Entering and Refining Search Queries

The following syntax and semantic descriptions assume the command text is being entered into an existing news window. If a particular setting is not explicitly shown to receive a new value, then its value remains unchanged.

Note: The search commands described in this section are limited in scope to the current category for the news window.

Enter a new search query:

/ search_query

previous_query current_query

current_query search_query

Cancel the current query:

previous_query current_query

current_query [empty]

Note: this is actually a special form of the previous command to enter a new search query; it just so happens that the new query is empty.

Recall the previous query to be the current query (exchanges current and previous query):

previous_query current_query

Append a new query element to the current query:

/ operator new_element

previous_query current_query

current_query (current_query) operator new_element

Note: Parentheses are placed around the original current query value unless the given operator serves to extend a chained query element in the original current query. For example, if the original current query was “a & b & c” and the new operator and element were “& d”, the new value for the current query setting would be “a & b & c & d”, not “(a & b & c) & d”.

Append a new query element to previous query to form new current query:

// operator new_element

current_query (previous_query) operator new_element

Note 1: The original current query is discarded and the previous query remains unchanged.

Note 2: Parentheses are placed around the original previous query value unless the given operator serves to extend a chained query element in the original previous query. For example, if the original previous query was “a & b & c” and the new operator and element were “& d”, the new value for the current query setting would be “a & b & c & d”, not “(a & b & c) & d”.