Why did my Knowledge Base search not find any texts?

Note: Some users have access to internal documents based on ADS group. If you do not find any documents on a subject you expect to be covered, trying logging into the Knowledge Base. At the Knowledge Base home page, click Login on the right just below the white area.

The Knowledge Base works best when you construct your searches in a particular way. Following are some guidelines for effective Knowledge Base searches:

• Check your spelling! The most common reason for failed searches is misspelling. Making only one mistake in just one word may ruin your whole search.
  
  
• Use two to five significant words in your search. Using too many words will eliminate many Knowledge Base documents that might contain your answer, yet using too few words will give you too many documents to read. Start with the name of your software package and the function you're trying to accomplish. Either of the following are good examples: mac os x vpn connection xp automatic update
• Try using other forms of the words in your search. For example, if your search on xp installation doesn't find the document you want, try searching on xp installing, or better yet, xp install .
  
  
• Try using synonyms for your search terms. For example, if you don't find anything by searching on windows hosed, maybe you'll have better luck with windows crash .
  
  
• If you're looking for information that isn't specific to a particular version, try omitting version numbers in your search. For example, search on internet explorer rather than internet explorer 6.0 .
  
  
• Avoid searching on specific filenames. For example, rather than searching for sndrec32.exe , try looking for windows sound .

It may be that the information you're looking for isn't in the Knowledge Base at all. Here are some reasons this might be the case:

• Your question isn't related to Indiana University or information technology (IT). The Knowledge Base contains mainly IT-related information. If you're searching for medical terminology, for example, you're not going to find the information here.
  
  
• Your question isn't related to systems used at IU (for example, we use PPP, not SLIP). The Knowledge Base is primarily designed with IU computer users in mind.
  
  
• Your question is too specific. The Knowledge Base contains information about questions that are frequently asked at IU. If your question hasn't been asked often, it won't be in the Knowledge Base. However, if you're an IU computer user, you can get individualized help by selecting, from the bottom of any Knowledge Base document, No, and I'd like to ask a consultant.
  
  
• Perhaps the Knowledge Base staff simply hasn't entered this information into the Knowledge Base yet. Knowledge Base staff add and update Knowledge Base documents every day, but the Knowledge Base's thousands of answers can't solve every computing problem. Again, if you use computers at IU and your computing question isn't in the Knowledge Base, from the bottom of any Knowledge Base document, select No, and I'd like to ask a consultant. Consultants will research your question and email the answer to you. If it's appropriate, they'll also put that answer into the Knowledge Base.

Also see:

• What is the history of the Knowledge Base?
• In Knowledge Base searches, should I use quotation marks?
• Where can I find online help for my computing questions?
• In Knowledge Base searches, are some words ignored?
• How do I use the Knowledge Base?
• How can I search the Knowledge Base on C, X, or STEPS?
• What's new with the Knowledge Base?
• What awards has the Knowledge Base won?