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Multi-Search (Articles+) Help
What is Multi Search?
Multi Search is a federated search engine for searching across our library's electronic resources from one simple interface. Multi Search provides citations and abstracts, as well as linking opportunities to full-text articles, electronic books, and records in your library's catalog. And you choose which resources you want it to search.
Return to TopSearch Tips
Use the Basic search page to simply enter what you're searching for and get results. Use the Advanced search page for expanded searching options like a search type menu, the Year Search Limiter to enter a specific date, and advanced Boolean searching. You can search using the fields listed below:
Search Type What does it search? Title The "title" field Author The "author" field Full Text For full-text content, if available Keyword The "keyword" field Subject The "subject" field Abstract The "abstract" field ISSN Exact ISSN ISBN Exact ISBN Any Usually works like a "keyword" search
Try using Boolean operators (AND, OR, and NOT) to find what you're looking for. Phrase searching works too! Put "quotation marks" around your search phrase to return more precise results. With both the Basic and Advanced search options, you can choose specific resources to search. If you already know which resources you want to search, click on "Search by database" to choose from a list of available resources. If you aren't sure where to begin but you know what subject area(s) you are interested in researching, click on "Search by subject" to choose from a list of subject categories.
Search Results
As Multi Search gathers your search results, you will see the resources at work. Within seconds, databases return results, and the search page will present live updates.
You will see which resources have returned results first, and you can click on the number to view the results as the remaining databases continue searching. Use Results by Source to filter your search results to show only those from specific databases or providers. The number of results for each database and provider is shown in parentheses next to each resource. Click on the results number to view a particular resource's results. If you see plus symbols next to the provider names, that means you have the option to minimize that resource's information. When the information is hidden, the button will appear as a minus symbol, and another click will reveal the information again.
Clustered Results
Clustered results sort your Multi Search results into categories, to help save you time in deciding which results are most appropriate for your purposes. Clustering can also help you refine your search, by giving you new ideas for your search query.
If you're interested in viewing the results from a specific database, just click on the database name in your Search Summary, and your clustered results will automatically change.
Sort Options
All of your options for sorting and filtering your search results are located in the header above your results.
- Sort By: These links allow you to sort your search results by publication date, title, author, or source. If your results contain publication dates, they will be automatically sorted by date unless you choose another sort option.
- Filter By: Use this checkbox to filter your results down to "Full Text" (meaning they link to the entire content of the item).
New or Refined Search
At the top of the page, above your clustered results, are your "Refine Search" and "New Search" links.
- Refine Search: This takes you back to your original search query where you can edit and run the search again.
- New Search: This takes you to a fresh search page to start a new query.
Next Results
To get results to you as quickly as possible, results are returned in small batches. When you reach your final page of results you can click on the "Next Results" link to see the next batch of results from the providers.
You will be taken to the next page of results. The new set will be automatically appended to the original results set. Use the "merge" icon if you prefer to combine all results into one list. This sorts the list according to your selected sorting method -- by default, Date.
You may also retrieve more results from a favorite source by first clicking on the provider or database name and then clicking on "Next Results" on the last page. The next set of results for just that source is returned.
OpenURL Link Resolver Integration
Some of your results may not include a link to full-text content. If this is the case, a "More full-text options" or 360 Link link may be available to see if full-text is available in another database. If you can't find the full-text through any of these links, you should try searching in the library catalog or submitting an Interlibrary Loan request. Contact your librarian for more information. If your library subscribes to 360 Link, or another OpenURL link resolver, the link will only appear on the results that have enough citation information: (Title OR ISSN) AND Volume AND Issue. It will not appear on every result.
Abstract Display
An abstract summarizes the content of a citation, so that you can get an idea of what the article will cover before actually jumping to it. Some search results will return with a link to these summaries. Clicking on this link will reveal the abstract, and another click will hide it again.
Deduplication
When a search finds duplicate results, you will see a "Duplicate Records" link. Only one record will be shown with a link to the others. When you click on the Duplicate Records link, you will see a new page with all of the duplicate results listed.
Export, Save, and Email
Above your results are links to email, export, or save selected results. To select records, use the checkboxes next to each result. Once results are selected, the "Email" and "Export/Save" links are activated.
Clicking on "selected records" link from the results page allows you to view only your selections in a new window.
Clicking on "Email" prompts you to fill out a form. On the form, you may choose to send your selected records in a format compatible with bibliographic citation managers like EndNote or ProCite, in plain text, or in HTML.
Clicking on "Export/Save" prompts you to fill out a similar form. You may choose to export your selected records directly to RefWorks, or to save the records either in a format compatible with bibliographic citation managers like EndNote or ProCite, as plain text, or as HTML.
Still Need Help?
Ask a librarian or visit a Reference Desk for additional assistance.
