WebSPIRS databases

Database selection
How to search
Displaying and marking results
Printing, e-mailing, downloading
Search Tips
Limiting searches
Refining searches
Changing databases
Online Help

(Link to) Printable version .pdf

Our WebSPIRS 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.

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.

Database selection

Finding a database by name
From the Library's databases page at:-
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/dbase/index.html
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 at
http://www.utas.edu.au/library/info/subj/index.html

Select WebSPIRS 4 from the alphabetical list of databases. 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
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 any number of databases from this list
Click on Open Selected Databases.

How to search

Whichever selection method you have chosen, you will be led to the the following search window.

Select the type of search you want by clicking in the boxes next to Words anywhere (Keyword search), Title, Author or Subject.
Type a search word or phrase into the Find box.
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.
The Back to Search button returns 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.

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. See more records by clicking on Go to or Next buttons.
Click in the box next to the record number to mark the record . Click on the Show Marked Records button to print, e-mail or save the marked records.

Printing, e-mailing and saving

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.
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.
Click on Mail. (Filling in the Subject box is optional.)

To save to disk or hard drive:

Click on Save.
Choose the option for records to be saved, for example, Marked records.
Click on Save records.

See the EndNote help sheet for instructions for saving the records to EndNote.

Search Tips

Search Tips are displayed at the bottom of the initial search screen and can be reactivated by a link on the bottom right side of subsequent screens. Note these important search techniques:

Search operators and, or, not, in, with, near	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, as you risk losing good results.
Nest search terms	(aqua or estuar) and (ecotour or recycl) to specify the order for searching
Use truncation symbol * and wildcard symbol ?	geolwill retrieve geology, geologist etc. Use ? for spelling variants: wom?n, labo?r*
Combine searches	Type the number of the search and the new term. e.g. #1 and Tasmania*

Limiting Searches

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.
Limit also by date, by indicating a specific year or a time span.
Other limits are available in some databases.
Press Set Limits to continue searching.

Refining Searches

Search history gives a record of your previous searches. You can:-
- combine these with 'and' or 'or',
- add additional searches or remove any unwanted searches.
Some databases contain a thesaurus which will guide you to the correct subject term(s) to use for the search. 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

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

Index Screen

Changing databases

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).

Help

In depth database information and help is available by using the Help button on the search screen.

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