After completion of the search, the search division selects from the documents retrieved the ones to be cited in the report. These always include the most relevant documents (which will be specially characterised in the report, see B‑X, 9.2.1). Less relevant documents are only cited when they concern aspects or details of the claimed invention not found in the documents already selected for citation.

Reasons of efficiency dictate that the search division uses its judgement to end its search when the probability of discovering further relevant prior art becomes very low in relation to the effort needed. The search may also be stopped when documents have been found clearly demonstrating lack of novelty in the entire subject-matter of the claimed invention and its elaborations in the description, apart from features which are trivial or common general knowledge in the field under examination, application of which features would not involve inventive step.

The search division does continuously evaluate the results of its search, and if necessary reformulates the subject of the search accordingly. For example, the selection of the classification units to be searched or the order of searching them may also require alteration during the search as a consequence of intermediate results obtained.

Next the search division starts the search process by formulating a search strategy, i.e. a plan consisting of a series of search statements expressing the subject of the search, resulting in sections of the documentation to be consulted for the search. In its initial phase, a search strategy will contain one or more combinations of the basic components mentioned in B‑III, 2.2.

2.1 Subject of the search; restrictions

2.2 Formulating a search strategy

2.3 Carrying out the search; types of documents

2.4 Reformulation of the subject of the search

2.5 Closest prior art and its effects on the search