| DialogWeb Help: The MAP Command | |
The MAP command lets you extract search terms from a specific field in a record or group of records so that you can search those terms in another database. The MAP command consists of the word MAP followed by a field code, for example, map rn. In response to a MAP command, the system creates a SearchSave that consists of up to fifty SELECT statements in which the terms from the specified field are listed in alphanumeric order. If more than fifty SELECT statements are required, additional SearchSaves are created. In response to the MAP command, the system displays the number of SELECT statements in the SearchSave, followed by the serial numbers assigned to the statements. A single SELECT statement contains search terms that are ORed together in a statement of up to 240 characters in length.
The MAP command can be used with various data fields in many different databases. For example, in chemical searching, the MAP command can be used to save CAS® Registry Numbers or chemical name synonyms for easy cross-file searching. In patent searches, MAP can be used to save patent assignee names, patent or application numbers, or classification codes. In business searching, MAP is useful for saving D-U-N-S® Numbers for tracing corporate families.
The basic MAP command is MAP xx, where xx is a field code. MAP command options include:
| MAP xx TEMP | Creates a temporary SearchSave. If TEMP is not specified, a permanent SearchSave is created. |
| MAP xx STEPS | Creates a separate SELECT command for each term in the SearchSave. If not specified, each SELECT contains the maximum number of terms possible, up to 240 characters. |
| MAP xx EX or MAP xx EXS | Causes the SearchSave to execute as soon as it is created. EXS creates separate sets for each SELECT command in the SearchSave. EX creates a single, final set. |
| MAP xx <set number> | Indicates a set number. If not specified, MAP defaults to the last set created. |
| MAP xx / <ff=> | Changes the prefix for each term from the prefix specified with the MAP xx field to that indicated by ff. |
| MAP xx / "term qualifier" | Appends a qualifier to each term in the SearchSave. The qualifier must be enclosed in quotation marks. |
| MAP xx / items | Indicates the items to be MAPped if only specific records from within a set are desired. |