Using the Toolbox Online
The Toolbox Online database can be used by either using the explore categories method, or the search method.
Finding Solutions
Explore Categories
The explore categories functionality allows you to browse through an index of categories under which each solution in the Toolbox is organized. The categories were determined through over 30 years of service to farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers. These change as the Toolbox Online expands and is improved over time.
Search
The search functionality allows you to search the Toolbox database using keywords that relate to the needs and functions that need a solution.
Function Icons
In the upper right hand part of the Toolbox Online area, icons are included for specialized functions. The full icon bar looks appears like:
Print/Save to PDF
Using the Save/Print to PDF icon allows for the contents of the current page to be saved as an Adobe PDF document. The PDF can be saved to a location on your computer or printed out for later use. When viewing a Favorites List, a PDF will include all Solutions that are included in the Favorites List.
Favorites List
Using the Favorites List icon will show a page with all the currently selected Solutions to be displayed in one list. The Favorites List can be saved and referenced permanently for later use or to share with others. This functinality does not save links to your web browser. To save links to pages in your web browser, refer to the help documentation for that browser.
A similar looking icon is included on Solution pages or the Search page, and is associated with saving a Solution in the current Favorites List.
Help
The Help icon will take you to this help documentation.
Search Functionality
When running a search, the Search page will return results as blocks of information. An example search block for the term "bale handling" would include a block like this:
Once the search is executed, a search results page will be loaded. For each Solution that is found in the search, a block will be included. Each block is styled in a consistent pattern. The elements of the search result block are shown in the following figure:
- Thumbnail Image - A small version of an image of the Solution
- Solution Title - The title of the Solution in the Toolbox datbase
- Score Bar - This bar includes the Search Rank, a relative measurement of the rank within a given search, to give an idea of how good a match is. The bar is a visual indicator of this number.
- "Add to Favorites List" Checkbox - using this control adds the Solution to the current Favorites List, allowing selected Solutions to be viewed together and included in one PDF document
- Limitation Type(s) - A list of limitations that apply to the Solution
- Description Excerpt - An excerpt of the full description of the Solution
- Category Trail - Links that represent the Toolbox categories (taxonomy) under which the Solution is listed in the Toolbox Database
