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STN Pocket Guide
Welcome to STN!With your STN login ID and password, you can use all the STN interfaces:
This guide highlights the basic features for STN command-line searching. The information is arranged in the order that you may encounter questions, beginning with logging on to STN and ending with logoff. For more information, visit the STN Products & Services page.
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Logging on to STN
Follow these instructions to log on to STN.
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Interface |
To log on: |
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STN Express |
Install and launch the software. The STN Setup Wizard starts automatically. For additional information on connecting, visit STN Express Support. |
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STN on the Web |
Visit STN on the Web. Enter your STN login ID and password. |
For the most up-to-date information on connecting, visit STN Technical Support.
Entering Databases
At an arrow prompt (=>), use the FILE command to specify databases or clusters:
- For a list of STN databases, enter HELP FILE NAMES.
- For a list of STN database clusters, enter HELP CLUSTER NAMES.
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To enter |
Follow FILE with |
Example |
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Single database |
Database name |
FILE BIOSIS |
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Multiple databases |
Database names separated by spaces or commas |
FILE BIOSIS MEDLINE |
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Predefined database cluster |
Cluster name
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FILE POLYMERS |
Basic Commands
STN has two versions of command language:
- NOVICE (at least the first four letters of the command) you are prompted for all information necessary to process the command.
- EXPERT (the first three letters of the command, and in some cases just the first letter) you are not prompted for additional information, so you should supply all information that is not a default option.
|
Command |
Function |
Example |
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FILE |
Enter a database or cluster to search or display records. |
FILE BEILSTEIN |
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EXPAND |
Look at the index around a term; 12 terms are shown by default. To continue down the same index, enter E at the next arrow prompt. To expand in the reverse direction, enter E BACK followed by a term. |
E YATES C/AU |
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SEARCH |
Perform a search. If AUTOSEARCH is set to ON, the SEARCH command is assumed. |
S MOTORIST |
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DISPLAY |
Display answers. Nonconsecutive answer numbers must be separated by commas or spaces. |
D1-10,15,21 |
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Print answers offline or deliver them to an electronic mailbox. You are prompted for all information. |
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LOGOFF |
End the session. |
LOGOFF |
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LOGOFF HOLD |
End the session and hold your entire search session for 60 minutes at no charge. |
LOGOFF HOLD |
Stacking Commands
To enter multiple commands at once, separate the commands with semicolons.
=> S GRAVITY OR GRAVITATION; D TI; FILE INSPEC
Truncation and Character Masking Symbols
Use the symbols below to allow for variability in your search terms.
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Symbol |
Definition |
Example |
Retrieves |
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? |
· Any number of characters to the right of the term · Used only once in a term, usually at the end |
ALUM? |
ALUM |
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! |
· Exactly one character at the designated position · Can be used multiple times in a term · Used anywhere except at the beginning of a term |
THERMOLYS!S |
THERMOLYSIS |
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# |
· One or zero characters at the designated position · Can be used multiple times in a term · Used at the end of the term only |
CASEIN### |
CASEIN |
Left truncation or simultaneous left-and-right truncation is available in some fields in some databases. See the STN Database Summary Sheets for more information.
Boolean Operators
Use Boolean operators to combine search terms.
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Operator |
Function |
Example |
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AND |
Answers must include both terms |
S ACID AND RAIN |
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NOT |
Answers must include the first term |
S BLOOD NOT PLASMA |
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OR |
Answers must include at least one term |
S (FIBER or FIBRE) |
Notes:
- Spacing around the Boolean Operators is required.
- Always place parentheses around an expression of terms that is combined by the OR operator.
- A comma (,) or hyphen (-) can be used in place of an OR operator with L-number or E-number search terms. No spaces are allowed around the comma or hyphen.
Numeric Operators
Use the operators below to specify values and ranges.
|
Operator |
Function |
Example |
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/ or = |
Search for a single value. |
S 20060400/UP |
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- |
Search for a range of values. |
S 3-5/FE |
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< |
Search for values less than a specific value. |
S PY<1967 |
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> |
Search for values greater than a specific value. |
S ED>20060211 |
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>= or => |
Search for values greater than a specific value. |
S FW>=600 |
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<= or =< |
Search for values less than or equal to a specific value. |
S PD<=19980100 |
Notes:
- Numeric operators can be used only in fields that contain numeric data.
- Spaces can be included around numeric operators if desired.
Proximity Operators
Use the operators below to specify proximity between or among search terms.
|
Operator |
Function |
Example |
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(W) or space |
Terms must be adjacent and in the order specified. |
S NUCLEAR(W)REACTOR |
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(nW) |
Terms must be adjacent and in the order specified with n or fewer intervening terms. |
S OIL(1W)WATER |
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(xW) |
Terms must appear in the order specified with any number of intervening terms. |
S NITRO(XW)PHENYL |
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(A) |
Terms must be adjacent but in any order. |
S SHALE(A)OIL |
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(nA) |
Terms must be adjacent but in any order with n or fewer intervening terms. |
S TOXICITY(2A)FISH |
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(xA) |
Terms may appear in any order with any number of intervening terms. |
S CHLORO(XA)METHYL |
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(S) |
Terms must occur within the same "sentence" or subfield. |
S PLANET(S)DISTANCE |
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(nS) |
Terms must occur n or fewer "sentences" or subfields apart. |
S NITROGEN(3S)PUMP |
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(P) |
Terms must occur within the same "paragraph". |
S ANION(P)CHROMATOG? |
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(nP) |
Terms must occur within the same "paragraph". |
S ELECTRICAL(1P)WIRE |
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(L) |
Terms must occur in same information unit. |
S 10024-97-2(L)DENTAL |
Notes:
- Both the letter for the operator and the parentheses are required for all proximity operators.
- Spaces can be included around proximity operators if desired.
- A space can be used in place of (W) in the Basic Index and sometimes other fields that have individually indexed terms, e.g., S ACID RAIN.
- For information about how an operator works in a specific database, enter HELP followed by the operator in parentheses, e.g., HELP (X), within the database.
Order of Application of Operators
Each search statement is processed left to right, in the following order based on the operators that combine the search terms.
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1. Terms in parentheses 2. Terms combined with a numeric operator (=, <, >, >=, <=, -) 3. Terms combined with (W) or (A) 4. Terms combined with (S) 5. Terms combined with (P) 6. Terms combined with (L) 7. Terms combined with AND or NOT 8. Terms combined with OR (not in parentheses) |
Displaying Costs
Use the commands below to view cost information.
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Command |
Function |
Notes |
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FILE and LOGOFF |
Display the full estimated cost of your current session. |
Cost displays automatically after these commands are entered. To turn off the automatic display, enter SET COST OFF. |
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D COST |
View the breakdown of costs for the current session. |
Enter HELP SET COST for information on options for the cost display: ON, BRIEF, and FULL. |
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SET ACCOUNT* |
Control how your costs are listed on your monthly invoice. |
Enter HELP SET ACCOUNT for more information. |
*Example:
=> SET ACCOUNT ENTER COST CENTER (NONE):RESEARCH LAB COST CENTER SETTING WILL TAKE EFFECT WITH THE NEXT SUCCESSFUL FILE COMMAND SET COMMAND COMPLETED
System Limits
Enter HELP LIMITS for the most current information on system limits. For help after receiving an error or system limit message, enter HELP (or ?) at the next arrow prompt.
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Type |
Limit |
What To Do |
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Number of L-numbers in an online session |
999 |
Save queries and/or answer sets. Use DELETE HISTORY to delete any or all L-numbers. |
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Total number of answers per database per online session |
8,000,000 |
Save queries and/or answer sets if desired. Enter DELETE HISTORY to delete L-numbers. |
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Total number of characters in a search statement |
20,000 |
Divide search into smaller search statements. |
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Total number of answers in saved answer sets |
400,000 |
Delete any unwanted saved answer sets. |
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Total number of saved answer sets |
200 |
Delete any unwanted saved answer sets. |
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Total number of saved queries |
800 |
Delete any unwanted saved queries. |
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Total number of saved L-number lists |
100 |
Delete any unwanted saved lists. |
Online Help
Use HELP (or ?) commands to view system and database-specific information.
|
Command |
Topic |
Use |
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HELP MESSAGES |
How to use the various commands and features available on STN |
At any arrow prompt |
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HELP FILE NAMES |
Databases available on STN |
At any arrow prompt |
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NEWS FILE |
Information about when a particular database was last updated |
In a specific database |
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HELP DIRECTORY |
Database-specific help messages |
In a specific database |
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HELP CONTENT |
Coverage and content of a database |
In a specific database |
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HELP COST |
Cost of searching a database |
In a specific database |
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HELP SFIELDS |
Search fields in a database |
In a specific database |
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HELP DFIELDS |
Display fields in a database |
In a specific database |
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HELP FORMAT |
Fixed display formats in a database |
In a specific database |
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HELP PRINT |
Explanation of a command, e.g., the PRINT command |
At any arrow prompt |
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HELP COMMANDS |
List of commands available within a database |
In a specific database |
In addition, you can enter a ? at a prompt to receive further clarification whenever you receive a message from STN.
Additional Commands
Use these commands for additional functionality.
|
Command |
Function |
Example |
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ACTIVATE |
Recall saved queries (/Q), saved answer sets (/A), and saved L-number lists (/L) for use in the current sessions. |
ACT CONTRACT/Q ACT NMR/A |
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ANALYZE |
Extract terms from display fields in an answer set for statistical analysis. For a list of fields that may be used, enter HELP EFIELDS in the database. |
ANA L1 PA 1- |
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ARCHIVE |
Purchase the right to store STN search results for up to n users within your worldwide organization. |
ARCHIVE 100 10 ARC 100 10 |
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DELETE |
Delete saved items or items in the current session. To delete all L-numbers in an online session, enter DELETE HISTORY. |
ANA L1 PA 1- |
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DISPLAY BROWSE |
Browse through an answer set. You can view consecutive answers, nonconsecutive answers, change formats, and view additional answers without reentering the DISPLAY command. |
DISPLAY BROWSE L4 D BRO |
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DISPLAY COST D COST |
Display the estimated cost of your session. Options are ON, BRIEF, and FULL. |
D COST |
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DISPLAY HISTORY D HISTORY |
Display the session history: summary of the databases entered, commands that have been used, and the information associated with them. |
D HISTORY |
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DISPLAY SAVED |
Display the session history: summary of the databases entered, commands that have been used, and the information associated with them. |
D SAVED |
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DUPLICATE |
Remove or identify duplicate records from one or more answer sets. |
DUPLICATE REM L5 DUP IDE L1 L2 |
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FOCUS |
Sort answers in relevance order. |
FOCUS L1 |
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HELP |
Request online help. Enter HELP and a command name for information about how to use a specific command. Enter HELP MESSAGES for a list of all online help messages available. |
HELP PRINT |
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INDEX |
Access STNindex and identify the databases to be searched. |
INDEX ALLBIBIND CA SCISEARCH |
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NEWS |
Display current news headlines on STN. To see one of the news items, enter NEWS followed by the number or name of the news item. |
NEWS |
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ORDER |
Order an original document or copy from a Document Delivery Service. Prompts guide you through the process. |
ORDER |
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REDISTRIBUTE |
Purchase the right to redistribute STN search results for up to n users within your worldwide organization. |
REDISTRIBUTE 250 5 RED 250 5 |
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SAVE |
Save an L-numbered query, answer set, or L-number list in your long-term storage. A monthly fee is charged for saved items. You must enter an L-number and a name ending in /Q for a query, /A for an answer set, or /L for an L-number list. |
SAVE L15 COMPUTER/Q |
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SAVE TEMP |
Save an L-numbered query, answer set, or L-number list on a temporary basis. You must assign a name that ends with /Q for query, /A for an answer set, or /L for an L-number list. |
SAV TEMP L5 NMR/A |
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SCREEN |
Define a screen number for searching. This command is available only in some structure-searchable databases. |
SCREEN 2043 |
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ALERT or SDI |
Request that searches be run automatically by STN at database updates. In databases that have SDI service, additional prompts appear. |
ALERT SDI |
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SELECT |
Extract terms from display fields that can then be used as search terms. For a list of fields that may be used, enter HELP EFIELDS in the database. |
SELECT L1 1-5 RN SELECT L1 1-5 RN |
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SET |
Set various terminal parameters and options. Enter HELP SET for a list of all the SET options. |
SET STEPS ON |
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SORT |
Sort answers by field codes. |
SORT L2 CS AU |
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TABULATE TAB |
Correlate analyzed terms from two fields. |
TAB L2 CS PY |
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TRANSFER |
Extract terms from display fields in an answer set for searching. |
TRA L1 PN 1- |
For more information:
- Enter HELP, followed by the name of the command, e.g., HELP ANALYZE.
- See the following Quick Reference Cards:
|
Command |
Quick Reference Card |
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ANALYZE and TABULATE |
ANALYZE and TABULATE |
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ARCHIVE and DISTRIBUTE |
The STN Information Keep & Share Program |
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ALERT (SDI) |
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INDEX |
Using INDEX on STN |
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TRANSFER |
Crossfile Searching with the TRANSFER Command |
Logging off
Use one of these commands to log off from STN.
|
Command |
Function |
Example |
|
LOGOFF |
End a session and be prompted whether to delete all queries and answer sets. |
=> LOGOFF ALL L# QUERIES AND ANSWER SETS ARE DELETED AT LOGOFF LOGOFF? (Y)/N/HOLD:Y STN INTERNATIONAL LOGOFF AT 15:32:50 ON 03 APR 2006 |
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LOG Y |
End a session. All queries and answer sets are automatically deleted. |
=> LOG Y STN INTERNATIONAL LOGOFF AT 15:32:50 ON 03 APR 2006 |
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LOGOFF HOLD |
Hold your entire session for up to 60 minutes at no charge. To restart your session, log on as you normally would. |
=> LOG H SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR 60 MINUTES STN INTERNATIONAL SESSION SUSPENDED AT 15:31:53 ON 03 APR 2006 |
If you do not log off, you will continue to be charged connect-hour fees. You will be automatically disconnected after 20 minutes of inactivity.
Additional Resources
Refer to STN Support Information.
