DialogWeb Help: Creating a Dialog Alert

In Command Search, you can create Alerts using the Alerts Manager or standard Dialog commands.

Alerts Manager Forms
To create a Dialog Alert, first perform the search on your topic.

  1. When the Set History displays, note the set number you want to use in the Alert. If you are not sure of the set number, enter ds to display your sets.
  2. Click Alerts in the main toolbar.
  3. Click Create Alert from Current Search.

Note that you have the choice of Create Alert two links: Assisted Mode (select output choices from drop-down lists) and Using PRINT (use PRINT commands to specify output format).

The Create Alert form displays the database(s) specified in your BEGIN command. It also displays your search strategy.

To complete the form:

  1. If desired, enter a name for the Alert.
  2. Verify the list of databases; you may de-select databases at this time.
  3. Verify the search strategy.
  4. Output Options:
    • If you chose the 'Assisted Mode' form, simply select your choices from the dropdown lists or accept the defaults.
    • If you chose the 'Using PRINT' form, enter Dialog PRINT command(s). Notice the link to your Address Book if you need to refer to alternate addresses.
      If you have entered PRINT commands since the last BEGIN command, these are pre-filled on the form. You may modify them as needed. (Please note that if you do not want the retrospective PRINTs, you must cancel them after saving the Alert using the PR- command.)
  5. Choose options for the Dedup and Notify settings.
  6. Select the scheduling for the Alert: you can have the Alert run based on the Alert update frequency of the databases or based on a custom schedule you set up.
    Note: Custom scheduling is not available if your Alert includes files 345, 350, 351, or 352.
  7. Verify the settings and click Save.

Alerts in Databases with Images — Using Email

If you are setting up an Alert in a database that includes images and want to send the results to an email address that uses file attachments, we recommend selecting the Output Type HTML on the Save Alert form. This will produce output with the images displayed in the body of the email message. (If you do not specify HTML, the images will be sent as separately attached files and references such as <img src="458-047357-1.gif"> will display in the message.)


Using the Dialog SAVE ALERT Command
To create an Alert using the Dialog SAVE ALERT command:

  1. BEGIN in one or more appropriate databases.
  2. Enter SELECT statements and complete the search strategy.
  3. Enter one or more PRINT commands for the set number, the format, and the range of records to be delivered each time the Alert profile is run. If you wish to send the results directly to an alternate address, include ADDRESS followed by the address name, e.g., PRINT S1/9/ALL ADDRESS ADJANE Enter Y to confirm the address or N to decline the alternate address.
  4. Enter SAVE ALERT. If you are setting up an Alert while in in a free file (e.g., 410, 200), enter SAVE ALERT FROM to specify the database(s) in which you want the Alert run, e.g., SAVE ALERT FROM 6,8,2
  5. Answer the prompts for how you want to schedule the Alert. You can choose to run the Alert based on the file's Alert update frequency or on a schedule you set up. if you choose By Update, some files may have more than one update frequency for Alerts and you can opt for the default frequency or select the frequency you want. If you choose Custom Schedule, you will be prompted to Set up the schedule, e.g., monthly, weekly, etc., and the time of day you want the Alert run.
    Note: Custom scheduling is not available if your Alert includes files 345, 350, 351, or 352.
  6. Answer the prompts about removing duplicates and notification setting.
  7. The system displays all of the Alert settings. You may make changes at this time, save it, or exit without saving. (You can also make changes after saving it using the EDIT command.) Enter S to save the Alert. Then enter a name for the Alert or let the system assign one.
  8. The system asks if you want the retrospective prints; answer yes or no. (Note: If you've forgotten to enter PRINT command(s), you are prompted to at this point.)
  9. The system confirms that the Alert has been saved.