Support : Dialog Search Aids : Successful Searching : PICKLIST

PICKLIST

The PICKLIST command brings the functionality of the classic Dialog TYPE command into a graphical format. Use the PICKLIST command to view search results online at your terminal and select records, format and output criteria directly from the display. PICKLIST makes it easy to browse titles and select individual records to view in full.

Unlike TYPE, you cannot use individual accession numbers in a PICKLIST command or request tagged output.

Set Number (Sn)

You can enter the set number of any set created since your last BEGIN command. It’s possible to omit the initial S (e.g., PICKLIST 12/5/1-10), but the full set number (e.g., PICKLIST S12/5/1-10) is recommended.

Format

The format you enter determines which fields display for each record in the picklist. You may use predefined, numbered formats, user-defined formats and the KWIC format but free formats are most applicable to the picklist function. The format FREE always displays fields that are free of change in a particular database. For alternative free formats, consult the Bluesheet for the database by clicking its file name in the linking pane Help and Information section and selecting Rates.

Item Numbers

The item numbers specify the record range to be displayed in the first picklist page. Use a hyphen to indicate the range (e.g., 1-10).

From Option

When searching multiple files in OneSearch®, you can specify file numbers in the PICKLIST command with the word FROM (e.g., PICKLIST S2/6/1-10 FROM 47). If you do not include the word FROM in a OneSearch PICKLIST command, the system defaults to displaying records from the first database listed in the BEGIN or SET FILES command, followed by the next database on the list, etc. If you use the FROM option, FROM must be the last element of the PICKLIST command. You may specify records from one or more file numbers or from each file in your OneSearch session.

Examples:

     ? picklist s2/6/1-2 from 1,47
     ? picklist s2/6/1-2 from each

Using the PICKLIST window

When you enter a PICKLIST command, such as PICKLIST s1/6/1-20, the records display in the Picklist window with a checkbox beside each item. Click checkboxes to select records of interest or use the Check All button to select all records in the picklist window. The Reset button resets all checkboxes to unchecked.

If you want to see more items, enter the number of additional items you’d like in the More items box and click Get. The additional items append to the picklist window display, so your original selections are preserved. Note too that PICKLIST items are also typed in the Retrieve buffer, so you will not lose your record of items seen when you close the Picklist window.

When you have completed your record review and selection from the PICKLIST, select your output preferences in the Output to, Output Format, Archive and Redist boxes and click Output to output your selected records.

Output to choices are:

• Type. Types your selected records into the Retrieve buffer.
  
  
• XML. Opens a Choose a File to Download to window that allows you to name the file then saves the file to the Download directory in XML format.
  
  
• HTML. Opens a Choose a File to Download to window that allows you to name the file then saves the file to the Download directory in htm format.
  
  
• Text. Opens a Choose a File to Download to window that allows you to name the file then saves the file to the Download directory in txt format.

For all Output to choices except Type, you may append your new output to an existing file or replace an existing file with the new output. Highlight the existing file name in the Choose a File to Download to box and click Save. Click Append or Replace.

Output Format choices are:

• Full. All available record fields.
  
  
• Medium. Medium format varies by database but typically contains bibliographic fields. Consult the Bluesheet for a file to learn what’s included in the format: Click the file number in the linking pane Help and Information section and select Help.
  
  
• Short. Short format also varies by database but typically contains title and date fields. Consult the Bluesheet for a file to learn what’s included in the format: Click the file number in the linking pane Help and Information section and select Help.

Archive and Redist are Electronic Redisribution and Archiving (ERA) options that allow you to be copyright compliant.

In the Archive box, select the number range of users of your archive system if you plan to store search results electronically for others to access.

In the Redist box, select the number range of record copies you plan to distribute to others in your organization.

Dialog will apply a multiplier to record charges so that your information use is copyright compliant. To view rates and the multiplier table for a file, click the file number in the linking pane Help and Information section and select Rates.

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