This forwarded for your attention.
Best wishes
Ingrid Evans 

Virtual Services Manager
Health Care Libraries Unit 
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
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Sent: 21 June 2005 15:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Dialog Developments


******Apologies for cross-posting, I am trying to ensure that readers of lis-medical who are not on the core content list also recieve this information. This will not be a standard form of communication, rather a one-off, normal communications will be on the core-content list******

Hi,

Following some recent discussions on lis-medical, I am pleased to announce the following developments. These developments fall into different categories and follow on from the aggregated feedback of the Core Content Technical Reference Group.

Immeadiate Release- This category will be launched in two weeks time (as per our agreement with TRG to give advance notice). 

RANK- This in future will be moved to the second line of blue buttons at the top of the page alongside all the other data functions. For now it is possible to remove this function. I have never receieved feedback that anyone uses this within the recipients of this email, so please let me know if such a removal would be a problem and we will leave it in place and move it to the top bar in future.

Option for Title and Abstract searching: This option will be added. If there are further requests, we can add them (a reasonable number)

An Explanation of each of the fields available for searching with associated explanations and hints such as Author field example; SMITH-J$. This will be launched beginning of August and will take the form of an information request button 'i' next to each chosen field label.

The phrase 'link to fully indexed abstract' will be replaced by 'link to abstract/ database record' as per request from TRG

We will probably move the search history on the thesaurus mapping to below the mapped terms to eliminate screen scrolling, we just just doing final analysis

Limit page: replace 'greater than' etc. with more meaningful text such as 'since'

When logged out of DataStar, but still logged into Athens, the 'back to searching' link will be made bold and changed to 'Return to Databases'

Just to confirm the DataStar time-out is 30 minutes, you may have shorter local times on your network

An explanation of the scope note image will be provided on screen

The default option for exporting documents will include the search strategy

Within the options you will find an option to define your default format for records export, this will allow those people using Desktop Reference Tools to decide that their default format will be Full to ensure you do not miss any elements of the record not available within other formats

We will duplicate the navigation buttons (databases, search) on the title page to enable easy navigation



Future Confirmed Development, starting very shortly, or already in progress

A clipboard function to allow a group of articles to be selected from multiple sets and then exported in a single operation with all options of export formats

The ability for administrators to create alert strategies that end users can then subscribe to as email alerts- designed for you to support doctors and researchers

Full multifile advanced search will be available

The consistency of buttons will be improved to duplicate options at the top and bottom page to eliminate the need to scroll a lot

The explanations given within each set will be improved to give greater detail

The limit page and associated functionality will be redesigned, including date handling

Repeat function will automatically default to all search steps

There is a lot of work in progress to improve nagivation, use of terminology and language. This will involve lots of small developments and is simply designed to aid the infrequent searcher while not losing any of the advanced functionality

The default when saving a search will automatically include all search steps

There are instances where multiple set results are produced that are perhaps not necessary, these will be greatly reduced, whilst ensuring we do not remove valuable functionality

Under Current Investigation

The ability to change the default format for email format to medium format. This has been left in full format previously due to articles coming from multiple databases to ensure nothing is missed

We are putting together an explanation of the Thesaurus mapping function for distibution on the Core Content list as previously

Possible automated removal of STOP words from search terms prior to being submitted to the system, therefore eliminating null results

Looking at applying the rules sets for Medwords and plurals to the Thesaurus

Limit/ Theaurus map combination

The option to move the intermittent search result set to the bottom of the page when conducting a thesaurus mapping search

take care all,

Gavin


> Gavin Coney- Sales Manager- Public Sector
> Palace House, 3 Cathedral Street
> London, SE1 9DE
> 
>