In this case, advanced search functionality is almost unavoidable.
When the needle is truly lost in a haystack, users will need these features to find the precise
content they need.
Advanced search options should never appear alongside the basic search input near the
main menu. Regard them as two different pieces of functionality. Everyone understands
the concept of typing in a few words and clicking Search; few understand parametric filters,
Boolean phrases, relevance ranking, and other newfangled search terms. Keep basic
and advanced separate, and never use only advanced search. Visitors should always be
encouraged to use the basic input first, and then given the option of refining their scope
through advanced functionality.
When designing advanced search pages, avoid the use of confusing terms such as Boolean.
People just don??™t understand that. Instead, present options and parameter refinement in
simple terms, even using examples if necessary. See Figure 11-5 for an example of a welldefined
advanced search.
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254
Figure 11-5. This advanced search page uses humane language to describe the different ways of
refining a site search.
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