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====== Mystic Help ======

===== Search =====

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The **[Search]** dialog is a staff user level search facility which allows the searching of:

  * Catalogue items
  * Readership
  * Circulations Records
  * The HUB bibliographic database

The **Catalogue Items** and **Readership** search options allow the searching of fields within the live database records. The **Circulations** search option allows the searching of current and historic records of item circulations to readers.

The **Hub** search option provides similar search options as the Catalogue Items search, but is directed at the common **HUB Bibliographic Database** maintained by Esferico. This database contains millions of historic book details and is regularly updated with new books released in the UK.

Note that the basic structure and operation of the **[Search]** dialog is also used for the **Advanced Search** option available in the Catalogue and Reader manager dialogs.

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==== Selecting a Search Focus ====

Select one of the four options (shown above) from the drop-down list box at the top of the dialog.

On selection, the **Search** dialog will re-configure the criteria list to show criteria fields which are appropriate for that type of search target.

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==== Entering Criteria ====

In order to enter a search criteria, scroll through the criteria list until you find the search field that you wish to search for. Click the empty space next to the field (e.g. **Title:** in the Items and HUB search focus) to display an edit box.

Depending upon the nature of the field, you may be presented with:

  * a plain text field in to which you can enter a word or phrase
  * a drop-down list showing the available options for that criteria

The latter option is usually used for fields which have a specific, small-range list of options such as storage locations and media types. Fields which have a pre-defined list of options but potentially a  large number of them, such as keywords, authors etc. will typically display the plain text version.

Select and enter as many search criteria fields as required, and use the **[AND]** check-box to determine whether the list of criteria are to be used in a boolean **AND** or **OR** combination.

Note that the **[Active Only]** check-box refers to active catalogue items or readers, or to 'current' circulations. To view all historic circulations, and items and readers which are still on the database but inactive, turn the **Active Only** checkbox off.

=== Wildcards ===

It is important to note that this search dialog is aimed at staff users - some assisting processes performed by Mystic for readers are not performed, therefore handing more direct control of how the search criteria works to the staff user.

Entering a word or phrase into a criteria field effectively becomes an **equal to** search. In order to create a wildcard search, use the relational-database standard **%** (percent symbol) to represent any or no additional characters at that point in the criteria. For example:

  * Word% - means the field must //start// with 'word'
  * %word - means the field must //end// with 'word'
  * %word% - means the field may have 'word' //anywhere// in the field but can be affixed by any or no additional characters.
  * wo%rd - means the field must begin with 'wo' and end with 'rd' but there can be any or no characters in between.

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==== Searching ====

Once sufficient criteria have been added, click the **[Search]** button to begin the search. The results are displayed in the results list at the bottom of the dialog.

If any result line contains a valid record which could be displayed from the database (e.g. a catalogue item or reader), double-clicking the row will display the record in its own isolated manager dialog. Once displayed, all normal operations (e.g. editing) can be performed.

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==== Clearing Searches ====

If you need to perform additional searches, it is always recommended to click **[Clear]** prior to entering new criteria.

**Clearing** the current search will ensure that all current results are removed, and all criteria (which you may have missed somewhere in the criteria list) are removed and reset to an empty search.

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==== Lists and Projects ====

Once you have a search which is providing the correct results for your criteria, you can make a permanent record of that criteria pattern in the form of **[Lists and Projects]**.

**Lists and Projects** are very useful for creating known sets of items from the database if your organisation is running an establish project - in the case of a school, this might be local history, Black History Month, or other subject related sub-project connected with a curriculum topic.

To create a **Lists and Projects** entry, create and run your search as normal, to the extent that the search is producing the results that you expect. Next, click the **[Create]** toolbar icon in the **Lists and Projects** toolbar group. Enter a suitable title that describes this list - if you want the list to be public (i.e. not just restricted to yourself), ensure that the **[Public List]** check box is ticked.

Once created, this list will appear in the OPAC **[Lists and Projects]** option, as well as in the lists and projects filtering selection option in the catalogue and reader manager.

**Note that a //Lists And Projects// entry is //dynamic// as it is based on criteria and not membership of a finite list. If you add a new item to the catalogue or readership which also satisfies the original criteria, it will appear in displays automatically. **

=== Removing a List ===

If you no longer need a specific **Lists and Projects** entry, go into the **[Search]** dialog and click the **[Remove]** toolbar icon in the **Lists and Projects** toolbar group. This will display a context-menu of all current **Lists and Projects** over which you have control.

To remove a list, simply click the list that you wish to remove from this menu.

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