Some systems work that way (multiple fields can be linked to a single
index), but, not all systems work that way. In our local system, one field
= one table. If you have a Creator field, all terms go into a Creator field
table (index). If you have a Publisher field, the terms go into a Publisher
table. There is no way to cross search on these two fields, as if they were
one.
In this kind of system, if a user did a search on the Creator field for
Macmillon, all it would retrieve are those records where Macmillon appears
in the Creator field. It would not retrieve any Macmillon's in the
Publisher field. This is a problem, and is why a linked "Role" field is so
important.
************************************************************
Allison A. Smith
Retrospective Conversion Coordinator
Chicago Historical Society
312 642-5035 ext. 398
[log in to unmask]
Check out the Chicago Historical Society's website:
http://www.chicagohistory.org
************************************************************
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ricky Erway [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, May 14, 1999 4:11 PM
> To: Smith, Allison
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: agent types
>
> Re: Allison Smith's saying "I would like to give our users the opportunity
> to
> search a single field for a creator or corporate name, and pull together
> all
> artifacts, books, letters, papers, photographs, blueprints, etc., that
> relate to their search term, no matter what role that person/corporation
> played."
>
> At the risk of stating the obvious, one can combine creator, contributor,
> and publisher in a SINGLE INDEX so that searchers can find all things in
> which a person played a role. It is only when these elements are combined
> in a SINGLE FIELD that flexibility is lost and there is no easy way to get
> it back.
>
> Ricky
>
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