Browse Tool

Browse (the [Browse icon] icon) is generally available to all users. When you browse, you browse across all datasets to which you have access rights.

Browse Record Filters

At the top of the results set are three Browse methods, which can be combined, selectable by clicking on its tab.

Browse by Dataset

This tab presents all of the datasets for which you have access and the number of available records within that dataset.

  • Clicking on a given dataset name causes a results page to be generated that is restricted to results only from that selected dataset.

Browse by Kind

This tab presents all of the "kinds" (actually, classes that have similar members) that are contained within the structure of the datasets for which you have access. The number of records within each class across those datasets is shown in parentheses.

Browse  screen
  • The display for Browse by Kind is hierarchical if there are sub-class relationships within the structure
  • Clicking on a given "kind" name causes a results page to be generated that is restricted to results only from that selected class.

Browse by Attribute

This tab presents all of the attributes (as denoted by predicates or properties) for the records within all datasets to which you have access. The number of records which have a given attribute is shown in parentheses.

  • Clicking on a given attribute name causes a results page to be generated that is restricted to results only for that attribute.

Adjusting the Browsable Results Space

Upon your first filter restriction above, you then can apply further filter adjustments. You can add or delete filters in each of the three filter types of datasets, kinds or attributes. As you add or delete these filters, your browsable results space is re-adjusted to reflect the intersection of all active filters.

The basic appearance of these filters is shown as follows:

Browse filters screen

Here are some notes and behaviors about this tool:

  • Adding a filter is done via the [Add filter icon] icon. When that icon is selected, a new filter display is generated for that filter type, now restricted to the specific items and counts reflecting all filter conditions currently in place
  • Total results counts, as shown in the upper left, are adjusted accordingly
  • As new filters are added, they are displayed "above the line" at the top of the results page
  • Once selected, the filter remains in place. To remove it, click on the Remove filter icon [Delete Record(s) icon]. Doing so removes that filter from "above the line" and increases the items available and their counts
  • By adding and removing various filters in this manner, it is possible to gain a feel for the structural differences across datasets, commonalities, etc.

The Results Set

At all times in this process, a results set of available records is shown for the intersection of filters currently active. Here are some notes and behaviors:

  • If the number of available records exceeds 10, a pagination utility is added
  • Individual results listings show title, description and dataset source. In addition, the relation (property or predicate) in which the search was found and its category (kind, "type" or class) (such as Article, Person, etc.) is also noted
  • If you have the proper permissions, you may also see the Update [Update Record icon] or Delete [Delete Record(s) icon] icons, which allow you to perform those actions on that record.

Viewing an Individual Result (Record)

Clicking on an individual record brings up an instance record report for that instance type. See the View Record page for a description of this specific tool.