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What operations may I use to conduct a more detailed search?

The free text field can be used for simple keyword searches or to perform more in-depth searches by combining multiple search terms.

Some basic advice on how the search engine operates

  • By default, the search engine will return documents that include all terms you have searched for.
  • Search engine is not sensitive to the punctuation signs.
  • Search engine is not sensitive to capitalization nor accent marks.

Close to the full-text search field you will find a display list that will allow you to easily choose search conditions. Search options are:

All words This is the option by default. It will return all the documents with all the entered terms.
Use Stemming The search engine will return all the documents that include the entered terms and all related terms, such as singular/plural, verb derivations, etc.
In the same paragraph The search engine will return all the documents that include all the entered terms in the same paragraph.
Exact phrase The search engine will return all the documents that include all the entered terms as an exact phrase.
Some of the words The search engine will return all the documents that include some of the terms you have searched for

Advanced Operators

vLex allows you to use advanced operators in the full-text search field to perform advanced searche

Boolean operators and proximity

To search: Operator: Example:
Two terms in the same document AND contract AND liability
Whichever terms in the same document OR contract OR liability
First term but not the second one NOT contract NOT liability
All terms as an exact phrase " " "contract liability"
Both terms in the same phrase [ ] ontract liability]
Both terms separated by a maximum of n words. /n [contract liability]/5
It will return all the documents that include the used terms separated by a maximum of 5 words.

Wildcards

The system will return documents with the used terms but will also allow you to have more control about the word's position inside the document.

To search: Operator: Example:
Derived Terms * contract*
The system will return all the documents that include the derived terms: contract, contractor, contracted, etc.
You can use this operator inside the word: con*t will return: contract, Connecticut, etc.
Terms with any letter ? la?
The system will return all documents with derived terms: law, lay, etc.

Combination of fields

You can use advanced searches using various advanced operators at the same time.

Example: The system will return all the documents:
"contract liability" AND California Include "contract liability" as an exact phrase AND the term "California"
(contract liability) OR (contract termination) Include the terms "contract" AND "liability" OR the terms "contract" AND "termination"
(contract liability) (contract termination) Include the terms "contract" AND "liability" AND the terms "contract" AND "termination"
"contract liability" OR [contract termination] Include "contract liability" as exact phrase OR that include "contract" AND "termination" in the same paragraph.