Setting up Alerts: ScienceDirect. Transcript

Transcription

1 Setting up Alerts: ScienceDirect Transcript Slide 1 At Charles Darwin University, researchers have access to a wide range of journal databases through their Library databases are an invaluable tool for accessing current information. Most databases allow you to set up a profile, where you can save searches and create alerts. By setting up alerts in journal databases, researchers can save time and keep up to date with information in their area of research. This workshop will guide you through the process of setting up alerts. Slide 2 You can set an alert for a subject search, or for the table of contents of a journal title. This means that when articles that match your search are added to the database, you will get sent an alert. When you set an alert for a subject search, you will get sent an alert each time articles matching your search terms are added to the database. Similarly, when content from a new issue of a journal is added to the database, you will get sent an with either the table of contents or a link to the articles from the issue of the journal. It is possible to set alerts in this way in most major databases. Let s look at an example. Slide 3 In this Workshop we will look at setting up alerts in ScienceDirect. To access this database, navigate to the Library s Home Page and select the link to databases. Slide 4 PAUSE Slide 5 Select S from the A Z list of databases. Slide 6 Enter the database by selecting the link to ScienceDirect. Slide 7 Creating a Search Alert PAUSE 1

2 Slide 8 Select the Search tab Slide 9 You can carry out either a Quick search or an Advanced Search. Let s carry out an Advanced Search. Slide 10 Enter the terms cane toads and northern territory as indicated, and limit to searching within the Abstract, Title, Keywords fields to obtain the most relevant results. You can also set your search to All Sciences or limit it to one or more selected subject disciplines by holding down the control key; as well you can set it to All Years or narrow it to a date range. Then click on the Search tab. Slide 11 This search gives us 44 results. We can narrow down the number of results by adding more search terms in the Search within Results box; or by refining the results and selecting Content Type, or Journal/Book Title. Take a look at the list of results and ensure they meet your needs. If they do, then you are ready to save your search as an alert. This means that you will receive an alert each time an article matching your search statement is added to the database. The key to setting an alert for a saved search is to ensure that it is producing relevant results. What you want to avoid is getting your inbox inundated with results that are not useful. Proceed by selecting the Save as Search Alert link as indicated. Slide 12 This will take you to a page where you need to login. Before you can do that, you need to Register Now. Slide 13 Now complete the Registration Form by filling in your personal details including all the required fields marked with an asterisk*. Then submit your details. Slide 14 A page will pop up telling you, Your personal ScienceDirect account has been created successfully. Select the Login Now tab. 2

3 Slide 15 Then login to the database by entering your username and password. Keep a record of the password somewhere as you will need it each time you login to the database. Slide 16 Once done, the Save as Search Alert page will open up. Give the alert a name, enter the address at which you would like to receive the alert, and the frequency with which you would like to receive it. Then select the Save Alert tab. PAUSE. Slide 17 This will take you a page where you can access alerts select the link to My Alerts tab to view your alerts. Slide 18 Any alerts you have set can be viewed from this page. You will be able to modify your alerts from here as well. Slide 19 Create a Journal Alert You can also set an alert for a journal, so that each time articles from a new issue are added to the database, you will receive an with the table of contents for that issue. Slide 20 To activate this alert, select the Publications link. Slide 21 You can browse through the long list of A Z titles or alternatively, you can search for the exact title by entering the name of the journal in the Journal/Book title search box. In this case, we will set an alert for the journal, Biological Conservation as many of our results are from that journal.. As you start typing the title in the box, a list of titles starting with the word Biological will pop up. Select the correct title, then select Search. Slide 22 Once you find the journal, select, Alert me about New Volumes/Issues. Slide 23 This will take you to your Alerts page and show you that the Volume/Issue Alerts has been set. 3

4 Slide 24 Alternatively you can set a RSS feed for both your saved search as well as your journal title. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, and a RSS feed is also known as a news feed, which allows you to feed results from your alerts into an RSS reader or aggregator. Unlike an alert, a RSS feed allows you to access your alerts by clicking on a link either in your favorites, or via a news reader. Using a news reader will allow you to view your feeds from any computer. There are a number of free news readers available, for example, My Yahoo!, Bloglines and Google Reader. Slide 25 Carry out your search as before. Slide 26 When setting a search as a RSS feed, instead of selecting, Save as Search Alert, you will select, RSS feed. A new page will open up from where you can open the syndication feed link. Click on this link. Slide 27 From the ScienceDirect Search RSS Feed page, select Continue Slide 28 Then select the feed as indicated. Slide 29 Then Subscribe to this feed. Slide 30 An Internet Explorer Subscribe to this feed window will open up and will allow you to name your feed, and place it in a folder. Slide 31 Then by clicking on the star, you will be able to View my feeds from your list of favorites on your desktop. Alternatively you may paste the link into a news reader or aggregator and access it from any computer. 4

5 In the same way you can set up a Conservation. New Article Feed for the journal, Biological Slide 32 You should now be able to set up alerts as well as RSS feeds in ScienceDirect. For further assistance, please contact the Research Services Coordinator at jayshree.mamtora@cdu.edu.au Did you find this Workshop useful? Give us your feedback here 5