==Phrack Inc.== Volume Four, Issue Thirty-Nine, File 5 of 13 *************************************************************************** * * * The Complete Guide To * * The DIALOG Information Network * * * * by * * Brian Oblivion * * * * Courtesy of: Restricted-Data-Transmissions (RDT) * * "Truth Is Cheap, But Information Costs." * * * * 5/9/92 * *************************************************************************** INTRODUCTION: With the plethora of on-line databases in the public and private sectors, I feel it is becoming increasingly important to penetrate and maintain access to these databases. The databases in question contain data pertaining to our personal lives and to our environment, not to mention the tetrabytes of useful information that can be directed toward research and personal education. Who or What is DIALOG? The DIALOG Information Network is a service that links various public and commercial databases together for convenience. In the past, when one wanted to access LEGAL RESOURCE INDEX, for instance, one would have to dial direct. With DIALOG, hundreds of databases are connected via X.25 networks (Tymnet, Sprintnet, Uninet, Dialnet) eliminating frustrating searching and outrageous long distance telephone bills (before the AT&T divestiture). Further, within this file is a PARTIAL list of databases found on-line. Some of the databases are nothing more than periodicals and abstract sources, while others provide FullText articles and books. There are over 2500 periodicals, newspapers, newsletters and newswires on-line in FullText. Here are a few of my favorites: McGraw-Hill Publications On-Line (File624) - Services offer FullText of their Newsletters serving the world-wide aerospace and defense industry. Complete text from 30 newsletters such as AeroSpace Daily, BYTE, Aviation Week and Space Technology, Data Communications, ENR, among others. For more info on the database, when in DIALOG type Help News624. PR NEWSWIRE (File613) - PR Newswire records contain the complete text of news releases prepared by: companies; public relations agencies; trade associations; city, state, federal and non-US Government agencies; and other sources covering the entire spectrum of news. The complete text of a news release typically contains details or background information that is not published in newspapers. More than 8500 companies contribute news for PR Newswire. PR NEWSWIRE is a known agent of Corporate Intelligence. DMS/FI MARKET INTELLIGENCE REPORTS (File589) - FullText of World AeroSpace Weekly, covers all aspects of both civil and military aerospace activities worldwide. - World Weapons Review, very high degree of technical detail and perspective. As such, it has special appeal to military professionals and users of weapons. Note: The database treats the newsletters as separate Binders. For example, to access the World Weapons Review, after connecting to the database, type: SELECT BN=WORLD WEAPONS REVIEW or whichever newsletter you wish to search. FINE CHEMICALS DATABASE (File360) - The focus of this database is on sources for laboratory, specialty, and unusual chemicals used in scientific research and new product development. Fine chemicals are relatively pure chemicals typically produced in small quantities. The database will provide you with manufacturers and/or distributors. DUN'S ELECTRONIC YELLOW PAGES (File515) - Largest database of U.S. businesses available on DIALOG, providing information on a total of 8.5 million establishments. Corporate intelligence: you can quickly verify the existence of a business. Then you can obtain address, telephone number, employee size, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and other basic information. CURRENT CONTENTS SEARCH (File440) - FullText articles from over 8000+ worldwide journals dealing with science and technology. BOOKS IN PRINT (File470) - Access to in-print and out-of-print books since 1979, BIP lets you retrieve bibliographic data on virtually every book published or distributed in the United States. Plus FullText reviews on the book(s) you have selected. See next. PUBLISHERS DISTRIBUTORS AND WHOLESALERS ON-LINE (File450) - PDW on-line will locate virtually any book, audio cassette, software publisher, distributor, or wholesaler in the U.S. You now should have an idea of the power and scope of the Dialog Information Network. NOTE: Most of DIALOG's Services are now available to certain Research facilities, public and private, on CD-ROM. Check your local public and university libraries for this service. Of course, MANY of the more interesting databases are not available on CD-ROM and must still be accessed through the DIALOG network. Access to DIALOG Services The following on-line services are available from DIALOG Information Services: DIALOG DIALOG Business (DBC) DIALOG Medical Connection (DMC) DIALMAIL KNOWLEDGE INDEX The logon procedures for the first four are identical and use the same service address; procedures for KNOWLEDGE INDEX differ only in the use of the KI service address, as illustrated throughout this file. The most common method of access to DIALOG services uses local phone numbers for three telecommunication networks: DIALOG's DIALNET, BT Tymnet, TYMNET, and SprintNet. For those who live in an area that lacks a local dialup for those three networks, you may use the 800 link into the DIALNET for access to all DIALOG services except KNOWLEDGE INDEX. This access is not free, but it may cost less than dialing long-distance to reach a network node if you live in a region without local access. Access is also available through gateways from other on-line systems. Access to many DIALOG services is available from countries throughout the world and may be accessed from their own Public Data Networks. Dialnet 800-Number Access The two DIALNET 800 numbers are available for connecting to Dialog services from anywhere in the 48 contiguous states. Access through these numbers is not free. (800)DIALNET 300, 1200, and 2400 b. (w/MNP error checking) (800)342-5638 (800)847-1620 VADIC 3400 series modems (1200 baud) BELL 103 modems (300 baud) BELL 212 modems (1200 baud) Note: I have excluded all the dialup numbers for Tymnet and Sprintnet. If you don't know how to find those, obtain a file on X.25 nets and I'm sure they will be listed somewhere in them. DIALNET U.S. DIALUP NUMBERS (All DIALNET dialup numbers support 300, 1200, and 2400 baud) ARIZONA Phoenix....................................(602)257-8895 CALIFORNIA Alhambra...................................(818)300-9000 Longbeach..................................(213)491-0803 Los Angeles................................(818)300-9000 Marina Del Rey.............................(213)305-9833 Newport Beach..............................(714)756-1969 Oakland....................................(415)633-7900 Palo Alto..................................(415)858-2461 Palo Alto..................................(415)858-2461 Palo Alto....................................(415)858-2575 Sacramento.................................(916)444-5030 San Diego..................................(619)297-8610 San Francisco..............................(415)957-5910 San Jose...................................(408)432-0590 COLORADO Denver.....................................(303)860-9800 CONNECTICUT Bloomfield/Hartford........................(203)242-5954 Stamford...................................(203)324-1201 DELAWARE Wilmington.................................(302)652-1706 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington.................................(703)359-2500 GEORGIA Atlanta....................................(404)455-4221 ILLINOIS Chicago....................................(312)341-1444 INDIANA Indianapolis...............................(317)635-7259 MARYLAND Baltimore..................................(301)234-0940 MASSACHUSETTS Boston.....................................(617)439-7920 Lexington..................................(617)862-6240 MICHIGAN Ann Arbor..................................(313)973-2622 Detroit....................................(313)964-1309 MINNESOTA Minneapolis................................(612)338-0676 MISSOURI St. Louis..................................(314)731-0122 NEW JERSEY Lyndhurst..................................(201)460-8868 Morristown.................................(201)292-9646 Newark.....................................(201)824-1412 Piscataway.................................(201)562-9680 Princeton..................................(609)243-9550 NEW MEXICO Albuquerque................................(505)764-9281 NEW YORK Albany.....................................(518)458-8710 Buffalo....................................(716)896-9440 Hempstead..................................(516)489-6868 New York City..............................(212)422-0410 Rochester..................................(716)458-7300 White Plains...............................(914)328-7810 NORTH CAROLINA Research Triangle..........................(919)549-9290 OHIO Cincinnati.................................(513)489-3980 Cleveland..................................(216)621-3807 Columbus...................................(614)461-8348 Dayton.....................................(513)898-8878 OREGON Portland...................................(503)228-2771 PENNSYLVANIA Allentown..................................(215)776-2030 Philadelphia...............................(215)923-5214 Pittsburg..................................(412)471-1421 Valley Forge/Norristown....................(215)666-1500 TEXAS Austin.....................................(512)462-9494 Dallas.....................................(214)631-9861 Houston....................................(713)531-0505 UTAH Salt Lake City.............................(801)532-3071 VIRGINIA Fairfax....................................(703)359-2500 WASHINGTON Seattle....................................(206)282-5009 WISCONSIN Milwaukee..................................(414)796-1785 Access to Dialog Outside of the US Foreign readers may access Dialog via the INFONET PDN. The following numbers are for those particular users. BELGIUM Brussels (300).............................(02)648-0710 Brussels (1200)............................(02)640-4993 DENMARK Copenhagen (300)...........................(01)22-10-66 Copenhagen (1200)..........................(01)22-41-22 Logging in to DIALOG or KNOWLEDGE INDEX (KI) After dialing the appropriate number and establishing the connection, you must allow a 10-second delay and then enter the letter A (or a carriage return or another terminal identifier from the table below) before any further response will occur. Then, follow the remainder of the procedures show below. DIALOG Information Services' DIALNET -2151:01-012- Enter Service: dialog Enter DIALOG or KI; DIALNET: call connected DIALOG INFORMATION SERVICES PLEASE LOGON: ?XXXXXXXX Enter User Number ENTER PASSWORD: ?XXXXXXXX Enter Password; NOTE: I have researched the method of user number and password distribution and all user numbers and passwords are generated by Dialog, BUT upon receiving a password from DIALOG you may opt to change it. The passwords issued from DIALOG are 8 digits long, consisting of random alpha-numeric characters. Once you are connected to your default service or file in DIALOG, you can then BEGIN one of the other services; for example, to access DIALMAIL, BEGIN MAIL. DIALNET Terminal Identifiers Speed Identifier Terminal Type Effect =---------------------------------------------------------------= 300 bps ENTER key PCs & CRTs Same as A E Thermal Printers Slower C Impact Printers Slowest G Belt Printer Slower 1200 bps ENTER key PCs & CRTs Same as A or G Matrix Printers Slower 2400 bps I Belt Printers Slowest - For access in half duplex, enter a < CTRL H > after the "Enter Service:" prompt and before entering the word "dialog" or "ki." - Don't hit backspace if you make an error in typing "dialog" or "ki." The result will be toggling your duplex, reason being your backspace is usually configured to send a < CTRL H > to delete to the left of the cursor one space. DIALNET Messages Message Probable Cause User Action ERROR, RE-ENTER SERVICE Incorrect host name Check typing ALL PORTS BUSY All DIALOG ports Try in a few min. are temporarily in use. HOST DOWN DIALOG computer is Try in a few min. not available. HOST NOT RESPONDING DIALOG Computer Try in a few min. difficulty CIRCUITS BUSY DIALNET Network is Try in a few min. temporarily busy. DIALNET: CALL CLEARED Appears after LOGOFF BY REQUEST to indicate connection ENTER SERVICE: to DIALOG is broken. DROPPED BY HOST SYSTEM Indicates a system failure at DIALOG. Navigating in DIALOG To begin a search, one would enter: BEGIN xxxx xxxx would be the database file number. All databases found on DIALOG are assigned file numbers. The searching protocol used to manipulate DIALOG seems at times to be a language in itself, but it can be easily learned and mastered. DIALOG HOMEBASE I would advise the first-timer to jump into the DIALOG Homebase Menu, which provides information, help, file of the month, database info and rates, the DIALINDEX, DIALOG Training, and announcements. DIALOG also provides subscribers with special services which include dialouts for certain area codes. You can begin the DIALOG HOMBASE by typing: BEGIN HOME =-**************************************************************-= DIALOG DATABASES File Number Database 15 ABI/INFORM 180 Academic American Encyclopedia 43 ADTRACT 108 Aerospace Database 10,110 AGRICOLA 9 AIM/ARM 38 America:History & Life 236 American Men & Women of Science 258,259 AP NEWS 45 APTIC 112 Aquaculture 116 Aqualine 44 Aquatic Science & Fisheries ABS 56 Art Bibliographies, Modern 192 Arthur D. Little On-Line 102 ASI 285 BIOBUSINESS 287,288 Biography Master Index 5, 55 255 BIOSIS Previews 175 BLS Consumer Price Index 178 BLS Employment, Hours, and Earnings 176 BLS Producer Price Index 137 Book Review Index 470 Books In Print 256 Business Software Database 308-311 320 CA Search 50 CAB Abstracts 262 Canadian Business and Current Affairs 162 Career Placement Registry/ Experienced Personnel 163 Career Placement Reg/Student 580 CENDATA 138 Chemical Exposure 19 Chemical Industry Notes 174 Chem Regulations & Guidelines 300,301 CHEMNAME, CHEMSIS 328-331 CHEMZERO 30 CHEMSEARCH 64 Chile Abuse & Neglect 410 Chronolog Newsletter-International Edition 101 Compuserve Information Service 220-222 CLAIMS Citation 124 CLAIMS Class 242 CLAIMS Compound Registry 23-25,125 223-225 CLAIMS US Patents 123 CLAIMS Reassignment & Re-examination 219 Clinical Abstracts 164 Coffeeline 194-195 Commerce Business Daily 593 Compare Products 8 Compendex 275 The Computer Database 77 Conference Papers Index 135 Congressional Record Abstracts 271 Consumer Drug Info Fulltext 171 Criminal Justice Period Index 60 CRIS/USDA 230 DATABASE OF DATABASES 516 D&B - Dun's Market Identifiers 517 D&B - Million Dollar Directory 518 D&B - International Dun's Market Identifiers 411 DIALINDEX 200 DIALOG PUBLICATIONS 100 Disclosure II 540 Disclosure Spectrum Ownership 35 Dissertation Abstracts On-Line 103,104 DOE Energy 575 Donnelley Demographics 229 Drug Information Fulltext 139 Economic Literature Index 165 Ei Engineering Meetings 241 Electric Power Database 511 Electronic Dictionary of Education 507 Construction Directory 501 Financial Services Directory 510 Manufactures Directory 502 Professionals Directory 504-506 Retailers Directory 508,509 Services Directory 503 Wholesalers Directory 500 Electronic Yellow Pages Index 72, 73 EMBASE (Excerpta Medica) 172,173 EMBASE 114 Encyclopedia of Associations 69 Energyline 169 Energynet 40 ENVIROLINE 68 Environmental Bibliography 1 eric 54 Exceptional Child Education Resources 291 Family Resources 20 Federal Index 136 Federal Register Abstracts 265 Federal Research in Progress 196 Find/SVP Reports and studies Index 268 FINIS: Financial Industry Information Service 96 Fluidex 51 Food Science & Technology Abstracts 79 Foods Adlibra 90 Foreign Trade & Econ Abstracts 105 Foreign Traders Index 26 Foundation Directory 27 Foundation Grants Index 58 Geoarchive 89 Georef 66 GPO Monthly Catalog 166 GPO Publications Reference File 85 Grants 122 Harvard Business Review 151 Health Planning And Administration 39 Historical Abstracts 561 ICC British Company Directory 562 ICC British Financial Datasheets 189 Industry Data Sources 202 Information Science Abstracts 12, 13 INSPEC 168 Insurance Abstracts 209 International Listing Service 74 International Pharmaceutical Abstracts 545 Investext 284 IRS TAXiNFO 14 ISMEC 244 LABORLAW 36 Language & Language Behavior Abstracts 426-427 LC MARC 150 Legal Resource Index 76 Life Sciences Collection 61 LISA 647 Magazine ASAP 47 Magazine Index 75 Management Contents 234 Marquis Who's Who 235 Marquis Pro-files 239 Mathfile 546 Media General Database 152-154 MEDLINE 86 Mental Health Abstracts 232 Menu The International Software Database 32 METADEX 29 Meteor/Geoastrophysical Abstracts 233 Microcomputer Index 32 MERADEX 29 Meteor/Geoastrophysical Abstracts 233 Microcomputer Index 248 The Middle East: Abstracts and Index 249 Mideast File 71 MLA Bibliography 555 Moody's Corporate Profiles 557 Moody's Corporate News-International 556 Moody's Corporate News - U.S. 78 National Foundations 111 National Newspaper News - U.S. 21 NCJRS 211 Newsearch 46 NICEM 70 NICSEM/NIMIS 118 Nonferrous Metals Abstracts 6 NTIS 218 Nursing & Allied Health 161 Occupational Safety and Health 28 Oceanic Abstracts 170 ON-LINE Chronicle 215 ONTAP ABI/INFORM 205 ONTAP BIOSIS Previews 204 ONTAP CA SEARCH 250 ONTAP CAB Abstracts 231 ONTAP Chemname 208 ONTAP Compendex 290 ONTAP DIALINDEX 201 ONTAP ERIC 272 ONTAP Embase 213 ONTAP Inspec 247 ONTAP Magazine Index 254 ONTAP Medline 216 ONTAP PTS Promt 294 ONTAP Scisearch 207 ONTAP Social Scisearch 296 ONTAP Trademarkscan 280 ONTAP World Patents Index 49 PAIS International 240 Paperchem 243 PATLAW 257 P/E News 241 Peterson's College Database 42 Pharmaceutical News Index 57 Philosopher's Index 41 Pollution Abstracts 91 Population Bibliography 140 PsycALERT 11 PsycINFO 17 PTS Annual Reports Abstracts 80 PTS Defense Markets and Technology 18 PTS F&S Indexes 80- 98 PTS F&S Indexes 72-79 81, 83 PTS Forecasts 570 PTS MARS 16 PTS PROMPT 82, 84 PTS TIME SERIES 190 Religion Index 421-425 TEMARC 97 Rilm Abstracts 34, 87 SciSearch 94, 186 SciSearch 7 Social Scisearch 270 Soviet Science and Technology 37 Sociological Abstracts 62 SPIN 65 SSIE Current Research 132 Standard & Poor's News 133 Standard & Poor's Corporate Descriptions 526 Standard & Poor's Register-Biographical 527 Standard & Poor's Register-Corporate 113 Standards & Specifications 238 Telgen 119 Textile Technology Digest 535 Thomas Tegister On-Line 648 Trade & Industry ASAP 148 Trade & Industry Index 106,107 Trade Opportunities 226 Trademarkscan 531 Trinet Establishment Database 532 Trinet Company Database 63 TRIS 52 TSCA Initial Inventory 480 Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory 260,261 UPI NEWS 126 U.S. Exports 93 U.S. Political Science Documents 120 U.S. Public School Directory 184 Washington Post Index 117 Water Resources Abstracts 350,351 World Patents Index 67 World Textiles 185 Zoological Record Before I continue describing the various methods of searching, DIALOG has an on-line master index to the DIALOG databases, DIALINDEX (file 411). It is a collection of the file indexes of most DIALOG databases (menu-driven databases cannot be searched in DIALINDEX). DIALINDEX can be used to determine the number of relevant records for a single query in a collection of files. The query can be a single term, a multiple-word phrase, a prefix-coded field, or a full logical expression of up to 240 characters. Nested terminology, proximity operators, and truncated terms may also be used. You can set the files you want searched by using the SET FILE command. Like this: BEGIN 411 (return) SET FILE ALLNEWS (if you want the latest news on or hack/phreak busts) SF ALLNEWS To scan all Subjects: SET FILES ALL To scan specific categories: All Science: (ALLSCIENCE) - Agriculture & Nutrition - Chemistry - Computer Technology - Energy & Environment - Medicine & Biosciences - Patents & Trademarks - Science & technology All Business: (ALLBUSINESS) - Business Information - Company Information - Industry Analysis - News - Patents & Trademarks All News and Current Events: (ALLNEWS) - News All Law & Government: (ALLLAW;ALLGOVERNMENT) - Law & Government - Patents & Trademarks All Social Science & Humanities: (ALLSOCIAL;ALLHUMANITIES) - Social Sciences & Humanities All General Interest: (ALLGENERAL) - Popular Information All Reference: (ALLREFERENCE) - Books - Reference All Text: (ALLTEXT) All databases containing complete text of: - Journal Articles - Encyclopedias - Newspapers - Newswires All Sources: (ALLSOURCE) - Complete Text - Directory - Numeric Data All ONTAP Training Files: (ALLONTAPS) - All On-Line Training And Practice databases Once you have selected a database you can now SELECT the search keyword. You set the flag by: SELECT term - Retrieves a set of records containing the term. May be used with words, prefix or suffix codes, EXPAND, or set numbers. When defining what you are searching for you can use logical operators such as: OR - puts the retrieval of all search terms into one set, eliminating duplicate records. AND - retrieves the intersection, or overlap, of the search terms: all terms must be in each record retrieved. NOT - eliminates search term (or group of search terms) following it from other search term(s). Note: Always enter a space on either side of a logical operator. SELECT Examples: SELECT (BICMOS OR CMOS) AND SRAM or S (BICMOS OR CMOS) AND SRAM - This would generate something like this: 138 BICMOS <- records containing BICMOS only 1378 CMOS <- records containing CMOS only 681 SRAM <- records containing SRAM only S1 203 (BICMOS OR CMOS) AND SRAM <- this is what you ^^ wanted. || DIALOG names your select topic S1, S2... respectively as search its databases to make it easier to type. The contents of S1 are 203 found records containing the keywords BICMOS, CMOS, and SRAM. Sometimes S1 is referred to as S(tep) 1 PROXIMITY OPERATORS (Select command) (W) Requests terms be adjacent to each other and in order specified. -> S SOLAR(W)ENERGY (nW) Requests terms be within (n) words of each other and in order specified. -> S SOLAR(3W)ENERGY (N) Requests terms be adjacent but in any order. Useful for retrieving identical terms. -> S SOLAR(N)ENERGY (nN) Requests terms be within (n) words of each other and in any order. -> S SOLAR(3N)ENERGY (F) Requests terms be in same field of same record, in any order. -> S SOLAR(F)ENERGY (L) Requests terms be in same descriptor unit as defined by database. -> S SOLAR(L)ENERGY (S) Requests terms be in same Subfield unit as defined by database. -> S SOLAR(S)ENERGY (C) Equivalent to logic operator AND. -> S SOLAR(C)ENERGY PRIORITY OF EXECUTION Proximity operator, NOT, AND, OR Use parentheses to specify different order of execution, e.g. SELECT (SOLAR OR SUN) AND (ENERGY OR HEAT). Terms within parentheses are executed first. STOP WORDS (predefined) The following words may not be SELECTed as individual terms. The computer will retrieve a set with zero results. They may only be replaced with proximity operators, e.g. S GONE(2W)WIND AN FOR THE AND FROM TO BY OF WITH RESERVED WORDS AND SYMBOLS The following words and symbols must be enclosed in quotation marks whenever they are SELECTed as or within search terms, e.g., SELECT "OR"(W)GATE? AND = FROM * NOT + OR : STEPS / TRUNCATION OPEN: any number of characters following stem. SS EMPLOY? RESTRICTED: only one additional character following stem. SS HORSE? ? RESTRICTED: maximum number of additional characters equal to number of question marks entered. SS UNIVERS?? INTERNAL: allows character replaced by question mark to vary. One character per question mark. SS WOM?N BASIC INDEX FIELD SPECIFICATION (SUFFIX CODES) Suffix codes are used to restrict retrieval to specified basic index fields of a record. Specific fields and codes vary according to the database. Abstract /AB Descriptor /DE Full Descriptor(single word) /DF Identifier /ID Full Identifier(single word) /IF Title /TI Note /NT Section Heading /SH Examples: SELECT BUDGET?/TI SELECT POP(W)TOP(W)CAN?/TI,AB SELECT (DOLPHIN? OR PORPOISE?)/DE/ID ADDITIONAL INDEXES (PREFIX CODES) Prefix codes are used to search additional indexes. Specific fields and codes vary according to the database. Author AU= Company Name CO= Corporate Source CS= Document Type DT= Journal Name JN= Language LA= Publication Year PY= Update UD= Examples: SELECT AU=JOHNSON, ROBERT? SELECT LA=GERMAN SELECT CS=(MILAN(F)ITALY) RANGE SEARCHING A colon is used to indicate a range of sequential entries to be retrieved in a logical OR relationship. Examples: SELECT CC=64072:64078 SELECT ZP=662521:62526 LIMIT QUALIFIERS Limit qualifiers are used in SELECT statements to limit search terms or sets to given criteria. Specific qualifiers vary according to database. English language documents /ENG Major descriptor /MAJ Patents /PAT Human subject /HUM Accession number range /nnnnnn-nnnnnn Examples: SELECT TRANSISTORS/ENG,PAT SELECT S2/MAJ SELECT (STRESS OR TENSION)/234567-999999 Well that's it for basic searching. Now, how to view the record you have selected. Note: Indexes (prefix codes) often differ from database to database, often resulting in futile searches. One way to avoid this is to make a trip to the local Public or University Library and look up the blue sheets for the database you wish to query. Blue sheets are issued by dialog as a service to their users. Blue Sheets often contain helpful searching techniques ere to the database you are interested in. They will also contain a list of Indexes (prefix codes) unique to that database only. VIEWING SEARCH RESULTS COMMAND SUMMARY TYPE Provides continuous on-line display of results. T Specify set/format/range of items. If Item range is specified, use T to view next record. May also be used with specific accession number. Examples: T 12/3/1-22 <- set/format/range T 8/7 <- set/format T 6 <- view next.(6 in this case) T 438721 <- view record 438721 DISPLAY Provides display of results one screen at a time. Use D PAGE for subsequent screens. Specify set/format/range of items. If range not specified, use D to view next record. May also be used with specific accession number. Examples: D 11/6/1-44 <- set/format/range D 9/5 <- set/format D 7 <- view next.(7 in this case) D 637372/7 <- view record 637372/format 7 PRINT Requests that results be printed offline and mailed. Specify set/format/range of items. If item range not specified up to 50 records will be printed. Use PR to print another 50. Examples: PR 9/5/1-44 <- print set/format/range PR 6/7 <- print set/format (all) PR 14 <- print 14 only PR 734443/5 <- print 734443 format 5 only. PRINT TITLE xxx To specify a title(xxx) to appear on PRINTs. Title may contain up to 70 characters. No semicolon may be used. Must be entered in database before any other PRINT command is used. Cancelled by next BEGIN. Examples: PR TITLE GLOBULIN PR TITLE QUETZAL REPORT Extracts data from specified fields and produces tabular format for on-line output only. Specify set/range of items/fields. May be used with SORTED set to specify order of entries in table. Application is database-specific. TYPICAL FORMATS IN BIBLIOGRAPHIC FILES: Format Number Description 1 DIALOG Accession Number 2 Full Record except Abstract 3 Bibliographic Citation 5 Full Record 6 Title 7 Bibliographic Citation and Abstract 8 Title and Indexing NOTE: Again, the Formats differ from database to database. See database bluesheet for specific format descriptions. OTHER OUTPUT-RELATED COMMANDS: PRINT CANCEL Used alone, cancels preceding PRINT command. PR CANCEL Specify PRINT Transaction Number to cancel PRINT- any PRINT request entered in past two hours, PR- e.g. PRINT- P143 PRINT QUERY To view log of PRINT commands and cancellations. Add PR QUERY DETAIL to see date, time and costs. PRINT QUERY ACTIVE To view log of PRINT commands that may still be cancelled. PR QUERY ACTIVE Add DETAIL to see date, time, file and costs. SORT Sorts set of records on-line according to parameters indicated. Varies per database. Specify set number/range/field,sequence, e.g. SORT 4/1-55/AU,TI Sequence assumed ascending if not specified; use D to specify descending order. SORT parameters may be added to end of PRINT command for offline sorting, e.g. PRINT 9/5/ALL/SD,D SET SCREEN nn nn Sets size of screen for video display. SET H nn H (horizontal) given first in combined command. SET V nn V Default is 75 characters H, 40 lines V LOGOFF Disconnects user from DIALOG system. LOGOFF HOLD Disconnects user from DIALOG system, holds work for 10 minutes allowing RECONNECT. OTHER COMMANDS: DISPLAY SETS Lists all sets formed since last BEGIN command. DS May specify range of sets, e.g. DS 10-22. EXPLAIN Requests help messages for commands and file features. Enter ?EXPLAIN to see complete list. KEEP Places records indicated in special set 0. Specify K set number/records, or accession number. Cancelled by a BEGIN command. Also used in DIALORDER. LIMITALL Limits all subsequent sets to criteria specified. Varies per database. LIMITALL/ALL Cancels previous LIMITALL command. ?LIMIT n Requests list of limit qualifiers for database n. SEARCH*SAVE SAVE Stores strategy permanently until deleted. Serial number begins with S. SAVE TEMP Stores strategy for seven days; automatically deleted. Serial number begins with T. SAVE SDI Stores strategy and PRINT command(s) until deleted. PRINT command required. Automatically executes strategy against each new update to database in which entered. Serial number begins with D. MAPxx Creates a Search*Save of data extracted for field xx of MAPxx TEMP records already retrieved. MAPxx STEPS If STEPS is used, data is formatted into separate search statements in Search*Save. REVIEWING SEARCH*SAVES RECALL nnnnn Recalls Search*Save nnnnn, displaying all set-producing commands and comment lines, without executing the search. RECALL SAVE Displays serial numbers of all permanent SAVEs, date entered, and number of lines. RECALL TEMP Displays serial numbers of all temporary SAVEs, date entered, and number of lines. RECALL SDI Displays serial numbers of all SDIs, dates entered, databases in which stored, and number of lines. EXECUTING SEARCH*SAVES EXECUTE nnnnn Executes entire strategy. Only last line is assigned a EX nnnnn set number. EXECUTE STEPS nnnnn Executes entire strategy. Assigns set number to each EXS nnnnn search element. Preferred form. EXECUTE nnnnn/x-y Executes strategy nnnnn form command line x to command line y only. STEPS may also be used: EXS nnnnn/x-y EXECUTE nnnnn/USER a Executes strategy nnnnn originally entered by user a (a=user number). STEPS may also be used: EXS nnnnn/USER a EXECUTE nnnnn/x-y/USER a Executes strategy nnnnn from command line x to command line y, originally entered by user a. STEPS may also be used: EXS nnnnn/x-y/USER a DELETING SEARCH*SAVES RELEASE nnnnn Deletes search nnnnn from system. OTHER SEARCH*SAVE OPTIONS NAMING: A three to five alphanumerical name may be specified following the SAVE, SAVE TEMP, and SAVE SDI commands. Example: SAVE TEMP SOLAR COMMENTS: An informative comment may be stored in a SEARCH*SAVE by entering an asterisk in place of a command, followed by up to 240 characters of "comment." The line will be saved with any SEARCH*SAVE command, and will display in RECALL of the search. Example: * Search for R.J.Flappjack ON-LINE TEXT EDITOR Any Search*Save, with the exception of an SDI, may be edited from within any database. An SDI must be edited within the database in which the SDI is to be stored. EDIT To enter Editor and create new text. EDIT xxxxx Pulls Search*Save xxxxx into Editor for editing. LIST Displays text to be edited. L OPTIONS: LIST LIST 30-110 LIST ALL LIST 10,50,80 LIST /data/ Locates all lines containing data. INSERT Adds onto end of text. INSERT nn Inserts line nn into text. I To return to EDIT from INSERT, enter a period on a I nn blank line. DELETE To delete line(s) of text. D OPTIONS: DELETE 10-50 DELETE 10,30-50 DELETE ALL CHANGE To change text within a line. C Changes only first occurrence of old text in any given line. OPTIONS: CHANGE 60/old/new (where 60 is line number) CHANGE 60/old// (deletes old) C 60//new (inserts new at beginning of line) C 80.old.new (when text contains slash) C /old/new (new replaces old on all lines) C 20,40/old/new (nonsequential lines) C 30-50/old/new (range of lines) COPY Duplicates line# TO line# CO OPTIONS: COPY 100 to 255 COPY 100-150 TO 255 COPY 100,130 TO 255 MOVE Move line# TO line# M Options same as COPY. QUERY Produces message giving name of file, number of lines, last line Q number. RENUM Renumbers lines by tens unless otherwise specified. R OPTIONS: RENUM n (Renumbers by increments of n) QUIT Used to leave editor ignoring session. SAVE Used to create Search*Save strategy from edited file. SAVE TEMP An SDI must include a PRINT command. SAVE SDI Enjoy the DIALOG Information Network. I've found it most interesting. This service is a MUST if you are in college or if you just love to learn as uch as time permits. It is a proven research tool used by R&D and university facilities around the world, as well as a refined corporate intelligence information gathering tool kept hidden from the general public by sheer expense and "pseudo-complexity." With on-line databases like DIALOG available, there is no excuse (besides lack of time) for self-education. ***************************************************************** Brian Oblivion can be reached at Oblivion@ATDT.ORG. Additionally, he can be reached at Black Crawling Systems/VOiD Information Archives (for more information, e-mail Brian). RDT welcomes any questions or comments you may have. See you at SummerCon '92. _______________________________________________________________________________