Performing a CCL Advanced Search

Gale offers a second way of doing an Advanced Search for those who prefer to structure their search query more like a programming code instruction. The CCL Advanced Search (CCL stands for Command Control Language) allows you to choose indexes to search on from a drop-down menu or to directly enter their two-character index abbreviations.

Searching using CCL Advanced Search involves these steps:

  1. If you're not already at the Advanced Search page, click Advanced Search from the search path bar
  2. Click the CCL Advanced Search link at the bottom of the search input area (you may need to scroll down the page)
  3. Choose an index
  4. Click on the entry box (after the index abbreviation)
  5. Enter one or more words, using wildcards if desired
  6. If you want to search additional indexes in the same query, click the appropriate logical operator button (AND, OR, NOT) and repeat Steps 1-3
  7. Click the Search button

Step 1 is optional. If you don't choose an index, the keyword index is searched.

When you choose an index from the menu, you may see that some choices cause a Browse link to appear to the right of the search box. Clicking Browse lets you view a list of all entries for that index, from which you can select the one that you want. It's often a good choice to browse an index so you can see what matches your search before you commit to it.

Note: When searching a database with periodical content, to find the journal RN, enclose the name in quotes (jn "rn") to prevent conflict with the RN (record number) index. It is not possible to browse for RN.

You can use logical and other search operators in your search expression (e.g., jobs or employment). See General Search Tips for more information on search operators.

Experienced searchers who are comfortable with the index abbreviations can create their own simple or complex search expressions directly in the search entry box:

  1. Leave the drop-down index selection set to "Add indices to CCL"
  2. Click in the box
  3. Enter a search expression
  4. Click on Search


Related topics:

  
  • CCL Advanced Search Examples
  • Previous Searches
  • General Search Tips