|
|
| |
| 1. General Search: |
 This general search has been integrated with the Google custom search. the Google search is simple, just type in whatever you are looking for, case name, number, judges name, cause list, date etc, click the search button to the right of the tab or hit the enter key on your key board and Google will search the website for content that is relevant to your search.
To make your search more useful keep your search criteria simple. The search engine is not human, it is a program that matches the words you give to pages on the website so use the words that are most likely to appear. The goal here is to provide you with results that are clear and easy to read.
Using only one or two search criteria will yield a high number of results – using more search criteria significantly reduces the number of results yielded.
Remember every word matters. Generally, all the words you put in the query will be used. The search is case insensitive and punctuations are generally ignored but ensure all your search terms are spelt correctly.
Searching in general mode is suited for finding any or all cases that contain a given word, set of words or phrase used.
|
| 2. Specific Search |
Searching in the specific search mode is suited for finding a particular case when you have details that describe the case at hand e.g. (names of parties, case number, and date of delivery)
To find a case according to its details (names of parties, case number, and date of delivery) one need not fill in all the fields. You may use any one or more search criteria; search using whatever information you have.
Using only one or two search criteria will yield a high number of results – using more search criteria significantly reduces the number of results yielded.
When searching for a case using the names of parties (specific search mode) you need not fill in all the names. Any or two names of either party will suffice. Similarly, if you are searching for a case by case number, do not type in the entire length of the case number (e.g. instead of entering “Miscellaneous criminal Application No. 94 of 2004”, you may simply enter “94 of 2004”)
Ensure all your search terms are spelt correctly. Try to use alternative spellings of names, words or acronyms appearing in your search terms.
Searching in general mode is suited for finding any or all cases that contain a given word, set of words or phrase. |
| 3. Boolean Search |
This is an advanced search that allows one to search the database for the keywords that best describe your area of. The power of Boolean searching is based on combinations of keywords with connecting terms called operators. The three basic operators are the terms AND, OR, and NOT.
The operator AND narrows a search by combining terms and retrieves every document that contains both of the words specified. For example to locate cases on advocate taxation using this search the engine will search the database and retrieve every record containing both of the words advocate and taxation and only the records containing both words will be retrieved.
The OR operator broadens or widens a search to include documents containing either keyword. The OR search is particularly useful when there are several common synonyms for a case or variant spellings of a name. For example to locate cases involving murder the engine will search the database for all cases containing murder and all cases containing manslaughter and retrieve them all. The OR searches often produce large numbers of documents.
Combining search terms with the NOT operator narrows a search by excluding unwanted terms. To find cases on children but not infants the engine will search for cases containing the word children and exclude all cases with the word infant.
Boolean search terms may be combined in various ways to carefully refine searches. Examples:
- murder OR manslaughter AND sentence
- advocate AND taxation NOT KRA
- children NOT infants AND adoption
|
|
|
| |
|
