Support : DialogLink 5 : Enhanced Features : Search Strategies

Saving and Editing Search Strategies

DialogLink offers two ways to save search strategies for reuse:

• Issuing a SAVE command while connected to Dialog to save the strategy you entered between the last BEGIN command and the SAVE command. The search strategy is saved on the Dialog system.
  
  
• Creating a search script that’s stored locally on your PC and can be uploaded to the DialogLink Type-Ahead buffer when you want to run it.

SAVE a search if:

• You want to keep the strategy of the search you carried out so that you can repeat it in the future.
  
  
• You want the search strategy to be stored on the Dialog system so that you can re-use it from any PC when you are connected to Dialog using the same user number.

Use a script file if:

• You want to prepare a search strategy in advance of a search session (SAVE saves a strategy that has been run online).
  
  
• You want to save a search strategy locally and not on the Dialog system. Locally stored scripts are .txt files that are easy to share. They also do not incur the nominal monthly charge of the SAVEd searches stored on the Dialog system.

Saving and re-using the strategy from a search

The SAVE command brings the classic Dialog SAVE command into a graphical format. Use SAVE to save your search strategy temporarily or permanently on the Dialog system for easy re-use. When you wish to use the search again, you simply use the EXECUTE command and the search name to rerun the search in any database. Temporary saved searches are automatically deleted after seven days. Permanently saved searches are stored until you delete them using the RELEASE command and a nominal amount is charged each month for storage.

Saving a search

At any point during an online search you can save the strategy you entered since the last BEGIN command.

To save a search strategy:

1. While still logged in to Dialog, enter the SAVE TEMP command to save the strategy for seven days or the SAVE or SAVE SEARCH command to save the strategy until you elect to delete it. The Edit Save Search or Edit Temp Search window opens.

2. Enter a name for the search in the Name box. If you included a name in the SAVE command, the name is pre-entered in the Name box when the Edit Search box opens. A search name can be up to thirty alphanumeric characters.
   
   
3. Review the search strategy and edit if desired.
   
   
4. Click Save to save the search strategy and close the Edit window . The search is saved for seven days for the SAVE TEMP command or indefinitely for SAVE and SAVE SEARCH.

Running a saved search

You can run a saved search in any database(s).

To run a saved search:

1. Use the BEGIN command to connect to the database(s) you want to search.
   
   
2. Enter the EXECUTE command and saved search name.
   
   
   Examples:

   EXECUTE CAT1
   EXECUTE STEPS CAT1

   
   The search strategy re-runs in the active database(s). When the last results set of the saved strategy is returned, you can display search sets and/or develop the search further as desired.

Viewing saved searches

You may want a reminder of searches you have saved or of the strategy of a particular saved search.

To display a list of your saved search strategies:

• Enter RECALL SAVE or RECALL TEMP while logged in to Dialog. A list of names of saved searches with the date and time of their creation displays in the retrieve buffer.

To view the search strategy of a specific saved search:

• Enter RECALL <name> while logged in to Dialog . The search strategy associated with the search name displays in the retrieve buffer.

Deleting saved searches

You can delete your saved searches from the system at any time when you are connected to Dialog. Since there is a small monthly charge for saved searches, it’s advisable to delete saved searches when you no longer need them.

To delete a saved search from the system:

• Enter RELEASE SAVE <name> while logged in to Dialog to delete a permanent search save. Temporary search saves are automatically deleted but can also be deleted by the command RELEASE TEMP <name>.

Editing a saved search

You can use the EDIT command in DialogLink to modify a saved search strategy or to use one saved search to create another saved search with similar strategy.

To edit a saved search

1. Enter EDIT <name> while logged in to Dialog. The search strategy displays in the Edit Save Search or Edit Temp Search window.
   
   
2. Make the changes to the search strategy.
   
   
3. If you want create a new saved search with the modified strategy while retaining the old saved search unchanged, change the name in the Name box.
   
   
4. Click Save to save and close the Edit window.

Storing and running search scripts

You can create and store search scripts that you load into the DialogLink Type-Ahead buffer when you want to run the search.

To create a script:

1. Click the Edit Script icon or click File > Edit Script in the Dialog Session window.
   
   
2. In the Edit a File window, ignore the folders and enter a file name in the File name box.
   
   
3. Click Open. Your system assigned text editor (such as Notepad) opens in a new window.
   
4. Type a search script into the text editor as if you were typing commands into the Type-Ahead buffer. For example:
   

   b 254
   s migraine/ti
   s s1 and aspirin

5. Select File > Save to save the script file.

To use the script to search:

1. Click the Load Script icon or click File > Load Script in the Dialog Session window.
   
   
2. In the Load a Script window, select a script file and click Open. The script displays in the Type-Ahead buffer.
   
   
3. Press the Enter key to run the script.

To edit a script file:

1. Click the Edit Script icon or click File > Edit Script in the Dialog Session window.
   
   
2. In the Edit a File window, select the script file you want to edit.
   
   
3. Click Open. Your system assigned text editor (such as Notepad) opens in a new window and displays your selected script.
   
   
4. Make your desired changes to the script.
   
   
5. Select File > Save to save the file or File > Save As to save the script as a new file.

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