Proximity operators

Proximity Operators are used within a search expression to search for terms within a certain distance from each other.

Proximity Operators may be used with text and party fields to search for terms within a certain distance from each other. This could be within a certain number of words, sentences, or paragraphs.

Order Non-Specific Proximity

Terms are within n spaces of each other, in any order, & n must have a value of 1 or more.

(power 4D battery)

Order Specific Proximity

Terms are within n spaces of each other, in the order as written, & n must have a value of 1 or more.

(anti 1W aging)

Sentence Proximity

Terms are within n sentences of each other, in any order, & n must have a value of 1 or more.

(battery 1S charging)

((proportion? 2W solid?) 3S acid?)

Paragraph Proximity

Terms are within n paragraphs of each other, in any order, & n must have a value of 1 or more.

(cupped 1P jaw)

((insulat* 2w ring?) 1P (alkaline 2D dry))

((batter* 2D charg*) 4P ( electric* 10D (car OR vehicle)))

" "

(Double Quotes)

Phrase Proximity with Wildcards

Searches for exact text, exactly as written within double quotes, however, wildcard operators will not be recognized.

Double quotes will prevent search operators and truncation limiters from operating – example, searching for "3D technology"

"cell phone"

(Results include: cell phone; cell-phone; & cell. Phone)

' '

(Single quotes)

Phrase Proximity with Wildcards

Searches for exact text, exactly as written within single quotes, however, wildcard operators will still be recognized.

'3D goggle?'

(Results include: 3D goggle & 3D goggles)

(Under-score)

Optional Space Proximity

Text is searched as a single term and as two terms separated by a space or hyphen.

Notes: Hyphens are treated as spaces within the system.

A maximum of 5 underscores may be used at the same time.

anti_lock

(Results include: antilock, anti lock, & anti-lock)

Underscores do not require parenthesis around the word to function properly

Examples:

FT=((Lap_top 3D battery) AND (battery 1S charger))

(IN=(Thomas 2D smith))

FT=”3D goggle” AND (virtual 3D reality)

Same sentence (nS) and same paragraph (nP) operators cannot be stacked. For example ((LAPTOP 1S SCREEN) 1P CHARGER) would not be an accepted input.

When using Proximity Operators, a period ( . ) counts as a word for the purpose of counting. For instance, in the phrase “A laptop with a removeable battery. The battery latches to the bottom.” “removeable” and “latches” are 5 words apart. Another example would be “Battery is connected to the laptop. Screen is connected via a hinge.” Laptop and screen are two words apart, so they would be returned with LAPTOP 2D SCREEN but not LAPTOP 1D SCREEN.

Common punctuation symbols are indexed in the system as a space, meaning that a search of cell-phone will return results containing both cell-phone and cell phone.