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Lesson 1: Choosing a Database

Lesson 2: Planning a Search Strategy

Lesson 3: Using Dialog Search Commands

Lesson 4: Managing Search Results

Lesson 5: Refining a Search (Part 1)

Lesson 6: Refining a Search (Part 2)

Lesson 7: Wrapping Up the Course

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About the Databases

Step 2: Determine which database(s) will provide the best information.

Dialog has over 450 databases, ranging from directories containing data about companies to those providing trade journal coverage from the popular press. Each database is identified by a unique number.

For example, Inspec is File 2. A listing of all databases is provided on the Dialog website at library.dialog.com/bluesheets. We will also see a link to the database listing on the main page of DialogWeb.

Brian's request immediately narrows our choice of databases to technical sources. Dialog has technical databases that cover all areas of engineering (mechanical, electrical, aeronautical, and civil), as well as electronics, energy, and computer science.

On DialogWeb scientific and technology databases are categorized in Science and Technology. This category might be a good place to start our search.

Keep in mind these "4 Cs" to evaluate the databases: Content, Coverage, Currency, and Cost.

Databases Selection Tools

Dialog offers extensive documentation on database content and Dialog search features. Two important resources to check are:

Dialog Database Catalog.
Databases selection tool, known as DIALINDEX.

Go to the next page to see how we can use Dialog's databases selection tool to select possible databases for Brian's search.

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Learn More #2:

Technical databases that include broad engineering coverage include:

Inspec (File 2)

Ei Compendex Plus™ (File 8)

NTIS: National Technical Information Service (File 6).

Learn More #3:

The following information will help us as we look at the different databases on Dialog:

C ontent

Subject content (industry overview, product information, executive data, etc.)
Sources: where the data comes from (newspapers, company interviews, trade publications)
Record content: exactly what data is in a record (such as a news article)—text, abstracts, numerical data, market research, etc.
Intended audience: what technical level is presented (technical research about a product, market research about an industry)

C overage

Size of the database (number of records, which years are covered)
Scope of coverage (national or international, number of journals, types of companies included)

C urrency

How often is the file updated (daily, weekly, monthly, every fifteen minutes)
Timeliness: what is the lag time (newswires, published or unpublished data)

C ost

How much can you expect to pay for exactly what you need (per record charges)

Learn More #4:

The Dialog Database Catalog contains a comprehensive listing of the databases currently available on Dialog. It contains brief descriptions of all databases, including subject categories and dates of coverage. A subject index is also included.

For some databases the database name provides a good indication of its subject content like the database, Gale Group Computer Database™, File 275. However, many files have names that are unfamiliar, for example the database Inspec, File 2. The database descriptions in the main body of the catalog help us learn about their coverage and content.

We will also look in more detail at other Dialog documentation on databases in Lessons 5 and 6 when we look at: Dialog Bluesheets.