GRIN Searching Tips

Searches are case insensitive so searching for "shuttle" is the same as searching for "Shuttle" or "SHUTTLE"

A wild card character "*" is available for use with tail truncation

Example : A search for "x-3*" will return hits containing "x-31", "x-33", "x-34", etc.

The following Boolean operators are available for use in GRIN searches:

OR
AND
NOT
( )

The default Boolean operator is OR

Example : A search for "NACA Wright" is equivalent to a search for "NACA or Wright"

AND is proximity independent

Example : A search for "wind and tunnel" will return hits containing "wind tunnel" as well as "the wind blew through the tunnel"

NOT is shorthand for AND NOT

Example : A search for "Apollo-1* not Apollo-15" will return hits that contain "Apollo-17", "Apollo-13", etc. except in cases that also contain "Apollo-15"

() Parentheses are used to quote a phrase

Example : A search for "(space shuttle)" will return hits containing the exact phrase "space shuttle".

For complex searching, the boolean operators available in the pull-down menus are only active when an entry has been made in the adjacent text box.

Example : The following entries will perform a search where "Title = shuttle" and "Date = 10/3/1988" while ignoring all of the other boolean settings.

Updated April 20, 2009
History Questions:Nasa History Office
Responsible NASA Official:Steve Garber
Author:Michael Hahn
Editor:Dwayne A. Day
Web Curator/Developer:Erin Needham