Help with Database Searching
Working with your results
- Decide which information you want displayed.
- Mark the records you are interested in.
- Use "Print Preview" to identify a section of a document/web page that you want to print.
- Save records to disk or e-mail them.
1. Decide which information you want displayed.
Some databases allow you to determine which sections of a record (fields) are displayed. Since some parts of a record may be superfluous to actually finding the item you are looking for, you may want to change which information is displayed. Typical options include choosing between full/complete/ detailed records and brief records. Some databases allow you to decide which specific fields will be displayed.
Not all databases provide this feature, but in those that do it is very handy if you are looking at several records.
2. Mark the records you are interested in.
Marking records allows you to limit printing, downloading or e-mailing to only those records which are pertinent to your research. Most databases allow you to mark records.
A typical format is to check a box in front of the record you are "marking." In some databases, you must first display the records that you have marked before you print or download them. In databases in which this is necessary there will be a "Display Marked" (or similar option) available.
3. Use "Print Preview" to print only a section of a document/web page.
If you are interested in only a portion of a document that you are viewing (this would include any online database, as well as the World Wide Web), Print Preview (available under "File" in your browser) is a handy way to identify the section you want to print.
4. Save record to disk or e-mail them.
Most databases allow you to save your records to disk and/or allow you to e-mail them to yourself. Follow the directions for the database you are using.
If you have questions about database searching please ask the Reference Librarian - (518) 580-5503.