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Our SilverPlatter ERL databases
are licensed for a limited number of users searching them at any one time.
If you are refused access to a database because the user limit is exceeded,
wait a short time and try again.
Help
In depth database information and help is available by using the Help
button on the search screen.
You may also like to work through one of the many database specific SilverPlatter
tutorials by clicking on the WebSPIRS
tutorial link.
Because of the limited number of simultaneous users, it is important
to exit WebSPIRS once you have finished searching. Click on Logout
to exit the database.
- Finding a database
by name
Find the Library's databases page.
Click on its name in the alphabetical list of databases.
- Choosing the
best databases for a topic
Use the databases recommended in the Library's many Subject guides.
OR
Select ERL from the databases menu pages. This will display the
full list of SilverPlatter databases. Click on Find Relevant Databases
at top of screen. Type the word or phrase you want to find in the Term
box and click Find Relevant Databases. A list of databases
will be found in ranked order showing the number of records on each
database containing the search term. Click on the boxes to select nay
number of databases from this list and click on Open Selected Databases.
How to search
Whichever search method you have chosen, you will be led to the the following
search window. When it appears, type a search word or phrase into the
Find box.
- Select the type
of search you want by clicking in the boxes next to Words anywhere
(Keyword search), Title, Author or
Subject.
- Click
on Start Search. A list of references will then be displayed
as your first result set. Alternatively, the Search Builder
button will open a screen guiding you through various search and
limit options.
- Back to Search
takes you to the search screen to do a new search or to modify your
results. Each search you perform in a session will be listed as a search
history in the lower half of the search screen.
Search Tips are displayed at the bottom of the initial search
screen and can be reactivated by a link on subsequent screens. Note these
important search techniques:
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Search operators
and, or, not, in, with, near
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dolerite cliff*
looks for these words together in any order.
dolerite and cliff*
looks for both of these words anywhere in the same record.
dolerite in ti
looks for this term in the title field only. Any of the record
fields may be specified using in
suspension near bridge*
looks for both of these words in the same sentence.
dolerite with cliff*
looks for both of these words in the same field (e.g. the abstract
or the title field).
jurassic or triassic
expands the search to look for either of these words within
a record.
Tasmania not Australia
limits the search to the first word and specifically excludes
the second word. Use this with care , you risk losing good results.
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Nest search terms
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(aqua* or estuar*) and (ecotour* or recycl*)
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Use truncation symbol * (and ? for 0 or 1 characters)
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geol*will retrieve geology, geologist etc.
Use ? for spelling variants: wom?n, labo?r
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Combine searches
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Type the number of the search and the new term, e.g. #1 and
Tasmania*
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Exploit the thesaurus (a list of controlled subject terms)
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Some databases contain a thesaurus which will guide you to
the correct term(s) to use for the search.
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Try the index
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All databases have an index which is a scrolling alphabetical
listing of all the terms used in the database. Useful for locating
and verifying all variations of an author or subject term
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Index Screen
- Use
the Limit Your Search button on the main search screen. Limit
by language, by clicking on the appropriate menu items next to
the chosen language on the Limit screen. Press Set Limits
to continue searching. Limit also by date, by indicating a specific
year or a time span. Other limits are available in some databases.
- Search
history gives a record of your
previous searches. You can combine these with 'and' or 'or',
limit by language/date etc, add additional searches or remove any unwanted
searches.
- Some
databases have additional features such as Thesaurus and Suggest:
- Use
Thesaurus to select the controlled indexing terms used by the
database. This produces the most accurate results with fewer useless
references. Click on Thesaurus, type all or part of a subject
in the Subject box and click on Go to Subject. Click
on the underlined word to select it, and the next screen will give you
broader, narrower and related terms and sometimes give a definition.
Search Subject searches for the selected term or click on another
term to display details. Explode Checked Subjects searches on
the selected word plus all narrower terms. Thesaurus is only active
in a single database search.
Thesaurus
Screen
Back to the top
of the page.
Displaying and marking results
The results of your search will be displayed in the Search History table.
Numbered search statements and the number of records retrieved will be
shown. Click on Display to see the records.
Click on View Complete Record at the bottom of each record
or use the Change Display button at the top of the screen
to customize the displayed fields and to sort the records in a preferred
order, for example, by source, author or title. Click on Confirm Changes
to view the reformatted and sorted records.
Ten records are displayed per screen. Click in the box next to the record
number to mark the record to view, print, e-mail or downloading. See more
records by clicking on Go to or Next buttons.
Back to the
top of the page.
Printing, e-mailing and downloading
To print:
Click on Print. On the next screen click the preferred option for
records to be printed, for example, Marked records. Choose a display
format listed under Which fields. When ready,
click on Print Records to proceed.
To e-mail:
Click on E-mail. Select records and format as for printing.
Type your e-mail address in the Mail Records to: box and
click on Mail. (Filling in the Subject box is optional.)
To save to diskette or hard drive:
Click on Save. Choose the option for records to be saved, for example,
Marked records, then click on Save records.
Here are the instructions for EndNote
users.
Click on Database (right toolbar) to return to the full
list of SilverPlatter databases. Select another database and deselect
the database you have just searched. Once in the new database, click on
Rerun under the Search history to re-execute the searches
performed in your previous database. (Note: This will usually not work
when database specific search terms are used).
Back to the
top of the page.
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