Refining the decision search

You can perform more precise searches by using search operators in the free-text search of decisions.

Decision search includes search operators that allow you to refine your query. These operators are used by adding special characters to the free-text search. Operators can be combined.

Exact phrase search: By adding quotation marks "" around the search term, the search will target results that contain exactly the string inside the quotation marks.

  • Example search: "Myllypuron metroasema"

Combination searches: By adding the + symbol to your search, you can include multiple parallel search terms. The search will return results containing both terms.

  • Example search, which combines the + symbol with an exact phrase search: "Myllypuron metroasema" + "peruskorjaus".

By adding the | symbol to your search, you can target results that contain either or both search terms.

  • Example search: "Myllypuro" | "Herttoniemi".

Exclusion search: By adding +- to your search, you can exclude results containing the search term after the +- symbols.

  • Example search 1: Myllypuro +-Herttoniemi
  • Example search 2, which combines exact phrase search, combination search, and exclusion search: "metroaseman" + "peruskorjaus" +-Herttoniemi.

Weighted search: By adding parentheses () around your search term, you can emphasize its importance in the results.

  • Example search: (+sandra +hagmanin) | (+juha +hakolan) +aloite

Combining Search Operators

Using operators limits search results. You can use the  symbol along with other operators to include variations of the search term. The * operator can not be directly combined with quotation marks.

  • Example search with the special character * for an expanded search: "myllypuron" + peruskorja*

You can combine special characters with other search filters (Ajankohta, Aihe ja Päättäjä) and with each other:

  • Example search for city council decisions from 2024, where one of two search terms appears, but results containing a third term are excluded: "talousarvio" | "taloussuunnitelma" +-"aloitteet"