OCLC Connexion tips
Command Line searching:
This is a browse search, meaning it searches the terms in the order they appear.
sca ti:[title]
sca pn:[personal name]
sca cn:[corporate name]
If you have an OCLC number for a record you’re looking for, enter the number preceded by an asterisk:
*12345678
If you have an ISBN, you can enter it in this line without any other information.
Keyword searching:
If you don’t get any hits from a search, try simplifying. Take out one of the keywords or limiters.
AND searches for the fields together, OR
If you search a music number and get no hits, change the spacing (or punctuation); this search is always a little weird.
F2 is keyboard shortcut for searching WorldCat, but you can also use the menu and the task bar:
Cataloging → Search → WorldCat
The little button with a magnifying glass and the OCLC pinwheel logo
ctrl F2 brings up the “Browse WorldCat” box; this lets you browse the database for phrases.
Example of the difference:
Keyword searching of “tree of life” will bring up at least:
tree of life
life of a tree
knowing tree: a life
etc.
Browsing will bring up all titles that BEGIN with tree of life