Hints and Tips for Searching

 

To search COMPASS online there are several methods you can use

 

IMPORTANT

Please remember that when carrying out searches or changing between screens always use the refresh button on your browser to make sure you are showing the correct screen

 

Also please note that this help screen covers the full subscription version of COMPASS online.  For those who are not subscribers less options are available to you to use.

 

Simple searches

 

Firstly there is the Browse tab at the top of the screen.  You can use this for a fairly broad brush approach to searching within categories.  For example, if you want all the cases where the issue is Affordable Housing, select browse and then select the "Issue"  section of the browse.  Then type 'Aff' into the search box, then select find.  This will bring up all the issues beginning with 'aff' and will display Affordable Housing at the top.  This displays  all 1392 results for affordable housing

 

You can also use the Search boxes.  In the Issue box type 'Affordable','housing' separated by a comma to pick up a combination of words.  If you are searching for a single word, then a single word will work. 

 

Remember that if you wish to search for a phrase in ANY of the search boxes, then separate them with a comma.

 

If you wish to use the pick lists, please use the small button to the right of the Text entry box with the … in it.   This will allow you to search any of the indexes for keywords.

 

Planning Inspectorate reference searches

 

To search for a Planning Inspectorate reference number, you need to select PINS ref in the main Advanced Search window.  Then type in the last seven digits of the Inspectorate reference.

 

Keyword Searches

 

To search on a keyword alone, select Word in the search term and enter your keyword.  Phrases for keywords don't need to have a comma in them, just type what you are looking for.  Remember, keep it as simple as you can at first and increase the complexity.

 

Date Searches  To search by exact date, select the "Exact date" check box next to the upper date entry box.  If you wish to select a date range, enter the earlier date in the top box and the end date in the bottom box, in the format dd/mm/yyyy.

 

Combination Searches

 

This is where COMPASS online becomes very powerful.  By using the Operator box at the left side of the screen, you can combine search terms to get an accurate and narrow set of results.  To do this you can select the AND , OR or NOT operator.

 

A good example is Authority   Edinburgh

                AND        Keyword  Garden

 

 

You can combine all sorts of terms, but remember that the simpler the search term the more results you will achieve.  If you over-complicate the search you will make it exclude many results.

 

Remember the OR operator is an exclusive one.  It is either A OR B, not a combination of the two.

 

The NOT operator is exclusive, it excludes the search term you entered from the results