Combination of files in the Utility Commands section

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Searching Dialog: Utility Commands

Scope

Commands

help
Command
Usage
Examples, Notes

help

h command or file #

? command or file #

  • h
  • ? select
  • ? 415
  • h limit 145

cost

Command
Usage
Examples, Notes

cost

cost
  • Checks costs during a search.

help rates

This will give you rate information about the database you are currently searching.
Command
Usage
Examples, Notes

help rates

help rates <file number>
  • help rates 415
  • for database rates

page forward & page backward

Commands
Usage
Examples, Notes

page forward

page back

p

p-

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Searching Dialog: Utility Commands: Show & Set

Show

The show command has two applications.

Set

Example Uses of Set

Commands
Usage
Examples, Notes

set files

set file #(s) or
set <file name(s)>

  • Use in DialIndex or OneSearch
  • set medicine,88
  • set 145, 275, 628

set hilight

set hi

set hi on <or off>
set hilight on

  • Hilight emboldens the search terms in the returned records.
  • This supposedly can only be used in databases that have a KWIC capability.
  • You can add some symbol (* or - or other) to provide some further identification surrounding the search terms.

set keyword in context - set the number of words

set kwic nn

set k nn

  • kwic displays results showing search terms surrounded by text.
  • You specify the number of surrounding words to be displayed:
    set kwic 50
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Searching Dialog: Switching A Search to Another File

Scope

Limits

Example

Function/Command

Format

Examples, Notes

file

file #

  • file 275
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 Searching Dialog: The Money-Saving Commands

Introduction

So,

BE SURE TO USE:

Commands

COMMAND
USAGE
NOTES

help rates

help rates <file number>
  • help rates 415
  • To find database rates

cost

cost
  • Checks costs during a search.
  • Be sure to use periodically to assess the costs of your searching as you are doing it.

pause

pause
  • You can put your searching on one or more databases on hold for up to 10 minutes.
  • But, only use pause if you are going to be doing something database-related for NO LONGER THAN A FEW SECONDS.
  • This eliminates that database connect charges for the period of the pause, BUT pause has its own charge.
  • Basic Dialog connect charges still run on, so this is not as useful as

logoff, disc, off, bye, quit, stop

logout
  • Exits you out of Dialog.
  • Use this if you are going to be doing something database-related for LONGER THAN A FEW SECONDS.
  • How much your search costs were will be displayed.

logoff hold (also: off hold, bye hold, etc.)

logoff hold
  • Also exits you, but keeps the your search results or "sets" for 30 minutes.
  • Within this period, you can reconnect to your search.
    • Log on through exactly the same connection (computer and connection) used in the previous session.
    • Enter your same Dialog user number and password.
    • You should receive the message reconnected rather than logon plus a confirmation of the file to which you have been reconnected.
    • Enter the ds (display sets) command, which should display the sets created prior to your logoff hold command.
    • You can, then, resume your search.

save temp

save temp myfile2
  • Saves a search for 7 days.
  • Save it as a 1-6 character name.
    • Eg: save temp myfil2
  • Can be executed later with the exs command
    • Eg: exs myfil2
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Using Dialog: Cost Considerations in Searching

Cost Considerations

Subscriber/end-user costs for accessing and using Dialog include:

There are are variety of subscription and fee structures available for accessing and using Dialog databases. These include:

Subscription costs. These include:

Purchasing publications (printed and CD-ROM)

These are generally from the individual database publishers. They consist of:

Connect Time

DialUnits

Document Display Costs

Means for controlling costs

Again, the Money-Saving Commands

Command
Usage
Examples, Notes

help rates

help rates <file number>

  • help rates 415
  • To find database rates

cost

cost
  • Checks costs during a search.
  • Be sure to use periodically to assess the costs of your searching as you are doing it.

pause

pause
  • You can put your searching on hold for up to 10 minutes.
  • Basic Dialog connect charges still run on.

logout, disc, off, bye, quit, stop

logout
  • Exits you out of Dialog.
  • How much your search costs were will be displayed.

logout hold (also: off hold, bye hold, etc.)

logout hold
  • Also exits you, but keeps the your search results or "sets" for 30 minutes.

save temp

save temp
  • Saves a search for 7 days.
  • Save it as a 1-6 letter name.
  • Can be executed later with the exs command