Full Text Search allows the user to find all occurrences of a word, a string of words, or a number. To perform the search, you simply type in the text and click on the Search button. The Encyclopaedia responds immediately with the Search Results—a list of all entries containing the text requested. Articles are listed in order of descending frequency of occurrence of the search item.
The Text Search can be refined by utilization of the And, Or, Not, and Near functions. For example, the Text Search enables you to locate all articles including the name “ ” and “Ezra”, but not containing "Abraham" in all or in limited categories, such as History or Language and Literature. In addition, the Text Search enables you to limit the search to one or more of the nine major categories listed.
CATEGORY EXPLORER
The Category Explorer allows you to search for articles belonging to specifically defined categories. Beginning with the nine major categories, you can choose further sub-categories, to fine tune the search. For example, you may choose History->United States->Organizations, which will yield entries, such as Hadassah and the American Jewish Committee.
HYPERLINKING
Over 100,000 words in the Encyclopaedia are specially marked in blue as hyperlinks. You simply click on the hyperlinked item to open that cross-referenced entry.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Most articles are accompanied by bibliographies, accessed by clicking on the bibliography button.
SEE ALSO
Many articles provide a See Also feature referring you to other articles in the Encyclopaedia offering further or related information on the relevant topic.
GLOSSARY
Glossary terms appear in red (as do certain abbreviations). To read the definition of a glossary term, you click on the word. The definition appears. To close the definition box, simply click anywhere on the screen. The full alphabetical list of glossary terms is accessed by clicking on Glossary, under Tools on the menu bar.
ABBREVIATIONS
ABBREVIATIONS, GENERAL and BIBLIOGRAPHICAL
General and Bibliographical Abbreviations appear in red (as do glossary terms). To read the full reference, you click on the word and the reference appears. To close the reference box, simply click anywhere on the screen. The full alphabetical list of abbreviations is accessed by clicking on Abbreviations, under Tools on the menu bar.
SYMBOLS:
The following symbols are used in the Encyclopaedia Judaica CD-ROM.
r Indicates reconstructed forms.
> The word following this sign is derived from the preceding one.
< The word preceding this sign is derived from the following one.
° Before name of entry, indicates non-Jew.
WORD PROCESSOR
Copying any text to your word processor is accomplished simply by highlighting the text in the Encyclopaedia and clicking the copy button (or pressing the keyboard buttons Ctrl-C). The text may then be pasted into your word processor.
ANNOTATION
Allowing for dynamic interaction with the Encyclopaedia, the Annotation feature lets you make notes while reading an article. Annotations are saved as your own attachment to an article.
BROWSE
With the Browse feature you can move through the Encyclopaedia article by article, in alphabetical order, from whichever article is open. You can begin from any point in the Encyclopaedia.
BOOKMARK
Using the Bookmark feature the reader can record the title of any article of particular interest and access the article at any time, by clicking on that title in the Bookmark list.
HISTORY
The CD-ROM automatically records the title of articles you visit during any session with the Encyclopaedia and stores the list under the History feature. This enables you to return to any specific article already viewed by clicking on its name on the History list, without again having to conduct a full search. In addition, the CD-ROM contains a Back feature enabling you to return to the previously viewed article.
Multimedia Elements
The CD-ROM contains many multimedia elements to enhance the Encyclopaedia experience. They have been produced specifically for this CD-ROM and originate from leading archives and collections throughout the world. These multimedia elements bring to life the contents of many of the Encyclopaedia articles and ensure greater appreciation of the text.
Multimedia elements include:
i.   Photographs and Illustrations
ii.  Film clips
iii.  Audio
iv.  Slide shows
v.  Tables
vi.  Charts
vii. Maps
viii. Hebrew Pronunciations
MEDIA GALLERY
The Media Gallery offers you a listing, by type, of all the multimedia options and provides immediate access to them. Each multimedia element is linked directly to its related articles. Distinctively highlighted by the Media Gallery are a number of special photograph collections assembled by the editors, namely: The Bible in Art; Ritual Objects; Israel; American Jewry; and the Holocaust. The latter contains, for example, over 200 rare photographs obtained primarily from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum located in Washington, D.C., and from Yad Vashem located in Jerusalem.
TIMELINE
The interactive Timeline tracks parallel events from Jewish History, Jewish Culture, and General History, commencing with the year 2000 B.C.E. and concluding at the end of the 20th century.
GUIDED TOUR
An interactive Guided Tour shows you how to use the CD-ROM to its fullest advantage, describing each feature.