Simple search

A Simple search allows you to search for a word or words in multiple fields at the same time.

1. In the Search box, type a word or words that you want to search for. Separate each word with a space.

• An asterisk (*) after a search term will find all words that start with that term. Example: photo* will return results for photo, photos, photograph, photographs.

• An asterisk (*) before a search term will find all words that end with that term. Example: *settlement will return results for settlement, resettlement.

• An asterisk (*) before and after a search term will find all words that have that term in them. Example: *national* will return results for international, national, nationally, internationally.

2. Click the Search button to start the search.

On the Results page you can then refine your search by Creator, Subject or Person keywords.

NOTE. Names of persons and places can contain diacritics. When searching for a name or word that contains the following letters, you will need to either use the letters with diacritics or replace them with an asterisk: ć, Č, č, Đ, đ, Š, š, Ž, ž. Example: Karadžić or Karad*i*. Typing the name or word without the diacritics will not return results.

If you do not have a keyboard that is set up to type with diacritics, you can copy and paste them from here, type the name in a word processing programme using the ‘insert character’ function and copy and paste it, or just use the asterisks.

Advanced search

An Advanced search allows you to search for a date, word(s) and/or other terms in multiple particular fields. These are:

Word(s) from the title / content
Person/institution
Archive creator
Date

1. Type the information you want to search for in the relevant box. You do not need to fill in every box. If you do not want to search in a particular field, leave the box blank.

The Word(s) from the title / content field is a text box. You can enter a single word or multiple words separated by spaces.

The Person/institution and Archive Creator fields have a List button (≡ icon). This allows you to view and select from all the names that occur in these fields in the catalogue.

This list is helpful if you are not sure about the spelling of a name or if you want to search alphabetically. NOTE. Personal names are entered starting with the family name. Examples: Smith, John; Liu Daqun.

If you are looking for a name that starts with a particular letter, e.g. “W”, type that letter in the ‘Filter’ box and you will be taken to available options starting with that letter. NOTE. If the name starts with a letter that has a diacritic you can search using the non-diacritic version of that letter. Example: names starting with “Š” can be found by typing in “S”. This only works in the filter box.

Once you have found a name you want to search for, click on it. This will paste it to the search box.

The Date field allows you to search by the date of records. You can either enter a single year or a range of years. NOTE. If you want to search for just one year, enter it in both the ‘from’ and ‘to’ boxes. If you only enter a year in the ‘from’ box, the catalogue will return all results from that year onwards.

You can also enter days and months. These must be entered in the format: yyyy/mm or yyyy/mm/dd.

2. You can choose to sort your results by a particular field and in a particular order (ascending or descending). This is helpful if your search will generate a lot of results. Click the relevant Sort by/Sort order option button.

3. Click the Search button to start the search.

When you return to Advanced search the terms used for your last search will be visible. You can use this to refine your search. If you want to create a new search with new search terms, use the Clear button to erase all entries.

Expert search

An Expert search allows you to build a complex search using multiple fields and can include Boolean operators (and, or, and not).

1. Choose a field to search in using the drop-down list:

Word(s) from the title
Word(s) from the content
Person/institution
Archive creator
Level of description
Reference
Date

The Reference field is free-text and lets you search by archival reference code – the unique number given to each record or series of records by the Mechanism Archives and Records Section. Enter the unique reference number (or just the first few characters of that number) you are looking for. NOTE. All records in the ICTR fonds start with ICTR/ and all records in the ICTY fonds start with ICTY/.

The Level of description field is free-text and allows you to search records arranged at seven levels: fonds, sub-fonds, sub-sub-fonds, series, sub-series, file and item. This option is helpful for browsing records arranged at a particular level and excluding other levels. Example: entering ‘series’ will show records only at series level or 'item' will show entries for individual items. Enter the name of the level you want to search on in the box.

Select the Trunc checkbox if you want to search on a partial term.

Example Reference: ‘ICTY’ will return all results with ICTY in the Reference code (ICTY, ICTY/PIC, ICTY/OPM/1 etc.)

Example Word(s) from the title: ‘photo’ will return all results with photo in the title (photo, photograph, photographer, etc.)

Deselect this option if you only want to search on the term you entered, not all variations containing that term.

2. To extend your search statement, click the plus (+) sign at the end of the first search line. This lets you add a second field to search in. This can be the same field, or a different field.

3. Select one Boolean operator (and, or, and not) from the drop-down menu next to the first row.

• The operator ‘and’ will return results where the search terms in both fields are present.

• The operator ‘or’ will return results where the search terms entered in at least one of the fields is present.

• The operator ‘and not’ will return results where the search term in the first field is present but not the search term in the second field.

NOTE. When creating complex searches with multiple lines, searches are executed from top to bottom. The result of the first two lines will be combined with the third line, and these results will in turn be combined with the fourth line, etc.

Lines can be removed by clicking the minus (-) sign at the end of the relevant line.

4. You can choose to sort results by a particular field and in a particular order (ascending or descending). This is helpful if your search will generate many results. Click the relevant Sort by/Sort order option button.

5. Click the Search button to start the search.

When you return to Expert search the terms used for your last search will be visible. You can use this to refine your search. If you want to create a new search with new search terms, use the Clear button to erase all entries.

Contact us

If you need help with searching or cannot find what you are looking for, click Contact us on the left to be taken to our Enquiry Form.