Advanced tools to refine your resource search
Our resource search allows for you to set several parameters and filters to help you find what you need. However, logged in users to iCarol can also use an advanced search system called “Query Language” to even further refine their results.
The Query Language is an advanced search system that allows you to refine search results by looking for specific values in resource record fields. iCarol Admins can turn on this feature in their iCarol system by following these steps:
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1. Click Admin Tools in the left hand menu.
2. Click the Resources tab.
3. Scroll down to the “Other settings” section.
4. Click the box next to “Enable Query Language in Resource Searching” to place a check mark there.
5. Click the Save settings button at the top of the page.
How to use the Query Language
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1. Log into iCarol from an account with viewing access to the Resource database
2. Click on “Resources” from the left menu, or click on “Search resources” from a call report.
3. Enter a search term in the search text box, and click search (eg. Food)
4. To refine your search results you will add a specific code to the end of the initial search term. The code consists of a short code (or abbreviation) for a resource field, then an equals sign, followed by the value to search. (eg. Food elg=homeless), then click search. iCarol will then look for records were the original term exists AND where the additional field values exist.
Please note, Query Language searches can be added to Taxonomy, Resources and custom Category searches.
Available Codes for Query Language searches
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Code Resource Field Searched (Example)
adr= Exact address (eg. “adr=10025 106 Street”, “adr=Cambridge”)
str= Address Line 1 & 2 (eg. “str=”Jasper”, “str=cambridge”)
loc= City/Town (eg. “loc=Toronto”, “loc=Washinton”)
pcd= Postal/Zip Code (eg. “pcd=”T6K 2W8”, “pcd=91210”)
des= Description (eg. “des=taxes”, “des=women”)
elg= Eligibility (eg. “elg=homeless”, “elg=unemployed”, “elg=low income”)
enm= Main Contact, Senior Worker Verifiers Name (eg. “enm=Carol”, “enm=Neil”)
hrs= Hours Opened (eg. “hrs=9:00am”, “hrs=3:00pm”)
lng= Language (eg. “lng=french”, “lng=spanish”)
acc= Accessibility/wheelchair (eg. “acc=yes”)
Note: Multiple codes can be used on the same search, for example “Food Bank lng=french elg=feed”
Here are a few examples of searches using Query Language.
Below is a taxonomy search for “Food Pantries” with no Query Language codes added. There are 34 resources that meet the search parameters:
In this next search, the Query Language code des=food is added, to find the resources assigned to the taxonomy term Food Pantries that also have the word “food” in their description. This reduces the total number of search results to 22. You can see in the first few results where “food” is found in the description of the agency or program.
And in this final search, two Query Language search codes are added, des=food and loc=Gary. This search will find those resources assigned to the taxonomy term Food Pantries that have the word “food” in their descriptions, and that are also located in Gary. There are now 5 search results.
With these advanced codes added to the search area, you can tell iCarol more specifically what criteria you’d like your search results to meet.
If you have any questions on how to use this feature, please send a request using the Online Case Submission Tool, found in your Help menu, for support.
