Simple Search Main Search | Search Wizard | View by Sponsors | Search Geographically

I. Simple Search

Simple Search is a scaled down version of search interface, designed for use by those less familiar with the search system.

II. Main Search

The Main Search interface allows you to construct a targeted, field-specific search using search boxes, browsing windows, and picklists.

• Note: Only enter information in those fields you wish to search on.

• Click on the hyperlinked field title to see a description of that specific field and for instructions on searching the field.

• The Rules for Searching section details the search strategies and syntax that can be used in this interface.

• The Keyword Browser is a very effective search tool:
  

  Search by Keyword Browsing the Keyword Hierarchy | Searching For Keyword Terms | Explode Function | Browser Tips
  

  Keyword Browser Example:
  

The Search By Keyword Browser provides a method of accessing the database using the controlled vocabulary terms (keywords) assigned to each record.

Note: The Keywords included in this list will change over time as records are added and removed from the database, so that only those reflecting active funding opportunities are shown.

You can access a full listing of all COS Keywords, in hierarchical format, by clicking on Entire COS Keywords. [WARNING!: this file is 1/2 MB in size and takes a long time to download. We recommend using the Search by Keyword interface described below.]

The Search by Keyword interface opens a new Web browser window that has three frames.

• The upper frame displays keywords in a file manager format, letting you browse through the hierarchy and add terms to the main search form as you go.
• The middle frame provides a search box for finding specific keywords.
• The bottom frame displays help tips for using the browser.

Browsing the Keyword Hierarchy

The upper frame of your Web browser displays the COS keyword hierarchy. You can browse up and down through the hierarchy like you can through folders and documents in a personal computer file manager. The terms start with the broadest possible headings and step down to the narrowest subheadings, using the following features:

•   Folder - a folder icon indicates that there are terms below that term in the hierarchy. Click on a folder to see the next level of terms.

•   Plum - a plum icon indicates that this is the last term for this branch of the hierarchy.

• Keyword Hyperlink - click on the term itself to add it to your search.

• +/-  signs - these indicate which way you will be going in the hierarchy when you click on the folder. A plus sign means you will be going down to narrower terms, and a minus sign means you will stepping up to broader terms. You can also click on these symbols to move up or down in the hierarchy.

• Cross-Reference Terms

  Terms with a faded, grey appearance are COS Keywords that are not currently assigned to any records in the database.

  USE
  Tells you which COS Keyword to use in place of the entry term that appears. E.g., Customer Service USE Consumer Services. Customer Service is the entry term. Consumer Services is the COS Keyword.

  USED FOR
  Tells you that this COS Keyword is used instead of the entry term that appears. E.g., Consumer Services USED FOR Customer Service

  USED FOR+
  Indicates that this COS Keyword is used in tandem with another COS Keyword to represent a compound term or phrase. E.g., Archaeology USED FOR+ Urban Archaeology. The corresponding cross-reference would be: Urban Archaeology USE Archaeology AND Urban Studies.





Searching for Keyword Terms

If you are unsure about the location or exact syntax of a keyword term, you can use the search box in the middle frame to find particular keywords. You can use Boolean operators and truncation in your search.
• Example: typing agricultur* in the search box will look for any keywords containing the root word selected, such as "Agricultural Engineering" and "Sustainable Agriculture".

Your results will appear in the bottom frame, showing the location of the term in the keyword hierarchy. You can click on the Plum icon to see the location of the term on the hierarchy in the larger top frame (the term will appear in red).




Searching Using Keywords

To search COS Funding Opportunities for records that are assigned a particular keyword, click on the hyperlink (the underlined term itself) of the desired subject heading. The first time you click on a keyword, a dialog box will appear notifying you that the term will be added to the Main Search form. Click 'OK' to continue. The Main Search interface will appear in the original window (behind the keyword browser window) of your Web browser and that term will be added to the Keywords field. Using these hyperlinks, you can add as many terms as desired to this search interface.

Note: This action may be hidden from your view by the keyword browser window.

When you are ready to search Funding Opportunities, return to the search interface in your original Web browser window.

[If you can not see the original window, use the minimize button(s), usually a down arrow or dash icon, located in the top right corner of the current (active) window, to downsize the keyword browser window and return to the search interface.]

All of the terms you chose will be listed in the Keywords field with checked boxes next to each. If you decide you do not wish to include a particular term in your search after all, click in the box on the Main search interface to remove the check mark.




1. Exploding Keywords

   Keywords can also be exploded. If you explode the term(s), all of the subheadings below it in the hierarchy are also added to your search. It is a way to broaden your search within the area of interest.
   • Example: If you choose the keyword Atmospheric Sciences, the explode function would include all the narrower terms from the hierarchy in the search, including "Climatology", "Meteorology", etc.
   Note: when keywords are added to the search query through the browser, the explode function is activated by default . Click in the explode check box to turn this option off.
   
   
   

   Browser Tips

   • Before performing the search, you may want to fill in other fields of the search form. If you want to add additional keywords to your search, you can always return to the keyword browser window.

   • Click on the button to generate a list of search results.

   • To refine your search results further, click on 'Refining Your Query' at the top or bottom of the screen to go to a second search interface where you can narrow your search.

   • To continue browsing and searching by keywords, return to the keyword browser window that shows the hierarchy. Clicking on a term's hyperlink will bring the search interface up in the original browser window and add the term to your ongoing list. If you wish to start a new list of search terms, use CLEAR button within the Keyword field or the buttons at the top and bottom of the search interface.

III. Search Wizard

The Funding Opportunities Search Wizard asks you a series of five questions allowing you to narrow down your funding needs. Based on your answers to these quesitons, the database will return the appropriate results for you to view. With each question, you can view the current results on the left side of the page.

IV. View by Sponsors

This Sponsor List option lets you search the entire sponsor list using the blank box provided or to browse the sponsor list alphabetically by: All sponsors, U.S. Federal Government sponsors by agency, and Government sponsors from countries other than the U.S. To go to a particular sponsor click in the appropriate category on the first letter of the sponsor's name.

• Many Sponsor names are listed under the name of their larger controlling entity.
  • Example: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is listed as one of the departments in the United States Department of Health and Human Services, under "U".
  • Example: The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is listed under "E" for European Commission.

• If unsure of the location of a Sponsor in the lists, enter its name or abbreviation (excluding punctuation) in the search field provided.

• The Sponsors included in this list may change over time as records are added and removed from the database, so that only those offering active funding opportunities are shown.

V. Search Geographically

Search Geographically allows the user to browse listings of countries by either clicking on an area of the map until the desired country is selected, or choosing a country from the pick list. Once a country has been selected, the user has three choices for searching:

1. Funding for citizens of the country [citizenship]
2. Funding for activities to be conducted in the country [activity location]
3. Funding worldwide [disregard the country restriction]

Note: Search Geographically differs from the Activity Location Browser.

Page Created: 8/98 ; Last Updated: 11/06 ; URL : http://fundingopps.cos.com/docs/options.shtml

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