Advanced Search Options And Help

PlacemakingResource's search allows simple single or multiple searches against our huge archive of articles. However, a few simple techniques allow you to get even more out of its search function.

You can create sophisticated searches using operators, which are special words used in the search/keyword field such as "AND" to ensure the search works in a specific way.

OR

This operator allows a search to return results that contain any of the search terms you provide. However it is the default and therefore you do not need to provide it.
Example: A search for enterprise OR growth is the same as for enterprise growth because the search defaults to the OR operator

AND

This operator ensures that all words can be found in each of the search results
Example: You wish to search for articles that contain the words planner and planning – but not necessarily in that order or next to each other – just somewhere in the article.
Solution: Enter this into the keywords field: planner AND planning 

+

The "+" operator ensures the term after the "+" symbol exists somewhere in each search result.
Example: You wish to search for articles that contain either the words heritage or conservation but always contain the word building .
Solution: Enter this into the keywords field: heritage conservation +building

-

The "-" operator ensures term after the "-" symbol DOES NOT exists somewhere in each search result.
Example: You wish to search for articles that contain the word environment but must not contain the word carbon .
Solution: Enter this into the keywords field: environment -carbon

NOT

The "NOT" operator excludes words that you do NOT want to be found anywhere in the search results.
Example: You wish to search for articles that contain the word infrastructure but DO NOT contain the word levy .
Solution: Enter this into the keywords field: infrastructure NOT levy

Phrases

If you wish to search against multiple words as an exact phrase, you can do this using double quote marks.
Example: You wish to search for articles that contain the exact phrase Community Infrastructure Levy
Solution: Enter this into the keywords field: "Community Infrastructure Levy"

Combining operators – Advanced Searches

You can combine the operators above to create complex, grouped searches using parentheses.

Example: You wish to search for articles that contain the phrase economic development and MUST mention employment land
Solution: Enter this into the keywords field: "economic development" AND " employment land "

Example: You wish to search for articles that contain the word planning and EITHER  appeal OR ombudsman
Solution: Enter this into the keywords field: planning AND (appeal OR ombudsman)