Contents
Introduction
The classification search page is used to locate classification schedule and table records using one or more of the
following access points:
Caption
Keyword
Index term
Caption or index term
Classification number
In general, with the exception of the Keyword access point, when you enter your search criteria into only one of the input boxes and
press Enter (or click on the Search button), you will be performing a database browse. The records will be
returned in the sorting order for that access point. When browsing an index, you
can view all of the records in a database and not just those that match your initial search term. If you prefer, you can
force a query to be run by checking either the basic query or boolean query search options before
submitting your search request. See below for more information on changing your search options.
If you input one or more words into the Keyword box or input values into any two or more access points or
check either the basic query or boolean query search options, ClassWeb will run a query to locate all
records that meet your criteria. While browse results are returned instantly, a real query may take a few seconds (or even
minutes, depending on the search). Also, query results are not returned in any particular sequence, although they tend to
be in record number order.
ClassWeb supports truncation searching (you just input a partial search term), boolean (AND, OR and NOT) and mathematical
(less than, greater than, etc.) operations, and wild-card characters (? matches any single character and * matches
multiple characters). In addition, all keyword access points support phrase and
proximity searches.
Important: Unlike the Enhanced and Hierarchy classification browsers, the ClassWeb search system
does not support calculated classification numbers (where table records have been automatically applied to a schedule
record). Searching for a classification number that is normally calculated will not return an exact match but will find any non-calculated
records that meet your search criteria. You can then click on the LC class browser link available on each matching record
to see that record in its proper context and with calculation support.
Note:
All ClassWeb search screens include a section of tips and additional options that are kept hidden until you
click on the Search tips and options link located under the input boxes.
Tip:
Use the Reset button to clear the search screen whenever you want to start a new search.
How to Search
This page describes those aspects of searching that are unique to classification data. For a general introduction to
ClassWeb searching, please refer to the following help pages:
Subsets
In addition to searching and browsing the entire classification database, you can limit ClassWeb to use only those
areas of classification that are most relevant to your needs. Approximately 36 areas of specialization (subsets) have been
pre-defined within classification. These subsets can be used with both the classification browser and when running
searches.
You select one or more classification subsets using either the Subsets menu (a link to
this menu is provided near the bottom of the ClassWeb main menu) or by using the Subsets... button on the bottom of
the search screen (see below). The advantage of using the Subsets menu is that after you have made
your selections and clicked on the Start button (and after you have logged on, if necessary), you can create a
bookmark in your web browser that can be used to start ClassWeb with those subsets already selected.
Additional documentation:
Access Points
The access points for classification searching include:
Caption
The caption in a classification record is the most specific portion of
the record's hierarchy. It is displayed in the right hand column in the classification browser. For example,
for:
HA4020 Arctic regions
The caption for this record is "Arctic regions". Its full hierarchy is:
Statistics -- Statistical data -- By region or country -- Arctic regions
The caption index is sorted on field 153/j.
Keyword
Use this access point to search for words and phrases that might be found throughout a record. There is
a separate help page that documents how keyword searching is implemented in ClassWeb.
This access point includes all words and phrases found in the following fields in a record:
153/i, 153/j, 253/i, 353/i, 453/j, 553/j,
680/i, 681/i, 683/i, 753/a, 753/b, 761/i,
763/i, 763/j, 764/i, 766/i, 766/y
Index term
Index terms are cross references that guide a user to the preferred terminology for a given subject. For
example, if you browse for "boot industry" in the Index Term index, you will discover that the appropriate
classification is:
HD9787 Footwear. Shoes
The index term index is sorted on field 753/a, followed by field 753/b.
Caption or index term
This index contains both classification captions (the lowest part of the hierarchy) and the cross-referencing index
terms. It saves you from having to search both places separately for a term.
This index combines the caption index (sorted on field 153/j) and the index term index (sorted on field 753/a,
followed by field 753/b).
Classification number
This index contains the classification number from each record as well as any cross-reference classification numbers
(like see references). Browsing this index is the same as using the Standard classification browser. However,
if you are running a query and are getting too many results, you can narrow your search by including a partial
classification number. This is the same concept as using subsets but allows you to work with even more narrow areas
of classification.
For example, let's say you want any occurrence of "netherlands" in the keyword index and want to narrow the criteria
further to just the "HF" (Commerce) section of the social sciences. You would input "netherlands" into the Keyword
field and "HF" into the Classification Number field and click on the "Search" button to run the query.
Please note that the Classification Number field is the only input field that is affected by whether you are working with
Schedules records, Tables records or Both (see Display Options, below). When working with
just Schedules records, the field is treated as a classification number (HD9000) or span (HD9000-9019). When you select
Tables or Both, the field is treated as a table number on its own (H18), a table number followed by a classification
number (H18 1) or a table number followed by a span (H18 1-18).
If you need to browse the classification number index or run a search with a classification number as one of the
criteria, you should select Schedules or Tables separately. Selecting Both will give the same results as selecting only
Tables because the field will be treated as a table number.
The classification number index contains three different types of keys using the following sets of fields:
153/z, 153/a, 153/c
453/z, 453/a, 453/c
553/z, 553/a, 553/c
Tip: The classification browser documentation contains additional information on how
to input classification schedule and table
numbers.
Search Display
Search results are displayed a page at a time, with twenty-five or more records per page. You can change the
number of records that are returned in any of the following ways:
- To change the number for the current screen only, click on the Search tips and options link and use the
drop-down list immediately under Display Options to choose an alternate number. If you have search results
already on the screen, you can click on the Redisplay button at the bottom of the page to refresh the
current page with the new number of records you selected.
- To change the default number of records displayed by all ClassWeb screens for your account (this will affect
everyone who logs in to your account), modify your account settings with
the Preferences link found near the bottom of the main
menu (requires administrative password).
- To change it before you start ClassWeb, use the Bookmarks link near the bottom of
the main menu. That will launch the classification browser with your new record count. You can bookmark that page in
your web browser to always start ClassWeb with the same record count. If you click on the Search button from
the classification browser, the search screen that is opened will inherit the record count from the classification
browser. You can then bookmark the search screen so that you can launch that page with your preferred record
count.
Command and Navigation Buttons
See Searching in ClassWeb for a description of the command and
navigation buttons.
Search Results
The results of an index browse and a query differ slightly.
Index Browse Results
If you are browsing an index, the header at the top of the page will display the name of the access point you are
using. The results will include a list of index terms and class numbers followed by the caption field from the classification
record. Here is an example of a caption browse for the word "caption":
LC Classification Search: Caption
| Captioned media (1) | |
| LB1050.375 |
Captioned media  |
| | |
| Captive balloons (1) | |
| [TL634-637.2] |
Captive balloons |
| | |
| Captive companies. Captive agents (1) | |
| HG8104 |
Captive companies. Captive agents |
| | |
| Captivi (1) | |
| PA6568.C2 |
Captivi |
Clicking on the index heading returns a screen of just index headings. Clicking on the
classification number will launch the classification browser in a separate window for that number. Finally, each caption
is followed by a small white button ( ) that
displays a drop-down menu of additinal links for that record (see below).
Query Results
For a query, the header will display the query number and the number of records that matched your
criteria. The results will include a list of classification numbers followed by the caption field from the record. Here is an
example of a caption search for the word "dogs":
LC Classification Search: 2 (52 items)
| PN6084.D65 |
Dogsledding |
| NB1942.D64 |
Dogs |
| K564.D64 |
Dogs |
| NE962.D64 |
Dogs |
| HV4746 |
Dogs |
| TR729.D6 |
Dogs |
| N7668.D6 |
Dogs |
These results are from query number 2 where 52 records were found. Clicking on the classification number will launch
the classification browser in a separate window for that number. Every caption is followed by a small
white button that displays a drop-down menu of additinal links for that record (see below).
Hierarchy and Caption Data
By default, the search screen displays just the caption from each classification record in the list of results. You have
the option of displaying some or all of the classification hierarchy for that caption or to suppress the caption
entirely. See Display Options for more information.
Record Links
Every classification record in the list of search results is followed by a little white button
( ) which, when clicked, displays a drop-down
menu of additional links. See above for search display examples. The links can include:
| Button | Action |
|---|
| Dewey correlation |
Displays the Dewey classification numbers that are most often used with this LC classification number. Note:
If this feature is of no interest to you, you can remove this link from the drop-down menu by changing
your account preferences. |
| Edit this record |
Only displayed for administrative users who have permission to edit this record. |
| Hierarchy |
Another way of selecting the current record and displaying its hierarchy. |
| LC subject correlation |
Displays LC subject headings that are most often used with this classification number. |
| LCSH 053 search |
Displays LC subject headings that contain this classification number in an 053 field in the subject record. |
| MARC record |
Displays this classification record with its MARC tags. |
| Notes |
Create or edit the local notes associated with this classification number. |
| OPAC(s) |
Displays one or more OPAC links for this classification number. Note: Customize your list of OPAC links on
your account preferences page. |
For accounts that are authorized to submit classification proposal requests, the drop-down menu on the search screen does
not include any links to create and edit proposals. You must use the classification browser to submit these requests
(on the search results page, click on the appropriate classification number to jump to that record in the classification browser).
Display Options
To see the display options, click on the Search tips and options link. Your screen
should now include the following:
Display Options 
Display
no hierarchy,
caption,
partial hierarchy or
entire hierarchy.
Include
schedules,
tables or
both ("both" option not available for Classification number searches).
Your settings may be slightly different depending on your account preferences and current choices. The display options
allow you to select:
- How many records are returned per search page.
- How much hierarchy to display for each record.
- Which classification records you want to search.
If you already have search results on your screen and you change any of these options, click on the Redisplay button
at the bottom of the page to refresh the screen with your new choices.
Search Options
The search options can be used to force a query to be run instead of an index browse, and to control the way queries are
handled. For more information, please refer to Searching in ClassWeb. To see the
search options, click on the Search tips and options link. Your screen should now include the following:
Search Options
Find
all matching terms (AND search) or
any matching term (OR search).
Run a
browse,
basic query or
boolean query (requires quotes around your search terms).
Exact match (don't perform a truncation search that returns alternate word endings).
Your settings may be slightly different depending on your current choices. The search options allow you to select:
If you already have search results on your screen and you change any of these options, you must re-run your
search for your new choices to take effect (i.e. click on the Search button after making your selections).
Additional command buttons
In addition to the standard command and navigation buttons at the top of the screen, additional command buttons are
displayed at the bottom of the page when you click on the Search tips and options link located under the input
boxes. Note that the Redisplay button is only displayed if you have search results on the screen. The additional
buttons include:
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