Section3.6

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## 3.6 Search Strings

A search string is used for searching some database. To learn about search strings, we suggest that you bring up the HyperDoc glossary. To do this from the top-level page of HyperDoc:

1. Click on Reference, bringing up the Axiom Reference page.
2. Click on Glossary, bringing up the glossary.

The glossary has an input area at its bottom. We review the various kinds of search strings you can enter to search the glossary.

The simplest search string is a word, for example, operation. A word only matches an entry having exactly that spelling. Enter the word operation into the input area above then click on Search. As you can see, operation matches only one entry, namely with operation itself.

Normally matching is insensitive to whether the alphabetic characters of your search string are in uppercase or lowercase. Thus operation and OperAtion both have the same effect. If you prefer that matching be case-sensitive, issue the command set HHyperName mixedCase command to the interpreter.

You will very often want to use the wildcard ``*'' in your search string so as to match multiple entries in the list. The search key ``*'' matches every entry in the list. You can also use ``*'' anywhere within a search string to match an arbitrary substring. Try ``cat*'' for example: enter ``cat*'' into the input area and click on Search. This matches several entries.

You use any number of wildcards in a search string as long as they are not adjacent. Try search strings such as ``*dom*''. As you see, this search string matches ``domain'', ``domain constructor'', ``subdomain'', and so on.

### 3.6.1 Logical Searches

For more complicated searches, you can use ``and'', ``or'', and ``not'' with basic search strings; write logical expressions using these three operators just as in the Axiom language. For example, domain or package matches the two entries domain and package. Similarly, ``dom* and *con*'' matches ``domain constructor'' and others. Also ``not *a*'' matches every entry that does not contain the letter ``a'' somewhere.

Use parentheses for grouping. For example, ``dom* and (not *con*)'' matches ``domain'' but not ``domain constructor''.

There is no limit to how complex your logical expression can be. For example,

a* or b* or c* or d* or e* and (not *a*)

is a valid expression.

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