DialogWeb Help: DIALINDEX Searching

Dialog offers two multiple-file search options, DIALINDEX (File 411) and OneSearch.

DIALINDEX is an index to all Dialog databases. It lets you choose the best databases for your search by allowing you to preview search results across a group of databases. To use DIALINDEX, define a group of databases by selecting a search category, a category option, and two or more databases. Next enter a SELECT statement and run the search against your DIALINDEX selections. From the search results, you can determine which databases provide the most information.

To run a DIALINDEX search

1. Click Databases.
2. Click a database category.
3. When the list of databases for your category selections displays, select two or more databases.
4. In the DIALINDEX text box, enter the SELECT command followed by your search term(s).
5. Click Search DIALINDEX.

Your DIALINDEX search produces a list of databases. The database numbers, names, and the number of items (records) found in each database displays.

To sort the list of databases in descending order of records retrieved, click Sort Results.

To begin your search

1. Select at least one database for your search.
2. Click Begin Databases. The BEGIN command, followed by the database(s) you selected, displays in the Dialog Command text box.

To return to the Database page, click New Search.

Note:
You can also search DIALINDEX, using traditional Dialog commands, by entering b 411 in the Dialog Command text box and entering set files to specify the files you want to search. To reorder your search results, click Sort Results after all database entries have displayed. Also note that the RANK command is not supported in DIALINDEX.