Teaching Tricks for Discovery
- Jack Mulvaney (Unlicensed)
Field Codes
Field codes allow for searching individual metadata fields in Discovery and EBSCOhost. There is no centralized place on EBSCO Connect where this information lives and some field codes do not work in every EBSCO database. Below are some of the most useful.
Please Note: Field codes index all records in EDS, not just catalog or Discovery eResource records. If you are trying to perform targeted searching only on catalog records, use the database or location limiters in conjunction with search terms.
Field Code (Capital Letters) | Description | Relevant MARC Fields / Notes |
|---|---|---|
TX* | All Text: Performs a keyword search of all the database's searchable fields. Using the TX field code will cause the search to look for the keyword in the full text as well as the citation record. |
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AU* | Author: Performs a keyword search for any authors listed on a record. | Includes corporate author, other others (100,110, 111, 700, 710,711) |
AR | Author: Performs a phrase search for any authors listed on a record. | Includes corporate author, other others (100,110, 111, 700, 710,711) |
TI* | Title: Searches keywords in a record's English and non-English title field. For phrase searching, bound the title in quotation marks. | Includes all aspects of title: title, title abbrev, uniform title, other titles, former title, etc. (130, 245, 210, 222,240, 730,246,247) |
ST | Series Title: Performs a search for a series title. For exact match searching use quotation marks, if not the search is like multi-key word search. (ie. ST Library of America will return Library of Latin America also) |
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SU* | Subject Term: Performs a keyword search of the subject headings listed in the records. |
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DE | Performs a phrase search for an exact subject heading within the records. | Use for the authority controlled versions. |
SO* | Journal Title/Source: Performs a phrase search for the journal name of the article. |
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JN | Journal Title: Searches keywords in a record's Journal Title title field. |
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PB | Publication information: Performs a keyword search | includes all pub info (264 OR 260) |
DT or PY | Publication Date. DT = 8 digit date; PY = 4 digit date/year) | PY is more widely suitable to catalog search. DT will only catch a relative few records that have additional date information (some reports, etc.). Can truncate to get year and month, e.g. DT 201409* |
AB* | Abstract: Performs a keyword search of the abstract summaries. |
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LA or LN or ZL | Language: LA = word; LN (code) = phrase; ZL (full name) = phrase |
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PT or PZ or MG | TYPE (doc type, material type, etc.) |
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FO | Form of Item: Performs a keyword search |
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IL | Illustrations: Performs a keyword search |
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GE or CO or PE | Special subjects: GE (geog term) = word; CO (company) = word; PE (person) = word |
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IS* | ISSN: Performs an exact search for a publication's International Standard Serial Number. |
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IB* | ISBN: Performs an exact search for an article's identification number in the ISBN and EISBN fields. |
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OC | OCLC #: Performs a search for the OCLC number. Do not include the OCoLC prefix, but if the on/ocn/ocm is in FOLIO you must include it to return the correct record. Do not include any extra spaces or wildcards. (ie. “OC 01943602”) |
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NU | (Call) Number: Performs an exact search on the call number fields. Can be truncated to replicate call number “browse” but records will not sort in ascending/descending order. Must end the search with a wildcard (*) and will fail if there are extra spaces. |
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AN | Accession Number: The unique identifier of an EDS record viewable on the advanced record or in the permalink. Contains information specific to UMass and cannot be shared to the other 5C. | Formed from Instance UUID |
LB | Location: FOLIO locations, must use the Display name bounded in quotes. | Discovery Display name is what is used. Can be used to create location based permalinks since it is a text string search, not a filter. |
* Field codes marked with the asterisk are available on the advanced search and results screens in the drop down next to search boxes. Using these will index anything in that box under the rules of the field code selected. Use this to string multiple terms or boolean statements together for targeted searching on specific fields.
Non MARC Field Codes (Capital Letters) | Description |
|---|---|
FT Y | Use in conjunction with a Boolean Operator to find all Full Text for a Search Term. (Combine with FT N to return “all” records in EDS) |
FT N | Theoretically Performs a search for all records without full text. (Combine with FT Y to return “all” records in EDS) |
FM T | Use in conjunction with a Boolean Operator to find all HTML Full Text for a Search Term |
FM P | Use in conjunction with a Boolean Operator to find all PDF Full Text for a Search Term |
FM C | Use in conjunction with a Boolean Operator t |
Example Search
TI Achilles' shield and the structure of the Iliad / by Guenter A. Duethorn
AU Guenter A. Duethorn
DE Homer
IS 0022-1112
OC on1253477548
AN umf.oai.edge.fivecolleges.folio.ebsco.com.fs00001006.e61b759e.d64c.5b6c.af2b.925664089121
LB "Smith College Online"
ST “Recent researches in the music of the Renaissance”
EBSCO Connect Documentation
EBSCOhost Searching Tips: https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/EBSCOhost-Searching-Tips?language=en_US
Searching with Field Codes: https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/Searching-with-Field-Codes?language=en_US#:~:text=EBSCO%20uses%20two%2Dcharacter%20abbreviations,are%20available%20for%20all%20products.
What Field Codes are available when searching EDS?: https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/What-Field-Codes-are-available-when-searching-EBSCO-Discovery-Service-EDS?language=en_US
How can I limit my search to Full Text using Field Codes: https://connect.ebsco.com/s/article/How-can-I-limit-my-EBSCOhost-search-to-articles-with-Full-Text-using-Field-Codes?language=en_US
Catalog Record Searching
By default, Discovery searches are scoped to all catalog records (from FOLIO and the eResource custom catalog) and EBSCO metadata records with full text links. If you would like to execute a search on just catalog records from FOLIO, the eResource catalog, or both, there are multiple ways to do this.
Advanced Search Screen - Pre-Search Limiting
On the Discovery Advanced Search screen, enter your search terms in the text boxes. In the “Limit to your Results Section” you can choose to limit to the following:
Limit to Five Colleges Libraries catalog only: This will limit to the FOLIO and eResource Custom Catalog (representing all records that used to be stored in Aleph)
Library Locations: You can either choose individual locations, or select “Five Colleges Catalog” (FOLIO records) or UMass Amherst Online Resources (eResource catalog records). Choosing “All” at the top will perform the same search as the limiter mentioned above.
Search Results Screen - Post-Search Limiting
On a list of results, you can use multiple limiters to narrow your search down to just catalog records.
Limit to Five Colleges Libraries catalog only: In the first set of limiters, this is the same as the Pre-Search version and will limit results to the FOLIO and eResource Custom Catalog (representing all records that used to be stored in Aleph)
Library Location: This is the same as a Pre-Search version and depending on what you choose will limit down to specific locations, or all catalog records from FOLIO and the eResource catalog.
Databases in this Search: You can choose either the Five Colleges Catalog (FOLIO) or the UMass Amherst Online Resources catalog (eResources) or both.
Call Number Searches
Call number searching is possible in Discovery, but it does not behave the same was as it does in FOLIO or in the old Aleph OPAC. EDS is not a catalog search, and so, does not have the level of granularity most catalogs would have.
To perform call number searches in EDS, use the NU field code, and end your search with an asterisk wildcard. This will search more than just our MARC records, so always combine your search with a limit to the catalog or specific locations at the Five Colleges.
Enter the call number as it is written - extra periods or spaces (or if content on the spine does not match the metadata in the MARC) will cause the search to either fail or return records which come close to what you’re looking for, but don’t match exactly.
Example Search
NU PA4037.Z5 D85*
(Achilles' shield and the structure of the Iliad / by Guenter A. Duethorn.)
NU PA4037.Z5*
(Works / Titles on Homer w/ Cutter Number)
NU PA4037*
(Works / Titles on Homer w/o Cutter Number)
NU PA*
(Works / Titles in the Classics)
NU P*
(Works / Titles in Language & Literature)
Permalinking
The URL that appears in your browser bar while on a search results or advanced record page is not a durable one and will not allow you to link back to whatever you were seeing in EDS. In order to create a stable URL (permalink) for something in EDS you need to use the specific feature in EDS to create one.
Searches
Search permalinks cannot be generated unless you are authenticated via OpenAthens. Once you have signed in/if you are on campus, use the “Share” button at the top of the search results and copy the permalink in the menu that opens.
Example Permalink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,sso&bquery=Iliad&cli0=FT1&clv0=Y&type=1&searchMode=And&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=umaah
Please Note: This URL will require you to log in via OpenAthens to view it when off campus. If you need to share it with someone who does not have a NetID or community borrower account please be sure to alter the AuthType to replace sso with guest, and add &groupid=main to the end of the string.
Example Permalink w/ Guest Access: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,guest&bquery=Iliad&cli0=FT1&clv0=Y&type=1&searchMode=And&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=umaah&groupid=main
Please Also Note: Not all limiters in EDS will persist in a permalink. Anything you enter into the search boxes will persist, including if you use multiple boxes. The only limiters which stick appear in the “Limit” to section, not of the other sections in the EDS breadbox will stick in a permalink to a search.
If you would like to include locations in a search permalink, in a separate search box use the field code LB and the text of the location from the limiter wrapped in quotation marks. Example: LB "UMass Du Bois Library."
Records
Advanced Record permalinks can be generated using the “Permalink” button at the right side of the screen.
Please Note: This URL will require you to log in via OpenAthens to view it when off campus. If you need to share it with someone who does not have a NetID or community borrower account please be sure to alter the AuthType to replace sso with guest, and add &groupid=main to the end of the string.