Library of Latin Texts - Series A Instructions

These instructions provide only a brief introduction to using Library of Latin Texts - Series A. See the more extensive User's Guide (pdf) for comprehensive assistance -- or contact us.

Introduction

This database is an electronic library of Latin texts that can be browsed or searched. Formerly, under the name CETEDOC, its scope included only Christian Latin works. Now, the texts included in the re-named Library of Latin Texts - Series A represent a broader cross-section of Latin materials.

On Startup

The initial screen for Library of Latin Texts will allow you to select an interface language, and the form in which you wish to interact with the database (search screen, table of contents, or distribution of word-forms).

Language

When you access the database, you can select the interface language. The default language is English, but French, German, or Italian are also available. Once you're in the database, you can change the interface language by selecting a different language abbreviation (EN, FR, DE, IT) at the top of the screen.

Note: changing the language setting changes the language of the interface, NOT the language of the texts or the Latin that you will need to use to perform searches.

So, for example, if you want to find works that discuss friendship, you would need to put the correct Latin term in the search box (amicita or familiaritas), not the word "friendship." The same is true for author names; searching on "Augustine of Hippo" will not bring up any results, even though the database includes texts by Augustine; instead, you would need to use the correct Latin form of the author's name, in this case "Augustinus Hipponensis."

Search Screen

Choose the "Search Screen" link on the initial database page to search the database.

Word-forms

The main portion of the Search Screen is the "Word-forms" section containing a large text box.

Because you will need to use the correct Latin form of your search terms (see above, under Language), it is recommended that rather than simply typing the search term in the "Word-forms" search field, you should use the "Select" button. This will make it easier to make sure you're using the correct terms for your search.

Choosing the "Select" button will open a "Word-forms Selection" window.

You can either enter a word-form in the "Wildcard Query" seach box to search for that word-form, or you can use the alphabetical browse list that appears in the lower part of the selection window to select appropriate entries. You can jump to different parts of this alphabetical list by using the "Position at" search box (below the "Wildcard Query" search box).

Whether you use the "Wildcard Query" or the "Position at" search box, you need to select entries to search. Just click the entry, and it will appear in the text box below the alphabetical list.

When you are finished selecting entries, choose the "OK" button, which will close the filter selection window and take you back to the Search Screen. You entries will appear in the "Word-forms" search box.

If you have more than one word-form in your search box, you will want to take note of the punctuation used to separate the word forms:

+ is AND: results will include texts that contain all of the word-forms you have specified (i.e., all of your word-forms will appear in each text)
, is OR: results will include texts that contain each term you have specificed and/or groupings of those terms, including texts that include all of those terms (so if you search familiaritas, amici, you will get results that have familiaritas but not amici, results that have amici but not familiaritas, and results that have both)
# is NOT: results will not include the word-forms that follow the #

Note: By default, the database will insert a comma (,) between more than one word-form when you select word forms from the "Word-forms Selection" window.

Filters

To limit your results to a time period, author, title, century, or clavis number, use the Filters feature. Clicking on the relevant buttons in the "Filters: Criteria" portion of the Search Screen will open a filter selection window. As with the Word-forms selection, you can either enter a word or phrase in the "Wildcard Query" seach box to search for that word or phrase in the entries for that particular filter, or you can use the alphabetical browse list that appears in the lower part of the selection window to select appropriate entries. You can jump to different parts of this alphabetical list by using the "Position at" search box (below the "Wildcard Query" search box).

For example, if you want to limit your search by an author whose name includes the name "Iohannes", but "Iohannes" is not necessarily the first word of your author's name, you can do a "Wildcard Query" for "Iohannes" (quotation marks not necessary). On the other hand, if you know your author's name starts with "Iohannes", you can type "iohannes" (without the quotation marks) in the "Position at" search box and, after selecting the "Position" button, jump to that portion of the alphabetical list.

Whether you use the "Wildcard Query" or the "Position at" search box, you need to select entries to search. Just click the checkbox next to the items you want to search and then choose the "OK" button. This will close the filter selection window and take you back to the Search Screen. Immediately underneath the filter button you had selected, there will appear the link "Selection ([number])," where [number] will be the number of entries you selected to search.

To search your selected entries, choose the "Search" button in the lower part of the Search Screen (in the "Actions" section).

Results List

The results of your search will appear in a results list, with the source presented as a link and any word-forms you searched highlighted in yellow.

Click on the source link to see the result in its larger context.

Export

You can select the results you want to export to PDF or e-mail by clicking on the check box to the left of the each item. Choosing the "Export as PDF" button (in the "Export" section to the left of the results list) will open a PDF with your selected results (and, if you choose, the "Background" for each text). You can save, print, or e-mail this PDF.

You can e-mail your results by choosing the "Mail to" button (in the "Export" section to the left of the results list). On the resulting "Mail To" window, enter the "To" e-mail address and a subject.

Other Ways to Search the Database

Selecting the "Table of Contents" tab will give you an alphabetical table of contents. Choosing a letter will present an alphabetical list of authors or works, from which you can drill down to a specific page in a specific work.

Learn more about this approach to the database in the User's Guide (pdf).

Distribution of Word-forms

Selecting the "Distribution of Word-forms" tab will enable you to search the database for certain word-forms to see how those word forms are distributed across time periods or within an author's works or a specific work.

Learn more about this approach to the database in the User's Guide (pdf).

Questions? Let us know.

This document was originally created by Amy Limpitlaw for the Vanderbilt University Divinity Library on July 1, 2005. Last updated (for LLT-A): February 2, 2009.