Custom strategy mode is a so-called "full text" search engine. It allows searching with Boolean operators and wildcards for getting a narrow results set exactly matching your search query:
Custom strategy pop-up window: the easiest way to use Custom strategy is by ticking the respective checkbox in the search form and opening the pop-up window that displays the basic options:
Please note that when using this pop up, you only need to enter the search terms into the respective string, and the system automatically adds operators/ modifiers.
You will then see what the query looks like on the bottom string after the “=” symbol. Click “Update” to apply this configuration:
Below you can find more details about Custom Strategy popup window search strings:
All these words: This option produces the results that contain all of the listed terms regardless of their order. Use space between words, no commas or AND needed:
When using this option with no further modifications, it retrieves the marks where those searched terms stand as separate words with no additional symbols in them.
E.g. MY DOG IS A CAT; HOT DOG AND SOUR CAT
If you also tick the "Include stemming" checkbox, the results will include terms with the same stem (suffixes or endings may be added)
E.g. CATS VC DOGS; GEIGNING CATS AND DOGS
These exact phrases: this option provides you with the search results strictly limited to the term that you use, with no additional symbols, as it is using the field-start and field-end modifiers. No quotation marks are needed.
Any of these words: this option returns the results where at least one of the terms appears. Use spaces between words.
E.g. FOR CATS, BY CATS; BIG DOG LITTLE DOG; DOG.DOG.CAT.
None of these words: this option allows excluding some trademark results, so the most optimal usage would be in combination with other criteria when you already have a list of results and would like to narrow them down in some specific way. Use space between words.
E.g. CAT: CERTIFICATE; excluding EDUCATION
Multiple character wild card (*): wildcard (the asterisk *) matches zero or any character occurrence.
E.g. HAY, HAPPY; HAY-U-HAY; HARMONY
Single character wildcard (?): matches exactly 1 character occurrence where the question mark (?) represents a single character. This means that the results will contain trademarks where only one symbol is used in place of the question mark.
E.g. HAPY; HABY; HAZY MISS DAISY; excluding HAPPY
NOTE: the below two operators were added recently and are not yet displayed in the Custom strategy popup or Library of operators, but can be used when typing directly into the custom strategy string (without using the popup)
Single or no character wildcard (%): matches zero or 1 character occurrence in place of the % symbol. It can be used by simply typing into the search string while the custom mode is selected:
E.g. HAY DAY; HAY; HABY
Vowel wildcard (~): with this option, you can query the results with different vowel options. This includes the following: ~ used at the beginning of the phrase to substitute all vowels in a query:
E.g. HIBI; HABY; HOBIE; HOBYS
~ used inside the phrase – to substitute the specific vowels. Or several ~ to substitute several vowels:
E.g. HABA; HOBAS;
E.g. HAOBA; HIEBAS
Moreover, when searching without the trademark parameter (e.g. searching only by number or by owner), your search mode also automatically switches to Custom strategy with the following notification:
