eresources@cambridge - Help

Cambridge University Library

eresources@cambridge - CrossSearch help

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What is CrossSearch ?

Crosssearch is a federated search service for the University of Cambridge electronic resources. It allows you to simultaniously search multiple electronic resources at once. The resources are searched and results compiled into a single set of results 'just in time', as soon as you press the search button. Whilst this results in a delay waiting for all of the results to return, it is far quicker than searching each resource in turn via it's native interface.

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Does CrossSearch cover all Cambridge eresources ?

Not at present. We have included the majority of key resources for each subject area and are working to add more where possible. Some geographic resources and image or multimedia based services do not fit easily into the bibliographic-centric model.

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Simple search

To perform a simple search:

  • On the main eresources page or any subject page click on the articles tab
  • Or click on the CrossSearch link in the lefthand navigation bar, click on the basic tab and choose a subject area or number of databases to search
  • If you are off campus, you will prompted for a Raven username and password
  • Enter a search term
  • Select a search type (Keyword, Title, Author)
  • Click on the search button
  • CrossSearch may take some time to fetch results from multiple electronic resources
  • As the search progresses, you can see results from seperate databases in the preview panel
  • To interupt the search and see results returns so far, click on the 'stop search' link
  • You can also minimise the preview panel, or use it to see results from a specific database
  • Eventually, results will be displayed

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Advanced & multidisciplinary searching

The advanced search screen allows users to perform more complex searches and to fine tune their search to specific sets of resources or widen it across several subject areas.
To perform an advanced search:

  • Click on the CrossSearch for articles tab or go to any eresources@Cambridge subject page, then on advanced CrossSearch link
  • Alternatively, click on the CrossSearch link in the lefthand navigation bar and click on the 'advanced' tab
  • Enter a combination of search terms into the three fields
  • Control Booleian operation with the and/or/not selectors
  • Choose the combination of subject areas you wish to search by ticking the box by each one. Clicking on the '+' symbol beside subject heading will display its subdivisons
  • Each subject heading is also a link. Clicking on it will display the sub-divisions for that heading and the resources searchable under each heading. You can choose to include or remove specific resources
  • Alternatively, you can choose to search from specific databases by clicking on the databases tab
  • You can select all, but this will take a long time to search
  • When you are happy with your search term and resource selection, click on the search button

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Sorting results

Once a search has been completed, you can manipulate the results in a number over different ways:

  • View results from a specific database - choose a database from the preview pane at the top
  • Sort results - use the links in the top right of the page to sort results by title, author or source
  • Clustering - group results by topic, date of publication, original resource (journal published) or by Author

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Viewing results and getting full text

  • All results will return a brief citation to vew
  • Results can be limited to those from full text sources with the 'filter by: full text' link in the top right corner
  • All will have links to the original full view of the citation record in its native interface
  • Other links returned will vary depending on the original resource. Many will have links back to the full text itself
  • Many results also return an abstract, which can be viewed by clicking on the 'view abstract link'
  • Where enough data is available, 'check for full text - eresources@cambridge' links will be displayed by results. These can be used to check a full corresponding full text for a citation

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Save, email and print CrossSearch results

Results can be exported in a number of ways. In all cases, select some results to save, print or email using the tick boxes by each results

  • Print - to print, select some records and click on the 'export/save' link at the top results list. The results will re-appear with text formatted for print. Press your browser's print button to continue
  • Export to Endnote or Refworks - Select some records and click on the 'export/save' link at the top of the results list. Choose either RIS for Endnote, Zotero and other reference managers or Refworks specific formats. The Refworks format will take you directly to your Refworks account.
  • Save as plain text - Select some records and click on the 'save' link at the top of the results list. Choose the plain text option and save the text file to your PC.
  • Email - Select some records and click on the 'email' link at the top of the results list. Choose a format, enter your details and email a copy of citations. You may need to check your spam filter if the email does not appear.

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Search tips

  • Use the advanced search for author/title or author/subject
  • To search for an author, enter the first name, then the surname, i.e. 'Chamberlain Martyn'. Punctuation is not necessary
  • Use the clustered view to handle large result sets, or add additional keywords to your search term using the 'quicksearch box' in the top right

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