How can I combine my searches?
Last updated on February 10, 2026
As your research evolves, you might want to combine some of your previous queries in your search history to run a new search.
Important notes:
- Only searches that are run in the same database (or same combination of databases) may be combined.
- Only searches that are run using the same publication year ranges can be combined.
- You will receive an error message if you attempt to run any combined searches that use different year ranges and/or a different combination of databases.
Select a section below to see different ways to combine searches.
Follow these steps to combine previous queries using checkboxes of searches:
- From the ‘Combine searches’ box on the ‘Search history on Engineering Village’ page, select the checkboxes of the searches you want to combine. The numbers corresponding to the searches (e.g., #48 AND #49) will appear in the ‘Combine searches’ box.
- In the ‘Combine searches’ box, modify the Boolean operator (AND, OR, NOT) as needed.
- The default Boolean operator is AND.
- Refer to the ‘Use Boolean operators in a Combined search’ section of this FAQ for detailed information about running Boolean operator searches for the combined queries.
- Click the magnifying glass icon to run the search.
Follow these steps to combine previous queries by entering item numbers of searches:
- Enter the numbers of the searches you wish to combine directly into the ‘Combine searches’ box above the Search history queries list. Each query number must be preceded by a # sign to combine searches (e.g., #1 AND #2).
Refer to the next section of this FAQ for detailed information about running Boolean operator searches for the combined queries. - Click the magnifying glass icon to run the search.
Examples:
#1 AND #2
Combustion AND #2
Petroleum AND #3
#5 AND #4 NOT #3
Important! If you enter a number without the # sign, Engineering Village searches for just that number, not the number of your search shown in Search history. Therefore, if you enter petroleum AND 3, Engineering Village searches for petroleum-related articles and the number 3.
Follow these steps to combine the searches using Boolean Operators AND, OR, NOT.
- From the ‘Combine searches’ column on the left side of the ‘Search history on Engineering Village’ page, select the down arrow for your first search and click ‘Start.’ The filled checkbox will display to confirm your first selection.
- Click the down arrow for your second search and select the Boolean operator (AND, OR, NOT) from the dropdown. The filled checkbox will display to confirm your second selection.
Continue this process for all searches in your Search history that you want to combine. The output numbers of these selections display in the ‘Combine searches’ box.
Note: You may also enter the numbers of the searches (preceded with the # sign) directly into the ‘Combine searches’ box.
Use nesting parentheses to specify the order of the processing in the ‘Combine searches’ box.
Example:
(#1 OR #2) AND #3You can also add additional search terms with the search item numbers:
Example:
#1 AND diodes wn KY
(#1 AND #2) AND kinetics wn TI
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