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Biological Abstracts Search Guide

The Biological Abstracts database is a comprehensive index to the world's biological research literature. Over 5,000 journals are covered, and over 300,000 articles are added per year. The database covers 1980 to the present.

Last Updated: 5/6/2004

TO SEARCH

The "Master Index" in the Biosis Search Guide (REF DESK Z 695.1 B5 B56x) will provide suggestions on terminology to use. It may suggest any of three different kinds of search terms.

FOR LIVING ORGANISMS BY TAXONOMIC CATEGORY: use the "Biosystematic Codes." These are indicated by BC in the search guide. Be sure to enter the organism name exactly as it appears. For broad taxonomic groups use the "Super Taxonomic Group" names listed at the end of "Biosystematic Code Directory."

FOR BROAD SUBJECTS: use the "Concept Codes" indicated by CC in the search guide. These terms will result in very broad retrieval and should be combined with other terms to restrict and refine your search.

FOR ALL OTHER SUBJECTS (INCLUDING GENUS-SPECIES NAMES): use the keyword(s) indicated by EX in the search guide. A "$" in an entry indicates that you should truncate the term to retrieve all words beginning with that root. You can do this by substituting an * in its place when you type the word. "ADJ" in an entry merely indicates that the terms should be entered adjacent to each other; it should not be typed in.

If your subject term does not appear in the search guide (many genus-species names for instance will not), you should use the term(s) that you have.

Type your search term(s) in the "FIND" text entry box. Leave the box for "WORDS ANYWHERE" checked. Connect synonyms with the "OR" operator (see under "To Combine Concepts"). Click on "START SEARCH."

Repeat for each of your search concepts.

TO COMBINE CONCEPTS

Your search statements are displayed in the "SEARCH HISTORY" field at the bottom of the screen.

To combine search statements, click on the boxes next to the desired statements and select the desired operator, AND or OR.

The diagram and example below depicts the use of the operators.

Venn Diagram (OR)A OR B

Retrieves records containing either term A, B, or both.

Venn Diagram (AND)A AND B

Retrieves only records containing both terms A and B.

#1 SNAIL* 9219

#2 GASTROPODA 25213

#3 #1 OR #2 26130

#4 REPRODUC* 621254

#5 #3 AND #4 3948

LIMITING

To limit your search to only English language articles, click on the box next to "ENGLISH," and do your search. To limit to English after the fact, do the above, then in the "SEARCH" box type # and the statement number from your "SEARCH HISTORY" that you wish to limit, and then click on "SEARCH."

Your references will come out in chronological order, most recent first, so you normally will not need to limit by Publication Year. However, if you do wish to, click on "SET OTHER LIMITS," enter the desired years in the appropriate boxes, and click on "SET LIMITS."

TO VIEW RETRIEVED RECORDS

Your records will be displayed in the default format. To view the entire record, including abstract and indexing, click on "CHANGE DISPLAY," then click on the box next to "COMPLETE RECORD," and then click on "CONFIRM CHANGES."

Viewing the entire record will allow YOU to discover other useful terms to search.

Within the records displayed, your search terms used will be in bold.

TO MARK RECORDS FOR PRINTING OR DOWNLOADING

To mark a record, click on the box next to the left of it.

When you then click on "SHOW MARKED" it will display only your marked records and it will renumber your answer set.

TO PRINT RECORDS

With records displayed, click on the "PRINT" button (directly above displayed records--not your browser's print button).

If you have marked records, you are now set to print them. If you have not marked records, you are now set to print only the records displayed on the previous screen (10 records). If this is not what you want, change the "WHICH RECORDS DO YOU WANT TO PRINT?"

Click on "PRINT RECORDS." This will display your records for printing. Click on "PRINT."

TO DOWNLOAD RECORDS TO DISC

With records displayed, click on the "SAVE" button

If you have marked records, you are now set to download them. If you have not marked records, you are now set to download only the records displayed on the previous screen (10 records). If this is not what you want, change the "WHICH RECORDS DO YOU WANT TO SAVE?"

Click on "SAVE RECORDS".

From "SAVE IN" choose "3 1/2 FLOPPY (A:)"

Click on "SAVE."

TO EXIT

IMPORTANT: If you do not properly exit from the system, another user may be denied access.

To exit, click on "LOGOUT" at the top right of the screen.

For further assistance in searching, ask at the Reference Desk, call 989-774-3470, or contact David D. Ginsburg (989-774-1293).

CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity within its community (see http://www.cmich.edu/aaeo/). INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES REQUIRING ACCOMMODATION SHOULD CONTACT REFERENCE SERVICES AT 774-3470.

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