Frequently Asked Questions: Searching/Browsing | FaithVisuals.com (via Mowser)

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Frequently Asked Questions: Searching/Browsing

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Searching/Browsing

How do I find content that fits a particular Bible text? How do I find content that fits lectionary texts? How do I find content for a certain topic? How do I search so I get the maximum number of results? How do I search so I get the minimum number of results? How can I refine my search or do an advanced search? How do I get only the content closest to what I really need? How do I use filters? How do I search by multiple words or phrases? How do I narrow my search when there are too many results to display? I think you must have media for my topic, but I'm getting very few results? Why? What are the different options on the top of the search box? What if I still have questions?

How do I find content that fits a particular Bible text?

In the search box at the top of the FaithVisuals.com homepage, type a Bible reference. The search engine does recognize standard abbreviations such as "1 Cor" for "1 Corinthians." With books such as Corinthians that use numerals, you must use the numeral (1 Corinthians) rather than the word (First Corinthians). Right above the Search box click on the link "Bible Reference". The word "Bible Reference" will become highlighted. Hit the Enter key on your keyboard, or with your mouse, click the arrow button.

How do I find content that fits lectionary texts?

At the top of almost every page on FaithVisuals.com, you'll see a "Search" box. Click on the "Lectionary" link on the far right side of the search box area. This will bring you to the lectionary texts for the current quarter. Simply click on any text listed, and you'll receive results (videos, PowerPoints, images, and more) for that text.

Also, in the far-right column of most pages on FaithVisuals.com, there's a box called "Lectionary" that lists the texts for the forthcoming Sunday. Simply click on any text listed, and you'll receive results (videos, PowerPoints, images, and more) for that text.

How do I find content for a certain topic?

There are two different ways to search by topic.

Option A: Search by Keyword

Type the keyword you're looking for into the Search box found at the top of the page. Right above the Search box click on the link "Topic". The word "Topics" will become highlighted. Then hit Enter or click on the arrow button in the Search box. This searches the keywords that have been applied to the content, but not the full text of the context. This is the best way to search when your keyword or topic has more than one word.

Option B: Word Search

Type the word you're looking for into the Search box found at the top of the page. Right above the Search box click on the link "Word or Phrase". The word "Word or Phrase" will become highlighted. Then hit Enter or click on the arrow button in the Search box. This searches every word in the video description, as well as the title, and citations. Searching by "Word or Phrase," versus "Topic" or "Bible Reference," is the most extensive search you can perform because it not only searches the description, but also the title, keywords, filters, and citations.

How do I search so I get the maximum number of results?

At the top the page, find the Search box and type a word in the box that would most likely be unique to the content you are looking for. Directly above the search box, click on "Word or Phrase". Hit the Enter key on your keyboard or use your mouse to click the "arrow" button. This searches every word in the description as well as the title, and citation. Searching by "Word or Phrase," versus "Topic" or "Bible Reference," is the most extensive search you can perform because it not only searches the description, but also illustration title, keywords, filters, and citations. To expand the search wider still, type multiple related topics and synonyms in the search field, such as grace, mercy, forgiveness, salvation. (Multiple topics in a search may be separated by a comma, semicolon, period, or space. Do not use the word "and" between words.)

How do I search so I get the minimum number of results?

At the top of any page, find the Search box and type a topic in the box. Hit the Enter key on your keyboard, or with your mouse, click the "arrow" button. Your results will include any content with that topic. We assign every type of content a list of topics, visible in the summary of each piece of content.

How can I refine my search or do an advanced search?

Apply filters to your search:

Click the "Advanced" button at the bottom right corner of the Search box. Select one or more filters by clicking the box next to the filter. Then enter the topic, word, Bible reference or author that you want to search on. With your mouse, click the "arrow" button. This will display only the content that have the particular filters applied that you choose. For example an illustration search on "glory" yields a certain number of results, but when you apply the "Stories" filter, the number is reduced.

Search by Bible reference:

Click on "Bible Reference" directly above the Search box. Directly under "Bible Reference" type the Scripture reference in the search box. The search engine does recognize standard abbreviations such as "1 Cor" for "1 Corinthians." With books such as Corinthians that use numerals, you must use the numeral (1 Corinthians) rather than the word (First Corinthians). Hit the Enter key on your keyboard, or with your mouse, click the "arrow" button.

How do I get only the content closest to what I really need? How do I use filters?

At times you want something that appeals to people with a particular interest. For example, you are speaking to young people, and you want a video with young people in it or you want a picture that creates positive feelings of hope, or a bit of humor to release tension.

At these times, FaithVisuals.com filters can help you find just what you are looking for. There are several different types of filters: Type, Audience, Source, Region, Purpose, Tone, etc. Here's how to apply filters to your search:

Click on the "Advanced" button found in the bottom right hand corner of the search box. This will bring down a list of filters that can be used. Suppose you are looking for a video for your introduction that provides a humorous beginning to your sermon. You can find only those videos that involve humor by clicking the box next to the "Humor" on the filters list. Enter your search term in the box above the filters and click the "arrow" button with your mouse.

You may choose multiple filters by clicking on more than one. This will narrow your search even further.

How do I search by multiple words or phrases?

To search by multiple words:

Enter all the words in the search box (make sure they're separated from each other by a space). Click "Word or Phrase" above the search box. Hit the "enter" key on your keyboard, or click the "arrow" button just right of the search box
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This will search all content: description, title, topics, even citations. Note that you will get only results that have all of your words.

To search by phrases:

Enter the phrase in the search box—surrounded by quotation marks (for example, "never give up"). Click "Word or Phrase" above the search box. Hit the "enter" key on your keyboard, or click the "arrow" button just right of the search box
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This will search all content: description, title, topics, even citations. Note that you will get only results that have all of your words—and in that exact order.

How do I narrow my search when there are too many results to display?

Sometimes your search query uses a common word that appears in hundreds of items (like searching on the word "love" alone).

Here are three ways to narrow your search.

Add topically related words to your query. Click on the links below to explore examples of narrowing a search on "love."

For videos on parental love try: love parenting For videos about sacrificial love, try: love sacrifice For videos mentioning not only love but also an antonym, try one of the following: love hatred, love enemies, love shun, or love angry. (Consult a thesaurus for more ideas.)

Use FaithVisuals.com filters to help you find just what you are looking for. There are several different types of filter: Type, Audience, Source, Region, Purpose, Tone, etc.

Here's how to apply filters to your search:

You may choose multiple filters by clicking on more than one. This will narrow your search even further.

Browse the topics for the type of content you are looking for.

Click the "Browse Topics" link found in the top right corner of the Search box.

Scroll down the page to find "Browse by Topic". Click a letter to find the all the topics associated with that letter.

I think you must have media for my topic, but I'm getting very few results? Why?

See if we index using a different form of the word. For example, instead of searching on "forgiving," try "forgiveness." To check on possible forms of words, click on the "Browse Topics" link found in the top right corner of the Search box. Then scroll down to "Browse by Topic" section. Click on the first letter of your topic and then look for your keyword or one close to it. Check that you spelled the word correctly in the search field. Try synonyms and related ideas. For example, if you search on "Easter," you might not receive as many results as if you search on "resurrection." If you search by Bible reference and get few results, try a topic search. For example, if you search on "John 3:3," and don't get as many results as you needed, try searching on "conversion" for more results.

What are the different options on the top of the search box?

"Topic," which searches only the topics (keywords) of the media. See the entire topic list here. "Bible Reference," which searches the Bible References that have been assigned to the content. "Word," which searches the description, keywords, citation, and full text of the content. This is the most complete search available on our site. "Producer," which searches the original producer of the media and citation fields of the content.

What if I still have questions?

Contact Customer Care here, or call us at (877) 247-4787. Please keep in mind that our Customer Care team is in the office Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., US Central Time.