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New Search Interface for the NLM IndexCat Database

DuQuette LA, Smith CN. New Search Interface for the NLM IndexCat. NLM Tech Bull. 2014 Mar-Apr;(397):e1.

March 25, 2014 [posted]

NLM is pleased to announce the launch of a new user interface for the IndexCat database. Utilizing the IBM® InfoSphere Data Explorer (DE) software, the new interface offers a faster response time to searches; full record displays in search results; and also record sorting and refinements. NLM also uses DE as the search engine for our main Web site, as well as MedlinePlus, MedlinePlus en Español, the Directory of the History of Medicine Collections search engine, and the History of Medicine Finding Aids Consortium. The DuraSpace Fedora platform will be used for storage of the data.

IndexCat simultaneously searches the digitized version of the printed Index-Catalogue of the Library of the Surgeon General's Office; eTK for medieval Latin texts; and eVK2 for medieval English texts; and LocatorPlus. You can link directly to LocatorPlus and, if onsite, can request materials to research in the library.

A post in the NLM Circulating Now blog offers additional information on IndexCat.

Searching the New IndexCat

There are a number of new and revised FAQs and Help pages to assist with searching IndexCat.

When you enter a search term, the Index-Catalogue, eTKeVK2, and LocatorPlus tabs are displayed. To see your search results, click on the respective tab.

The new IndexCat features include:

  • keyword searching for terms anywhere in the bibliographic description (see Figure 1);
  • search refinements and sorting options (see Figures 2 and 3);
  • combination searching using Boolean AND, OR, or NOT (see Figure 4);
  • phrase searching using double quotes (see Figure 5); and
  • final truncation using an asterisk * (see Figure 6 illustrates searching without truncation and Figure 7 for searching with truncation).


Screen capture of Keyword searching using the term nursing.
Figure 1: IndexCat keyword search using the term nursing.


Screen capture of Refining keyword search results by Index-Catalogue: Type of Resource: Journal.
Figure 2: Refining IndexCat keyword search results by Index-Catalogue: Type of Resource: Journal.


Screen capture of(Sorting search results by Date (Ascending)).
Figure 3: Sorting IndexCat search results by Date (ascending shown).


Screen capture of Combination searching using the Boolean operator NOT – nursing not mothers.
Figure 4: Combination IndexCat searching using the Boolean operator NOT – nursing NOT mothers.


Screen capture of IndexCat phrase searching: use quotes around public health.
Figure 5: IndexCat phrase searching: use quotes – "public health".


Screen capture of Searching for breath without truncation yields 242.
Figure 6: IndexCat searching without truncation for breath yields 242 results.


Screen capture of Searching for breath with truncation yields 1,057.
Figure 7: IndexCat searching with truncation use breath* yields 1057 results.