Types of Search Options

Horizon has three types of searches:

Keyword search. This type of search option lets staff enter a keyword that Horizon has indexed from a title field, subject heading field, content notes field, and so forth. In other words, this type of search finds a match for a keyword by comparing the search terms with a list of words that Horizon has compiled from MARC records or tables in the database. (For example, a title keyword search might compare search terms to data stored in all MARC title tags. A borrower name keyword search in Circulation might compare search terms to data stored in the borrower table.) In addition, you can set up a single search option based on multiple keyword indexes. This lets you search for MARC information that is in either authority-controlled or non-authority controlled subfields. When multiple records match the search term, the system displays a list of matches. This type of list is called a “closed” list.
Alphabetical or browse search. This type of search option lets staff access an alphabetical list of all titles, authors, subjects, or series in Horizon. The search term staff enters for this type determines which part of the alphabet displays. For this search option, Horizon displays an alphabetical list of record information with the arrow cursor pointing at the entry that most closely matches the search term. (For example, if you did a subject alphabetical search for the word “language,” you would see the first subject heading in the list starting with “language,” and an arrow would point to the closest match. However, you could scroll up and down the alphabetical list and browse through all subject headings on the system.) This type of browsable list is also called an “open” list.
Exact match search. Similar to an alphabetical index, this search lets you enter a word or number (such as an LCCN or ISBN) that is directly tied to only one record on the database. (For example, every item in your library will probably have a unique barcode, so when you conduct a barcode search, Horizon immediately displays the bibliographic record without showing a browse list.) In order to get results for an exact match, the user must enter the exact number. Use an exact match index to search for social security numbers, barcodes, and other items for which there is usually one unique match in the database.

 


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