Tour d'Horizon

1.2 Search for Exact Words or Phrases

You can perform a phrase search by placing quotation marks around a specific phrase.

Features:

* search for exact phrases or character strings, e.g. "Mscr.Dresd.App.1700", "Seck, Friedrich"

* auto-suggest function

* automatic insertion of AND operator

* automatic replacement of punctuation characters with a blank, e.g. "NL 10/II B 1" is same as "NL 10 II B 1"

* search with Boolean operators OR and NOT

1.3 Expert Search

The expert search is a tool for professional users familiar with the Contextual Query Language to conduct direct and precise searches over a variety of indices.

Features:

* search specific data fields (indices) ,e.g. recipients, call numbers, or titles

* extensive implementation of the Contextual Query Language (CQL) standard

1.4 Search Options

By using the search options you may pre-define, i.e. narrow down the search space before conducting an actual search.

Features:

* Only return collection information

Get an overview: Search the entire database, but, as a start, display only information about the collections that may be relevant to your search.

* Only return digitized sources

Return only digitized sources matching your query.

* Limit to persons and organizations

Returns only records about persons and corporate bodies from the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library, that are linked with descriptive units of finding aids provided by the Union Catalog.

* Limit to collection information

Searches only within collection descriptions.

* Limit to manuscripts

Searches only within descriptive units of finding aids.

2 Search Results and Faceted Search

2.1 General Information

Search results are presented in a result list that offers a wide range of smart features designed to assist your work.

Note the header of the result list:

* Your search query

* Number of results

* Function "as network" (see also 5 Historical Correspondence Networks)

* Function "add to my list" (see also 4 Create Your Own List)

* Function "display link" (your query as a link)

* Function "primary sorting"

* Function "secondary sorting"

You may conveniently switch between a short and a full view mode for any individual search result without having to leave the list itself.

2.2 Short View

Catalog data or single entries in a finding aid always have the same structure. The short view option consists of:

• Holding institution, title, call number, box, folder, sheet
• Title, author, addressees (recipients of correspondence)
• Date and place of origin

2.3 Full view

In the full view mode all information about a descriptive unit will be displayed.

Features:

* Hightlighting of search terms

* Access to the corresopnding finding aids

* Add or remove records from "my list"

* Display of record ID and persistent URI

2.4 Detail View

The detailed view, equal in content with the full view, is designed to resolve persistent URIs.

2.5 Faceted Search

Facets allow for systematic browsing and narrowing down of search results.

Features:

* Reduce result list by selecting terms of a facet (AND logic)

* Reduce result list by excluding terms of a facet ("NOT" logic)

* Browse in facets

* Sort terms of a facet alphabetically

* Search within facets with automatic left and right truncation

The facet "location" includes both the places of origin (descriptive units/bibliographic records) and the places of birth and death (records about persons from the integrated authority file). The facet "professions" refers exclusively to information on professions of records about persons from the integrated authority file.

3 Online Finding Aids

3.1 General Information

Finding aids may be accessed directly from a record of a result list. The finding aid will open at the retrieved record's exact location in the finding aid. Finding aids may be displayed in four different views: online view, table of content, indices, and correspondence networks.

3.2 Online-View

Features:

* View of (hierarchically structured) online finding aids

* Permanent display of a finding aid's structure when scrolling through it

* Explore even large finding aids by browsing

* Browse between short view and detail view

* Search easily within specific finding aids

* Display of bookmarks for search results to optimise navigation within a finding aid

3.3 Table of Content

The table of content view supports easy navigation and exploring of the finding aid.

3.4 Indices

Indices for persons, corporate bodies, genres, places, and subjects allow for an easy overview of a collection. All index terms are sorted alphabetically and frequencies of occurence within the findig aid are indicated.

3.5 Networks

Networks are a visualization of relations between correspondents listed in the finding aid (see also 5 correspondence networks).

4 Create Your Own Lists

All records of a result list can be added to your own list.

Features:

* Empty your list

* Correspondence networks

* Download in BibTex format for reference management programs (e.g. Zoteo, Mendeley, Citavi, ...)

* Save your own list with a token, a five-character alphanumerical code, for 30 days - without registration, without password

5 Historical Correspondence Networks

Correspondence networks are the visualized relationships between author and addressees of letters, post cards, fax messages, e-mails, dedications, etc.

Features:

* Visualizations of relationships within result lists

* Visualizations of relationships within online finding aids

* Visualizations of relationships of person specific networks

* Visualizations of relationships within your own lists

* Access information about persons and organizations directly from the network nodes

* Access correspondence data directly from the network nodes

* Options to individually configure the network display

* Expand networks

* Remove nodes from networks