Command search

The Command Search functionality requires the use of SOLR query language as well as a familiarity with the codes used for the various database indexes.  The LA Search manual contains a complete list of index codes and operators and a guide to using SOLR in LA Command Search.
 
If you are familiar with the database index codes and SOLR syntax you can create a search by inputting a search query directly into the SOLR query input box. Alternatively, you can use the Query builder feature which enables you to use Command Search if you are less familiar with SOLR and index codes.

Query builder

Query builder enables you to carry out a complex search using the full range of search indexes by guiding you to create a search query by selecting index codes and Boolean/proximity/relational operators and entering search terms.

  1. Select an appropriate index to search from the second drop down options box. For example, Name(NA), Title Keyword (TW), Subject Keyword (SW).
  2. Select a relational operator (=, >, < etc) from the third drop down options box.
  3. Input a word or phrase into the fourth text input box

By clicking the + button, your query is automatically added to the SOLR query input box and is displayed in the SOLR search syntax format. To see your results, you will need to click the Search button situated under the SOLR query input box.

If you wish to compile a more complex query by adding more queries to the SOLR query input box, you will need to repeat the process described above. A new search query will be added to the original query and is connected by the chosen Boolean Operator. The Boolean Operators are listed in the drop down options box and include "and" "or" and "not".
The Undo/Redo buttons located down the bottom of the screen can be used to remove or re-add items from the search query. The Reset button will clear the entire query.

SOLR query

To construct a search in Command Search without using Query builder, you must input the query directly into the SOLR query input box. The query syntax is as follows:

INDEX operator search term
TW:pollution

INDEX operator search term AND/OR/NOT INDEX operator search term
NW:park AND DAT:1994

 To search for an exact phrase you can enclose the search terms in double quotes.

INDEX operator “search phrase”
TW:”paul simon”

Range operators are used in place of relational operators for less than (<), greater than (>), less than or equal to (<=), greater than or equal to (>=) and not this date (NOT DAT=) searches. The query syntax is as follows:

INDEX operator search term AND/OR/NOT INDEX range operator search term
NW:park AND DAT:[2013 TO *]

< less than DAT:{* TO 2013}
> greater than DAT:{2013 TO *}
<= less than or equal to DAT:[* TO 2013]
>= greater than or equal to DAT:[2013 TO *]
NOT DAT = not this date NOT DAT:2013
starts with

\uFFFD<search term>
e.g. TW:"\uFFFD Dogs"

The proximity operator ~ is used to indicate adjacency in any word order in conjunction with a number to specify the number of words within which two terms occur. To retrieve titles where the words ‘cat’ and ‘dog’ may appear in any order with up to 2 words between them:

INDEX operator search terms adjacency operator number
TW:”cat dog”~2

NOTE: Index codes (eg TW), Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT) must be input in UPPER CASE. Search terms can be input in either upper or lower case, with the exception of codes (e.g. language codes) which must be input in the case used in the MARC view record.

Phrases containing AND, OR, NOT must be enclosed in quotes.

See Appendix 3 of the LA Search Manual for a complete list of indexes and their codes.