![[logo] US EPA](http://nlquery.epa.gov/redesign/i/logo_epaseal_new.gif "United States Environmental Protection Agency"){kind=logo}
Test NL public access search
| Instructions/Info | Simple search testing |
| Search terms: | Port: | ||
| Type of search: ? | |||
| Doctype: | All HTML PDF | ||
| Metadata enhanced search: ? | YesNo | ||
| Metadata weighting: ? | |||
| Sort by: | relevancedate | ||
| Document type: | AllHTMLPDF | ||
| Include topical breadcrumbs: | YesNo | ||
| Output: | TryMeFirstXML | ||
| Area name: | |||
| Area TSSMS: | |||
| Directory: | |||
| Area contacts page: | |||
| Area advanced search page: | |||
| Filter: | |||
| Result template: | |||
| Sidebar: | |||
| Pagehead: | |||
| Pagefoot: | |||
| Stylesheet: | |||
| Results per page: | |||
| Maximum results: | |||
Help...
The basics
To search the EPA using the Northern Light search engine, and the redesigned Try Me First, all you need to do is to type a query in the search box and click Go.
Use the controls to test optional custom parameters.
Type of search
To test agency-wide search
- Select the radio button above labeled "EPA".
To test Area Search
- Select the radio button above labeled "This particular area".
- Insert one or more TSSMS codes in Area TSSMS.
- Enter the name of your website, and URLs for area contacts and advanced search (optional).
- To search a subdirectory of your area (optional)
- Select sample3filt.hts from the Filter dropdown.
- Enter the subdirectory name in Directory
Metadata enhanced search
Select "yes" to use metadata from the Web Inventory catalog to improve your search results. This feature replaces the Try Me First search application.
Regarding Metadata weighting...
This controls how individual metadata fields are weighted when you select metadata enhanced search. We've tested a variety of boosting factors to make documents with relevant metadata float to the top. The right combination should not only replicate TryMeFirst, but improve area search, too. We liked "Everything quadrupled" best, so far, so we made it the default. Try some other combinations, and let us know what you think.
- SearchFirst = 32 bonus points for query terms in title or controlled keywords.
- SearchFirst,SearchSecond = above, plus add an extra 16 points for query terms in description or freeform keywords.
- SearchFirst,SearchSecond,metaboth = all the above, + 8 points just for being in Web Inventory.
- SearchFirst,SearchSecond,metaboth,homepage = all the above, + 4 points for homepage=true in WEBI
- SearchFirst,SearchSecond,metaboth,homepage,rating = all the above, + 2 points for WEBI #1 rating, 2 for #2 rating, nothing for #3 rating.
- Everything doubled = just like above, but with 64, 32, 16, 8, 4 & 2 bonus points.
- Everything quadrupled = 128, 64, 32, 16, 4 & 2 bonus points.
Comments and questions
Please email your questions and observations to John Shirey, Peter Buch and David Zlotchenko. Thank you.
