Using the UF Libraries' Catalog

Past Searches

This utility shows a list of the 30 most searches you have done during your current user session.

You have the options to:

• Select a search set and View the list of records in the set again.
• Narrow or widen your search results using the Cross button to combine sets.
• Delete individual search sets from the list. (If you delete a set, you must search again to bring it back.)
• Save a search set to your user profile. If you have not already signed in to a session, you will be prompted for your 14-digit library number or UFID. This will allow you to come back to your search sets at a later time.

An example of the Cross operation appears below. After selecting both of the sets above by marking the check boxes next to each search, the Cross button is clicked:

• Select AND to narrow your results to records containing BOTH Shakespeare AND terms beginning with poem.
• Select OR to broaden your results to records containing EITHER Shakespeare OR terms beginning with poem.
• Select one of the NOT options to narrow your results to those records that appear in one set without appearing in the other set. "First" and "Second" refer to the order in which the sets appear on the screen.

Then click on the Go button to combine your sets. You'll be returned to your Past Searches screen, and a new search set with the results of your Cross operation will appear at the top of the list:

To view the records in that set, select it by marking the check box next to it and click on the View button.

NOTE: Browse Headings results do not show up in your Past Searches unless you clicked on the Full View of at least one record in the Headings List.

NOTE: If you time out of a catalog session because you haven't used it for a while, you will lose your Past Searches. Keep the Catalog Browser window active by clicking in it (the Browser Back and Forward buttons, for example) frequently.