Help File

    The ethos behind this facility is discussed on the Home Page.


    This file discusses the use of the Search Facility.


    The search program may be used for very simple or reasonably complex searches.

    For very simple searches, only the first field need be used. 

    For more complex searches one or more of the remaining fields may be used.

    The program allows searches of the complete database matching lines containing one, two or

    three specified strings.  (Each string may contain spaces). Lines containing an optional specified 

    string, may be excluded.
 
    
    The following examples should make clear the use of this program:


1.  In the first field (String 1) type "historic" without the quotes and click on "Search".

    All entries Historic entries are returned from the database. 

    The search is deliberately not case-sensitive and for ease of use it is suggested that all input is in lower-case.


2.  Now add "france" to the second field (String 2) and click on "Search".

    Here we are requesting that only Historic entries from France are displayed. 


3.  Now add "wood" to the third field (String 3) and click on "Search". 

    Here we are requesting that only Historic entries from France containing the word "wood" are displayed.


4.  Return to Search and click "Clear Form" to reset the fields.

    In String 1 type "loga" and then click "Search".

    Now we get all entries containing the string "loga".

    Notice that we get entries containing the string "logarithm" etc.

5.  Now type "logar" in String 4 and on clicking "Search" notice that we get all references to "loga" 

    but not to "logarex", "logarithm",  etc.


6.  An alternative way to just obtain references to the slide rule maker "Loga" is to click "Clear Form"

    and then insert "loga " (Notice the space) into the first field.

7.  A period, ".", anywhere means any character. Thus "19.0" will find any entry containing a "1" followed by a "9"

    followed by any character followed by a "0".


7.  A period, ".", by itself in the first field is special and will display the complete contents 

    of the database.
    




    USEFUL HINTS AND MORE ADVANCED HELP


    (a) In general, to maximise your success rate use more than the first row.

        "keuffel 4081" in the first row will match this exact phrase ONLY.  It will not match 

        "keuffel & esser 4081" , etc.


        "keuffel" in the first row and "4081" in the second row will match all entries containing

        "keuffel" and "4081" anywhere in the database.


    (b) In the first four fields, it is advised that the first character should be alphanumeric only.

	Some characters such as '+', '*' etc which would cause a failure of the search are

	trapped with the output of an appropriate message.

	Some characters such as ':', '{' are not trapped and give the expected result.


	SUCH CHARACTERS USED ANYWHERE BUT IN THE FIRST CHARACTER POSITION ARE ACCEPTED BUT

	THE EFFECT MAY NOT BE AS EXPECTED.  IT IS SAFER NOT TO USE THEM.


    (c)	The '.' can be used to match ANY single character.  Thus "rot.rule" will match both "rotarule" and

	"rotorule". It will, of course, also match a word ending in "rot" followed by a word starting with

	"rule" separated by a space.  Thus a single "." in the first field will match the whole of the database.


    (d)	The '|' can be used to request alternatives.  Thus, "post|hemmi" will match a line containing "post" OR 

	a line containing "hemmi".  Thus the search in (c) above could also be written "rotarule|rotorule".

	Care should be taken using the '|'. All characters in the string are significant including

	spaces.  Thus:  "rotarule | rotorule" will match a line containing "rotarule" followed by a space

	OR a line containing "rotorule" preceded by a space.



	A more complex use would be to put 2/82 in string1 and 12/82|52/82|62/82|2/82n in string4.



    (e) The '*' should not be used to match 'anything'.  The result may not be as expected.


    Back to Search