[table of contents for nonframes version]

INDEX

Description

STNindex is a tool for identifying files with answers to your search question. It allows you to preview the number of answers a search question will retrieve in selected files.

Process

To use STNindex, follow these steps:

Step	Action
1	Enter the databases you want to preview for answers using the INDEX command.
2	Conduct the preview search. Result: STN displays a list of files and the number of answers in each file.
3 Optional	Organize STNindex results by number of answers using the DISPLAY RANK command.

Command Line	To use the INDEX command, follow this sample format:
	=>	INDEX	file and/or cluster names
		1	2

Example: => INDEX AEROSPACE GEOREF

Command Guidelines

Use the guidelines below to enter command line information:

Field	Guidelines
1	Type: INDEX
2	Type: Example: Two or more file names BIOSIS MEDLINE One or more cluster names CHEMISTRY A combination of file and cluster names BIOSIS MEDLINE CHEMISTRY A cluster minus a file(s) CHEMISTRY -GENBANK

Identifying Files and Clusters

Type: HELP FILE NAMES to identify files HELP CLUSTERS to identify cluster names and the files making up a cluster A list of all files is available on the Web at www.cas.org/ONLINE/DBSS/dbsslist.html.

Example

The following example shows use of the STNindex feature to preview the number of answers in the GEOSCIENCE cluster (minus the SCISEARCH file). D RANK is used to organize results by number of answers.

=> INDEX GEOSCIENCE -SCISEARCH INDEX 'AEROSPACE, CAPLUS, COMPENDEX, CONFSCI, ENCOMPLIT2, ENCOMPPAT2, ENERGY, ENTEC, GEOREF, IFIPAT, JICST-EPLUS, NTIS, PASCAL, TULSA2, USPATFULL' ENTERED AT 10:39:45 ON 16 AUG 2001 15 FILES IN THE FILE LIST IN STNINDEX => S VENUS? AND ATMOSPHER? AND VOLCAN? 137 FILE AEROSPACE 17 FILE CAPLUS 3 FILE COMPENDEX 1 FILE CONFSCI 30 FILE ENERGY 83 FILE GEOREF 4 FILE JICST-EPLUS 29 FILE NTIS 8 FILES HAVE ONE OR MORE ANSWERS, 15 FILES SEARCHED IN STNINDEX L1 QUE VENUS? AND ATMOSPHER? AND VOLCAN? => D RANK F1 137 AEROSPACE F2 83 GEOREF F3 30 ENERGY F4 29 NTIS F5 17 CAPLUS F6 4 JICST-EPLUS F7 3 COMPENDEX F8 1 CONFSCI

Notes: If a file does not have answers, the file information line is not displayed. A query L-number is created. The L-number can be used as a synonym for the search query with the SEARCH command. Each file in the RANK list is associated with an F-number. The F-number can be used as a synonym for the file name with the FILE command.

STN Assistance

If you enter just the INDEX command, STN prompts you for file and/or cluster names If you are unsure how to answer an STN prompt, enter a question mark (?) and STN provides more details. For more information on the INDEX command, type HELP INDEX.