Graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program instructions for implementing a graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results including:

• a) a window defined to have a workspace;
• b) a first button programmed with instructions for inserting search cells into the workspace using a folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the first button, each search cell configured to display a search by type icon, a text field, and a hit count;
• c) a second button programmed with instructions for inserting combination cells into the workspace using the folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the second button, each combination cell configured to display a combine icon, wherein the combine icon is selected from a group including a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon and a logical MINUS icon,
• wherein, after at least two search cells are inserted into the workspace, the second button is selected;
• d) a user selection device programmed with instructions for selecting and moving search cells and combination cells within the folder tree hierarchy and for selecting and deleting search cells and combination cells from the workspace;
• and
• e) at least one tab defined within the workspace for displaying search results of search cells and combination cells in the workspace.

A method for building a Boolean query and viewing the query results using a graphical user interface as part of a computing system, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a window on a display device, the window configured to include a workspace;
• receiving a first button input causing insertion of one or more search cells into the workspace using a folder tree hierarchy, each search cell configured to include a search-by-type icon, a text field, and a hit count field;
• after at least two search cells are inserted into the workspace using the folder tree hierarchy, receiving a second button input causing insertion of one or more combination cells into the workspace, each combination cell configured to display a combine icon, wherein the combine icon is selected from a group including a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon and a logical MINUS icon;
• receiving input in the text field of each search cell specifying search terms;
• receiving input causing the search terms in each cell to be executed;
• displaying search results for each cell in a new tab in the workspace, and updating the hit count field for each cell.