5.1.2. Boolean Search

Boolean searching is built on a method of symbolic logic. Boolean search techniques can be used to carry out effective searches, cutting out many unrelated documents. Strawberry supports the following Boolean search operators:

AND ([SPACE])

Using [SPACE] (AND) narrows down a search by combining terms; it will retrieve objects that use all the search terms you specify, as in this example:

• “Portland Oregon” (will search for assets and projects matching both criteria)
• “Footage Berlin” (will search for assets and projects matching both criteria)
• “Elvis mp3” (will search for assets and projects matching both criteria)

OR (or)

Using OR broadens a search to include results that contain either of the words you type in. OR is a good tool to use when there are several common spellings or synonyms of a word, as in this example:

• liberal or democrat (will search for assets and projects matching one of the criteria)
• wav or mp3 (will search for assets and projects matching one of the criteria)
• lake or sea (will search for assets and projects matching one of the criteria)

NOT (-)

Using NOT will narrow a search by excluding certain search terms. NOT retrieves documents that contain the first, but not the second of the search terms entered, as in this example:

“Oregon -travel” (will search for assets and projects excluding one criteria) ”
“Music” -Wav” (will search for assets and projects excluding one criteria)
”Ocean” -Fish” (will search for assets and projects excluding one criteria)