[table of contents for nonframes version]

Search Query

Description

A search query consists of the SEARCH command and one or more search terms. Each search term is associated with a search field, and multiple terms are connected with operators. The search query is used in a database to retrieve records that answer the query.

How it Works

Each database contains records that are potential answers to a search query in that database. Terms in an STN record become access points to that record. You enter a search query that instructs the STN computer to retrieve all records that contain the search terms and meet conditions specified in the search query.

Search Query Format	To formulate a search query, follow this sample format:
	=>	SEARCH	term 1	/search field	operator	term 2	/search field
		1	2a	2b	3	4a	4b

Example: => SEARCH PETERSOHN?/AU AND HYDROPONICS/TI

Note: Two `term/search field code' combinations are shown in this example; more than two are allowed.

Query Guidelines

Use the guidelines below to enter search query information:

Field	Guidelines
1	Type: SEARCH or S
2a	Type: a word, number, or phrase Tips: Choose a term that is appropriate for the search field Apply wildcard characters to the term to retrieve various forms of a word.
2b	Type: a forward slash (/) followed by a search field code Default: If a slash and code are not typed, the term is searched in the default search index of the database(s)
3	Type: AND, OR, NOT, (A), (W), (P), (S), or (L) Note: These operators are the most common. Additional operators are available.
4a	See 2a
4b	See 2b

Note: E-numbers and some L-numbers can be used as search terms in Field 2. The default is to search them in the field associated with the E-number and L-number terms.

Example

Below is an example of a search query designed to find records citing documents authored by 'Petersohn' and having 'hydroponics' in the title.

=> SEARCH PETERSOHN?/AU AND HYDROPONICS/TI

This is one of the answers retrieved with the search query:

AN 1991:678920 CAPLUS DN 115:278920 TI Method and apparatus for continuous microbial manufacture of carbon dioxide for hydroponics IN Menschel, Claudia; Panning, Frank; Brankatschk, Klaus Juergen; Petersohn, Dietmar; Schramm, Gottfried; Schrader, Gabriele; Heissner, Adolf PA VEB Industrie-Consult Berlin, Fed. Rep. Ger. SO Ger. (East), 5 pp. CODEN: GEXXA8 PI DD 293371 A5 910829 AI DD 90-339193 900329 DT Patent LA German IC ICM C12P001-00 CC 19-7 (Fertilizers, Soils, and Plant Nutrition) AB The CO2 is produced by a naturally-occurring population of algae found in algal mats on water surfaces. CO2 assimilation and dissimilation occurs in a close loop reaction system , in which biomass prodn. is induced by manipulation of light, aeration, and nutrient availability, and release of CO2 is stimulated by decreased light and nutrient limitation. The app. comprises an assimilator and a dissimilator connected by a closed loop. ST carbon dioxide manuf algae hydroponics IT Hydroponics (carbon dioxide for, manuf. with algae of, method and app. for) IT Algae (carbon dioxide manuf. with, for hydroponics, method and app. for) IT Fermentation (carbon dioxide, with algae, for hydroponics) IT Fermentation apparatus (for carbon dioxide manuf. with algae for hydroponics) IT 124-38-9, Carbon dioxide, biological studies RL: BIOL (Biological study) (for hydroponics, manuf. of, with algae, method and app. for) IT 463-79-6, Carbonic acid, biological studies 584-08-7 14265-44-2, Orthophosphate, biological studies RL: BIOL (Biological study) (in carbon dioxide manuf. with algae for hydroponics)

Notes: Terms in the search query that appear in an answer are called hit terms. They will appear highlighted in the record most of the time. Information in the record display is divided into discrete units called display fields, denoted by field codes such as AN (Accession Number), TI (Title), and AB (Abstract).