Glossary of Search Terms
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Additional Indexes include all other searchable fields not in the Basic Index, for example, the company name field, the journal field, the number of employees field.
Dialog Alert is a current awareness service that is available for most regularly updated Dialog databases. The Dialog Alert service allows you to have a search run automatically whenever new records are added to the database and have the results delivered to you electronically, via e-mail, or by first class mail.
The Basic Index is the index of subject words in a database.
The BEGIN command allows us to access a database. Each database has a file number. To access a specific database, we enter the command BEGIN (abbreviated B) followed by the file number of the database to be searched. Databases and their file numbers are listed at http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/. Dialog databases can also be searched as a group of up to 60 databases. Each BEGIN command we enter clears all sets we have created.
Bibliographic citation includes the title, author, date of publication, and source of an article. The amount of information may vary according to the database.
Dialog Bluesheets, available for each database on the Dialog system, provide detailed search information, including a description of the database, formats for displaying records, and search prefixes and suffixes for refining search strategies or finding specific information, such as company name or sales data.
Access the Dialog Bluesheets in the Dialog Library at http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/
Business & Industry™ (File 9) is a multi-industry database that covers over 600 important trade and business publications in more than 30 countries. Editorial emphasis is on facts, figures, and key events related to companies, industries, markets, and products.
Business Wire (File 610) is a leading media relations wire service that carries full-text corporate news releases for about 12,000 U.S. companies, representing primarily the high-tech, Fortune 1000, and NASDAQ sectors.
CLAIMS®/U.S. Patents Abstracts (File 340) provides access to utility patents listed in the general, chemical (1950 to date), electrical, and mechanical (1963 to date) sections of the Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Design and plant patents are also included from 1976 forward.
Classic Dialog provides the fastest and most powerful way to search for information. The powerful, yet flexible, Dialog search systems allow instant retrieval of exactly the information you need in a text-based format.
The CURRENT command allows us to restrict a search to the most recent records in a file. It is appended to the BEGIN command: BEGIN 155 CURRENT.
We can restrict to records added during the most current calendar year and the previous year, or to the current year and a specified number of years, up to five:
CURRENT restricts to current year plus one back year
CURRENT1 restricts to current year plus one back year
CURRENT2 restricts to current year plus two back years
CURRENT3 restricts to current year plus three back years
CURRENT4 restricts to current year plus four back years
CURRENT5 restricts to current year plus five back years
A database is a collection of related information stored electronically. The database includes the documents, or records, plus its associated indexes.
DataStar was a separate online information service provided by Dialog. It is no longer available. Please see ProQuest Dialog for more information.
Subject descriptors, or subject headings, are terms that express the main topics found in an article. Descriptors are usually assigned by a person who reads the article. Searching on descriptor terms helps eliminate records that may have the search terms, but are not really about the topic.
DIALINDEX® (File 411) is a master index to most of the Dialog databases. In DIALINDEX we can compare the number of records retrieved from a group of databases. DIALINDEX is particularly useful when we do not know which databases to search, when the topic is not well-known, or when we want to do a comprehensive search and cover everything on a topic.
Dialog Global Reporter (File 20) provides comprehensive, up-to-the-minute, global coverage drawing from leading newspapers, business magazines, and newswires from all regions of the world, including emerging markets. Use World Reporter to conduct business analysis, investigations, business development, competitive intelligence, and other business-related research in all parts of the world.
Dialog OneSearch® allows us to BEGIN in more than one database and enter our search term(s) once to search all files chosen. We can specify up to 60 databases in a single BEGIN command.
We can enter databases as follows:
- BEGIN 516,531
- BEGIN BIOBUS
- BEGIN PAPERSCA NOT 630
- BEGIN PAPERS CURRENT
DialogWeb provides easy access to the full content (over 450 databases), power, and precision of Dialog through a Web browser. There are two search modes available in DialogWeb: (1) Guided Search, and (2) Command Search. The online courses use the Command Search interface and Dialog commands. If you are also interested in trying the Guided Search, review the DialogWeb Guided Search Tutorial.
Special features of DialogWeb include:
- A flexible and easy-to-use Guided Search mode that does not require knowledge of the Dialog command language
- databases selection tools to help pinpoint the right database for a search
- Integrated database descriptions, pricing information, and other search assistance
- Search results available in HTML or text formats
- A choice of displaying or printing records or sending search results via email, fax, or postal delivery
Disclosure Database® (File 101) provides detailed financial information on over 14,000 U.S. public companies. The information is derived from reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Financial information includes annual and quarterly balance sheets and income statements, annual financial ratios, cash flow statement, and weekly price earnings information.
Dun's Market Identifiers (File 516) - includes location data, ownership information, sales and employee size, and contact information on over 10 million U.S. organizations.
The EXPAND command allows me to look into the database index, and see how the data is actually entered. I can see whether the company name is abbreviated, includes an "Inc." tag, or has specific punctuation. I can then choose the appropriate company name from a list of entries.
A field is a distinct part or section of a record. Typical fields include title, author, journal name, and publication date. In a business directory database, fields include company name, city names, zip codes, sales figures, to name a few. Check the Bluesheet since fields vary according to the database.
Formats determine the amount of information displayed for each record. The Format list box lists the basic format options. The format we select is used for the records retrieved when we click Display in the Search History table. The basic format options are: Free, Short, Medium, Long, Full, and KWIC. They are used for the records retrieved when we click the Display button. Formats vary according to the database chosen.
Gale Group Trade & Industry Database™ (File 148) provides broad international coverage of companies, industries, products, and markets, featuring specialized coverage of management practices, financial earnings, economic climate, industry overviews, and executive changes
Gale Group Promt® (File 16) is a multi-industry database that provides broad international coverage of companies, products, markets, and applied technologies for virtually all manufacturing and service industries. It contains publications from trade journals, local newspapers, regional business publications, national and international business newspapers, trade and business newsletters, research studies, investment analysts' reports, news releases, and corporate annual reports.
Identifiers are index terms assigned to a record by an indexer but are generally not from a controlled vocabulary. Identifiers frequently are proper names, geographic locations, or terms that have not yet been added to the thesaurus.
Inspec (File 2,3,4) (The Database for Physics, Electronics and Computing) is the major source of information on the worldwide literature of physics, electronics, electrical engineering, computers and control, and information technology. Inspec has three files with different years of coverage: File 2 (1969 to the present); File 3 (Archival file from 1969 to 1982); and File 4 (Current file from 1983 to the present).
Investext (File 545) provides the full text of 700,000 company, industry, topical, and geographic research reports written by analysts at more than 300 leading investment banks, brokerage houses, and consulting firms worldwide. The database includes in-depth analysis and data on approximately 50,000 publicly traded companies, including sales and earnings forecasts, market share projections and research and development expenditures. Other reports analyze specific industries/products and businesses in geographic regions.
Investext® PDF Index (File 745) provides access to the entire collection of reports available from Investext from August 1999 forward in PDF format. File 745 enables you to obtain financial analyst's reports as soon as they are available on public companies and industries. A companion file, File 545, INVESTEXT®, contains about 40% of the entire Investext collection fully indexed and searchable from July 1982 forward.
KWIC (keyword in context) (or K) can be used alone or with another format option to display "windows" of text that contain our search terms. The default size of the KWIC window is 30 words. Check the database Bluesheet for availability.
Example: type s2/kwic/1
Logical operators define the logical relationships among the terms being searched. Three kinds of logical relationships are defined on Dialog: OR, AND, and NOT. Logical operators are also known as Boolean operators.
The LOGOFF command ends your search activities for a given session. You may also use several shorter words to disconnect, including BYE, LOG, OFF, QUIT, or STOP. When you enter LOGOFF, Dialog displays estimated costs for the search session, then disconnects you from the Dialog system. When you logoff, all of the sets created are erased.
The Main Report Title is the main title of the entire research report (e.g., Medical Packaging: Supplies & Devices to 2005). It includes a table of contents where we can see a listing of sections or a complete listing of record titles.
Market Guide to Disclosure Database® (see Disclosure Database®)
MARKETFULL is a collection of market research reports that provides detailed, in-depth analysis of many industries taken from both primary and secondary sources. The group of databases includes:
- Business Insights (File 759)
- Freedonia Market Research (File 763)
- BCC Market Research (File 764)
- Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering (File 767)
- Verdict Market Research (File 769)
Major U.S. Newspapers provides information from newspapers with major circulation throughout the United States. Newspapers included in this category are The New York Times (File 471), The Philadelphia Inquirer (File 633), and The Boston Globe (File 631), to name a few.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) reflects the production activities performed by companies and organizations.
For example: the NAICS code 334413 refers to Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing.
OneSearch® allows us to conduct a full search of a collection of related databases (up to 60), browse the indexes, or display records. We can search using OneSearch categories or mix OneSearch categories and file numbers (e.g., b businessnews, 471).
PR Newswire (File 613) contains complete text news releases prepared by U.S. and Canadian companies, public relations agencies, trade associations, city, state, and non-U.S. government agencies.
Product and Industry Codes are standardized, two-to-eight digit numbers used to identify a product or service. Most codes are arranged hierarchically to enable the searcher to locate either a very broad industry category or a very specific product.
Proximity connectors specify the relative nearness or adjacency of search terms. They are used in two-word or multiple-word phrases or phrases that have punctuation or stop words. Proximity connectors on Dialog include (w), (n), (#w), (#n), and (s).
A record is one portion of a market research report. It usually consists of several pages. Pricing is determined by the record.
REPORT TITLES facilitates searching databases that consist of multiple-page reports. This command groups together the pages of distinct reports, provides a menu of reports, allows us to display a Table of Contents of the report, and select the specific pages we need.
A section of a market research report consists of broad headings, for example, Medical Supply & Device Packaging Materials. Each section contains many records.
The SELECT command, abbreviated S, retrieves records containing the specified search terms and stores them in a numbered set. S1 is the Set number that Dialog assigns to the first set of records retrieved. The number of records in the database containing the search terms appears under the column Items.
Note that in DIALINDEX the SELECT command is used to identify databases that contain specific search terms; however, no sets are created.
United States Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes were developed by the government as a way to easily group together related industries. SIC codes are four-digit codes indicating the line of business in which a company is involved. They can, however, go up to the 8-digit level — the more levels indicated, the more specific the code.
For example, the SIC code for a brewery that deals in Malt Beverages would be 2082. Adding digits 20829902 indicates beer; 20829903 denotes liquors. SIC codes in the Gale Group databases have been replaced with NAICS codes (North American Industry Classification System).
Stop words are nine non-searchable words on the Dialog system. They include: AN, AND, BY, FOR, FROM, OF, THE, TO, WITH. These words should not be included in a subject search.
Subject descriptors, or subject headings, are terms that express the main topics found in an article. Descriptors are usually assigned by a person who reads the article. Searching on descriptor terms helps eliminate records that may have the search terms, but are not really about the topic.
TableBase (File 93) contains tabular information dealing with companies, products, industries, brands, markets, demographics, and countries from around the world. All records contain a table and the originating textual article when available.
TFSD Joint Ventures & Alliances (File 554) includes records representing agreements where two or more entities have combined resources to form a new, mutually advantageous business arrangement to achieve predetermined objectives. Collected from U.S. SEC filings and international counterparts, trade publications, and newswires, these records reflect alliances among companies worldwide. Types of alliances covered include: joint ventures, strategic alliances, sales and marketing agreements, licensing and distribution pacts, and manufacturing pacts.
TFSD Worldwide M&A (File 551), produced by TFSD, provides the most comprehensive coverage of merger and acquisitions dealings available worldwide. All publicly announced transactions involving a merger, acquisition, buyback, divestiture, stock purchase, leveraged buyout, privatization, recapitalization, share repurchase, or tender offer are covered. All transactions that involve a bid for the control of at least 5% of the assets of a company are reported in the file.
A topical report focuses on specific subjects or activities and either omits company, industry, or geographic designations, or gives them less emphasis than the topic itself. Topical reports are divided into 1) company collections, 2) securities, 3) investing, and 4) economic.
U.S. Patents Fulltext (Files 654, 652) provides
access to the complete text of over 1.8 million patents
issued by the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO) since 1974. Partial coverage of selected
technologies is included from 1971 through 1973.
The database contains all granted U.S. utility patents,
defensive publications, and design and plant patents.
Post-issuance legal status information is supplied
for patents that have been reassigned, reexamined,
reinstated after late payment of the maintenance
fee, expired prior to the normal 17-year period,
or granted an extension in term. Drawings are not
included.
