Map Term | Tree | Thesaurus | Permuted Index | Scope Notes | Explode | Subheadings | Classification Codes

Search Tools Tab

OvidSP provides tools that let you discover more about the relationship between terms and subjects within the context of the database in which you are searching.

To run a subject search with a database tool, follow these steps:
	Type a term or phrase into the text box.
	Select a tool from the list. In this example, we chose the mapping tool.
	Click the Search button.

OvidSP applies the tool to the term to discover additional subjects or concepts. In our example, OvidSP opens the Mapping Display and shows the term obesity in context with subject headings of the database.

OvidSP offers the following discovery tools:

Tool options only display on the Search Tools tab when the database producer includes electronic versions of them. Refer to the database guide for a list of a database's tools.

Map Term

OvidSP finds the best matching subject headings and lists them on the Mapping Display when you map a term from the Search Tools tab

Mapping Display

	Information icons let you view scope note information about subject headings in the display.
	Subject headings are hyperlinked to a structured vocabulary tool such as a Tree, Thesaurus, or Permuted Index. Click a link to browse subject headings within the hierarchical vocabulary structure.
	If your search does not map to a subject heading of interest, select the Search as Keyword box and click the Continue button. OvidSP runs a keyword search and posts results to your search history.

To search from the Mapping Display:

		Select subject heading boxes.
		Choose whether you want to explode or focus the search.

		OPTIONAL: select the Include All Subheadings box.
		Choose a Boolean operator from the pull-down menu.

		Click the Continue button.

OvidSP will post the results to your search history.

	Mapping is not available in Books@Ovid or in multifile sessions.
	OvidSP does not apply mapping when you run command line syntax from either the Advanced Ovid Search or SilverPlatter tabs.

Subheadings Display

You do not have to include all subheadings with results from the mapping display. To select only those that pertain to the desired context of your subject heading, unselect the Include All Subheadings check box from the Mapping Display. Click the Continue button, OvidSP opens a Subheadings Display.

Now you can refine results even further.
	Select subheadings boxes from the display.
	Choose a Boolean operator from the pull-down menu.
OR: retrieves results that contain at least one of the subheadings selected. AND: retrieves only those results that contain all subheadings selected.
	Click the Continue button.

OvidSP will post the results to the search history.

Fewer results display from having refined the subject heading to only the subheadings of interest to you.

Tree

OvidSP displays the term in the contextual display of the Tree when you type a term and select the tree tool from the Search Tools tab.

Contextual Tree Display

Information icons let you view scope note information about subject headings in the display.

The tree display highlights your subject heading term in the first conceptual context to which it applies. It provides a visual means of browsing the indexed vocabulary for broader and narrower terms.

Terms within the display are arranged according to their relationship to your term. For example, beneath the subject heading term obesity is listed narrower, related terms: Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome, Obesity, Morbid, and Prader-Willi Syndrome. Numbers in the Hits column indicate the number of records that have been indexed with those terms.

To retrieve records:

		Select the boxes of terms that interest you.
		Choose whether you want to explode or focus the search.

		Choose a Boolean operator from the pull-down menu.

		Click the Continue button.

OvidSP retrieves the records and posts results to your search history.

To see where your term resides in the broader context of database topics, click the Full Tree button. Full Tree Display

Thesaurus

OvidSP shows you the term in the contextual display of the database thesaurus when you type a term and select the thesaurus tool from the Search Tools tab

Thesaurus Display

Information icons let you view scope note information about subject headings in the display.

The thesaurus display is arranged alphabetically. It highlights your term in the first conceptual context to which it applies. Terms within the display are arranged according to their relationship to your term. For example, beneath the subject heading term obesity is listed broader terms (overweight) and related terms (body mass index, and more). You can see terms in the thesaurus described in any of the following ways.

Numbers in the Hits column of the thesaurus indicate records that have been indexed with those terms.

To retrieve records:

		Select the boxes of terms that interest you.
		Select to explode or focus the search.
Explode: expand results to include records about the broader topic and all related topics. Focus: retrieve only those results that pertain to the subject heading.
		Choose a Boolean operator from the pull-down menu.
OR: retrieves results that contain at least one of the subject headings selected. AND: retrieves only those results that contain all subject headings selected.
		Click the Continue button.

OvidSP retrieves the records and posts results to your search history.

Permuted Index

If you are uncertain about the exact wording of a subject heading, use the PTX to find what you want. Unlike the tree or thesaurus tools, OvidSP's permuted index (PTX) tool utilizes single-word search terms.

Do not type multi-word terms into the permuted index tool. OvidSP displays an error message.

OvidSP shows you the term in the contextual display of the permuted index when you type a single-word term and select the permuted index tool from the Search Tools tab,

Permuted Index Display

	Since many indexed terms are part of multi-word phrases (like morbid obesity or anti-obesity agents), your term may display as a part of a phrase.
	Information icons let you view scope note information about subject headings in the display.

Terms within the display are arranged according to their relationship to your term. Numbers in the Hits column of the display indicate records that have been indexed with those terms. To retrieve records, follow these steps:

		Select the boxes of terms that interest you.
		Select to explode or focus the search.
Explode: expand results to include records about the broader topic and all related topics. Focus: retrieve only those results that pertain to the subject heading.
		Choose a Boolean operator from the pull-down menu.
OR: retrieves results that contain at least one of the subject headings selected. AND: retrieves only those results that contain all subject headings selected.
		Click the Continue button.

OvidSP retrieves the records and posts results to your search history.

Scope Notes

When you type a term or phrase and select the scope notes tool from the Search Tools tab, OvidSP displays scope note information.

Scope Note Display for Obesity

	Scope notes are available only in databases that produce them for their vocabulary.
	If you do not enter a valid subject heading, OvidSP maps to one for you.

Scope notes provide the following additional information about indexed terms of a database:

• definition of the term within the context of the database,
• when the term was first indexed,
• used-for terms and see-terms,
• how a term was indexed previously in the database,

Explode

OvidSP retrieves results immediately and posts them to your search history when you type a term and select the explode tool from the Search Tools tab.

Exploded Results in the Search History

Subheading Display

Some databases allow you to apply subheadings to pinpoint a specific aspect of a subject heading concept. When you type a subject heading and select the subheading tool from the Search Tools tab, OvidSP shows you the term in the contextual display of the database thesaurus.

Subheading Display

Information icons let you view scope note information about subject headings in the display.

Numbers in parentheses indicate records that have been indexed with the terms. To retrieve records, follow these steps:

		Select subheadings boxes from the display.
		Choose a Boolean operator from the pull-down menu.
OR: retrieves results that contain at least one of the subheadings selected. AND: retrieves only those results that contain all subheadings selected.
		Click the Continue button.

OvidSP retrieves the records and posts results to your search history.

Classification Codes

The classification codes tool is a display of database-specific subject categories, arranged in a hierarchy from broader to narrower categories. Retrieving results from known classification categories can be a convenient way to cull records from a subject area. OvidSP's Classification Codes tool is available for the following databases

When you select the classification codes tool from the Search Tools tab, OvidSP opens the classification codes display of the database.

Classification Codes Display

Classification scope notes provide information about the category in the context of the database that can include references, used-for terms and see-terms, classification codes (current and earlier), and other information that could help develop your search.

Numbers in the Hits column indicate how many records have been indexed to a specific category in the display. To retrieve records, follow these steps.

		Select the boxes of terms in the display.
		OPTIONAL: Select the Explode option to retrieve records from your selected subject and all of its associated, narrower terms.
		Choose a Boolean operator with which to combine them.
OR: retrieves results that contain at least one of the subheadings selected. AND: retrieves only those results that contain all subheadings selected.
		Click the Continue button.

OvidSP retrieves the records and posts results to your search history.