Help
Contents
We hope you will find this IBFD Database an easy-to-use electronic product. If you wish, you may find your way around by simply exploring the possibilities of the application. After that, you can jump to the explanation of the advanced search facilities located in Section 3. Alternatively, if you prefer a more detailed description of the possibilities of the application first, please read along.
The interface is divided into three frames. The top frame (1) is the title frame with all the relevant buttons for navigating through the various sections of the product. The left frame will initially be opened to the TOC (Table of Contents) listing. Pressing on the "Search" tab will bring up the search form (2). The middle frame (3) contains either the Home Page (containing the tailored news items and current awareness items about updates of country chapters and treaty information), the Results screen or a document.
Clicking on the IBFD logo in this frame will open up the IBFD Public Home Page in a new window. Pressing the "Home" tab will bring you back to the Home Page (containing the tailored news items and current awareness items about updates of country chapters and treaty information). Pressing the "Colophon" tab brings you to a page with general information about the product and the editors. Pressing the "Feedback" tab will take you to a form where you can submit any feedback on the product's content and functionality. Pressing the "Print" tab will allow you to print the contents of the middle frame (3) and pressing the "Help" tab will open this document you are currently reading.
When a document is open in the frame, the "Locate in TOC" button is displayed. Pressing this button will display the location of the document in the Table of Contents in the left frame.
The left frame will initially display the Table of Contents.
Clicking the "Search" tab loads the search form into the left frame. First start narrowing your results by using the menu on the left side to select certain types of information e.g. news, commentary or primary sources OR to narrow your search by subject or geographically.
It is also possible to enter a specific subject in the keyword box. Every time you enter a search item or narrow the searches, your selections appear at the top of the screen. To undo a previous selection simply click it away at the top of the screen or press the "Reset All" button which will reset the search form to its initial state.
The middle frame (main window) contains either the Home Page (showing tailored news items and current awareness items about updates of country chapters and treaty information), the Results screen or a document.
Once a search has been made the results appear in the main window. Search results are sorted in two ways: chronologically or alphabetically. News items and journal articles are sorted chronologically, starting with the most recent publication at the top of the result list. All other online products are sorted alphabetically. In most instances the search results will follow the table of contents of the products as displayed when the text of the document is opened in a new window. You can narrow your search by further using the options in the left menu. The options in the left menu are expandable, therefore a larger selection will appear once clicked.
When doing a keyword search, the terms searched on will be highlighted in the text and hit navigation will be activated. This gives you the possibility to jump to the first, last, previous or next occurrence of the search terms.
To perform a simple search on text, simply enter your search words in the "Keyword(s)" box. This Full Text Search is more effective if you first narrow your results by selecting the options displayed in the menu on the left. If you don't do this you may get too many hits, because the Full Text Search searches every single document available. When you have narrowed your results the Full Text Search can be used just like any other search engine.
To start your search, click on the "Search" button; to empty your search screen, click on the "Reset All" button.
To start your search, click on the "Search" button; to empty your search screen, click on the "Reset All" button.
Using the pull-down box(es), you can select the option or options involved in the document you wish to find.
Here is an explanation of the main options:
Practice Area
Select here the main taxation categories, such as corporate taxation, VAT, etc.
Select here the main taxation categories, such as corporate taxation, VAT, etc.
Special Topic
Select here the major topics in international taxation, such as transfer pricing, permanent establishments, etc.
Select here the major topics in international taxation, such as transfer pricing, permanent establishments, etc.
Commentary
Select the type of information such as case summaries, introductory surveys (Country Surveys), or more detailed descriptions of tax systems per country (Country Analyses) and journal articles.
Select the type of information such as case summaries, introductory surveys (Country Surveys), or more detailed descriptions of tax systems per country (Country Analyses) and journal articles.
Primary Sources
Select here texts of cases and opinions, texts of EU Directives and treaty texts.
Select here texts of cases and opinions, texts of EU Directives and treaty texts.
Every time you enter a search item or narrow the searches, your selections appear at the top of the screen. To undo a previous selection simply click it away at the top of the screen. Please note that using the pull-down box(es) refines your search and that during your search some options will eventually disappear, because they don't provide results anymore.
In the left frame you will find the Table of Contents. This follows the familiar Explorer-style for browsing a directory structure. By clicking a book or a plus sign, you open a lower level in the Table of Contents. This way, you can browse through the sections and subsections of the product.
If a document is found using "Search" and opened for reading, one might want to see the context of this document. By clicking on the "Locate in TOC" button on the right-hand side of the top frame, the TOC is opened displaying the document in question as a highlighted book.
A special print function is implemented which gives you a (scalable) preview of the print and adds a header and footer. You also have the option to change the page set-up. Please note that this special print function is only invoked when you use the "File | Print" menu item or the Print button in the top frame. If you use Ctrl-P for printing, the active frame will be printed using your default web browser settings.
For more information on this product, please consult our website www.ibfd.org. For technical support, send an email to: OnlineSupport@ibfd.org.