Getting Started on ProQuest Dialog

Transcription

1 Getting Started on ProQuest Dialog Welcome to ProQuest Dialog! ProQuest Dialog presents the authoritative sources you expect in an interface that adapts to the needs of any user. From the novice searcher to the skilled information professional and everyone in between, ProQuest Dialog points you to the critical information you need to make informed decisions and fuel new discoveries. Here s a quick guide on how to start searching. Logging In Start at /professional. Enter your username and password in the labeled input boxes. Click the log-in button. If you don t have a username and password, contact customer@dialog.com. Choosing databases After logging in, locate the blue bar at the top of the screen. Click on the databases link on the far left. 2013, ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 9

2 Select the databases you want to search with checkboxes. If you want to search one database, just click on the hyperlink. Tip: if you re looking for Newsstand, look for ProQuest Newsstand Professional. If you re looking for Dissertations, search for ProQuest Dissertations Professional. If you re looking for CSA databases, they have been rebranded as ProQuest Collections. Once you ve selected the databases you want to search, you can do either a basic, advanced, or command line search to find the information you re looking for. Basic Search Simply enter search terms, either words or phrases, in the search box. ProQuest Dialog suggests terms when you start typing. Note that you can turn off auto-complete. Tips: For multiple words, AND is assumed Enter exact phrases with quotation marks Right, internal and lefthand truncation are available, e.g. *b*sis for basis, fibrosis, asbestosis, etc. The question mark stands in for one character. Use the checkboxes to select or deselect databases Click on a database name to open a single database Click here once you ve made your selections Click here to search 2013, ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 9

3 Your list of results is easy to review. Scroll down to browse the titles. Records are sorted by relevance by default, but in the pull-down you can choose other ways to sort records. Here, we re choosing to sort by publication date, most recent first. Note that you can adjust your preferences to set a sort order default of your choosing. Use the drop-down to change sort order You can further refine your search with the tools on the right panel Filters 2013, ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 3 of 9

4 including filters and the publication date slider. Click on more options Click on the + to expand the filter Use checkboxes to include and exclude terms to easily narrow your results Choose a date range using the publication date slider Browse your records and hover over the preview button next to a record to see more details. Use checkboxes to select records you want to view, , print, or download during the session. You can also set up an alert or download all of your results at once to a file format of your choosing , ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 4 of 9

5 Advanced Search Users with more search experience can do an advanced search. From the opening screen, click advanced at the top left or above the query box. Enter search terms using query boxes. Fields are available in drop-down lists. Use Limit options and check boxes to further refine search parameters. Click Preview result counts to view your result counts and perform more search operations or click Search to go straight to your list of results. For this exercise, click on Preview result counts. Your search history is easily accessible in the Recent Searches tab. Search history Click Preview results counts to view your result counts Click Search to go straight to your list of results Additional limiters 2013, ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 5 of 9

6 Click on the counts to go to your list of results. Click on the counts to go to your list of results for a given set Command Line Search Professional searchers can do command line searches on ProQuest Dialog. Click Command Line from the top left of the opening screen. 2013, ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 6 of 9

7 If you are creating a new search strategy, you may wish to clear your recent searches first. To clear searches before starting a new search strategy, click on the Recent searches tab To delete recent searches, select all sets and then Delete to clear your search history. 2013, ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 7 of 9

8 To do a command line search, enter a search statement in the query box. If you are building a multi-set strategy, it s easy to preview your results counts before creating your next set. Click Preview result counts to create a set Clear the form before creating your next set. Alternatively, you can cut and paste an entire search strategy in the Command Line Search box. 2013, ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 8 of 9

9 Once you have created your sets, you can easily combine them. You can find information on ProQuest Dialog s Command Line language by clicking on Help. Details on field codes for individual databases are found in ProQuest Dialog ProSheets, which can be accessed by clicking on Field Codes or by visiting sheets/. You can also access search tips by clicking on Tips. Need more help? To learn how to take advantage of key features and functionality in ProQuest Dialog, such as interface customization for your organization via the Administrator Module, creating database shortcuts, using browse indexes, setting up alerts, and using your MyResearch workspace, please visit the How Do I? section of our website at To learn more about ProQuest Dialog, visit us online or contact our Global Customer Support team. Web: Call: (North America) (outside North America) customer@dialog.com 2013, ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. Page 9 of 9