Section 2 - How to Search the IHO Database

The following notes provide guidance on adding and updating site records to the database and on the type of data it is intended should be recorded in the various fields.

IHO offers all users a number of Search Options.

Searching the Site Database:-

Searches of the Media Gallery:-

Differences between Public Searches and IHO Members Searches

All Public Searches are currently undertaken on the following Counties only and only show those Moderated sites that have not been flagged as Private. When using the public search options you can only email comments to the Moderators, and you cannot directly amend any entry.

IHO Contributors may select the County or combination of Counties they wish to work with using the Update Counties option under the xxxx option on the Top Menu Bar.

2.1 - Searches on the IHO Home Page

By default all Search Results are displayed using Google Maps however it is also possible to view the search results as a Summary Listing.

Help Index

2.0 - Search Options

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The Search Engine allows users to ask a range of basic queries of the database. At present the Search Engine provides for three basic search options and the use of these is explained below:-

This implementation of the Search Engine is for testing and evaluation purposes and will be modified as more data is entered and experience is gained in it's use. As such user feed back on the types of searches that are most useful would be welcomed.

2.1 - Searching the Site Database

2.1 - Searching the Site Database

2.1.1 - Quick Search

Quick Search is a simple search option that is available on all web pages provides for a simple way to search the entire database for a single word or phrase. Quick Search undertakes a simple string search of all fields in the database.

To use Quick Search simply type the term you are searching for in the text box and click on Search

Note:- All searches are case insensitive
Searches using common terms such mill will produce a large number of results as the search will also find all occurrences of mill, watermill, windmill, millwright millstone, millennium etc.

In contrast complex Search Terms are likely to produce only a few hits. Consequently Quick Search is not very discriminatory and will always produce a number of irrelevant results. As such it may be necessary to search for the required information in several different ways before the required results are obtained. In view of this all Searches are limited and only show the first 1,000 results.

Help Index

2.1.1.1 - Using Quick Search to find the Records that you have Entered

Quick Search can also be used to find all the sites that either you or another IHO Contributor has entered. Simply enter the required Contributors name in the Quick Search box and click Search

Help Index

2.1.2 - Advanced Search

Accessed via the Search Option button on the top Menu Bar

Advanced Search allows you to construct targeted queries for, either individual Counties or combinations Counties, Search Fields, and Search Terms. This can be combined with a simple Boolean search using two words or phrases.

The following outlines the method of constructing different searches.

Counties

To Select a single County, click and hold the CTRL key, select the required County with the pointer, and then left click. The selected county will be highlighted in blue.

To Select a Combination of Counties, click and hold the CTRL key, select each required County in turn by identifying it with the pointer, and select using a left click. The selected counties will be highlighted in blue.

To Deselect a County or Combination of Counties, repeat the above process. Click and hold the CTRL key, identify each County to be removed in turn with the pointer, and then deselect using a left click. The Deselected County will be cease to be highlighted.

Search Fields

Only a single Search Filed may be searched in any one search

Advanced Searches

are currently limited to only a single Search Field at any-one time and the fields currently available are:-

To select the required Search Field move the pointer over the required field followed by a left click.

Search Term Advanced Search allows either simple searches using a single word or phrase. In this case enter the word or phrase in the in the top field of the Search Term. There is no need to select the AND / OR / NOR option or to enter anything into the lower field.

Boolean Searches It is also possible to search on combinations of words or phrases. In this case the first word or phrase should be entered into the top field, while the second should be entered in the lower field. It is then possible to specify if the search is to find only those entries with both words the AND option or either word the OR option or the NOR option.

For Example:- A search on the Key Words field using the words watermill (top field) and cotton (lower field) and the AND option will find those entries which include both words. As such the search will filter out those watermills which were only ever corn, fulling or rolling mills. Alternatively if the OR option is selected the search will find both sites which were water powered cotton mills and all the water powered corn, fulling, rolling mills etc.

The effect of using the different search options is best explored by trying them on the database.

Help Index

2.3 - Location Search

Location Search identifies all the sites within a specified distance of the selected town centre.

Help Index

2.5 - View the Image Gallery

2.4 - Media Search

At present only a simple Image Search Engine has been implemented. In it's current form the Image Search Engine simply lists all the available images with the selected County. Once more images have been added and experience has been gained in searching the available images a more advanced search engine will be developed.

The Media Search options are currently being developed and further features will be available in the future releases. At present three Media Search options are available:-

• Image Gallery - Displays all images in a “County”
• Media Quick Search - Accessed from Members Home page searches for a specific term across all images that have been uploaded.

Advanced Media Search - Accessed from the top bar drop down menu. Searches for specific term within a single county or group of counties

3.0 - Interpreting the Map Results

To make the maps more usable the individual sites are colour coded according to the Site's protected status:-

To make the maps as meaningful as possible to other Users please ensure that the Site's protected status field is completed correctly

Map Filters

It is possible to use the buttons below the map to filter the search results so that only those of direct interest are shown.

5.3 Image Search

At present only a simple Image Search Engine has been implemented. In it's current form the Image Search Engine simply lists all the available images with the selected County. Once more images have been added and experience has been gained in searching the available images a more advanced search engine will be developed.

As before it is possible to select either individual Counties or combinations of Counties to be searched.

To SELECT the required COUNTY, click and hold the "CTRL" key, select the required County with the pointer, and then left click. The selected county will be highlighted in blue.

To SELECT a COMBINATION of COUNTIES, click and hold the "CTRL" key, identify each required County in turn with the pointer, and then select using a left click. The selected counties will be highlighted in blue.

To DESELECT a COUNTY or COMBINATION of COUNTIES, repeat the above process. Click and hold the "CTRL" key, identify each County to be removed in turn with the pointer, and then deselect using a left click. The deselected County will be cease to be highlighted.

5.4 Search Results

The Search Engine initially presents the search results in a summary table, with the option to view the results on a Map. Using the summary table it is then possible to view either a Detailed Listing or a map of an specific site. Once a site has been identified using the Detailed Listing it is possible to Update the entry using the UPDATE ENTRY option.

5.4.1 Summary Results

The summary results tables are intended to allow users identify the specific site or image that they are interested in.

5.4.1.1 - Sites

In the case of the Sites data the table lists the Site Identification Number, Site Name, an abbreviated Site Description (truncated at the first 500 characters) and a flag to confirm if any images are available.

All fields ie Site ID, Site Name and Images, provide hyper-links to addition information. At present the options are detailed on the on the result page to help users, although this my be removed on later versions as users become familiar with the software. An option allow users to page through the results in blocks of say 10 results will also be implemented in due course.

Viewing the Search Results on a Map

By clicking on the "Show all Search Results on a Map" it is possible to see all the search results on a Goolge Map. Each site is indicated by a "Marker" and placing the pointer over the "marker" will bring up the Site Name and Site Identification Number.

A number of the standard Google Map features have been implemented. As with all Google Maps it is possible to zoom and pan the map. It is possible to enter Street View by dragging the person symbol and placing it on the point of interest. It is also possible to use the horizontal tool bar in the top left corner to change the background map from a Road Map to a Satellite Image.

A planned enhancement will allow users to click on the marker and be taken to the Detailed Listing page.

Site ID

Clicking on the Site ID provides a link to the Detailed Listing for that site. For brevity only the first 500 characters of the Site Description are given on the Summary Results page. The full description is however given on the Detailed Listing page.

Site Name

Clicking on the Site Name provides a link to a Google Map showing that specific site. This map offers the same functionality as the main map and it is again possible to zoom and pan the map and enter street view. Using the Satellite map option it is generally possible to identify individual buildings. The satellite image has the added advantage in that it is also frequently possible to see additional features on the ground, such as mill leats that are not shown on OS Maps.

Images

If Images for the site have been uploaded these will be indicated by "YES" in the Images Field. Clicking on this will link to the Images Results Screen for that Site.

5.4.1.2 - Images

The summary results for an image search are very similar to those provided for a search for the Sites database. As before clicking on the individual fields provides links to additional information. The Site ID and Site Name fields provide links to the detailed image listing and individual site map as on the sites database.

5.4.2 Detailed Results

It is possible to view the detailed records held for a site or for an image. In both cases these are accessed from the Summary Results. From the Detailed List page three options are available;

Delete Record

Finally it is possible at this point to Delete the Record. This option is self explanatory and deletes the specific record from the Sites or Image Database. At present the two delete options are not linked and hence deleting a site does not also delete the associated images although this may be facilitated in later versions. After the record has been deleted a separate page advises that the record has been deleted.

This option has only be enabled in the Current Version for evaluation purposes and will not be available in the standard user version. A delete option module will be included in the Management version of the software.