Search Problem-Solver

Search Problem-Solver

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Complex Search Syntax

Search queries that use operators other than AND, OR, NOT, +, -, " (double-quotation marks), and parentheses () are part of the complex search syntax. You must precede complex search queries with VQL: and double-quote the search query. For example:

VQL:"[50] aniline, [10] textile, [80] \"dye technology\""

Note the double-quotes around the entire query and the backslashes that precede the double-quotes used within the query.

Search Problem Solver

Summary: Use double quotation-marks for most of your specialized technical terms. Use the "escape" character -- the backslash \ -- to ensure that reserved characters are treated appropriately.

Most scientific disciplines and engineering specialties have annotations that can conflict in some way with a generalized search engine, such as the one yet2.com uses. These conflicts arise over the use of "special characters" such as parentheses, brackets, slashes, and backslashes that have reserved meaning to the search engine.

Reserved Characters in yet2.com:

, - ( ) [ = > < ! ´ @ ' { } ]

When you use a reserved character in a search expression, you must:

Use double quotation-marks around the words or phrases of the expression, or...
Precede each reserved character THAT IS NOT USED IN ITS RESERVED SENSE with a backslash.

Example 1:

5-(n,n-hexamethylene) amilorid becomes
"5-(n,n-hexamethylene) amilorid" or
"5-(n,n-hexamethylene)" amilorid or
VQL:"5\-\(n\,n\-hexamethylene\) amilorid"

yet2.com encourages you to use double quotation-marks because they stop stemming and force the search engine to look for specific text. In the case of a highly technical term, you probably don´t want a search engine finding variations on a word and returning documents to your search results based on them.

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Unintentional Commas:

Sometimes a searcher will include a comma from habit or because it´s part of a phrase.

Example 2:

aniline, and textiles

Since AND is a reserved word, and the comma means OR (and they´re next to each other -- even worse), the search engine has an impossible task in evaluating what the search expression might mean.

Other Problem Search Terms:

Example 3:

poly(ethylene glycol-400) distearate becomes
"poly(ethylene glycol-400) distearate" or
"poly(ethylene glycol-400)" distearate or
VQL:"poly\(ethylene glycol\-400\) distearate"

Again, we encourage double quotation-marks. Note that, because of spaces, the search engine tries to interpret poly(ethylene glycol-400) distearate as a phrase consisting of three words:

poly(ethylene
glycol-400)
distearate

But it also wants to group "ethylene glycol-400" and evaulate that first because of the parentheses. This is why using double quotation-marks is best.

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Put Backslash (Escape) Before Special Characters

Precede these characters with a backslash ( \ ) unless you have used them inside double-quotes as part of a phrase.

, ( ) [ = > < ! ´ @ ' { } ]

Double quotes also need to be escaped with a backslash if they appear inside of another set of double quotes. See "Escaping Double Quotation-Marks".

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