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SCIS OPAC
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Contents
Below are brief instructions for searching the SCISWeb OPAC. More detailed instructions can be found in the SCISWeb manual (this can be also be accessed on the SCISWeb home page).
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Basic search
Useful for searching for resources without ISBNs or SCIS numbers such as on videocassettes, websites, computer software etc.
- On the SCISWeb screen, click on the SCIS OPAC button.
- Prefer the title for searching, this must be typed correctly. We recommend tha you do not use Keyword searching as this is an OR search and may result in too many records.
- Enter the search term in the Find: box and click on the matching type of search in the In: box. If you have typed in a title click on the word title.
- Click on the Search button.
- When the list of records is displayed click on the matching record.
- When the record is displayed write down the SCIS number.
- To begin a new search click on the Search button on the screen until the search screen is displayed.
- Continue to search for other resources without ISBNs or SCIS numbers.
- To exit SCIS OPAC click on the Exit button until the SCISWeb main menu is displayed.
- If you cannot locate a catalogue record for an item, refer to the section on Items not found .
Basic search tips
- Do not include articles such as 'a', 'an', and 'the' at the beginning of a title search.
- Type search terms in lower case. Don't use capitals.
- Resources with duplicate ISBNs (ISBN used on more than one resource). Enter the ISBN number in the Search: box and click on ISBN (or keyword) in the In: box, then click on Search. On the list of displayed titles, click on the title that matches the resource. When the full record is displayed write down the SCIS number. The ISBN search can be used for book, serial and music numbers.
- To limit a search by physical type and time, (e.g. videorecordings in the last 2 years) enter a search term in the Find: box and click on the corresponding type in the Limit by: box.
- Use the Guided search to search using a combination of two terms, eg Ecology and Australia. The standard Basic search is a keyword 'or' search and will find too many records.
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Guided search
You can combine up to three different elements from a catalogue record together in one Guided search. It is useful for resources such as websites and videorecordings with common titles.
On the SCIS OPAC page click on Guided search. For example, if you have a videorecording titled Heidi, enter the following details
- Find: Heidi - As a phrase
- Search In: Title AND with the next set
- Find: videorecording - As a phrase
- Search In: Title or Keyword
A third term such as publisher name, series title etc. could also be entered in the third Find: box to increase the chances of finding a matching record.
If you have items for which a catalogue record cannot be found, refer to the section on Items not found .
Guided search tips
- To find words in a particular sequence you will need to change the Find: box to As a phrase.
- Punctuation marks such as hyphens, dashes, exclamation marks, etc. are treated as spaces and can be used in this type of search.
- If you are not sure where information may appear on a catalogue record, leave the In: choice as Keyword anywhere.
- If using a physical description in the search, the term must be the same as that found on catalogue records, e.g. videorecording not video.
- For website searches use the term website not web site.
- You can truncate a term by adding a question mark at the end, e.g. video? can replace videorecording.
- You can search using one element by filling in the first Find: box only.
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Go to the section Items not found
Back to SCISWeb instructions home page
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