The database opens on to the Advanced Search screen, which allows you to perform both single term searches and combined term searches.

Single Term Search: For a single term search, simply type your search term into the search box after the word Find. For a keyword search of all the possible fields, leave the dropdown box to the right of the search term box as Select a Field (optional). If you want specify your search for a specific field (for example, you only want to search in the Author field) use the dropdown box to the right of the search term box to select the field you want to search. When you are ready to search, select the Search button.

Combined Term Search: For a combined term search, fill in more than one search term box with the terms you want to combine, use the dropdown box next to each term box to select the field to search for each term, and combine your search terms using the Boolean operators (and, or, not) that connect each line of search boxes.

The Boolean operators (and, or, not) work as follows:

• or searching means that at least one or more of the selected terms on either side of the "or" must be in the record, but all the terms don't have to be, for a record to be retrieved. Using "or" broadens your search.
• and searching means that terms on either side of the "and" must both be in the record for it to be retrieved. Using "and" narrows your search.
• not searching means that the selected term after the "not" must not be in the record; if the term is in the record, the record will not be retrieved.

Examples:

Single term search:

If you wanted to do a general keyword search on the term "trinity", you would proceed as follows:

1. Type "trinity" in the first search box
2. Leave the dropdown option as Select a Field (optional).
3. Select the Search button.

Combined term search:

If you wanted to find works by author Bernard McGinn on the topic of women and mysticism, you would proceed as follows:

1. Type in "McGinn" in the first search box and select AU Author from the dropdown list.
2. Use the Boolean operator "and" to combine with the second search term.
3. Type in "women" in the second search box and select SU Subjects from the dropdown list.
4. Use the Boolean operator "and" to combine with the third search term.
5. Type in "mysticism" in the third search box and select SU Subjects from the dropdown list.
6. Select the Search button.

If you wanted to find works on either process theology or process philosophy, you would proceed as follows:

1. Type in "process theology" in the first search box and select SU Subjects from the dropdown list.
2. Use the Boolean operator "or" to combine with the second search term.
3. Type in "process philosophy" in the second search box and select SU Subjects from the dropdown list.
4. Select the Search button.

Directly underneath the search boxes are options to further refine your search.

By checking off the Full Text box, you will limit your results to only articles for which the full text of the article is available through the ATLA Database.

By checking off the Abstract Available box, you will limit your results to only records which include an abstract (brief summary) of the item.

You can limit your search to specific years of publication by filling in the Year Published from boxes.

The Publication Type scroll list allows you to specify the type of publication you want to search for:

• Select Article if you only want to search for journal articles.
• Select Book if you only want to search for monographic works (books).
• Select Essay for essays or chapters within multi-authored books.
• Select Multimedia for non-print media.
• Select Review for book reviews.

The Language scroll list allows you to search for an item in a specific language.

The database also allows you to search within the full-text of articles, but only when full-text for the item is available through the database. Click on the check box next to Also search within the full text of the articles for this option.

Checking off Automatically "and" search terms allows you to put multiple terms in a single search box and perform an "and" search where all the specified terms must be in the selected field. For example, you want to find works with both John Thatamanil and M. David Eckel as authors. However, if you type "Thatamanil Eckel" in the Find box and selected AU Author from the dropdown list, you will get no results. This is because the database by default will treat more than one word in the Find box as a phrase. To properly perform this search, proceed as follows:

1. Type "Thatamanil Eckel" in the Find box and select AU Author from the dropdown list.
2. From Refine Search, check off Automatically "and" search terms.
3. Return to the search boxes at the top of the page and select the Search button.

Checking off Also search for related words expands your search to include synonyms and plurals for your search term. For example, if you put the term "eucharist" in the Find box and check off Also search for related words, the database will also search for related terms such as "communion" and "Lord's Supper".

Results List: Once you've performed a search, your results will show up in a list underneath the search boxes. Each item in the list includes brief information about the work, including the title, the author(s), type of publication, and other publication information. If the item is a journal article or essay within a book, the journal or book within which the work appears will be indicated as Source, and the issue (if it is a journal article) and page numbers will also be provided. If the item is a book, publication information for the book will be provided.

For more detailed information about an item in the results list, click on the underlined blue title. The full record for the item will appear. Some records may include an abstract (brief summary) describing the work. Everything in the record that is blue and underlined is a clickable link. Clicking on the blue underlined subject links or the blue underlined author links will execute a new search on those terms in that particular field.

Links to Full Text: Some items in the list may also include one of the following blue underlined links: "Click here for ATLA Serials electronic resource", "HTML Full Text", "PDF Full Text". Clicking on any of these links will go to the full-text of the work.

1. Click here for ATLA Serials electronic resource: When you encounter this link, it's recommended that you right click and select "Open Link in New Window" (on a PC) or hold down the Shift key when selecting the link (on a Mac); otherwise, the full-text will open but you have to use your browser's Back button to return to the database.
2. HTML Full Text: This link will present the full text of the item as HTML. This will not be a page image (.pdf) of the item. To return to your search results, select the "Result List" link toward the top of the page.
3. PDF Full Text: This link will present the full text of the item as a page image (.pdf). To return to your search results, select the "Result List" link toward the top of the page.

find it@VU: Every item in the results list will also have a find it@VU link. Click on this link to execute Vanderbilt's find it@VU feature. A window will pop up with a list of options for locating the item. If there are other full-text links, these will be available via the find it@VU window. A link to search for the item in the Vanderbilt libraries will also appear, allowing you to find out if the item is available in print if it is not available electronically as full-text. The find it@VU window also provides links for searching for the item in other libraries via the Kudzu, Worldcat and Athena catalogs (go to library catalogs, for more information on these catalogs), and for requesting the item through Interlibrary Loan. For more information go to find it@VU.

Using the Indexes is a very helpful way to select the correct terms for your search, especially when you are searching on a topic or an author. The database allows you to browse through the indexes for nearly all the fields. The link to Indexes is on the green bar at the top of the page.

Once you click on this link, you will be taken to the Indexes page where you need to select the appropriate index to browse from the Browse an Index dropdown. Then type in the beginning letters of what you think is the appropriate search term in the Browse for box and select the Browse button.

You will be taken to a page with an alphabetical list beginning with your browse term (or the term closest to it, if your term does not match the terms in the particular index). Select the check box next to all terms that correspond to your search. Note that for some author names there may be varying spellings (for example, the author Jürgen Moltmann's name appears in the index as "Moltman, Jurgen", "Moltmann, J." and "Moltmann, Jurgen"); likewise, there may be more than one subject term related to your topic. Make sure you click to select all the possible spellings or terms for your search. You can move throughout the index by using the Previous | Next links located near the top of each page.

Once you have selected all your desired index terms, click the Add button. This will place your selected terms in the Find box, separated by "or" (meaning that if any of the selected terms are in a record, it will be retrieved, but not all the terms have to be in the record). Click Search to execute your search.

The Scripture Reference index is helpful for locating works covering specific passages of scripture. You can select this index from the Browse an Index dropdown, or you can get to it directly by clicking on the Scriptures button on the green bar at the top of the page. For more detailed information on how to use the Scripture Reference index, go to Finding Articles on Passages of Scripture.

The database automatically saves all the searches you perform while using the Advanced Search or the Indexes. Note that searches performed from the Basic Search page are not saved.

To access previously executed searches, click on the Search History/Alerts tab. It is part of a group of tabs that appear below the search boxes; the Search History/Alerts tab is to the right of the Refine Search tab.

The Search History/Alerts page allows you a number of options. You can rerun any previously run search by selecting the View Results link in the "Actions" column. You can revise a previously run search by clicking on the blue Revise Search link (also under the "Actions" column). You can delete any searches you don't want to save by clicking on the button in the "Delete" column corresponding with the appropriate search. You can delete all your search history by clicking on the Clear Search History link at the top of the list of searches.

Combining searches: Probably the most important feature of Search History/Alerts is the ability to combine the results of previously performed searches together. To combine searches, proceed as follows:

1. The words from the last search that you've done are retained in the search fields. Unless you want to use those words in the combined search, you must first select the Clear button next to the search boxes. If you want your last search to be part of the combination of searches, do NOT select the Clear button.
2. Next, select the searches you want to combine by clicking the checkboxes under the Add to Search column.
3. You can use the dropdown box next to Combine searches with:to decide how you want each search to be combined with the other searches. The dropdown box gives you a choice of the Boolean operators "and", "or" and "not". You can check off all the terms at once and combine them using a single Boolean operator or you can add the searches individually and construct complex searches using different Boolean operators. Click on the Add button to add each search to the search fields at the top of the page.
4. Once you are ready to execute your search, select the Search button next to the search boxes at the top.

   Examples:

   1. In your search history, you have already performed one search on the subject "contemplation" and another on the subject of "prayer". You would now like to combine these searches so that you retrieve everything that has either "contemplation" or "prayer" as a subject. You would proceed as follows:
      1. First, click on the Clear button to clear the search boxes of any current search words.
      2. Next, click on the check box next to both the "prayer" search and the "contemplation" search.
      3. From the Add using: dropdown list, select "or".
      4. Click Add.
      5. Click Search.
   2. In your search history, in addition to the searches on "prayer" and "contemplation", you've also done a search on the term "mysticism". Now you want to combine the searches so that the database retrieves everything that has the term "prayer" and either the term "contemplation" or "mysticism" and also has the term "prayer". You would proceed as follows:
      1. First, click on the Clear button to clear the search boxes of any current search words.
      2. Click on the checkbox next to the search for "contemplation" and select "or" from the dropdown box, then click Add.
      3. Click on the checkbox next to the search for "mysticism", select "or" from the dropdown, and click Add.
      4. Click on the checkbox next to the search for "prayer", but this time select "and" from the dropdown and click Add.
      5. Click Search.

To print, e-mail, save, or export items from your results list, you first have to add the items to your Folder. (If you only want to keep one item from your results list, however, you do not need to add it to a folder; you only need to go to the full record, and options to print, e-mail, save, and export are available there.) To add items to a folder, select the Add button next to each item's entry. If you're viewing the full record for the item, there is an Add to Folder link at the top of the page.

Once you're ready to print, e-mail, save, or export, click on either the link at the top of the page labeled Folder or on the link that says Folder has Items (above your list of results, on the right side of the page). A list of the items you have selected will appear.

Printing: To print this list, click the Print button. On the resulting Print Manager page, select your options from the dialog box and select the Print button. Your browser's dialog box should then open; select whatever options you want from this dialog box and select the Print button.

E-mailing: To e-mail the list in the Folder, select the E-mail button to the right of the Print button. On the resulting E-mail Manager page, fill in the appropriate information and select the Send button.

Saving: You can save your list from the Folder to a floppy disk, USB drive, or some other storage medium by clicking on the Save link. On the resulting Save Manager page, check off the appropriate information and select the Save button. A new page will open with instructions on how to complete saving the file.

Exporting: You can directly export your citations to RefWorks, EndNote, ProCite, or Reference Manager, or you can simply export them as specific file formats. Select the Export link. On the resulting Export Manager page, check off the appropriate information and select the Save button to complete the Export process.

The database allows you to create an account where you can store work done during an earlier session and retrieve it at a later time. To create an account for stored work, proceed as follows:

1. Click on the Sign In link at the top of the page.
2. Click on the I'm a new user link.
3. Decide on a user name and password and fill in the form.

Once you've created an account, there are two basic methods to saving your work. First, to save all the searches that you've done during that session, proceed as follows:

1. Click on the link to Search History / Alerts.
2. Click Save Searches / Alerts. If you are not already logged in you will be taken to a login page.
3. Next, you will be taken to a page where you will need to provide a name for your set of searches and an optional description. You will also be queried as to whether you want to save the set of searches permanently or for 24 hours. Once you've filled out this page, select the Save button.

The second method allows you to save only a single search. In this method, you will save the search as a Persistent Link. To save a single search by this method, proceed as follows:

1. First, make sure you are logged in to your account. To log in, select the Sign In link.
2. Once you've logged in, go back to the page that lists the search results from your most recently executed search. If you want to save this search as a Persistent Link, click the Add search to folder link near the top of the page. Note: this link will appear whether or not you've logged in. If you click on it when you are not logged in, the database will add the search to your folder as a Persistent Link, but it will disappear once you leave the database.

In both methods, you can retrieve either your set of saved searches or your single saved search (as a Persistent Link) the next time you go into the database. Simply log in to your account (again, by clicking on the Sign In link.) The link Folder has items should appear on the right. Click on this link.

• To retrieve a single saved search, click on the link Persistent Links to Searches. The search will be accessible as a url that you can paste into your browser. (If you don't want to lose anything in your current session of the database, it is recommended that you open a new browser window.)

• To retrieve a set of saved searches, click on the link Saved Searches.

A search alert is a saved search that is automatically rerun periodically, with results available to you in an e-mail message or an RSS feed. Search alerts are helpful if you want to be alerted anytime new articles appear on a particular topic. After you've run a search which you would like to use as the basis of your alert, do the following:

1. Click on the tab labeled Search History / Alerts.
2. After selecting the searches from which to generate alerts, click on the Save Searches / Alerts link. If you are not already logged in, you will be taken to a login page.

Once you've created an account, there are two basic methods to saving your work. First, to save all the searches that you've done during that session, proceed as follows:

1. Click on the link to Search History / Alerts.
2. Click Save Searches / Alerts. If you are not already logged in you will be taken to a login page.
3. Next, you will be taken to a page where you will need to provide a name for your set of searches and an optional description. Here you can choose to "Save Search As" Alert. When you select that option, you will be presented with further options. Complete the options as desired and select the Save button.

Searching by Title of the Book

1. In Advanced Search, type in the title of the book and select BT Book Title from the dropdown list.
2. Under the Refine Search options, go to the Publication Type scroll list and select Review.
3. Select the Search button.

Searching by Author of the Book

1. In Advanced Search, type in the author's first and last names and select AU Author from the dropdown list.
2. Under the Refine Search options, go to Publication Type scroll list and select Review.
3. Check off the Automatically "and" search terms at the bottom of the page.
4. Select the Search button.

   Note, this method will also retrieve book reviews written by your selected author of other author's works.

Find an article when I know its title? Return to Top

1. In the first search box, type in the title, omitting all punctuation.
2. Select TI Title from the dropdown list.
3. Select the Search button.

Search for works by a specific author? Return to Top

• Method 1 - Browse Indexes

1. Click on the Indexes tab on the green bar near the top of the page.
2. In the Browse an Index dropdown list, select Author.
3. Type in the last name of the author in the Browse for box.
4. Click the Browse button.
5. Browse the list to find the author's name, and check the appropriate boxes. Note: there may be multiple variations on an author's name (i.e., last name, first name; last name, first initial, etc.)
6. Once you've made your selections, click on the Add button to put the selections into the search box.
7. Select the Search button.

• Method 2 - Advanced Search

1. From the main Advanced Search page, type in the author's first and last names and select AU Author from the dropdown list.
2. From the Refine Search options, check off the Automatically "and" search terms box at the bottom of the page.
3. Select the Search button.

Find an article about someone? Return to Top

1. Click on the Indexes tab on the green bar near the top of the page.
2. In the Browse an Index dropdown list, select Name as Subject.
3. Type in the last name of the person in the Browse for box.
4. Click the Browse button.
5. Browse the list to find the person's name, and check the appropriate boxes. Note: there may be multiple variations on an author's name (i.e., last name, first name; last name, first initial, etc.)
6. Once you've made your selections, click on the Add button to put the selections into the search box.
7. Select the Search button.

Find an article on a single topic? Return to Top

• Method 1 - Browse Indexes

1. Click on the Indexes tab on the green bar near the top of the page.
2. In the Browse an Index dropdown list, select Subjects All.
3. Type in the first letters of your subject term in the Browse for box.
4. Click the Browse button.
5. Browse the list to find the appropriate subject terms. You may need to check off more than one box.
6. Once you've made your selections, click on the Add button to put the selections into the search box.
7. Select the Search button.

• Method 2 - Advanced Search

1. From the main Advanced Search page, type in your subject term and choose SU Subjects from the dropdown list.
2. From the Refine Search options, check off the box next to Also search for related words near the bottom of the page.
3. Select the Search button.