VDOT OneSearch: Quick Start Guide: Visual View

The "Visual" tab for search results is on the left-side of the screen (and can be easy to overlook), right next to the "Topics" tab. Here's what it looks like for the search we just did (see image to the right): 

Visualizations is located on the left side of the results page in the cluster area. There are two tabs (Topics and Visual). Visualization is not open by default and you must click the "Visual" tab in order for Visualizations to appear.

The visualizations tool appears as a large ring with smaller subtopics listed on the outside. Each topic and subtopic lists the number of results that are associated with it. For example, a main topic of "Historic Covered Bridge" to the right lists 20 results. Within those results, and five subtopics — Example: Repair (4) — each with a different number of results.

Clicking on any topic or subtopic will update the list of results displayed within the center results pane, and each time you do that you're narrowing your search results.  Arrows next to topics indicate more result clusters within a section. You can also zoom in on a topic by double-clicking on it.

The "Visual" tab for search results is on the left-side of the screen (and can be easy to overlook), right next to the "Topics" tab. Here's what it looks like for the search we just did (see image to the left): 

Because the default setting is the "Topics" tab, the "Visual" tab can be easy to overlook. You must click on the "Visual" tab in order for the Visualizations wheel to appear, and you can do this after initially narrowing with the "Topics" tab.

The visualization tool appears as a large ring of topics, with subtopics listed on the outside. Each topic and subtopic lists the number of results associated with it. For example, a main topic of "Historic Covered Bridge"(in red) on the left has 20 results. Within those results, there are six subtopics — Example: Repair (4) — each with a smaller number of results.

Clicking on any topic or subtopic will update the list of results displayed within the center results pane, and each time you do that you're refining results. Arrows next to topics indicate more result clusters within a section. You can also zoom in on a topic by double-clicking on it. With each click, your search results on the right will "narrow" to reflect your choices.