Search Guide
The Muralfarm.org search includes features for searching by keyword, dates, themes, people, series, address, neighborhood as well as options for including murals that do not have a location and murals for which a picture has not yet been scanned.
Set multiple search options and then click 'Search' to return murals of murals that meet the selected criteria. To remove all search criteria and begin a new search, click 'Clear'.
Search Types
Address
Search for murals at or near an address or intersection.
The Address search enables a user to search for murals near a specific address or intersection within the City of Philadelphia. Enter an address in the box and click the 'Search' button.
Keyword
Search for murals by keywords found in their titles, descriptions, and notes.
The Keyword search checks the mural's title, description, and notes to find matching words. Type the keyword in the box and click the 'Search' button. To search for the exact phrase entered, include quotation marks around the phrase. They keyword search will also search the people and groups involved with the creation of the mural, including artists, assistants, and sponsoring organizations. It will also search any themes that a mural belongs to.
Themes
Search for murals by pre-determined themes.
Themes are pre-determined categories to which murals have been assigned. Click on the small arrow next to the word 'Topics' and a menu of topics will drop down. Check the box or boxes next to the topics you are interested in and click 'Search'. To uncheck any selected boxes, click 'None'.
Time Period
Search for murals that were completed within a designated time period.
The Time Period search enables a user to search for murals completed in the time period you designate. Enter the desired search range in the ?From year' and ?To year' boxes and click 'Search'.
Neighborhood
Search for murals in a particular neighborhood.
Neighborhood search enables a user to search for murals in a particular Philadelphia neighborhood. Click on the arrow next to the word 'Neighborhood'. A drop-down menu will appear with a list of neighborhoods. Click on the neighborhood in which you want to search.
Map Search
Use the map of Philadelphia to search for murals.
The Map search enables a user to search for murals based on where you are on the map of the City. Users can zoom in to or out of a particular area. Users can also click and drag the map to the area they'd like to search.
Click on any flag on the map to view information about the mural at that location.
No Media
Include murals without digitized media.
This feature enables search results to include records that contain only text and no image.
No Location
Include murals without a location.
This feature enables search results to include murals that have not been or cannot be assigned a location.
Records Changed
Find recently added or updated murals.
This search tool enables a user to search only for records that have been added or changed in a selected timeframe. Click on the arrow next to the word 'Anytime' and a drop-down menu will appear with a list of timeframes. Click the box next to the timeframe you would like to see.
Viewing Results
Paging
Page through results.
The number of results pages generated from a search appears above the thumbnail images on the left side of the page. To select a specific page of results, type the page number you would like to see in the box after the word 'Page' and hit enter. Click the green arrows located next to that box to see the previous, next, first, or last pages of results.
Sorting Results
Sort murals by distance and date.
Click the drop-down menu on the right side of the page above the thumbnail images and select the way in which you would like to see your search results ordered.
KML
Open searches in Google Earth format.
Click the Open in Google Earth icon below the search map to save and see the first 100 mural results in KML format. Either choose to open Google Earth (if available), or save the KML file to your computer.
Saving Searches
Bookmarks
Save search criteria.
The 'My Bookmarks' feature allows a set of search criteria to be saved for later use. This feature requires the user to be logged in to the site. Set search criteria, click 'Search', and wait for the search results to load. Click on 'My Bookmarks', located above the thumbnail images on the right side of the page. Type a name for this search and click 'Save'. Murals that fit that search will be included in the results as they are added to the site.
RSS Feed
Know when searches are updated.
Each bookmark can be selected as a news feed in the RSS (Real Simple Syndication) format. Click the orange icon located next to the bookmark to view the current contents and subscribe to the feed. Users can set their own schedule for viewing updated results.