The Visual Search method provides patrons with an easy point-and-click graphical search method. From a patron’s perspective, a search consists of clicking a topic component and then clicking a related sub-topic component; this generates a list of search results. In actuality, it is a keyword search method disguised behind a graphical interface - topic components are connected to query components, which are linked to predefined search queries. A query component launches a search of the selected database and returns a list of results.
These graphical components can also be configured as link components, which launch external Web pages instead of search queries. Link components are optional and are not included in the default interface.
1. If Visual Search is not already active, click the Visual Search link. This displays the Visual Search page, which contains a menu of topics.
2. Click a topic. This either opens a sub-menu page or launches an external Web page.
3. If a sub-menu page appears, continue clicking the desired topics (narrowing the search) until you reach the last menu level. This launches a search query and displays the search results on the Results page. (If you click a link component, it will launch a Web page instead of a search query.)
Tip: Topic, query, and link components look the same.
The result of selecting them is what makes them different.
