Searching the Database: A Guide

NCSeT Research Database Searching Techniques

The NCSeT Research Database offers several means for searching its contents, from the forms-based search capability of the database interface pages to the command-line (url-based) searching outlined below and the ability use the SQL query language. The material that follows offers basic and intermediate searching using the URL as a command line for crafting both simple and complex searches.

Basic Searching

Coming soon!

Intermediate Searching: Boolean "OR"

Here's how you might search for "tags" in the database: search for "methods|math" (that is, for "methods" or "math"):

http://ncset.uoregon.edu/refbase/search.php?formType=sqlSearch&submit=&sqlQuery=SELECT%20author%2C%20title%2C%20area%20FROM%20refs%20WHERE%20area%20RLIKE%20%22methods%7Cmath%22%20ORDER%20BY%20author%2C%20year&showLinks=1&showRows=150&showQuery=1&citeStyleSelector=APA

Intermediate Searching: Boolean "AND"

Search "tags" for "language arts" and "instructional": (note the method here creates the boolean "and" by spelling out the parts of the query manually: "if area has 'language arts' and if area has 'methods'"; by contrast in the above OR example, a symbol can be used to connect the parts: "if area has 'methods or math'")

http://ncset.uoregon.edu/refbase/search.php?formType=sqlSearch&submit=&sqlQuery=SELECT%20author%2C%20title%2C%20area%20FROM%20refs%20WHERE%20area%20RLIKE%20%22language arts%22%20AND%20area%20RLIKE%20%22instructional%22%20ORDER%20BY%20author%2C%20year&showLinks=1&showRows=150&showQuery=1&citeStyleSelector=APA

ASCII Codes for punctuation, followed by a parsing of the command:

The ampersand is used throughout as a way to concatenate parts of the overall command to the database and web server.

A complete "AND" query, parsed

So first the query address and program:

http://ncset.uoregon.edu/refbase/search.php?

then a qualifier for formtype and a submit (actualize) command

formType=sqlSearch&submit=

Next the actual SQL query command, SELECT desired fields

&sqlQuery=SELECT author, title, area

from which database?

FROM refs

Then the search or matching criteria–look acrosss the field for these:

WHERE area RLIKE "language arts" AND area RLIKE "instructional"

Then order the results by author and year

ORDER BY author, year

Then finally some closing qualifiers: