or with an index label and a colon:
      • Books (bks)
      • Computer Files (com)
      • Continuing Resources (cnr) (formerly named Serials; includes both Serials and Integrating Resources material types, both of which can also be used as slash qualifiers)
      • Integrating Resources (int)
      • Maps (map)
      • Mixed Materials (mix)
      • Scores (sco)
      • Serials (ser)
      • Sound Recordings (rec)
      • Visual Materials (vis)
    • Material type qualifiers. Precede a material type code or single-word name with the word index label mt: or precede a multi-word material type name with the phrase index label mt=.

      Examples:
      sou,of,mu, and mt:dvv
      sou,of,mu, and mt=cd audio

      See a list of material type names and codes in Connexion: Searching WorldCat Quick Reference at: http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/refcard/default.htm

      See more details about what information is indexed for material types in Searching WorldCat Indexes at: http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/searchworldcatindexes/.
  • Year(s) of publication (yr:)
  • Microform or not microform (mf:)
  • Cataloging source (Library of Congress) (dl:)
  • Internet/non-Internet (dt:)
  • Language (la:)

See "List of qualifiers and values" below for details.

Qualify Command Line searches

Type one or more of the qualifiers listed above as part of a full syntax search in the Command Line Search box of the Search WorldCat window (Cataloging > Search > WorldCat:

Action
Slash qualifiers:

In the Search WorldCat window, under Command Line Search, type search terms (an index label, punctuation, and a keyword, numeric, or derived search), followed by a slash and then a format, years, microform, or source qualifier value (no spaces).

Example: su:spain/1990/rec

Note: Use the slash format only for MARC format, year, microform, or source qualifiers.

Or

Qualifier index labels:

Instead of slashes, follow the search with a space, the Boolean operator and, a space, a qualifier label, a colon, and a qualifier value.

Example: su:spain and yr:1990 and mt:rec

Note: Use the index label and punctuation for any type of qualifiers.


Guidelines for qualifying command line searches

  • Use slashes or index labels with the following four types of qualifiers: type of material, years, microform, or source (/dlc).
  • Use index labels only to qualify a search by Internet/non-Internet, language, or specific material types (slashes are unavailable).
  • If you use slash qualifiers (format, years, microform, or source), use only one of each in a search.
  • Slash qualifiers must appear last in a search.
  • Qualifiers with index labels (followed by colons) can appear anywhere in a search, combined with Boolean operators.
  • Type qualifiers in any order.

Examples of qualified command line searches

To search for ... Type ...
Keyword search for a map of Scotland su:scotland/map
Or
su:scotland and mt:map
Derived search for the title Gone with the Wind in book format published in the year1980 gon,wi,th,y/bks/1980
Or
gon,wi,th,y and mt:bks and yr:1980
Keyword search for the subject Navajo in material type DVD video published in 1980 or later su:navajo and mt:dvv/1980-
Or
su:navajo and mt:dvv and yr:1980-
Derived search for the title Gone with the Wind in sound recordings format published between 1970 and 1980 td:gon,wi,th,w/rec/1970-80
Or
td:gon,wi,th,w and mt:rec and yr:1970-80

For more details and examples, see "How to enter qualifiers and values" below.

Qualify guided searches in the Keyword/Numeric Search area

Qualify searches in the Keyword/Numeric Search area of the Search WorldCat window by selecting from lists or typing in a text box:

Action
In the Search WorldCat window, under Keyword/Numeric Search, after you enter search term(s) and select indexes, select or enter one or more of the following qualifiers:
  • To limit by language:
    In the Language list, select a language.
    Note:     Use the default short list of the nine most used languages, or click to
    customize the short list, or click to expand to a comprehensive list of hundreds of languages valid for MARC records.
  • To limit by format:
    In the Format list, select Books, Computer Files, Continuing Resources, Integrating Resources, Maps, Mixed Materials, Scores, Serials, Sound Recordings, or Visual Materials.
  • To exclude or limit to internet resources:
    In the Internet list, click Not Internet or Internet, respectively.
  • To limit to materials cataloged by the Library of Congress:
    In the Cataloging Source list, select DLC.
  • To exclude or limit to microforms:
    In the Microform list, click Not Microform or Microform, respectively.
  • To limit by publication years:
    In the Years text box, type a year or range of years.
  • To limit by specific material type:In the Material Type list, select a material type.
    Note:     Select from the default short list of material types, or click to customize
    the short list of material types, or click to expand to a comprehensive list of over 100 material types indexed in WorldCat.See the comprehensive list of material types in Connexion: Searching WorldCat Quick Reference on the Web at:
    http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/refcard.

Default for all qualifiers: Any or [blank]


How to enter qualifiers and values

Qualifier index (label) Available values How to enter
Type of material, format (mt:) Books (bks)
Computer Files (com)
Continuing Resources (res)
Integrating Resources (int)
Maps (map)
Mixed Material (mix)
Serials (ser)
Scores (sco)
Sound Recordings (rec)
Visual Materials (vis)		 Command line search

Enter as slash qualifier or use the index label with the following values:
/bks or mt:bks
/com or mt:com
/res or mt:res
/int or mt:int
/map or mt:map
/mix or mt:mix
/ser or mt:ser
/sco or mt:sco
/rec or mt:rec
/vis or mt:vis

To exclude a format, use not.
Example: not mt:cnr
Guided search

In the Format list, select a format. See also more specific material type qualifiers below.
Note: Continuing Resources is now the primary MARC record format, which includes both Serials and Integrating Resources material types. All three are available as slash qualifiers, and all three are listed in the Format list of the Search WorldCat window for limiting guided WorldCat searches.
Years of publication (yr)

m=millennium, c=century, d=decade,
y=year)		 Single year [mcdy]

Decade [mcd?]

Century [mc??]

Single year and all later years [mcdy-]

Single year and all earlier years [-mcdy]

Range of years:
[mcdy-y]
[mcdy-dy]
[mcdy-cdy]
[mcdy-mcdy]

No date [0000]		 Command line search

Enter as a slash qualifier or enter with index label and colon:
/1994 or yr:1994

To exclude a year or years, use not:
not yr:1994
Guided search

In the Years box, type a year or range of years.
Examples:
Single year: 1994
Decade: 199?
Century: 19??
Single year and all later years: 1995-
Single year and all earlier years: -1995
Range of years:
1980-3
1980-91
1980-920
1980-1920
No date: 0000
  • For a year with fewer than four numbers, add leading zeroes.
    Example: yr:0099
  • For unknown dates (code u), substitute zero.
    Example:     If Date1 value is 19uu: Type yr:1900
Microform or not microform (mf:) Microform

Not microform		 Command line search

Enter as slash qualifier:
/mf (microform) or /nm (not microform)

Or enter the index label and one of the following two values:
mf:mic or mf:nmc
Guided search

In the Microform list, select Microform or Not Microform
Source
(dl: - Library of Congress)

Or

Source phrase
(cs= - followed by an OCLC symbol for a library)		 Library of Congress/Program for Cooperative Cataloging

Or

A library specified by OCLC symbol		 Command line search

To limit to Library of Congress (LC), enter as slash qualifier: /dlc
Or
Enter the index label and value: dl:y

To limit to another library, enter phrase index label and OCLC symbol: cs=abcde

Note: The only value for LC is y..
Guided search

In the Source list, select Any or DLC
Internet (mt:) Internet
(Limit results to records for Internet resources)

Non-Internet
(Exclude records for Internet resources)

 Command line search

Use the index label and one of the following two values:
mt:url or not mt:url

(Unavailable as a slash qualifier)
Guided search

In the Internet list, select Internet or Non-Internet
Language (la:) A language you specify. (Limit results to records that describe works in a selected language.)Any: no language specified
(Results can include records for works in any language.)		 Command line search

Use the index label and the three-letter MARC code or the name of the language spelled out:
la:spa or la:spanish

(Unavailable as a slash qualifier)
Guided search

Under Language, in the default short list of the nine most used languages, list, select a language.
Or
Click to customize the short index list.
Or
Click to expand and select from the comprehensive list of languages valid for MARC records.
Material types (mt: or mt=) A material type you specify
(Limits the search to records of that type only.)

Any: no material type specified
(Results contain records for all material types.)

Note: Material type indexes are also included in one of the primary MARC format indexes: Books, Computer Files, Continuing Resources*, Maps, Mixed Materials, Scores, Sound Recordings, Visual Materials

*Formerly called Serials; includes both serials and integrating resources material types		 Command line search

Use the index label, a colon, and the three-letter code for the material type:
mt:dvv
Or
Use the index label, an equal sign, a space and the full name of the material type:
mt:dvd video

(Unavailable as a slash qualifier)
Guided search

Under Material Type, in the default short list of the ten most used material types, select a material type.OrClick to customize the short list.OrClick to expand and select from the comprehensive list of over 100 available material types.

Note: The following material type names in the Search WorldCat window list do not match their system names. In a command line search, if you type complete material type names instead of typing codes, type the name shown in boldface type in the second column:

Material type name in Search WorldCat window list Example: Type system material type name:
International gov publication mt=international government publication
Juvenile (all types) mt:juvenile
National gov publication mt:national government publication
State or provice gov pub mt:state or province government publication

See Searching WorldCat Indexes at < http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/searching/searchworldcatindexes/ > for comprehensive descriptions of indexes, including qualifier indexes.

Combine search terms, specify proximity, use nesting

Guidelines for combining searches

  • Command Line Search area: Type Boolean operators between search terms to combine them; and is optional; the system "ands" multiple words.
  • Keyword/Numeric Search area:
    • Type multiple search terms in a Search for box to find records containing all of the terms anywhere in the record (the client "ands" the terms automatically).
      Or
      Combine terms with or to find records containing any of the terms) or not (to find records that exclude terms).
    • To combine search terms in different indexes, type the search terms in separate Search for boxes, select an index for each from the index list, and select a Boolean operator from the list of operators.
  • Boolean operators are unavailable for browsing (scanning indexes).
  • Proximity operators are unavailable for derived searches.
  • Type the complete music publisher number or government document number in a combined search. To truncate, you must use the asterisk truncation symbol (*).
  • Type the maximum number of characters for each segment of a derived search, unless using the truncation symbol, when combining with another numeric or derived search.
  • Qualifiers apply to both parts of a combined search.

Use the following operators between search terms to narrow or broaden your search or to indicate proximity (see complete procedures for entering searches in "Search WorldCat interactively" and "Enter WorldCat searches for batch processing"):

Boolean operator Example What the operator does
and Single index:

and is system default. The client automatically "ands" terms together

Command line search example:
su:wom?n and history and new york/1990-

Guided search example:
wom?n and history and new york/1990-
(select Subject index from list and type 1990- in Year box)

Multiple indexes:

Type or select and between terms.

Command line search example:
su:wom?n and ti:history and pb:new york/1990-

Guided search example:

  • Type wom?n in a text box and select the Subject index
  • Type history in a separate box and select the Title index
  • Type new york in a separate box and select the Publisher index
  • Select AND in the operator lists preceding the search term boxes and type 1990- in the Years box
 Finds records that contain all combined terms in the same record.
or Command line search example:
pn:woolf or stephen/1936

Guided search example:
woolf or stephen/1936
(select Personal Name index from list)
Or
woolf or stephen
(type 1936 in Year box)		 Finds records containing any or all terms.
not Command line search example:
su:civil and war not battle/1970

Guided search example:
civil and war not battle/1970
(select Subject index from list)
Or
civil and war not battle
(type 1970 in Year box)		 Excludes the term that follows not.
with
(or w)		 Command line search example:
ti:aluminum w wiring

Guided search example:
aluminum w wiring
(select Title index from list)		 Finds records containing both terms, in the order typed, with no words between them.

Alternate technique: Enclose terms in quotation marks ("aluminum wiring")
Command line search example:
ti:aluminum w2 wiring

Guided search example:
(select Title index from list):
aluminum w2 wiring		 With a number (1 to 25), finds records containing both terms, in the order typed, with no more than the specified number of other words between them.
near
(or n)		 Command line search example:
ti:overview n 1998

Guided search example:
(select Title index from list):
overview n 1998		 Finds records containing both terms, in any order, with no words between them.
Command line search example:
ti:chicken n3 egg

Guided search example:
(select Title index from list):
chicken n3 egg		 With a number (1 to 25), finds records containing both terms, in any order, with no more than the specified number of other words between them.

Nesting. Boolean searches can be nested using parentheses.

  Examples:
Command line search:
ut:(civil and war) and (battlefield and command*)
Guided search
(civil and war) and battlefield and command*)
(select Uniform Title index from the list)

Include an operator as a keyword in a search. To use and, or, not, with, or near as part of a search statement, enclose it in quotation marks to prevent the system from treating it as an operator.

  Example:
To search for the title Neighbors Near and Far which includes near and and, normally treated as operators, type ti:neighbors "near" "and" far.

Examples of qualified Command Line searches

See complete procedures for entering searches in "Search WorldCat interactively" and "Enter WorldCat searches for batch processing."

Derived search examples
Examples illustrate ... In a command line search, type ... In a guided search, type ...
(Select indexes; select or enter qualifiers)
Qualified searcj chi,ma,of,s/1956-
Or
td:chi,ma,of,s/1956-		 chi,ma,of,s

Select Title Derived in the index list; in the Year box, type 1956-
gon,wi,th,w/bks/1956
Or
td:gon,wi,th,w/bks/1956		 gon,wi,th,w

Select Title Derived in the index list; in the Format list, select Books; in the Year box, type 1956
gon,wi,th,w/bks/19??/mf/dlc
Or
td:gon,wi,th,w/bks/19??/mf/dlc		 gon,wi,th,w

Select Title Derived in the index list; in the Format list, select Books; in the Year box, type 19??; in the Microform list, select Microform; in the Source list, select DLC
=adri,col,/bks/1970-90
Or

cd:adri,col,/bks/1970-90

 chi,ma,of,s

Select Title Derived in the index list; in the Format list, select Books; in the Year box, type 1970-90
sou,of,mu, and mt=cda video sou,of,mu,

Select Title Derived in the index list; select CD audio in the Material Type list
Combined search pd:mich,jam,a and td:tal,of,th,s
(single example)		 mich,jam,a

Select Personal Name Derived in the index list; select Boolean operator AND; in the next Search for box, type:

tal,of,th,s

Select Title Derived in the index list

Qualified and combined search pd:mich,jam,a and td:tal,of,th,s/bks/1974
(single example)		 mich,jam,a

Select Personal Name Derived in the index list; select Boolean operator AND; in the next Search for box, type:

tal,of,th,s

Select Title Derived in the index list, in the Format list, select Books; in the Year box, type 1974


Keyword/Numeric Search Examples
Examples illustrate ... In a command line search, type ... In a guided search, type ...
(select index from list; select or enter qualifiers)
Qualified search dd:616/1980- 616

Select Dewey Decimal in the index list; in the Year box, type 1980-

su:scotland/map scotland

Select Subject in the index list; in the Format list, select Maps

au:michener and mt:bks michener

Select Author in the index list; in the Format list, select Books

ti=wizard of oz and mt:dvv wizard of oz

Select Title Phrase from the index list; in the Material Type list, select DVD video
Combined search ti:gone w2 wind
Or
ti=gone with the wind		 gone w2 wind

Select Title in the index list

au:bizet and ti:carmen bizet

Select Author in the index list; select Boolean operator AND from the list

In the next Search for box, type:

carmen

Select Title in the index list

la:french and au:camus camus

Select Author in the index list; in the Language list, select French

Qualified and combined search au:bizet and ti:carmen/rec/1947 bizet

Select Author in the index list; select Boolean operator AND from the list

In the next Search for box, type:

carmen

Select Title in the index list; in the Format list, select Sound Recordings; in the Year box, type 1947

su:arco venice and mt:bks arco venice

Select Subject in the index list; in the Format list, select Books

su:basket? navajo and yr:1980- basket? navajo

Select Subject in the index list; in the Year box, type 1980-

ti:gone w2 wind/bks/19??/mf/dlc gone w2 wind

Select Title in the index list; in the Format list, select Books; in the Microform list, select Microform; in the Source list, select DLC


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Use WorldCat search results

How results display

The way WorldCat search results are displayed, by default, depends on the number of records found:

Number of records found The client displays ...
1 The full record

The record is in local edit mode. To work with the master record, you must lock the record (Action > Lock Master Record)
2 to 5 Brief list

Each entry represents a record and contains a 2-line description

The list is sorted:
  • First by records with no main entry (1xx field), sorted by field 245
  • Then alphabetically by field 1xx with secondary sort by field 245
6 to 100 Truncated list

Presents a one-line entry for each record

The sort order and the information extracted for display depend on the index you searched.

Note on truncated lists of more than 100 records. Truncated lists can contain more than 100 records if records retrieved are for a single year. If more than 100 records are retrieved, only the first 100 are displayed. (Use Next 100 Records or Previous 100 Records on the View menu to display the next or previous set of records.)
101 to 1,500 Group list

Each entry represents a group of records

Groups of records appear by type of material and year of publication

Opening a group list produces a truncated or brief list, depending on how many records are in the group

The total number of records retrieved in all groups together is given in the title bar
Over 1500 An error message telling you that the number of records retrieved exceeds system limits. You can revise or limit your search and try again

Tips:

  • Select the way you want WorldCat search results to display.
  • While displaying WorldCat search results, toggle between a brief list view and a truncated list view using View > List Type).

Types of WorldCat results lists

All WorldCat search results lists display your search (by indexes searched) in the title bar.

Group list

A group list is usually sorted first by the number of records in the group. The list has three columns:

  • Format (format of the records in the group)
  • Range of publication dates of the records
    Note: For searches limited to SCIPIO records (from the former Art and Rare Book Sales Catalog database available from RLG), the date column is Date of Sale.
  • Number of records in the group

Brief list

A brief list is sorted by main entry, first by records with 245 0[blank], and then by records with combined 1XX and 245 (X - any number). The list has two columns:

  • List number for the record (assigned by the system)
  • Two-line description of the record, including (1) the total number of holdings and the notation Held if your library owns the item and (2) the total number of institution records (IRs) attached to the master record, along with the notation IR if your library contributed any attached IRs.

The following table shows the types of data that can appear in a brief list entry, if the data is present in the record, given in the order in which the data appears:

Column Description  
Main Entry Field 1xx, all subfields except 2, 3, 5
Uniform title Field 240 or 243, all subfields except 3, 5 for both fields
Title Field 245, all subfields
Edition Field 250, 254, 255, 256, or 257, all subfields
Publication Field 260, 261, or 262, all subfields
Description Field 300 or 305, all subfields for all format types
Type code Displays a descriptive label based on combinations of type of material (TMat) and type of record for non-print and manuscript materials

See list of labels and codes below.
Bibliographic level code Bibliographic level for non-print and manuscript materials:

Descriptive Label
[ANALYTIC]
[COLLECTION]
[SUBUNIT]
[SERIAL]
[INTEGRATING RESOURCE]		 BLvl Code Displayed
a, b
c
d
s
i
Form Fixed field element Form or, for continuing resources, fixed field element Orig (Form of Original item):
Descriptive Label
[MICROFILM]
[MICROFICHE]
[MICROOPAQUE]
[LARGE PRINT]
[BRAILLE]
[REPRODUCTION]
[ELECTRONIC]		 Form or Original Code Displayed
a
b
c
d
f
r
s
Control Fixed field element Ctrl (type of control)

If Ctrl = a, displays [ARCHIVAL CONTROL]. If blank, no value displays.
Contributing library type Displays a three-character code identifying contributing library type:
  • SCIPIO = Sales Catalog Index Project Input Online
  • DLC = Library of Congress
  • PCC = Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC)
  • NLM = National Library of Medicine (NLM)
  • GPO = U. S. Government Printing Office (GPO)
  • AGL = National Agricultural Library (NAL)
  • UKM = British Library (UKM)
  • NLC = Library and Archives Canada (formerly National Library of Canada

Notes:

  • If a designated library creates a record, the system displays the corresponding code from the preceding list.
  • If two or more designated libraries or PCC participants modify a record, or if the record contains an 042 field with a PCC code, the system displays only the first applicable code that appears in the order of the preceding list.

Examples:

NLM issues a record with pcc in field 042 - PCC displays

NLM issues a record with lcd in field 042 - DLC displays

NLM issues a record with no field 042 - NLM displays

CatL Language code for the language of cataloging from field 040 subfield b (for example, dut, ger).
OCLC number OCLC control number
Held Displays Held if the record has holdings associated with your logon authorization
Contributed institution record(s) Displays IR if your library contributed one or more institution records attached to the master record
Institution records Total number of other institution records attached
Holdings Total number of holdings

The following table lists descriptive labels for non-print and manuscript materials that are displayed on type code and material type code or a combination:

Descriptive label displayed Type code TMat code
[ARCH/MSS] b  
[SCORE] c  
[MUSIC MANUSCRIPT] d  
[MAPS/ATLAS] e  
[MAP MANUSCRIPT] f  
[FILMSTRIP] g f
[MOTION PICTURE] g m
[SLIDE] g s
[TRANSPARENCY] g t
[VIDEORECORDING] g v
[SPOKEN RECORDING] i  
[MUSICAL RECORDING] j  
[ART ORIGINAL] k a
[ART REPRODUCTION] k c
[PICTURE] k i
[GRAPHIC] k k
[TECHNICAL DRAWING] k l
[CHART] k n
[FLASH CARD] k o
[COMPUTER FILES] m  
[KIT] o b
[MIXED MATERIAL] p  
[DIORAMA] r d
[GAME] r g
[MICROSCOPE SLIDE] r p
[MODEL] r q
[REALIA] r r
[TOY] r w
[MANUSCRIPT] t  

Truncated list

A truncated list is sorted by the data that corresponds to the index you searched. A keyword title search, for example, is sorted alphabetically by title. Truncated list columns and order vary, depending on the index.

The following table lists the columns containg data that appears in a truncated list, if the data is present in the record: