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Support : Dialog Search Aids
: Search Summary QRC
DIALOG Search Summary Quick Reference Card
 View the PDF version of this document
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What You Need to Search on DIALOG: A Checklist
If you need any of the above, call 800-334-2564
in the U.S. and Canada, or contact
your local help desk for assistance.
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Basic DIALOG Commands
| Command & Abbreviation | Examples |
When to Use It |
BEGIN
B |
BEGIN 47
B 47, 8 |
Use with file number(s) to specify the database(s) to be searched. |
EXPAND
E |
EXPAND AU=ADAMS, ANN
E CO=FORD MOTOR |
Use to verify the spelling of a term and to view similar entries. From the
EXPAND list, SELECT appropriate E numbers to create a set: SELECT
E4 OR E6:E9. |
SELECT
S |
SELECT DIET?
S DIET? AND ELDERLY |
Use to determine the number of records in a database that contain the word(s)
selected, and store them in a set. |
TYPE
T |
TYPE S3/3/1-4
T S3/5/ALL
T S3/CO,PD/ALL |
Use to display records retrieved by the SELECT command. TYPE is followed by
set/format/items. |
PRINT
PR |
PRINT S2/9/1-25 PORTRAIT
PR S2/5/ALL SOLO
PR S2/9/ALL VIA DIALMAIL |
Use to order print copies (via mail or electronically) of records retrieved.
PRINT is also followed by set/format/items plus any special
instructions. |
| LOGOFF | LOGOFF | Use to end the search and disconnect from DIALOG. |
| |
LOGOFF HOLD |
Use to disconnect from DIALOG, with the option to reconnect to the same search
within 30 minutes. |
DISPLAY SETS
DS | DISPLAY SETS | Use after reconnecting to the system from a LOGOFF HOLD to display your previously
created search strategy. |
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Six Steps to Good Searching on DIALOG
1 Analyze your search objective and plan an effective strategy.
Decide exactly what your topic is and what results you expect to obtain. Start by writing down a one-phrase description of the topic:
Using solar energy for domestic heating or hot water.
Determine what individual concepts are within the topic's description:
solar energy and homes and heating or hot water.
For each of the concepts, think of alternative words or synonyms. Ask yourself what concepts a record must contain in order to be relevant:
solar energy, photovoltaic
homes, houses, residences, residential, domestic
heat, hot water
Write in the truncation symbol (?) where appropriate to retrieve different word endings. For specific phrases, put (W) or (N) between the words. Use (1N) or (2N) for word proximity if specific phrases are not required:
SELECT SOLAR(N)ENERGY OR PHOTOVOLTAIC?
SELECT HOME? OR HOUSE? OR RESIDEN? OR DOMESTIC
SELECT HEAT? OR HOT(N)WATER
Use the AND operator to connect concepts or terms when all must be present. Use the OR operator to connect them when at least one must be present. The DIALOG system processes AND before OR unless the OR phrase is surrounded by parentheses:
SELECT (HOUSE? OR HOME?) AND (HEAT? OR HOT(N)WATER)
2 Choose the appropriate databases, log on to DIALOG, and BEGIN 411.
For help in choosing databases, consult the Database Catalogue or the DIALOG Bluesheets, or contact Customer Services.
After you have chosen a file, a group of files, a DIALINDEX®/ OneSearch® category*, or a combination of these, BEGIN 411, DIALINDEX, to validate your search strategy with the file choice(s).
To use DIALINDEX,
1 Log on to DIALOG and BEGIN 411.
2 SET FILES <category acronym(s)*>,<file number(s)>:
3 Enter your complete search strategy in one SELECT statement:
SELECT SOLAR(N)ENERGY AND (HOME? OR HOUSE?) AND (HEAT? OR HOT WATER)
Category acronyms are subject groupings of databases that are listed in the Database Catalogue.
3 BEGIN in the appropriate database(s).
After evaluating the results from the DIALINDEX search, BEGIN a database or group of up to 60 databases that will provide good results using the search strategy.
?BEGIN 8
File 8:Ei Compendex(R) 1970-1999/Nov W3
(c) 1999 Engineering Info. Inc.
Set Items Description
--- ----- -----------
4 Enter the search strategy using the SELECT command.
Enter concept words from the search worksheet using the SELECT command. Enter one SELECT command for each concept, using the OR operator between alternate terms.
Set Items Description
--- ----- -----------
?SELECT SOLAR(N)ENERGY OR PHOTOVOLTAIC?
48161 SOLAR
292335 ENERGY
15922 SOLAR(N)ENERGY
9028 PHOTOVOLTAIC?
S1 23115 SOLAR(N)ENERGY OR PHOTOVOLTAIC?
?S HOUSE? OR HOME? OR RESIDEN? OR DOMESTIC?
15617 HOUSE?
8073 HOME?
14173 RESIDEN?
10081 DOMESTIC?
S2 43242 HOUSE? OR HOME? OR RESIDEN? OR
DOMESTIC?
?S HEAT? OR HOT(N)WATER
278926 HEAT?
55519 HOT
259333 WATER
4923 HOT(N)WATER
S3 280235 HEAT? OR HOT(N)WATER
Use the SELECT command with the AND operator to combine set numbers and create a set of records containing all of the concepts. Include any special restrictions, such as publication year (PY=).
?S S1 AND S2 AND S3 AND PY=1994
23115 S1
43242 S2
280235 S3
70511 PY=1994
S4 8 S1 AND S2 AND S3 AND PY=1994
5 Display the records retrieved using the TYPE command.
Use TYPE followed by set/format/items, e.g., TYPE S4/5/1-3. For help choosing a format, consult the database Bluesheet's Format Options section. In general:
- Use a brief format (6 or 8 in most databases) to check records for relevance.
- Use a long format (5 or 9 in most databases) to display complete records.
6 Disconnect from DIALOG using the LOGOFF command.
?LOGOFF
09dec99 14:03:18 User300064 Session D1212.2
$5.23 0.872 DialUnits File8
$5.23 Estimated cost File8
$0.40 INTERNET
$5.63 Estimated cost this search
$5.64 Estimated total session cost
0.897 DialUnits
Logoff: level 99.12.02 D 14:03:18
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Search Strategy Techniques and Tips
Before the Search...
Write a one-phrase description of your topic.
Determine what individual concepts are within the topic.
For each topic, think of alternate words and synonyms. Ask yourself what words a topic must contain in order to be relevant.
Choose the database(s) you wish to search. Check the Database Catalogue for database descriptions, or try your search online in DIALINDEX®.
During the Search...
If you get zero results, check for errors:
- Make sure you began in the right file number and your SELECT, TYPE, and PRINT commands included the correct set number.
- Check for simple spelling errors. If necessary, use the
EXPAND command to verify spellings and view similar terms. This is
especially important when searching names (company names, author names,
etc.). For example, to locate records on Ford Motor Company,
?EXPAND CO=FORD MOTOR
Ref Items Index-term
E1 1 CO=FORD MOSES GARAGE
E2 2 CO=FORD MOTEL
E3 0 *CO=FORD MOTOR
E4 1 CO=FORD MOTOR ALLIANCE PROGRAM INC
E5 2 CO=FORD MOTOR CO
E6 1 CO=FORD MOTOR COMPANY
E7 52 CO=FORD MOTOR COMPANY (INC)
E8 1 CO=FORD MOTOR COMPANY CARIBBEAN INC
E9 1 CO=FORD MOTOR COMPANY CARLITE
E10 179 CO=FORD MOTOR COMPANY INC
E11 4 CO=FORD MOTOR CREDIT
E12 2 CO=FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO
Enter P or PAGE for more
?SELECT E5:E7 OR E10
If you get just a few records, broaden the strategy:
- Check to be sure you are using truncation effectively.
- TYPE a few records and examine their descriptors to find additional synonyms.
- Eliminate concepts that are implied by the database coverage.
- Alter the proximity operators used. For example, change (W) or (N) to (2N), or even AND.
- Try another database.
If you get too many records, narrow the strategy:
- Use suffixes to require that terms appear in specific fields, such as Descriptor or Title: SELECT S4/DE,TI.
- Apply limits that restrict results by publication year, language, or other features.
- Search using the descriptors or subject codes established by the database indexers.
- Change AND logic to more precise proximity operators, such as (N), (2N), or even (W).
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