|
II. Overview
This chapter introduces you
to the basics of using WilsonDisc for Windows:
You should be familiar
with basic mouse techniques and WilsonDisc for Windows conventions as
outlined in the Introduction.
WilsonDisc for Windows
allows you to search both full-text and bibliographic databases. Except
where specifically mentioned, the term "database" refers to both types of
database.
Starting WilsonDisc for Windows
There are several ways to start WilsonDisc for Windows.
There is some variation depending on whether you are using Windows Version
3.1 or Windows 95/98/NT.
In Windows 3.1:
Start WilsonDisc for Windows from a program group: double-click on the
WilsonDisc for Windows program group icon in Program Manager. Then
double-click on the icon to start.
In Windows 95/98/NT:
On the Taskbar click Start and choose Programs. Select the
WilsonDisc for Windows submenu and click WilsonDisc for Windows.
You can also start WilsonDisc for Windows in the
following ways:
-
from the Run... command; click \wilwin.exe
-
from the File Manager or Windows Explorer; click \wilwin.exe
-
from the DOS prompt (Windows 3.1, not running in the
wilwin directory); type win[space] wilwin.exe
Once you launch WilsonDisc for Windows, you then choose
the database or databases you want to search.
Selecting a Database
When started, WilsonDisc for Windows displays a database
title screen or database selection screen, depending on how many databases
are available.
If multiple databases are available:
If multiple databases are available, WilsonDisc for
Windows displays the database selection list shown below. Depending on the
source and type of available databases, this list will include the server
name (for network databases), database names, and coverage dates (if
available). A separate text area below the selection list displays any
available information about the currently highlighted database.
Database Selection
Screen
To select databases from the list:
-
Highlight the title of the
database you want to select.
-
Click Add to select the highlighted database.
Repeat for additional databases.
-
Click OK. WilsonDisc for Windows displays the
first database title screen and the Title Screen dialog box.
-
Click Next and Previous to view the
remaining title screens.
-
Click OK to open the search screen and begin
your search.
Database Title
Screen
If only one database is available:
If only one database is available, WilsonDisc for
Windows automatically displays the database title screen as shown above.
This screen provides the coverage dates, scope, and copyright information
for the current database. The title screen disappears once you press
Enter or click OK.
Note: In a multiple database environment, if you
or the system administrator change CDs, the new database titles might not
appear immediately in the Available Databases list box. In this case,
click the Refresh button to update the Available Databases list
box.
WilsonDisc for Windows at a Glance
All screens include a menu bar and a button bar at the
top of the screen. You have access to the commands, dialog boxes, and
screens that are available.
| Click this button: |
To open or move to: |
 |
Available Databases dialog box |
 |
Print records dialog box |
 |
Save records dialog box |
 |
Search screen |
 |
Search+ screen |
 |
Browse screen |
 |
Thesaurus (for databases that
include a Thesaurus) |
The menu bar contains the menus from which you select commands. Menus
and commands vary slightly depending on which WilsonDisc for Windows
screen is displayed. Some of the menu commands are available on the button
bar or as buttons elsewhere on the screen.
File Menu
The File menu contains commands to save and reuse your
search history, to output your search results to a disk or to a printer,
and to select other databases to search. This menu also enables you to
restart or exit WilsonDisc for Windows.
Edit Menu
The Edit menu contains commands to copy and
paste text and clear the search history or text record area.
Utilities Menu
The Utilities menu allows you to view loaded
databases and select fields to search.
Records Menu
The Records menu enables you to display marked
records, sort records, and move the cursor around the list of retrieved
records.
Mark/Unmark Menu
The Mark menu allows you to mark and unmark
records.
Options Menu
The Options menu allows you to determine (for
a single search session) how WilsonDisc for Windows prints, shows, and
saves retrieved records. This menu also enables you to show intermediate
results, have records display automatically, and change the color scheme.
Views Menu
The Views menu allows you to move among the
WilsonDisc for Windows screens, and to expand your view of portions of the
screen; for example, you can temporarily get rid of the Search History and
expand the records display with the Records Full Screen choice.
Help Menu
The Help menu gives you access to the various
types of help available in WilsonDisc for Windows.
Search Screen
The search screen allows you to perform
searches and view the records retrieved by those searches. The major
components of this screen are labeled in the figure below.
WilsonDisc for Windows Search Screen
To perform a search,
type a term in the search: text record area and click the OK button
or press Enter. WilsonDisc for Windows lists the search in the
Search History area and displays the records containing your search terms
in the Retrieved Records area.
The Search History
area is a list of searches performed during a session. Each line in the
Search History shows the number of records it retrieved.
The Retrieved Records
status area provides information about the active record including the
database name and the number of the active record, for example 1 of 7
in search #1.
The left side of the
Retrieved Records area is the record-marking area. In this portion of the
screen, each record is identified with a book icon. You can click on this
icon to mark the record for later printing or downloading.
In the Retrieved
Records area, a record is the active record when a blinking cursor
appears.
Search +
The Search + dialog boxes (Search +, Biography
Search +, and Facts Search +) allow you to perform alternate searches and
view the records retrieved by those searches. The major components of
these screens are shown in the figures below.
Search + Dialog Box
To perform an
alternate, more qualified search (Search +) type a term in the
Keyword: text entry area and click And, Or, or Not.
Then fill in one or more of the following search options: Name, Subject,
Journal, Year, or Article Type. Click the Search + button or press
Enter to activate your search.
Biography Search + / Facts Search +
To perform a biography search (Biography
Search + or Facts Search +) in any of Wilson’s Biography databases, type a
term in one of the text entry areas. Click the Search + button or
press Enter to activate your search. For some fields you can click
on a down arrow, and select a term from a drop-down list.
Facts Search+ Dialog Box
Biography Search+ Dialog Box
Enter a term in any of the text entry areas
In some cases you can click on a down arrow to select from a list
-
Click Reset to clear the dialog box
-
Click Search+ to activate your search
-
Check Re-open after search to either
have the Search+ box remain open so you can edit your search
criteria or have it close after you submit your search
Browse Screen
The Browse screen allows you to look for
particular terms and view the records that include those terms. The major
components of this screen are labeled in the figure below.
To display the Browse screen, click the
Browse button on the button bar, choose Browse from the Views
menu, or press F5.
WilsonDisc for Windows Browse Screen
To search a term,
type it in the Browse: text entry area. The Browse Terms area scrolls to
find the closest match to your term.
When you find a term you can show the records
in which the term is found in the Retrieved Records area or search for the
term (which returns you to the search screen). You can select and search
for multiple terms.
Thesaurus Screen
Some databases include a thesaurus, a list of
controlled vocabulary used to standardize the indexing in the database.
This enables you to select and search for synonyms and preferred terms. If
the database’s thesaurus is arranged hierarchically, you can select more
general and more specific terms. To display the Thesaurus Screen, click
the Thesaurus button on the button bar, choose Thesaurus
from the Views menu, or press F9.
Thesaurus Screen Displaying Permuted
Index
To search a term, type it in the Thesaurus: text entry
area and click the OK button.
You can view a list of thesaurus terms, get information
about broader and narrower terms, and select terms and search for records
containing them.
Note: If you are searching multiple databases
from different database families, no thesaurus is available.
Getting Online Help
Online Help is available both for the software and for
the databases you are searching. You can get context-sensitive help for
screen areas and dialog boxes. By using the Help menu, you can get help on
all menu items, WilsonDisc for Windows commands, and search techniques.
You can access database guides—information about the coverage and content
of the database you are using—and you can even get assistance on how to
use the Help system.
Viewing Help
Click the Help button, or Press F1, to
access context-sensitive help, or use the Help menu to move through Help
topics. Regardless of how you access Help, the Help window will look
similar to the window below.
A Typical Help Window
If you have used any other Windows applications, you may
be familiar with the Help system.
To close the Help window, choose Close from the
File menu.
Getting Database-Specific Help
Each Wilson database comes with a guide, which is help
information unique to that database. To see the guide for the database you
are using, choose Guide from the Help menu. For each loaded
database you will see two items in the Guide submenu, the database topics
and the database fields.
A Typical Guide Submenu
The first choice displays a list of all topics covered
in the database guide. The second choice displays all the fields in the
database. Some of the topics typically included in the guide, in addition
to the fields, are an introduction to the database, sample searches, lists
of special codes, and a list of Stopwords.
Ending a Search Session
When you are finished searching, you can either exit or
restart WilsonDisc for Windows to leave it ready for the next user.
To exit, choose Exit from the File menu. The Exit
dialog box appears. You can save marked records or your search history
before you close WilsonDisc for Windows.
To restart WilsonDisc for Windows and leave it ready for
another user, choose Restart . . . from the File menu. At this
point, you have the option of saving marked records or your search history
before you exit. Click Restart to restart without saving. Your
search history will be erased and the WilsonDisc for Windows startup
screen will be displayed.
Note: Depending on how your system is configured,
restarting may display the database title screen or the Available
Databases dialog box. |
