This page aims to help you find information on the Observatory website using our site search facilities. It is also available, with additional assistance, as a download in searching wmro.org information sheet (PDF, 159KB).
The search facility is provided on every page of our website above the left-side menu. Simply type keywords in the the search entry box and click on Go. By default the entire site will be search and results from all sections will be displayed. The Search Results page displays results in tabs with a count of the number of matching results for each section.
By default results are listed alphabetically. You can limit your results to specific sections of the site by selecting the relevant tab. For example, select the Resources tab to view results exclusively from the Regional Resource Catalogue.
If your search returns too many results you can refine your search by using the refinement options on the right-side of the results. The tab that you have selected will determine what refinement options are available. Alternatively you can add additional keywords to the search text field.
Choosing the right search terms is key to finding the information that you need. By default your search will return results that contain all of the keywords entered in the search text box.
If you cannot find the information that you need, try broadening your search terms by using less specific keywords or using a synonym or alternate spelling. For example, if a search on e-commerce does not return the information you require, try e-business or ecommerce.
Conversely if you return too many results, try to enter more specific keywords, exclude results using the Boolean NOT or use the search refinement options in the results.
Searches are not case-sensitive so a search for worcestershire unemployment will return the same results as Worcestershire unemployment, WORCESTERSHIRE UNEMPLOYMENT or even WoRceSterSHire UnEMPloYmEnT!
If you are searching for an exact phrase, put quotation marks around the phrase required. For example, "regional skills partnership".
To save you from having to search for both singular and plural versions of words, searches will check both the singular and its plural for most regular plurals. For example, a search on small business will return the same results as a search for small businesses.
A wildcard can be indicated with an asterisk. For example, a search for stat* will return matching results with statistics, statistical and statisticians.
You can also use a ? to indicate replacing a single character. For example, a search for organi?ation will return results matching both organisation and organization.
By default, the search will look for results that include all search terms entered, i.e. there is an implicit AND between the terms.
If you want to find results that include either of two search terms, then you can use the Boolean OR operator or the | symbol between the two terms.
If you want to exclude certain words from your search results, you can use the Boolean NOT operator or a - immediately in front of the word to exclude it.
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Search keywords entered
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Expected results
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herefordshire worcestershire
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All results relating to both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
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herefordshire AND worcestershire
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This is the same as entering herefordshire worcestershire and therefore returns all results relating to both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
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herefordshire OR worcestershire
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All results relating to either Herefordshire or Worcestershire or both.
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herefordshire NOT worcestershire
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All results relating to Herefordshire, excluding those relating to Worcestershire.
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When you submit a search, all sections of the site are checked for results that match your search terms and you can switch between tabs to look for information in the different sections of the site.
By default, search results are presented in alphabetical order with additional sort options available in the Resources tab.
You can refine your search results using the refinement options on the right of the screen. Different options are presented on different tabs and if a refinement is selected, it is only applied to the set of results in the tab that is active. As you add refinements, the breadcrumb of the search includes the refinement options selected. To remove a refinement, you can select the previous stage in the search in the breadcrumb.
An advanced search option is provided as a hyperlink below the search box above the left-side menu and offers further options for making more precise searches.
In addition, the advanced search form allows you to include information from our partner organisation, West Midlands Public Health Observatory. Records from their site are identified with their logo in the search results.
You can also browse for information by subject and by regional strategy from the Advanced search form.