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Concept Search
A primary query mode that lets you enter plain English queries with no operators; automatically does semantic expansion on all query words to the level you set; ranks returned documents for relevance.
Pattern Search
A primary query type that also processes plain English queries, but tolerates spelling differences in either the body of the text or the queries; automatically does pattern expansion on all query words to the number of words you set; ranks returned documents for relevance
Boolean Search
A primary query type that uses traditional Boolean operators to find exact matches for all query words you enter; no ranking of responses; no automatic expansion
Wildcards Description Example
_ match one or zero characters colo_r
@ match exactly one alpha character gr@y
# match exactly one numeric character #600
\ take the next character literally, not as an operator name\@ptfs.com
* match anything or nothing comput*
? match exactly one character wom?n
^ match any character except the next character 199[^7]
[ ] search expression; can include a hyphen to indicate a range of letters or numbers; will match only one character within the brackets 199[1-5]
adj search expression; Word1 must be found within N words of word2, and word1 must come before word2. word1 word2 adj N
within search expression; Word1 must be found within N words of word2. word1 word2 within N