Query Form

This help page will help guide you through the many options of the query interface.

Basic Query

The most basic type of query involves filling in the details of the sentence at the very top of the webpage.

As stated in the Overview, you don't need to change anything in the basic query, you may simply press Search and see what happens. The defaults prioritize showing you as many results as possible, as fast as possible.

Object Type

There are more than just maps searchable by Globetrotter! There are aerial photographs, datasets, and more. By selecting the object type, you can limit your search to just the type of object you need.

Sorting

You can sort your Search Results by Date or "Spatial Similarity to the Query Region". That means it sorts your results by how close they are to the center of your area of interest. This is a special feature of ADL that you will most likely want to turn on to help make sense of your results. (Caution: It will run slow if you search a large area!)

Complex Query

The query form is layered to pace you through the more advanced query options. Complex queries go beyond the "Blue Bar" at the very top, and makes use of the "Text Searches" and "More Options" tabs below it.

"Text Searches" Bar

There are two types of Text Search: Word Search and the "Works by" Originator Search.

Text Search restricts your results to those items which have the phrase you enter in their text metadata. The Originator Search restricts your resutls to those produced by a specific source.

"More Options" Bar

The "More Options" bar includes the Date, Collection, and Format Information. The Date Option of Custom time period expands to allow you to specify a date range of your choice.

To change between the "Text Searches" and "More Options" bars, just click the gray tab of that name just below the gray bar.