Customer Support

There are a number of ways Dialog can help you get the most from your account with us.

Training

We recommend that new customers attend one or more of our training sessions. These are highly informative classroom-style training sessions for new and intermediate-level searchers. These seminars focus on applications, and cover Dialog content and features. For more information about Dialog seminars, including a Training Schedule, consult the Training Center or contact your local Dialog office.

Dialog also offers a variety of free online course options for new and experienced users. If you are unable to attend regular Dialog classes, prefer independent learning, or would like to take a course at your convenience, Online Courses are for you. See the Training Center for more information.

Customer Services Help Desk

The Help Desk is available by calling one of our regional Help Desks. Our specialists provide assistance in search techniques and database selection. They'll also be happy to help you with information about your invoice, adding passwords to your account, and new Dialog products and services.

Publications from Dialog

• Publications from Dialog—an A-Z listing of documentation and resources available in the support area of our Web site; includes information about viewing these resources online, or requesting that copies be sent to you via post or fax. You may wish to consult the Dialog Search Aids page for a database-specific aids.
• Dialog Bluesheets —documentation issued for each database (or file) on the Dialog service. New or revised Bluesheets are mailed bi-monthly with Chronolog Update and contain a description of a file, its subject coverage, sources, Dialog file specifications (inclusive dates, update frequency, size, a file's searchable fields, and its origin). The Web version is automatically kept up to date so there is no need for you to file new or revised Bluesheets as they are produced.
• The Dialog Pocket Guide—a brief summary of the Dialog commands and features that you are likely to use most often.
• Successful Searching with Dialog Command Language —a search manual, containing descriptions and examples of how to use all the commands available for use on Dialog. Command descriptions are presented in alphabetical order for easy access.
• Dialog Database Catalog—the Dialog Database Catalog contains descriptions of all Dialog databases, including subject and alphabetical listings, as well as dates of coverage.
• Dialog Database Selection Guide—an invaluable resorce for identifying databases that best meet your information needs. The Dialog Database Selection Guide includes databases grouped by more than 150 specific topics, such as agriculture, materials, patents, pharmaceuticals, water resources, U.S company directories, to name a few. The most popular Dialog online finding tools are illustrated with step-by-step examples.

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