How to search LBT - Revision history

Dmac: /* Changing the output details */

2026-04-24T19:54:04Z

Changing the output details

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:54, 24 April 2026
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	We can modify the information which SMW offers as output for queries by adding selection criteria to the <code>Printout selection</code> box.		We can modify the information which SMW offers as output for queries by adding selection criteria to the <code>Printout selection</code> box.

	For our female ~~pensioners~~, we can ask for their first names and last names, for example, and for their date of birth and date of death. Add the following code into the <code>Printout selection</code> box:		For our female masters, we can ask for their first names and last names, for example, and for their date of birth and date of death. Add the following code into the <code>Printout selection</code> box:
	<pre>?Firstname		<pre>?Firstname
	?Lastname		?Lastname

Dmac: /* Downloading search results */

2026-04-24T19:49:43Z

Downloading search results

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:49, 24 April 2026
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	====Downloading search results====		====Downloading search results====
	You might want to download search results to use them in a spreadsheet. In the query just done, it would be useful to have the names and dates in separate columns in the spreadsheet. To download the data from the table, click on the '''CSV''' button in the row of buttons on the right above the output table. 'CSV' stands for 'comma-separated values'. This is a standard format for loading into spreadsheets.		You might want to download search results to use them in a spreadsheet. In the query just done, it would be useful to have the names and dates in separate columns in the spreadsheet. To download the data from the table, click on the '''CSV''' button in the row of buttons on the right above the output table. 'CSV' stands for 'comma-separated values'. This is a standard format for loading into spreadsheets.

			Note that the current size of the result set (20, 50, 100, etc) will apply also to the number of records in what you download. For large exports, change the limit to "Show 500 results per page" (or at least a number greater than your result set) so that your downloads are complete. If you are downloading more than 500 records, you'll need to advance to the next portion of the result set and then download those records, etc.

	====More help====		====More help====

Dmac: /* More help */

2026-04-24T19:43:31Z

More help

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:43, 24 April 2026
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	====More help====		====More help====
	;[[Semantic_query_examples]]		;[[Semantic_query_examples]]
	:This page contains a few worked examples of complex queries for LBT data which you could use to build your own searches.		:This page contains a few worked examples of complex queries for LBT data which you could use to build your own searches. Note that you will have to break the combined queries illustrated on this page into the selection criteria for the left hand textbox ("Condition") and the output columns you want for the right hand text box ("Printout selection") on the [[Special:Ask\|Semantic search]] page.

	;[https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Semantic_search Help:Semantic_search]		;[https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Semantic_search Help:Semantic_search]
	:This is the official help page for semantic searching.		:This is the official help page for semantic searching.

Dmac at 19:39, 24 April 2026

2026-04-24T19:39:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:39, 24 April 2026
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			<div style="width:90ch;">
	===Simple searches===		===Simple searches===
	You can use the MediaWiki Search box on any LBT page to do a simple search. It is located in the upper right corner of every page with the grey legend "Search London Book Trades".		You can use the MediaWiki Search box on any LBT page to do a simple search. It is located in the upper right corner of every page with the grey legend "Search London Book Trades".

Dmac at 19:38, 24 April 2026

2026-04-24T19:38:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:38, 24 April 2026
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	;[https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Semantic_search Help:Semantic_search]		;[https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Semantic_search Help:Semantic_search]
	:This is the official help page for semantic searching.		:This is the official help page for semantic searching.
	:Note that it is also shows examples of in-line searching ~~using the following notation: <pre>{{#ask: <conditions and output terms> }}</pre> Only administrators can use~~ this ~~notation on LBT~~.		:Note that it is also shows examples of in-line searching which is not available on this website.

	;[https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:User_manual SMW User Manual]		;[https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:User_manual SMW User Manual]
	:The SMW User Manual also has information which might be of help.		:The SMW User Manual also has information which might be of help.

			[[Category:Front Matter]]

Dmac at 19:36, 24 April 2026

2026-04-24T19:36:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:36, 24 April 2026
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	===Simple searches===		===Simple searches===
	You can use the MediaWiki Search box on any LBT page to do a simple search.		You can use the MediaWiki Search box on any LBT page to do a simple search. It is located in the upper right corner of every page with the grey legend "Search London Book Trades".

	===Categories and Properties===		===Categories and Properties===
	LBT has a number of extra features behind the scenes which allow complex searches to be made. For example, you could use the Semantic MediaWiki (SMW) search to find all female bookbinders working between 1700 and 1750 with parents who were also book binders.		LBT has a number of extra features behind the scenes which allow complex searches to be made. For example, you could use the Semantic MediaWiki (SMW) search to find all female bookbinders working between 1700 and 1750 with parents who were also book binders.
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	You will see that creating the instructions for these searches and their output is somewhat complicated.		You will see that creating the instructions for these searches and their output is somewhat complicated.

	~~In fact, only logged-in LBT editors are able to include~~ searches ~~within LBT pages like this. However, ordinary users~~ are ~~able~~ to ~~use a special search~~ page ~~without being logged in:~~ '''[[Special:Ask]]''':		Semantic searches are available to anyone using the page '''[[Special:Ask]]''':

	[[File:Semantic_Search_blank_page.jpg\|560px]]		[[File:Semantic_Search_blank_page.jpg\|560px]]
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	On the [[Special:Ask]] page, the input box labelled <code>Condition</code> is where we put the things we want to search for. We will use the LBT Category 'Female'. The Semantic MediaWiki syntax requires this to have a special markup: type it exactly like this:		On the [[Special:Ask]] page, the input box labelled <code>Condition</code> is where we put the things we want to search for. We will use the LBT Category 'Female'. The Semantic MediaWiki syntax requires this to have a special markup: type it exactly like this:
	<pre>[[Category:Female]]</pre>		<pre>[[Category:Female]]</pre>
	If you now click on the <code>Find Results</code> tab, you will see a table of the first 50 of several ~~hundred~~ females listed in LBT. Each line is a link which you can click to go to see her own specific page.		If you now click on the <code>Find Results</code> tab, you will see a table of the first 50 of several thousand females listed in LBT. Each line is a link which you can click to go to see her own specific page.

	If you now add a second category, SMW will search and display results which match '''both''' categories (logical AND). Now enter		If you now add a second category, SMW will search and display results which match '''both''' categories (logical AND). Now enter
	<pre>[[Category:Female]] [[Category:~~Pensioners~~]]</pre> and click on <code>Find Results</code>. (It may need a second click to refresh the search data.) You will now see a list of the first 50 ~~female pensioners of~~ the ~~Stationers' Company (mainly widows of deceased members)~~.		<pre>[[Category:Female]] [[Category:Master]]</pre> and click on <code>Find Results</code>. (It may need a second click to refresh the search data.) You will now see a list of the first 50 females in the LBT who were Masters who engaged or freed Apprentices.

	====Add some properties====		====Add some properties====
	We can reduce the list of Company female ~~pensioners~~ by adding <code>Death date</code> properties to the list of search conditions. We will look for female ~~pensioners~~ who died during the eighteenth century. This requires using the appropriate SMW notation for the query:		We can reduce the list of Company female masters by adding <code>Death date</code> properties to the list of search conditions. We will look for female masters who died during the eighteenth century. This requires using the appropriate SMW notation for the query:
	<pre>[[Category:Female]]		<pre>[[Category:Female]]
	[[Category:~~Pensioners~~]]		[[Category:Master]]
	[[Death date::>1700]]		[[Death date::>1700]]
	[[Death date::<1800]]		[[Death date::<1800]]

Djshaw: First draft. DJS. 19 April 2026

2026-04-19T11:21:57Z

First draft. DJS. 19 April 2026

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:21, 19 April 2026
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	You can look at the list of available categories for complex searches here: '''[[Special:Categories]]'''. If you click on one of these categories, it will create a display of all the records which are tagged with that category.		You can look at the list of available categories for complex searches here: '''[[Special:Categories]]'''. If you click on one of these categories, it will create a display of all the records which are tagged with that category.

	You can do the same with '''[[Special:Properties]]'''. For example, ''Birth date of type Date (1,843 uses)'' tells you that the property name is "Birth date" and that 1,843 people pages have values for that property. Clicking on the Property will produce a list of all the people for whom a date of birth is recorded. Not all of the Properties will produce useful output when clicked ~~on its own~~.		You can do the same with '''[[Special:Properties]]'''. For example, ''Birth date of type Date (1,843 uses)'' tells you that the property name is "Birth date" and that 1,843 people pages have values for that property. Clicking on the Property will produce a list of all the people for whom a date of birth is recorded. Not all of the Properties will produce useful output when clicked in this way.
	===Semantic searches===		===Semantic searches===
	LBT is built using Semantic MediaWiki which means that complex searches can be constructed using these Categories and Properties. You can see some examples of this ~~on the~~ page [[Semantic query examples]].		LBT is built using Semantic MediaWiki which means that complex searches can be constructed using these Categories and Properties. You can see some examples on this page: [[Semantic query examples]].
	You will see that creating the instructions for these searches and their output is somewhat complicated.		You will see that creating the instructions for these searches and their output is somewhat complicated.

	In fact, only logged-in LBT editors are able to ~~create~~ pages like this. However, ordinary users are able to use a special search page without being logged in: [[Special:Ask]].		In fact, only logged-in LBT editors are able to include searches within LBT pages like this. However, ordinary users are able to use a special search page without being logged in: '''[[Special:Ask]]''':

	[[File:Semantic_Search_blank_page.jpg\|560px]]		[[File:Semantic_Search_blank_page.jpg\|560px]]
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	===Building a semantic search===		===Building a semantic search===
	====Add some categories====		====Add some categories====
	On the [[Special:Ask]] page, the input box labelled 'Condition' is where we put the things we want to search for. ~~Type in a~~ LBT Category ~~such~~ 'Female'. The Semantic MediaWiki syntax requires this to have a special markup: type it exactly like this:		On the [[Special:Ask]] page, the input box labelled <code>Condition</code> is where we put the things we want to search for. We will use the LBT Category 'Female'. The Semantic MediaWiki syntax requires this to have a special markup: type it exactly like this:
	<pre>[[Category:Female]]</pre>		<pre>[[Category:Female]]</pre>
	If you now click on the <code>Find Results</code> tab, you will see a table of the first 50 of several hundred females listed in LBT. Each line is a link which you can click to go to her specific page.		If you now click on the <code>Find Results</code> tab, you will see a table of the first 50 of several hundred females listed in LBT. Each line is a link which you can click to go to see her own specific page.

	If you now add a second category, SMW will search and display results which match '''both''' categories (logical AND). Now ~~type~~		If you now add a second category, SMW will search and display results which match '''both''' categories (logical AND). Now enter
	<pre>[[Category:Female]] [[Category:Pensioners]]</pre> and click on <code>Find Results</code>. You will now see a list of the first 50 female pensioners of the Stationers' Company (mainly widows of deceased members).		<pre>[[Category:Female]] [[Category:Pensioners]]</pre> and click on <code>Find Results</code>. (It may need a second click to refresh the search data.) You will now see a list of the first 50 female pensioners of the Stationers' Company (mainly widows of deceased members).

	====Add some properties====		====Add some properties====
	We can reduce the list of Company female pensioners by adding ~~<code>Birth date</code> and~~ <code>Death date</code> properties to the list of search conditions. ~~Again, this~~ requires using the appropriate SMW notation for the query:		We can reduce the list of Company female pensioners by adding <code>Death date</code> properties to the list of search conditions. We will look for female pensioners who died during the eighteenth century. This requires using the appropriate SMW notation for the query:
			<pre>[[Category:Female]]
			[[Category:Pensioners]]
			[[Death date::>1700]]
			[[Death date::<1800]]
			</pre>
			'''Note''' that Properties require two colons ('::') to distinguish them from Categories and that they can use relational operators (<code>less than</code>, <code>more than</code>, etc.). Note also that there are relatively few dates of birth in the database, especially for women.

			====Changing the output details====
			We can modify the information which SMW offers as output for queries by adding selection criteria to the <code>Printout selection</code> box.

			For our female pensioners, we can ask for their first names and last names, for example, and for their date of birth and date of death. Add the following code into the <code>Printout selection</code> box:
			<pre>?Firstname
			?Lastname
			?Birth date
			?Death date
			</pre>
			This produces a table with extra columns for each of the four selection criteria.

			The '''[[Special:Properties]]''' page shows further properties which can be used as selection criteria for output.

			====Downloading search results====
			You might want to download search results to use them in a spreadsheet. In the query just done, it would be useful to have the names and dates in separate columns in the spreadsheet. To download the data from the table, click on the '''CSV''' button in the row of buttons on the right above the output table. 'CSV' stands for 'comma-separated values'. This is a standard format for loading into spreadsheets.

			====More help====
			;[[Semantic_query_examples]]
			:This page contains a few worked examples of complex queries for LBT data which you could use to build your own searches.
			;[https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Semantic_search Help:Semantic_search]
			:This is the official help page for semantic searching.
			:Note that it is also shows examples of in-line searching using the following notation: <pre>{{#ask: <conditions and output terms> }}</pre> Only administrators can use this notation on LBT.

			;[https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:User_manual SMW User Manual]
			:The SMW User Manual also has information which might be of help.

Djshaw: add properties

2026-04-19T08:44:02Z

add properties

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:44, 19 April 2026
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	You can use the MediaWiki Search box on any LBT page to do a simple search.		You can use the MediaWiki Search box on any LBT page to do a simple search.
	===Categories and Properties===		===Categories and Properties===
	LBT has a number of extra features behind the scenes which allow complex searches to be made. For example, you could use the Semantic MediaWiki search to find all female bookbinders working between 1700 and 1750 with parents who were also book binders.		LBT has a number of extra features behind the scenes which allow complex searches to be made. For example, you could use the Semantic MediaWiki (SMW) search to find all female bookbinders working between 1700 and 1750 with parents who were also book binders.

	You can look at the list of available categories for complex searches here: '''[[Special:Categories]]'''. If you click on one of these categories, it will create a display of all the records which are tagged with that category.		You can look at the list of available categories for complex searches here: '''[[Special:Categories]]'''. If you click on one of these categories, it will create a display of all the records which are tagged with that category.

	You can do the same with '''[[Special:Properties]]''' ~~but most~~ of ~~these don’t~~ produce useful output when clicked on ~~their~~ own.		You can do the same with '''[[Special:Properties]]'''. For example, ''Birth date of type Date (1,843 uses)'' tells you that the property name is "Birth date" and that 1,843 people pages have values for that property. Clicking on the Property will produce a list of all the people for whom a date of birth is recorded. Not all of the Properties will produce useful output when clicked on its own.
	===Semantic searches===		===Semantic searches===
	LBT is built using Semantic MediaWiki which means that complex searches can be constructed using these Categories and Properties. You can see some examples of this on the page [[Semantic query examples]].		LBT is built using Semantic MediaWiki which means that complex searches can be constructed using these Categories and Properties. You can see some examples of this on the page [[Semantic query examples]].
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	If you now add a second category, SMW will search and display results which match '''both''' categories (logical AND). Now type		If you now add a second category, SMW will search and display results which match '''both''' categories (logical AND). Now type
	<pre>[[Category:Female]] [[Category:Pensioners]]</pre> and click on <code>Find Results</code>. You will now see a list of the first 50 female pensioners of the Stationers' Company (mainly widows of deceased members).		<pre>[[Category:Female]] [[Category:Pensioners]]</pre> and click on <code>Find Results</code>. You will now see a list of the first 50 female pensioners of the Stationers' Company (mainly widows of deceased members).

			====Add some properties====
			We can reduce the list of Company female pensioners by adding <code>Birth date</code> and <code>Death date</code> properties to the list of search conditions. Again, this requires using the appropriate SMW notation for the query:

Djshaw: double query added

2026-04-19T08:20:46Z

double query added

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:20, 19 April 2026
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	You can do the same with '''[[Special:Properties]]''' but most of these don’t produce useful output when clicked on their own.		You can do the same with '''[[Special:Properties]]''' but most of these don’t produce useful output when clicked on their own.
	===Semantic searches===		===Semantic searches===
	LBT is built using Semantic MediaWiki which means that complex searches can be constructed using these Categories and Properties. You can see some examples of this on the page [[~~Query~~]].		LBT is built using Semantic MediaWiki which means that complex searches can be constructed using these Categories and Properties. You can see some examples of this on the page [[Semantic query examples]].
	You will see that creating the instructions for these searches and their output is somewhat complicated.		You will see that creating the instructions for these searches and their output is somewhat complicated.

Line 21:		Line 21:
	On the [[Special:Ask]] page, the input box labelled 'Condition' is where we put the things we want to search for. Type in a LBT Category such 'Female'. The Semantic MediaWiki syntax requires this to have a special markup: type it exactly like this:		On the [[Special:Ask]] page, the input box labelled 'Condition' is where we put the things we want to search for. Type in a LBT Category such 'Female'. The Semantic MediaWiki syntax requires this to have a special markup: type it exactly like this:
	<pre>[[Category:Female]]</pre>		<pre>[[Category:Female]]</pre>
	If you now click on the <code>Find Results</code> tab, you will see a ~~list~~ of the first 50 of several hundred females listed in LBT. Each line is link which you can click to go to her specific page.		If you now click on the <code>Find Results</code> tab, you will see a table of the first 50 of several hundred females listed in LBT. Each line is a link which you can click to go to her specific page.

	If you now add a second category, SMW will search ~~for~~ both (logical AND). Now type		If you now add a second category, SMW will search and display results which match '''both''' categories (logical AND). Now type
			<pre>[[Category:Female]] [[Category:Pensioners]]</pre> and click on <code>Find Results</code>. You will now see a list of the first 50 female pensioners of the Stationers' Company (mainly widows of deceased members).

Djshaw at 22:36, 18 April 2026

2026-04-18T22:36:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:36, 18 April 2026
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	===Building a semantic search===		===Building a semantic search===
			====Add some categories====
			On the [[Special:Ask]] page, the input box labelled 'Condition' is where we put the things we want to search for. Type in a LBT Category such 'Female'. The Semantic MediaWiki syntax requires this to have a special markup: type it exactly like this:
			<pre>[[Category:Female]]</pre>
			If you now click on the <code>Find Results</code> tab, you will see a list of the first 50 of several hundred females listed in LBT. Each line is link which you can click to go to her specific page.

			If you now add a second category, SMW will search for both (logical AND). Now type