A. Introduction

The repository of the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies offers highly significant and remarkable content for both specialized academic audiences and the general public.

If you want to know what it contains, you can browse through the content collections and featured content. If you have a specific question, you can use the Search function.

B. Navigation

To explore the content of the digital library, it is organized hierarchically. From the homepage, you will find the first level with six collections:

• ARCHIVE
• REGISTRI
• RELICS AND ICONS
• MINIATURES
• POST INCUNABULA
• MANUSCRIPTS

A collection displays the digital items it contains in a brochure format. The order in which items appear can be changed using the following sorting options:

• Most relevant (default), where the repository arranges the content according to its own algorithmic criteria.
• Most recent, where the repository arranges the content from the most recently created item to the oldest.
• Oldest, where the repository arranges the content from the oldest created item to the most recent.
• Title A-Z, where the repository arranges the content lexicographically by the item’s title from smallest to largest.
• Title Z-A, where the repository arranges the content lexicographically by the item’s title from largest to smallest.

By default, the items are displayed in a grid of icons. Each icon contains information such as date and title. If you prefer to view items in a list for easier readability of titles, click the button.

At the top and bottom of the page, item pagination is displayed.

For collections with many items, the user can use the filters displayed on the left. When you select a filter value, the displayed items are narrowed down. On desktop, filters appear on the left, while on mobile devices, filters appear when you tap the 'Filters' button. Additionally, filters are updated to apply to the narrowed items.

When you find an item of interest, click the icon and the item’s page will appear. There you will find the metadata that describe it, and if you click on 'View in viewer', you will see the digital content.

C. Search

With the search function, you can locate specific digital items that match certain words. You can use the general search, which searches all available information, or the advanced search, which lets you choose specific parts like title or keywords.

1 General Search

Searches all fields of each digital item. If at least one field matches, meaning it contains the words we're looking for, the item is included in the results. Various tools are available to handle different search cases.

1.1 Words

You can write words without worrying about capitalization or accent marks. Additional tools are explained below.

1.1.1 Stemming

For each search term, the repository removes the ending using rules. This handles the rich variety of Greek grammatical forms. For example, the search result is the same whether you search:

• φλαγγίνης or φλαγγίνη
• βενετία or βενετίας

1.1.2 Wildcards

1.1.2.1 End-of-word matching *

If stemming doesn't help, you can write the first letters of the word followed by an asterisk. For example, manag* matches manage, manager, management.

1.1.2.2 Similar terms ~

If you're unsure about spelling, add ~ at the end of the word. For example, αναλογία gives no results, but αναλογία~ gives 42 results.

1.2 Term Combination

1.2.1 Logical AND

By default, search terms are joined with a logical AND. So all terms must be present for the item to match. Example: Management of bequest (4,101 results).

1.2.2 Logical OR

Done by placing OR in capital letters between terms. Example: Διαχείριση OR κληροδοτήματος (18,976 results).

1.2.3 Logical NOT

Use NOT (in caps) or a minus sign directly before the word you want to exclude, with no space.

• Διαχείριση κληροδοτήματος (4,101 results)
• Διαχείριση κληροδοτήματος -δικηγόρος (2,855 results)
• Διαχείριση κληροδοτήματος NOT δικηγόρος

1.2.4 Operator Precedence

Operators have precedence in this order:

• Logical NOT (highest precedence)
• Logical AND (undefined precedence)
• Logical OR (undefined precedence)

Use parentheses to change precedence

• (φλαγγίνης διαθήκη) OR (φλαγγίνης επιστολή)
• Φλαγγίνης (διαθήκη OR επιστολή)

1.2.5 Phrase

To find words appearing side by side in the document, enclose them in double quotes. Word order matters. For example, “Flanginis will” is different from “Flanginis dispositive”. Stemming is applied first.

2 Advanced Search

Add search criteria and run the search. To narrow results, click 'Edit search' and add criteria. If the search is too narrow, remove some criteria. Each criterion supports the options from paragraph 2.