Ovid Web Gateway User Guide

OVID WEB GATEWAY
Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................................................. 3
Chapter 1: Open an Ovid Session.............................................................................................................. 8
Chapter 2: Ovid’s Main Search Page...................................................................................................... 18
Chapter 3: Advanced Mode Search Types ............................................................................................. 42
Chapter 4: Fields and Limits ................................................................................................................... 48
Chapter 5: Vocabulary Tools................................................................................................................... 59
Chapter 6: Save a Search ......................................................................................................................... 89
Chapter 7: Saved Search Options............................................................................................................ 95
Chapter 8: Create an AutoAlert ............................................................................................................ 109
Chapter 9: AutoAlert Options ............................................................................................................... 123
Chapter 10: Secure Your Saved Searches ............................................................................................ 132
Chapter 11: View Your Results Records .............................................................................................. 141
Chapter 12: View Complete References ............................................................................................... 157
Chapter 13: Output Records.................................................................................................................. 168
Chapter 14: Ovid’s PayPerView (PPV) ................................................................................................ 180
Chapter 15: Ovid’s Deposit Accounts ................................................................................................... 198
Chapter 16: Search Journals@Ovid ..................................................................................................... 203
Chapter 17: Browse Journals@Ovid .................................................................................................... 217
Chapter 18: Ovid’s Publish Ahead of Print.......................................................................................... 242
Chapter 19: Output Images from Journals@Ovid .............................................................................. 255
Chapter 20: Browse Topics in Cochrane .............................................................................................. 261
Chapter 21: Browse Current Contents ................................................................................................. 265
Chapter 22: Browse Books@Ovid......................................................................................................... 281
Chapter 23: Search Books@Ovid.......................................................................................................... 321
Chapter 24: Email Ovid Jumpstarts ..................................................................................................... 344
Appendix A: Ovid Search Tips .............................................................................................................. 385
Appendix B: Troubleshooting................................................................................................................ 399
Copyright © 2007 Ovid Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ovid Technologies Inc. and Ovid Web Gateway are registered trademarks. Information in this document is subject to change
without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, for any purposes without the express written permission of Ovid Technologies Inc.
This document is provided for information only. Ovid Technologies Inc. makes no warranties of any kind regarding the Ovid
software and its Ovid Web Gateway product. The Ovid software is the exclusive property of Ovid Technologies Inc. and is

Copyright 2007 WKMR/Ovid i All Rights Reserved

protected by United States and International copyright laws. Use of the software is subject to terms and conditions set out in the
accompanying license agreement. Installing locally or accessing the software online signifies your agreement to the terms of the
license agreement.
Ovid version 10.5.0/Ovid Web Gateway Help 2.4.0
2007 April 18

Copyright 2007 WKMR/Ovid 2 All Rights Reserved

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL AND BROWSER REQUIREMENTS

MANUAL CONVENTIONS

NAVIGATIONAL AIDS FOR THIS MANUAL


Welcome to the Ovid Web Gateway User Manual. This manual will help you use the Ovid Web Gateway
product more proficiently, and is recommended for users with experience ranging from novice to
advanced online searching.
Every Ovid search session brings together three components to optimize your search experience.

Access to thousands of the world’s most influential textbooks, journals, and databases
Content

A full suite of online, state-of-the-art user tools to search, navigate, and personalize your
Tools
work

A variety of training and customization services available for you and your site or institution
Services

Enter Ovid’s powerful gateway and feel the world of online research at your fingertips.
For permission to use a portion of this manual at your site, contact Ovid Customer Support at
support@ovid.com.

GENERAL AND BROWSER REQUIREMENTS
You will need a computer with a Web browser to access the Ovid Web Gateway. Your browser must
support image maps, graphics, forms, and tables. In many cases, JavaScript and cookies must be enabled.
Some Ovid functions require HTML-formatted email service and performance can vary. Be sure to
consult the browser for memory and disk space requirements. Ovid supports the following Web browsers.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6.0 and above
• Netscape Navigator version 7.0 and above
• Mozilla Firefox 1.0
Current versions of these Web browsers are available from the following websites.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/
• Netscape Navigator: http://browser.netscape.com/
• Mozilla Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
Browser support enhancements can be found in Ovid’s bi-weekly newsletter: C+T+S Update. To
subscribe, sign up on our website at: http://www.ovid.com/site/community/listservs.jsp.
For more information about browsers and upgrading browsers for optimal use of the Ovid Web
Gateway product, contact Ovid Support at support@ovid.com.

For information about our online and personalized training sessions, see Ovid Training &
Documentation.

MANUAL CONVENTIONS
The following typographical conventions apply throughout this manual.

The first instance of an Ovid-specific term appears in italicized text to call
idle time limit
attention to its context. From the context, you can derive a definition. For


example, in the “Welcome to Ovid Page” section, the term idle time limit
appears in italics within the context of inactive interface time allowed before an
Ovid session times out.

use mesz Mono-spaced Courier New font is used to indicate search terms and commands
that you must type into a text box or onto a command line, as in: use mesz (a
command that relocates a search session from the current database to the Ovid
MEDLINE database).

The following graphical conventions apply throughout the text of this manual.

The Quick Tip icon identifies a recommended resource or an advanced searching technique.

The Note icon indicates important information, such as exceptions to contextual information
or helpful, additional details.

The Ovid Support icon specifies a matter with which Ovid Customer Support could be
helpful to you.

The Site-specific Configuration icon points out a possible difference in features or
functionality due to default or setting options specific to your site. Contact your site
administrator for further information.

The Caution icon designates a warning or error message information.

NAVIGATIONAL AIDS FOR THIS MANUAL
Several types of active links are provided to facilitate your access to related information. To use them,
hold down the Control key on your keyboard and click the link.
External links: Let you navigate to external Ovid sources for further information.

Jumps to Field Guide List on Ovid Web Site

External links to Ovid Customer Support are provided in places where your questions might require the
assistance of an Ovid support representative.


Opens Email to Ovid Customer Support

Internal Links: Let you navigate more easily to topics throughout the manual that interest you. To start,
the manual’s table of contents links to each chapter.

Linkable Table of Contents

Each chapter starts with a list of linkable topics.

Chapter Topic Links

Links within chapters let you navigate between related concepts throughout the manual.


Reference Link to Related Information

Finally, the end of every chapter provides these two link options.
Table of Contents | Chapter Menu
Click the Table of Contents link to return to the manual’s table of contents. Click the Chapter Menu link
to return to the menu page of the chapter you are viewing.
To activate any navigational aid in this manual, hold down the Control key while clicking the
link.


CHAPTER 1: OPEN AN OVID SESSION

WELCOME TO OVID PAGE

OVID NEWS PAGE

CHOOSE A DATABASE PAGE

OVID DATABASE FIELD GUIDES


Depending on the configuration of the Ovid Web Gateway at your site, you may pass through several
pages before your Ovid search session opens. These pages can include the following.
• Welcome to Ovid Page
• Ovid News Page (or a site-specific news page)
• Ovid Choose a Database Page
• Ovid Database Field Guides

WELCOME TO OVID PAGE
When you link to Ovid from your site’s home page or visit the Ovid URL provided by your system
administrator, the Welcome to Ovid Page displays.

Welcome to Ovid Page

From this page, you have three options:
• Ovid authentication,
• Athens authentication, or
• Shibboleth (Institution) authentication.

Ovid Authentication
From the Ovid login page, you can select one of three search modes for your Ovid session.
• Advanced Mode: a feature-rich interface for developing search strategies.
• Basic Mode: a simple interface for linear searching.
• Find Citation Mode: a search form interface that locates specific records.


To log in to the Ovid Web Gateway, follow these steps.
1. Enter your user ID into the ID box.
2. Enter your password into the Password box. For security purposes, the characters of your password
are masked as asterisks as you type.
Ovid Web Gateway user ID and password information are case-sensitive. If you have
difficulty logging in, see Appendix B: Troubleshooting.
3. Select a search mode default for your session: Advanced, Basic, or Find Citation.
4. Click the Start Ovid button.
Only Ovid authentication information works on this page.

Ovid verifies your access information and starts your Ovid session.
If you forget your user name or password, contact your site administrator for assistance.

Whenever you finish using Ovid, log off to free up a user license. If you follow a link out of the
Ovid interface, you continue to occupy an Ovid software license until you log off or reach Ovid’s
idle time limit.
Only one Ovid user ID can be used per Ovid session. For additional user IDs, contact your site
administrator.

Athens Authentication
Ovid supports Eduserv's Athens Authentication System. From the web page provided by your site
administrator, click the Athens Login link. Athens displays an authentication page.

Athens Authentication Point Page

To log in to the Ovid Web Gateway from the Athens authentication page, follow these steps.


1. Enter your user name into the box.
2. Enter your password. For security purposes, the characters of your password are masked as asterisks
as you type.
User name and password information are case-sensitive. If you have difficulty logging in,
click the Login help link.
3. Click the Login link.
Only Athens authentication information works on this page.

Athens verifies your access information and starts your Ovid session.

idle time limit.

SHIBBOLETH (INSTITUTION) AUTHENTICATION
To begin the institutional authentication process, click the Institutional Login link. Ovid directs you to the
Institutional Login page.

Institutional Login Page

From this page, follow these steps to log in.
1. Select your region from the dropdown menu. Ovid displays the available institutions.
2. Choose your institution.
3. Click the Login button.


Ovid displays your institution's authentication service login page.

Sample Authentication Service Page

The login authentication process varies from institution to institution. If you have questions about
how to log in at your institution, contact your site administrator.

Shibboleth authenticates your access information and starts your Ovid session.

idle time limit.
Click the Help button on the Institutional Login page for additional information.

OVID NEWS PAGE
Depending upon site configuration, you may see an Ovid News Page after you log in. On this page, you
can read about the following.
• Content changes: new database releases or database reloads
• Software changes: new search features or enhancements to existing functions
• New releases of the Ovid software.
• Scheduled maintenance downtime for the Ovid Web Gateway


Ovid News Page

Click the Continue button located at the top left-hand side of the page to move from the news page to
Ovid’s Choose a Database Page.
Some news pages have been customized to site specifications. Instead of seeing an Ovid News
Page, you may see a site-specific news page or no news page at all.

CHOOSE A DATABASE PAGE
The Choose a Database Page lists all Ovid databases to which your site subscribes. From this page, select
any database or combination of databases in which to search.


Choose a Database Page

If you want more information about a database, click its Information icon. A Database Field Guide
opens in a separate window. For further details about Database Field Guides, see Ovid Database
Field Guides.
To search a single database, click the hyperlinked name of the database.
To search more than one database simultaneously, select the check boxes of all the databases you want to
compile into a multifile search session. For example, to compile an EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, and
Your Journals@Ovid multifile, select the check boxes of these database names, then click the Continue
button. Ovid opens your session on a Main Search Page of the database(s) you selected.
Databases that do not display a check box on the Choose a Database Page are not available for
multifile searching.
The limit of selections for a multifile is based upon database segments rather than actual databases.
Databases such as Ovid MEDLINE contain as many as nine segments, while databases such as AGELINE
contain only one segment. The Ovid multifile segment limit is set at 120 to avoid impacting your search
sessions. However, should you exceed this limit, Ovid displays an error message.

Accessing Primal Pictures
Depending upon your site’s subscription, you may have access to Primal Pictures on Ovid. Primal
Pictures features the first complete three-dimensional model of human anatomy illustrating function,
biomechanics, and surgical procedures.


If your site subscribes to Primal Pictures on Ovid, you can access it by selecting it from the Choose a
Database Page.
Ovid opens a Primal Pictures session.

Primal Pictures on Ovid

Primal Pictures offers interactive learning modules for the following topics.

• • •
Head and Neck Shoulder Spine
• • •
Hand/Physical Therapy Hip Thorax and Abdomen
• • •
Spine-Clinical Spine-Chiropractic Knee Surgery
• • •
Pelvis Knee Foot/Ankle-Sports Injuries
• • •
Knee-Sports Injuries Foot Interactive Functional
Anatomy
• •
Foot-Podiatric Medicine and Shoulders-Sports Injuries
Surgery


Primal Pictures Complete Human Anatomy and IFA includes an additional module: All Titles Plus Test
Bank. This highly interactive resource includes a study guide and a test bank to ensure that students gain
the most from their Primal Pictures experience.
For complete details, click Primal Picture’s Information icon to open its product guide.

OVID DATABASE FIELD GUIDES
From the Choose a Database Page, you can open any database field guide by
clicking the database’s Information icon.
Ovid opens the field guide in a separate window.

Ovid Database Field Guide

Each Ovid field guide contains useful information about the database, including the following.

• • •
Scope of database content Field descriptions and Stop words
examples
• • •
Producer contact information Limits Sample documents
• • •
Years of coverage Database tools Copyright information
• •
Update frequency Command line and sentence
syntax
Keep the field guide window open and toggle to it for reference while searching the database.
For a complete listing of Ovid Database Field Guides, visit the Ovid web site at: Ovid Database
Field Guides List.


Database Stop Words
Some words (including articles, prepositions, and forms of the verb to be) appear so frequently within a
database that they lose their usefulness as search terms or as part of searchable phrases. In many
databases, Ovid does not search for these stop words. Even so, you can include stop words within
phrases that you want to search. For example, in the phrase copper in sulfate, the word in is a stop
word; and in some Ovid databases, Ovid does not search for it. Although stop words are not indexed as
searchable terms, Ovid does retain them in your search results.
To learn if stop words apply in the database(s) in which you are searching, refer to the field

guide. Ovid Database Field Guides contain a complete list of database-specific stop words.
If you are using a database with a stop word list, you can indicate to Ovid that you want them
included by placing the entire phrase within quotation marks. For example, enter “hope and
false hopes” in the keyword search box and retrieve this result.



CHAPTER 2: OVID’S MAIN SEARCH PAGE

DATABASE BANNER

SEARCH BOX

SEARCH HISTORY

LIMITS BOX

SEARCH RESULTS DISPLAY

SEARCH MODE OPTIONS: BASIC, FIND CITATION, ADVANCED


The Main Search Page (MSP) of any Ovid search mode (Basic, Advanced and Find Citation) offers these
common elements.

Display of database information and functional and navigational options such as
Database Banner
Change Database, Ask A Librarian, Ovid Help, Personal Accounts, Saved
Searches/Alerts, and PayPerView access.

Command line into which you enter search terms and queries.
Search Box

Display of statements in your current search strategy; includes functionality to
Search History
combine searches, delete searches, and save searches.

A subset of database limits that you can apply to strategies and results sets directly
Common Database
from the Main Search Page. Limits available on the Main Search Page represent
Limits
the more commonly applied limits of the database(s) in which you are searching.
For more details, see Common Database Limits.

Page that displays records from a results set in your search history.
Search Results Display

DATABASE BANNER
The banner of the Main Search Page tells you which database(s) you are searching and provides several
functional options from the Main Search Page.

Main Search Page Banner

The options of the database banner include these active elements.

a The Change Database icon allows you to move your search session intact to another database or
to start a multifile search session. When you click it, Ovid opens the Choose a Database Page. Click
the name of the new database. Ovid opens the Change Database Page with three options to proceed.
Open new database(s) and re-run searches from your previous
session.
Open the new database(s) without re-running previous searches.

Return to the Main Search Page of your previous session.
Click one of these icons, and the search session re-opens on a new Main Search Page.
Different Ovid database use fields and data structures that are unique to the scope of their
data. This is important to keep in mind when switching between databases of different
disciplines.
For example, a term in Ovid MEDLINE may have a very different meaning (contextually) than the
same term in PsycINFO. So, when changing databases, experiment with different vocabulary—and


with different field names—to obtain comprehensive results.
Use the dot-dot command ..c/<dbshortcode> to change databases directly from the
keyword command line. For example, type ..c/mesz to change to the Ovid MEDLINE
database.
The command use <dbshortcode> also changes databases directly from the command line. For
example, type use mesz to change to the Ovid MEDLINE database.
See database field guides for quick commands and database short codes. See Appendix A: Ovid
Quick Tips for more advanced searching tips.
Changing databases within an Ovid Basic Mode session takes you immediately to the
new database Main Search Page instead of the intermediary Change Database Page. All
previous search strategies will be lost. To change databases and preserve the search
session strategies, be sure to change to Ovid’s Advanced Mode first.

b The Ask a Librarian icon provides access to a site expert who can assist you with questions about
searching in Ovid. This resource appears on many pages throughout your session.
The Ask a Librarian icon is a site-configured entity. If you do not see an Ask a Librarian
icon in your display, contact your site administrator.

The appearance of the Ask a Librarian icon in this example is Ovid’s default display.
This resource can display as an icon in the database banner or as a link directly below the
banner. In addition, you can name the icon or link differently at your site (such as, Ask an Ovid
Expert).

c The Help icon opens a separate window that displays information about the current page in your
session. This resource appears on all pages of your session.

d The Logoff icon ends your Ovid session and frees up an Ovid user license. It appears on all pages
of your session.
Logoff URLs can be set by site administrators to redirect you to a site-specific webpage.
Therefore, you may be taken to another page when you log off Ovid instead of to the
default Welcome to Ovid Page.
Use the command line syntax ..o to log off quickly.

e The Personal Accounts icon accesses secure pages in which you can store your personal searches.
For more details about this Ovid functionality, see Secure an Account of Saved Searches.

f The Saved Searches/Alerts icon accesses all searches that you saved previously for continued use
and development.


g The PayPerView Account icon provides an online account where you can purchase Ovid Full
Text from journals to which your site does not subscribe. For more details, see Ovid’s PayPerView
(PPV).
When enabled at your site, PayPerView (PPV) links appear throughout your Ovid session.
For information about PPV at your site, contact your site administrator.

h The View Cart icon provides access to the Ovid articles you want to purchase from your current
search session. For more details, see View Your PPV Order History.

SEARCH BOX
Each Ovid search mode has a search box that differs slightly from the others. The Basic Mode search box
uses two text entry boxes: one for keywords and one for author names.

Basic Mode Search Box

For more details, see Basic Mode later in this chapter.
The Advance Mode search box utilizes one command line capable of five different search types.

Advanced Mode Search Box

The fifth search type—Natural Language—only appears in the Books@Ovid database. For
details, see the Natural Language Searching section in Search Books@Ovid.
For more details, see Advanced Mode Search Types.
The Find Citation mode search box utilizes text entry boxes for specific fields that help you find a known
article with greater ease.


Find Citation Mode Search Box

For details, see Find Citation Mode later in this chapter.
You can move easily between Ovid’s three search modes by clicking the search mode tabs that display
with each search box.

SEARCH HISTORY
As you run searches, Ovid posts search statements and results to your search history.

Search History


Use the following search history functional options to expand upon your current search strategy.

• •
Combine sets Display records from a results set
• •
Delete sets Expand and contract your search history
• •
Save sets for future development Remove duplicate records from search results
of a multifile session
• Create an AutoAlert using this strategy

As search sets accumulate in your search history, the length of your strategy can become cumbersome. To
manage longer strategies, Ovid displays only the four most recent statements in the search history.

Search History: Contracted View

To view all search sets and results, click the Expand tab located on the right side of the search history.
Ovid opens the search history to show all search sets and results within the current strategy; and the
Expand tab is replaced by a Contract tab.

Search History: Expanded View


To return to a compacted display, click the Contract tab.
Use the command ..ps directly from the keyword command line, and Ovid displays your entire
strategy in a separate view called Current Search History. From this, you can use web browser
functionality to print or download the strategy. Click the Main Search Page icon to return to your
active session.

Combine Searches
In your overall development of a search strategy, you may find it useful to combine the results of two or
more search sets. To do so, click the Combine Searches icon.

Ovid opens the Combine Searches Page.

Combine Searches Page


From this page, restrict or combine results from as many search sets as you want. To do so, follow these
steps.
1. Check the boxes of the search sets you want to combine.
2. Choose a Boolean set operator from the pull-down menu.

Retrieves results that are common to the selected search sets and deletes the rest
AND

Merges records of the selected search sets
OR

3. Click the Continue button.
Ovid posts results to a new search set in your search history.

Combined Search Results

In this example, Ovid has compiled search set 6 by applying the AND operator and retrieving only those
results that are common to search sets 1 and 5. Ovid has compiled search set 7 by applying the OR
operator to combine results from search sets 1 and 5.
More Boolean operators (OR, AND, NOT, ADJ, ADJn, and FREQ) can be applied from the
keyword command line. For details, see Appendix A: Ovid Quick Tips.
Use the command <set#> <and/or> <set#> to combine results from the keyword command
line. For example, the command 1 and 3 retrieves only those results that the first and third
search sets have in common. The command 1 or 2 or 3 combines results of the first, second
and third search sets.

Delete Searches
In the development of your search strategy, certain statements may become obsolete to your overall
strategy. You can delete these statements by clicking the Delete Searches icon.


Selecting Delete Searches

Ovid opens the Delete Searches Page.

Delete Searches Page

Select the check box of a search set you want to remove, then click the Continue button. Ovid removes
the search set and displays the edited strategy in your search history.
Use the command ..pg <x> to delete (purge) a search set from the keyword command line.
For example, the command ..pg 3 removes the third search set from your overall strategy. To
remove multiple statements, type a comma between search set numbers that you want to delete.
For example the command ..pg 3,4 removes the third and fourth search sets from your strategy. The
command ..pg 3-5 removes the third, fourth and fifth search sets. And the command ..pg all deletes
all search sets from your search history.


During the development of your search strategy, some search sets will have a dependency upon
previous search sets; these are known as dependent sets. If you try to delete a search set that
has dependent sets associated with it, Ovid issues this warning:

This command will also purge the selected dependent sets.

Should you continue to delete, Ovid will remove the set you chose and all of its dependent sets. Deleted
search sets cannot be recovered.

Save Searches and AutoAlerts
In the development of your search strategy, you may decide that you want to save it for later use or
further development. You can save searches by clicking the Save Search/Alert icon.

Selecting to Save a Search from the Main Search Page

Ovid opens the Save Current Search Page.


Save Current Search Page

From this page, you can save searches temporarily, permanently, or as an AutoAlert. For details, see Save
a Search and Create an AutoAlert.

Remove Duplicates
Multifile searching allows you to run searches through multiple Ovid databases as though they were
one, retrieving results from each database. In this process, a search set can contain more than one copy of
the same record. These duplicate records skew results numbers and clutter your output. Ovid’s
deduplication functionality lets you remove duplicate records from search set results before viewing,
saving, or printing the records.
When you run a multifile search, a search set and results display in the search history much like that of
any other search.


Multifile Results in Search History

Click the Details button of a set to see a break down of results from each database. Ovid
shows search set results by database in your search history.

Click the No Details button to collapse these results.
To remove duplicate records from your multifile results, click the Remove Duplicates icon. Ovid opens
the Remove Duplicates Page.


Remove Duplicates Page

From this page, follow these steps.
1. From the search history, select a search set to deduplicate.
2. OPTIONAL: Edit deduplication preferences. Changing preferences makes Ovid deduplicate the
results set differently.

Changes the search criteria so that Ovid first looks for your term in the field
Field Preference
indicated as your preference.

Changes the results display criteria so that Ovid prioritizes results from the
Database
database indicated as your preference.
Preference

Ovid applies the preferences—field preference first, then database preference—to determine which
results to retain and which to remove.
Larger results sets take longer to deduplicate than smaller results sets. You can deduplicate sets
of 6000 results or fewer. If the set you want to deduplicate has more than 6000 results, use
limits, fields, and other search options to reduce the size of the set before deduplicating.
Ovid displays the deduplicated set in your search history back on the Main Search Page.


Deduplicated Results Set in Search History

If Ovid does not find duplicate records in the set, it displays this message in the search history: No
duplicates were detected!
You can deduplicate a search set directly from the command line using this command: ..dedup
<setnumber>. For example, the command ..dedup 2 removes redundant records from the
results of search set 2. Using this command does not permit you to set your own deduplication
preferences.
After Ovid has deduplicated a search set, you can review the duplicate records and make adjustments to
the deduplicated set. To do so, click the Review Duplicates button in the display section of the
deduplicated set.

Ovid opens the Review Duplicates Page.

Review Duplicates Page

On this page, Ovid displays the pairs of duplicate records first. Within these pairings, Ovid lists preferred
records before the eliminated duplicates. Unique records display after these pairings.


Both preferred and unique records are selected throughout the display.

Preferred, Eliminated, and Unique Records

Ovid also applies your field and database preferences from the Remove Duplicates Page. For example, a
field preference for records with abstracts results in preference given to records that include abstracts on
the Review Duplicates Page. A database preference of Ovid MEDLINE records results in preference
given to Ovid MEDLINE records over records from other database(s) of your multifile.
Each record on the Review Duplicates Page contains these elements.

Record Number and
Lets you indicate records you want to change.
Check Box

Identifies the database from which a record was retrieved.
Database Name

Denotes whether the record is preferred, eliminated, or unique.
Record Status

Provides information about the record itself, including author, title, publication
Record-specific
type, source, accession number.
Information

Provide record-specific linking options.
Links

Make as many changes as you want to the selection of records from this page. For example, click the
check box of a duplicate record, and Ovid will not delete it from the set. Or, unselect a preferred record,
and Ovid will delete it from the set. Use Next Record and Previous Record buttons to navigate through


the page. Choose records you want to include or eliminate by clicking their check boxes. Once you have
made changes, click the one of the following buttons to proceed.
Applies changes and posts a new set to the Main Search Page.

Cancels changes and returns to the Main Search Page without posting a new set.

LIMITS BOX
For your convenience, the Main Search Page of both Basic and Advanced modes provides a selection of
database limits for immediate use in developing your overall search strategy.

Common Database Limits on the Main Search Page

These limits are a partial selection of all the limits available to the database in which you are searching.
For details, see Common Database Limits.


SEARCH RESULTS DISPLAY
Ovid’s Search Results Display lets you browse through the individual records of results retrieved from
search sets in your search history. To view a set of records, click the corresponding Display icon of the set
you want to view.

Selecting to Display a Results Set

Ovid opens a display of records from that results set. For details, see Browse Your Results Records.

SEARCH MODE OPTIONS
When you select a search mode from the Welcome to Ovid Page, you set the default search mode for the
Main Search Page of your search session. Once on the Main Search Page, you can move between search
modes easily.

Performs simple searches: submit a keyword and/or author search, view results,
Basic Mode
and exit the system.

Performs more complex searches: develop lengthy search strategies.
Advanced Mode

Locates citations about which you know basic information such as journal name,
Find Citation Mode
volume number and issue of an article you want to retrieve.

In any Ovid search mode, you can take advantage of these search features.

• •
Ovid Jumpstarts to Main Search Page Feature-rich Search Results Display
• •
Unlimited search history Lateral linking to bibliographic and full text
resources within your site’s subscription
• •
Combine or delete sets within a strategy Simultaneously search multiple Ovid resources
within your site’s subscription
• •
Save searches for later use and development Deduplication of multifile results
• •
Set AutoAlerts to favorite data sets Easy access to full text (and graphics) within
your site’s subscription


• •
Saved searches/AutoAlerts options PayPerView access to unsubscribed Ovid
resources
• •
Secured accounts for personal research Output records through Ovid’s Results
Manager

Basic Mode
Ovid’s Basic Mode search interface is as simple to use as most popular web-search engines. It features
basic keyword and author searching with a compliment of database limits.

Main Search Page: Basic Mode

Common database limits on the Main Search Page remain “sticky” between search modes to facilitate
your search experience. In addition, Basic mode is capable of handling your multifile sessions and
jumpstarts.
The Basic mode Main Search Page uses two text entry boxes for searching.

Type a term into the keyword text box. Click the Perform Search button. Ovid runs a subject
Keywords
search through the default fields of the database.


Enter an author’s last name into the author text box. For more precise results, enter last
Author
name followed by a space and the first initial. Click the Perform Search button.

If the author for whom you are searching has published more than once, you can focus your
search to only the works of that author by entering both the author name into the author text box
and a term or phrase into the keyword text box.

Basic Mode Text Entry Boxes

Applying limits to a basic search creates filtering criteria and reduces the number of records in your
results set. Ovid’s Basic Mode provides the convenience of applying the most common database limits
directly from the Main Search Page.

Common Database Limits

These database limits can be applied quickly and easily to your searches. The following table lists a few
of the more common limits that are available from database to database.

Limits results to only those records that provide access to institutionally-
Full Text
subscribed full text (Ovid Full Text), externally-hosted full text (from publishers
and aggregators) and Open Access electronic full text. Depending upon your site’s
database subscriptions, this limit can also include EBMR (article reviews and
topic reviews), Ovid PDF, CINAHL PDF, and CINAHL ASCII full text.

Limits results to those that pertain to human subjects.
Human

Limits results to those from the current update of the database.
Latest Update

Limits results to only those that include abstracts.
Abstracts

Limits results to only those written in English.
English Language

Limits results to only those from within a certain year or range of years.
Publication Year

Select as many limits as needed to focus your search.


To run a Basic Mode search, follow these steps.
1. Enter a term into the keyword text box or a name into the author text box or both.
2. OPTIONAL: Select the check boxes of a limit(s) you want to apply to your search. In the case of
Publication Year limits, select a range of years from the drop-down list.
3. Click the Search button.
Ovid runs your search and posts results to the search history.
Limits are database specific and therefore can differ from database to database. For a complete
list of limits available within a database, go to the Limit a Search Page of your current session.

Find Citation Mode
Ovid’s Find Citation Mode lets you combine specifically fielded data to retrieve results of journal article
citations. You can access Ovid’s Find Citation Mode in one of three ways.
• Select Find Citation Mode from the Welcome to Ovid Page.
• Click the Find Citation tab on the Main Search Page.
• Set Find Citation Mode in a preset Ovid Jumpstart.
The Main Search Page of Find Citation Mode differs in several ways from Basic Mode and Advanced
Mode searching.


Main Search Page: Find Citation Mode

The search box of Ovid’s Find Citation mode offers a selection of options to help you find journal article
citations. It is a text entry request form of specific fields that helps you find journal article citations.


Find Citation Mode Search Box

In citation searching, Ovid restricts retrieval to only those records that satisfy the criteria you enter into
the search boxes.

a Article Title: Restricts retrieval to only those records that contain your term(s) as part of the
article.

b Journal Name: Restricts retrieval to only those records that contain your term(s) as part of
the name of the journal.

c Author Surname: Restricts retrieval to only those records that contain the name you enter as
part of the author’s surname.
Automatic truncation is a default setting for the journal name and author surname
fields. To change this setting, contact your site administrator.

Find Citation automatically truncates the Journal and Author fields. However,
truncation is available in any field. To broaden search results, enter fewer than four
characters truncated by the ‘$’ sign. For example, type ang$ in the Title field, and
Ovid retrieves results containing terms like Angola, angiostrongylus, angiogenesis, and so
on in the title.

d Volume: Restricts retrieval to only those records whose journal volume number matches the
number you enter

e Issue: Restricts retrieval to only those records whose issue number matches the number you
enter

f Article First Page: Restricts retrieval to only those records for which the first page of the
article matches the number you enter

g Publication Year: Restricts retrieval to only those records of journals whose publication
date matches the year you enter

Command line syntax is not supported in Ovid’s Find Citation Mode.
To perform a citation search, enter data into at least one of the fields and click the Search
button. Ovid runs the search and posts results to your search history.
Click the Display icon for the results set you want to view. Or use search box navigational aids to
continue developing your search strategy in another mode.
Switches to Advanced Mode searching.

Switches to Basic Mode searching.

Advanced Mode
Ovid’s Advanced Mode, the Main Search Page includes additional features of Ovid’s searching.


Main Search Page: Advanced Mode

In addition to the core functionality of any Ovid search mode, Advanced Mode offers these search
facilitating options.
• Four search type options
• Database fields
• Database tools
• Vocabulary mapping (in select databases)
• Full selection of database limits
• Boolean and Ovid syntax capabilities
Keyword searching is the default search type of Ovid’s Advanced Mode. However, keyword searching is
only one of five search type options from which you can choose.
Searches for terms and phrases within default fields of the database.

Searches for names of authors.

Searches for terms and phrases in titles of chapters and sections.

Searches for terms and phrases in Journals@Ovid titles.


In the Books@Ovid database, the Book Name icon lets you search for terms and
phrases in Books@Ovid titles. For details, see Book Name Searching.

Searches ordinary language queries. Available in Books@Ovid only. For
details, see Natural Language Searching.
Select a search type by clicking its icon from the menu located above the command line.

Additionally, these options facilitate your search session.
Switches to Basic Mode searching.

Switches to Find Citation Mode searching.

Opens the Search Fields/Indexes Page where you can direct your search through

any database-specific fields available. For more details, see Database Fields.
Opens the Select a Tool to View Page where you can direct a subject search
through a database-specific tool. For details, see Database Tools.
Opens the Limit a Search Page where you can find all limits available to the
database(s) in which you are searching. From this page, you can restrict search
retrieval to any database-specific limits available. For details, see Database Limits.
After performing any of these advanced searches, Ovid returns the command line to keyword
searching, except in the Books@Ovid database. In Books@Ovid, the command line defaults
back to Ovid’s Natural Language searching.


CHAPTER 3: ADVANCED MODE SEARCH TYPES

KEYWORD SEARCH

AUTHOR SEARCH

TITLE SEARCH

JOURNAL SEARCH


KEYWORD SEARCH
In Ovid’s of Advanced Mode, keyword searching is the default search type. To perform a keyword
search, follow these steps.
1. Click the Keyword icon. Ovid sets the command line to keyword searching.

Keyword Command Line

2. Type a term or phrase into the keyword command line.
Ovid runs the search and displays results in your search history.

Keyword Results in Search History

In addition to performing traditional keyword searches, Ovid’s keyword command line lets you take
advantage of Ovid search syntax, dot-dot commands, Boolean operators, and index searching—without
having to type long or repetitive statements. For details, see Appendix A: Ovid Quick Tips.

AUTHOR SEARCH
Author searching lets you find articles, journals, and other records written by a particular person. To run
an author search, follow these steps.
1. Click the Author icon. Ovid sets the command line to author searching.


Author Command Line

2. Type a last name into the command line; you do not have to know the first name or the entire last
name.
3. Click the Search button. Ovid opens an alphabetically arranged Author Index Display at the point of
the name you entered.

Authors Index Display

4. Select the check box of an author name.
5. Click the Perform Search button.
Ovid displays results in your search history back on the Main Search Page.

Author Results in Search History

From the Author Index Display, you can also search for names elsewhere in the index by typing a new
name into the search box provided and clicking the Go button. Navigational icons at the top of every page
let you move forward or backward in the index display.


Use the keyword command-line syntax <name>.au. to retrieve author names from directly from
the Main Search Page. For example, the command singh a.au. searches for all instances of
the name Singh (with the first name initial a) that appear in the Author field of the database.
If you do not know an author’s first name or initial, truncate the name as in the keyword command singh
$.au. This retrieves all authors in the database with the specified surname.
Author searching is not case sensitive.

TITLE SEARCH
Title searching lets you find specific words or phrases in the titles of bibliographic records and full text
articles. To create a title search, follow these steps.
1. Click the Title icon. Ovid sets the command line to title word searching.

Title Word Command Line

2. Type a term into the command line.
Ovid retrieves results that contain the term in the Title field of the database and displays results in your
search history.

Title Search Results in Search History

Use the keyword command-line syntax <term>.ti. to retrieve a search term more quickly from
the Title field. For example, the command encephalopathy.ti. retrieves results that contain
the term encephalopathy in the title field of the database.

JOURNAL SEARCH
Journal searching lets you search the contents of all journals in the Journals@Ovid database. To create a
journal search, follow these steps.
1. Click the Journal icon. Ovid sets the command line to journal name searching.


Journal Command Line

Enter the first few letters of a journal name into the command line. You do not need to know the full
journal name to search in this manner. For example, if you want to find a journal that you know
contains the term child in the title, type child into the journal command line.
2. Click the Search button. Ovid opens a Journal Index Display at the child- point in the index.

Journal Index Display

You can browse through the list of journal titles by using the Back in Index and Forward in Index
buttons to navigate from page to page.
3. Select the check box of the journal you want to search.
Ovid displays results in the search history back on the Main Search Page.

Journal Search Results in Search History


To locate results in only those journals to which your site subscribes (and access their full text),
limit these results to Ovid Full Text Available.
From the Journal Index Display, you can also search for journals elsewhere in the index by
typing a new term into the search box and clicking the Go button. For example, type arthritis into the
text entry box and click Go.

Ovid jumps to the A section of the index and displays journal titles that begin with the word arthritis.
From there, Ovid continues the display alphabetically.

Journal Index Display for the Term arthritis

If the term you enter does not exist in the Journal Index Display, Ovid jumps to the next
closest journal name alphabetically.
If your site subscribes to a Journals@Ovid collection, you can then access the full text articles from you
results records. For more information about Ovid Full Text, see Journals@Ovid Full Text.
In addition to command line search options, Ovid advanced searching offers access to database-specific
fields, tools, and limits.


CHAPTER 4: FIELDS AND LIMITS

DATABASE FIELDS

DATABASE LIMITS


DATABASE FIELDS
In Ovid’s Advanced Mode, applying fields to a search (or fielding a search) runs the search in specific
fields (or areas) of the database in which you are searching.

Fielded Results in Search History

When you click the More Fields icon, Ovid opens the Search Fields/Indexes Display.


Search Fields Indexes Display (partial view)

From the display, you can view all indexed fields of the database. Two-letter field codes display inline
with the full name of the field.
To learn more about a specific field on the list, click the Information icon beside the name of the
field of interest. The following information displays.
• Date of the term’s entry into the database vocabulary
• A definition of the field within the context of the database(s)
• Stop words (when applicable)
This information can help you select fields to apply to your search. In the case of a multifile search, field
information about the Abstract field might reveal that abstracts apply to all databases of the multifile, but
the description of an abstract may differ within the context of each database.

Scope Note Information for the Abstract Field of a Database

Fields marked with this icon can be searched but have no index.


Multifiled databases contain a superset of all fields available to each of the component
databases, which can raise these special circumstances.
• A field in one database may not be available in other databases of the multifile. Even though it
displays amongst fields available for the multifile, it only applies to the database from which it came.
• A field in one database may have been assigned a different two-letter code than the same field in
another database. For example, the Entry Week field in CINAHL is assigned the two-letter code EW;
while the same field in EMBASE has been assigned the two-letter code EM. Both display in the list
of fields available to the multifile.
• The same field may be used differently from database to database; in a multifile, this can produce a
variance in meaning amongst your results.
Some multifiles may contain different fields with the same two-letter code. For example, the TN code in
EMBASE is used to indicate the Drug Trade Name field; while the same two-letter code in BIOSIS
PREVIEWS is used to indicate the Taxa Notes field.

Fielding a Search
Once you determine the field(s) through which you want to run your search, follow these steps.
1. Select the check box of field(s) of interest.
2. Enter a search term in the Text Entry box at the top of the page.

Search Fields/Indexes Display Page

Ovid searches for the term in only those fields that you selected then displays results in your search
history back on the Main Search Page.

Field Search Results in Search History

From the keyword command line, type <term>.<xx> to field a search directly from the Main
Search Page. For example, the command enchephalopathy.ab retrieves records that contain
the term encephalopathy in the Abstract field of the database. To search for a term in more than


one field, separate the two-letter field codes with a comma. The command enchephalopathy.ab,ti
retrieves records containing the term encephalopathy in the Abstract and Title fields.
For more advanced searching tips, see Appendix A: Ovid Quick Tips.
From the Search Fields/Indexes Display, you can also type a search term, select fields, and view the term
in a field index comprised of only your selections.

Viewing Field Indexes
Database indexes are a powerful vocabulary tool in your Ovid session because the use of terms can vary
widely from database to database. An index clarifies how the database in which you are searching uses
the terms chosen for your search. Field indexes facilitate your search by listing terms (and their
variations) in context of each database field. To view a fielded index for a specific term, follow these
steps from the Search Fields/Indexes Display.
1. Type a term or phrase into the text box provided.
Single-word terms (like aspirin) are best searched in word-indexed fields like Title (TI)
and Abstract (AB). Phrase-indexed terms (like asthmatic disorders) are best searched in
phrase-indexed fields like Keyword Heading (KW), Journal Name (JN), and Subject Headings (SH).
Make your field selections accordingly. When in doubt, use a single word. For more information
about word- and phrase-indexed fields, refer to the database field guide.
2. Select fields from the list.
If you want to view your term in an index of all fields, select the All Fields (AF) box at the
top of the page.
3. Click the Display Index(es) button.
Ovid opens a fielded index display that lists results for your term in each of the fields indicated. For
example, when we field the term aspirin to title words (TI) and abstracts (AB), Ovid creates a fielded
index of results for the term aspirin in both fields, followed alphabetically by terms similarly fielded.


Fielded Index Display (partial view)

Numbers in the postings column indicate how many records can be retrieved by selecting the correlating
fielded term. In our example, selecting aspirin fielded to titles would generate 2968 records with the
word aspirin in the title.
In a multifile index display, Ovid combines the fielded results from all of the databases. For
example, results posted from a Title (TI) fielded term in a multifile index display represent the
number of results that can be retrieved from the Title fields of all databases in the multifile.

Navigating an Index Display
Use these aids to navigate quickly through an index display.
Navigates backward through the index.

Navigates forward through the index.

Jumps to another location within the same index when you
type a new term into the text box and click the Go button.
For example, from the previous abstract-title index for the term aspirin, type the term asthma and click
the Go button. Ovid jumps from the aspirin point of the abstract-title fielded index to the point that lists
asthma and its variations.
From any index display, retrieve results by selecting the check boxes of fielded terms of interest to you.
Click the Perform Search button. Ovid posts results to your search history back on the Main Search Page.

Fielded Index Search Results

Ovid’s command line syntax lets you locate a term within fielded indexes directly from the Main Search
Page. This search technique is known as rooting into a fielded index display.

Rooting the Term aspirin into an Abstract-Title Index


Use the keyword command line syntax root <term>.<xx> to open a fielded index display
directly from the Main Search Page. For example, the command root aspirin.ab opens the
Abstract Index Display at the point of the term aspirin. Other root command examples include
the following.
root nursing inquiry.jn.

Displays the phrase nursing inquiry in a Journal Name (JN) fielded index.
root aspirin.ab,ti,hw.

Displays the term aspirin in the combined Abstract (AB), Title (TI), and Heading Word (HW)
fielded index.
root blood pressure.sh.

Displays the phrase blood pressure in the Subject Heading (SH) fielded index.

DATABASE LIMITS
Applying limits to your searches creates filtering criteria for retrieval and reduces the number of records
in your results set. Ovid database limits focus your search on a specific aspect of information contained in
a record. Limits vary from database to database and reflect functionality built into the database by its
producer. Examples of limits in Ovid databases include:
• Abstracts,
• Full Text,
• Language,
• Latest update,
• Publication Year, and many more.
In Ovid’s Advanced Mode, limits are available from two locations.

Limits found here represent only the more commonly applied limits of the
Main Search Page
database(s) in which you are searching.

Limits found here represent the full array of limits specific to the database(s) in
Limit a Search Page
which you are searching.

All of Ovid’s databases include the ability to focus search results directly from the Main Search Page with
an array of the most common database limits.



The Books@Ovid database does not have lamits. Only the Publication Year limit is available
from the Main Search Page. To access all other Books@Ovid limits, click the More Limits
icon.
Common database limits are culled from the full suite of limits available because they are the most
commonly used limits of the database(s). For convenience, Ovid locates these limits in their own section
on the Main Search Page. From there, you can apply them directly to your search statements. The
following are a few of the more common limits from database to database.

Limits results to only those records that provide full text access to institutionally-
Full Text
subscribed full text (Ovid Full Text and externally-hosted full text from publishers
and aggregators) and Open Access, electronic full text. Depending upon database
subscriptions at your site, this limit can also include EBMR (article reviews and
topic reviews), Ovid PDF, CINAHL PDF, and CINAHL ASCII full text.

Limits results to those that pertain to human subjects.
Human


Limits results to those from the current update of the database.
Latest Update

Limits results to only those that include abstracts.
Abstracts

Limits results to only those written in English.
English Language

Limits results to only those from within certain years or range of years.
Publication Year

To apply a common limit(s) from the Main Search Page, follow these steps.
1. Select the check boxes of limits you want to apply to your next search statement. Or in the case of the
Publication Year limit, select a range of years from the drop-down menu. Select as many limits as
needed to focus your search.
2. Type a statement into the command line.
Ovid applies the limits selected to the search statement and post results to the search history.

Results of Search Limited to Full Text and a Date Range

Limits are database specific and can differ greatly from database to database. For a complete
list of database-specific limits, go to the Limit a Search Page.

By default, common database limits do not remain selected in database or multifile sessions. You
must reselect limits from the Main Search Page with every search you run. However, your site
administrator can configure a setting to make your limit selections “stick” in any database or
multifile session. When sticky limits are enabled, common limit selections reset only when you switch
your session to another databases. To enable this functionality, contact your site administrator.
Sticky limits are available for common database limits only. They do not apply to the full
selection of database limits available on the Limit a Search Page.
When sticky limits are applied to a database or multifile session, the Publication Year limit displays
on the Main Search Page only; it no longer displays on the Limit a Search Page of the database.
A selection of common database limits can be preset automatically for searches (including
jumpstarts) in a specific database or multifile so that you do not have to select them when you
first start your session. To enable this functionality in Ovid, contact your site administrator.

Database-specific Limits


You can utilize all database-specific limits to further refine your results by clicking the More Limits icon.
Ovid opens the Limit a Search Page.

Limit a Search Page

This page has three sections to it.

Ovid applies limits that you select to one of the statements from this display
search history
of your current search history.

These limit options are a further expansion of those found on the Main Search
limit check boxes
Page, including Publication Year.
The Ovid Full Text Available and Full Text limit options of this
section differ in the following manner.
Ovid Full Text Available limits retrieval to only those records through which


you can access Ovid full text journal articles, either through your site’s
subscription or through Ovid’s PayPerView.
Full Text limits results to only those records that provide full text access to
institutionally-subscribed full text (Ovid Full Text and externally-hosted full
text from publishers and aggregators) and Open Access, electronic full text.
Depending upon database subscriptions at your site, this limit can also include
EBMR (article reviews and topic reviews), Ovid PDF, CINAHL PDF, and
CINAHL ASCII full text.
The Ovid Full Text limit and Full Text limit that display in this
section are configured and enabled by your site administrator. If you
do not see one or the other of these limits, contact your site
administrator.

These additional limit options are broken into menus of subcategories for your
limit menus
review.
Apply one or more limits from a menu by holding down the
Control key and clicking on selections. Selections remain
highlighted as you move from limit to limit.

To apply limits to an existing search statement from the Limit a Search Page, follow these steps.
1. From the current search history display, select the statement to which you want to apply a limit(s).
2. From both limit sections, select the limits you want to apply to the statement.
3. Click the Limit a Search button.
Ovid re-runs the search, applying your limit selections to the search statement indicated, and posts results
to the search history on the Main Search Page.
Limit types and formats will differ from database to database.

The Ovid Full Text limit and Full Text limit are configured and enabled by your site
administrator through the Links@Ovid Administrator Tool. If you do not see one or the other of
these limits, contact your site administrator.
Use dot-dot command-line syntax to restrict record retrieval directly from the Keyword
command-line. To do so, type: ..l/3 pt=drug reference. This command limits retrieval
from your third results set to only those records that are drug reference publications.
Limit results to a year of publication by using the following dot-dot command-line syntax: ..l/<set
number> yr=<year>. Publication year is indicated in the command as four digits (as in 1966) or a
hyphenated four-digit year range (as in 1966-1989). So, the command ..l/2 yr=1989-1999 limits
retrieval from the second results set to only those records published between 1989 and 1999.
Use sentence syntax to restrict record retrieval directly from the command-line. To do so, type: limit
13 to cardiology. This command limits retrieval from the thirteenth results set to only those records
about cardiology.
For a list of database-specific limits, refer to the database field guide.


CHAPTER 5: VOCABULARY TOOLS

INTRODUCTION TO OVID’S VOCABULARY TOOLS

VOCABULARY MAPPING

SUBHEADINGS

TREE TOOL

THESAURUS TOOL

PERMUTED INDEX TOOL

SCOPE NOTES

CLASSIFICATION CODES TOOL


OVID’S VOCABULARY TOOLS
In Ovid’s Advanced Mode, vocabulary tools let you discover more about your search terms within the
scope of the database. To access these tools, click the Search Tools icon from the Main Search Page. Ovid
opens the Select a Tool to View Page.

Select a Tool to View Page

Here, you can preview a list of tools available for the database. Tool selections differ from database to
database.

A graphical representation of the database’s hierarchical vocabulary structure.
Tree
Ovid’s Tree Tool permits you to view a known subject heading within the
contexts of the database in which you are searching.

A graphical representation of the database’s vocabulary structure arranged
Thesaurus
alphabetically rather than hierarchically. The Thesaurus tool permits you to
view a known subject heading within an alphabetical listing of other subject
headings.

A graphical representation of a single-word search term within a context of
Permuted Index
similar terms, related terms, and used-for terms. The Permuted Index (PTX) tool
lets you examine a broader range of meaning for terms of interest to you. If you
are uncertain about the exact wording of a search term, use the PTX to explore
what you want in the context of the database in which you are searching.

Information about database indexed terms with which you can select other
Scope Note
terms for searching or expand concepts for search strategies.


Associated terms of subject headings that focus the meaning of your search on a
Subheadings
specific aspect of the subject heading. For example, subheadings of the subject
heading neoplasms can include: diagnosis, diet therapy, drug therapy,
rehabilitation, and so on. Select any one or a combination of subheadings to
refine your search.

A display of database-specific subject categories, arranged in a hierarchy from
Classification Codes
broader concepts to narrower terms. Searching on known classification codes
can be a convenient way to cull subsets from broad subject categories.

To apply a tool to a search term, follow these steps from the Select a Tool to View Page.
1. Type a term in the subject box.
2. Select the Radio button of the tool you want to apply to the term.
Ovid makes tools available when the database producer provides them. Tools are not available
in many of the smaller bibliographic databases. In Current Contents and the EBMR databases,
tools differ from those described here. For a listing of database-specific tools, refer to the
database field guide.

VOCABULARY MAPPING
Ovid’s mapping process utilizes statistical analysis to match a search term with the controlled vocabulary
of a database. Mapping is a keyword command line tool enabled by default in databases that have a
controlled vocabulary (a set of pre-determined terms describing concepts within the database). A
controlled vocabulary indexes variants under industry-established terminology. By mapping your search
terms to a database’s controlled vocabulary, Ovid eliminates a lot of guess work from the development of
search strategies.
In mapping-enabled databases, a Map Term to Subject Heading check box displays above the keyword
command line.

Ovid does not apply mapping when you use command line syntax.
Mapping functionality is not available in the Books@Ovid database, nor is it available in
multifile sessions.
When you enter a search term that maps to subject headings (the indexed terms of a controlled
vocabulary), Ovid opens the Mapping Display and lists the best-matching subject headings associated
with your term. For example, search the term green tea polyphenols in CINAHL, and Ovid maps to all
subject headings associated with green tea polyphenols and opens the Mapping Display that lists them.


Mapping Display for green tea polyphenols

In this example, Ovid has mapped our search terms to several subject headings.
Click Information icons to view scope note information about the subject headings, including:
definition, date of entry into the controlled vocabulary of the database, and used-for terms (a
history of prior indexing of the term).
Each subject heading is hyperlinked to a database vocabulary tool. Click the subject heading and the tool
display opens, highlighting the subject heading within a hierarchical display of the database’s controlled
vocabulary. Viewing the vocabulary structure of a database can help you decide if you want to explode
(broaden) or focus (refine) your results.
On the Mapping Display, subject headings are hyperlinked to a structured vocabulary tool such
as a Tree, Thesaurus, or Permuted Index. Click the subject heading link and Ovid opens the
structured vocabulary display, highlighting the subject heading within context of the tool.
Viewing a subject heading within the vocabulary tool can help you decide if you want to Explode (for
broader results) or Focus (for topic-specific results) the term for best results.
To gain results quickly from the Mapping Display, follow these steps.
1. Select the checkboxes of subject heading terms to include in your search.
2. Select the Include All Subheadings check box.
3. Choose a Boolean operator from the pull-down menu.


Retrieves results that contain at least of the subject headings selected.
OR

Retrieves only those results that contain all the subject headings selected.
AND

Ovid posts results to the search history back on the Main Search Page.
If your initial search term does not map to a subject heading of interest to you, select the Search as
Keyword check box from the Mapping Display and click the Continue button. Ovid runs a standard
keyword search and posts results to your search history back on the Main Search Page.
To disable Mapping, un-check the Map Term to Subject Heading box located above the Search button on
the Main Search Page. Ovid then performs keyword searches through field defaults of the database(s).
Refer to the database field guide for information about the availability of Mapping and database default
fields.
You can map a known subject heading directly from the Main Search Page’s keyword command
line by typing <subject heading term>/, as in the command green tea/.

Explode a Term from the Mapping Display
Exploding a subject heading from the Mapping Display lets you retrieve results that contain the subject
heading in combination with all of its narrower, more specific subheadings. Subheadings provide a
broader scope of interpretation for the subject heading.


Mapping Display for green tea

In this example, we want to explode the mapped subject heading green tea from the Mapping Display.
To do so, follow these steps.
1. Select the check box of the subject heading green tea.
2. Select the subject heading’s Explode check box.
3. Select the Include All Subheadings box.
Ovid displays your results in the search history of the Main Search Page.

Search History Display

In the statement displayed in your search history, exp indicates that the term has been
exploded.


In databases with a controlled vocabulary, use the exp command to explode a known subject
heading directly from the keyword command line. For example, the command ..exp green
tea retrieves records that contain the term Green Tea and all of its subheadings.
Exploded results represent the number of records that contain the subject heading term, whether it is the
main topic of the article or if it appears in combination with any of its subheadings. Therefore, you gain
the most comprehensive results when you explode a subject heading.
If you do not want all subheadings to be included within exploded results, you can select only those that
imply the meaning of the subject heading that you want. To gain such selective results from exploding a
subject heading, follow the same steps from the Mapping Display.
1. Select the check box of the subject heading term you want to explode, in this example: green tea.
2. Select the term's Explode check box.
3. Unselect the Include All Subheadings check box.
4. Click the Continue button. Ovid opens the Subheadings Display for that term.

Subheading Selections for green tea

5. From the Subheading Display, select subheadings associated with the meaning of the subject heading
you want in your results.

Retrieves results that contain any one of the subject headings selected.
OR

Retrieves results that contain all subject headings selected.
AND

For this example, we have selected the subheadings Analysis and Therapeutic use.
Ovid posts results in the search history back on the Main Search Page.


Results from Exploding Green Tea with Two Subheadings

Notice that fewer results display back in the search history of the Main Search Page from having refined
the subject heading Green Tea to only that subheading (aspects of the subject heading) of interest to you.
Database publishers index records using the most specific terms of their industry. To ensure
that your search gains comprehensive results, explode subject headings to include all related
subheadings.
Use the command sh <term> to open the Subheading Display for a known subject heading. For
example, the command sh green tea displays the list of subheadings for the term green tea.

Focus a Term from the Mapping Display Page
When you focus a subject heading term from the Mapping Display, Ovid retrieves results in which your
subject heading is considered the major topic.


Selecting to Focus from Mapping Display

From the Mapping Display, we want to focus the subject heading green tea. To do so, follow these steps.
2. Select the Focus check box of the subject heading.
3. Select the Include All Subheadings box.
Ovid displays results in the search history on the Main Search Page.

In the statement displayed in your search history, the * symbol that precedes the search


statement indicates that the term has been focused.
In databases with a controlled vocabulary, use the *<subject heading> command to focus a
known subject heading directly from the keyword command line. For example, the command
*green tea refines results to only those for which the subject heading term green tea is the
main topic.
These results represent the number of records for which the subject heading is the major topic. Note the
difference between the exploded and focused results gathered so far.
If you do not want to include all of the subheadings within your focused results, you can select only those
that better refine the meaning of the subject heading toward results that you want. To gain such selective
results from focusing a subject heading, follow the same steps from the Mapping Display.
2. Select the subject heading's Focus check box.
3. Unselect the Include All Subheadings box.
4. Click the Continue button. Ovid opens the Subheadings Display for that term.

Subheading Display for green tea

5. From the Subheading Display, select subheadings associated with the meaning of the subject heading
you want in your results.

Retrieves results that contain at least one of the subheadings selected.
OR

Retrieves results that contain all of the subheadings selected.
AND

For this example, we have selected the subheadings Analysis and Therapeutic Use and are
combining them with the OR operator.
Ovid posts results in the search history on the Main Search Page.


Notice that Ovid retrieved fewer records as a result of refining the subject heading topic search to only
those subheadings (aspects of the subject heading) of interest to you. Use Ovid’s Focus function when
you want to retrieve the most specific information for your search.
Vocabulary tools like the database Tree, Thesaurus, Permuted Index, and Classification Codes
allow you to utilize Ovid’s Explode and Focus functionalities.
Use the command sh <term> to open the Subheading Display for a known subject heading. For
example, the command sh green tea displays the list of subheadings for the term green tea.
If your search term does not map to a subject heading of interest to you, select the Search as
Keyword check box and click the Continue button. Ovid runs a keyword search for your term in the
default fields of the database.

TREE TOOL
Ovid’s Tree tool is a graphical representation of the database’s hierarchical vocabulary structure. It
provides a visual means of browsing the database’s indexed vocabulary for broader and narrower terms.
To access a tree tool, click the Search Tools icon on the Main Search Page.

Search Tools Icon on the Search Box

Ovid opens the Select a Tool to View Page.


From this page, follow these steps to view a subject heading with the tree tool.
1. Enter a known subject heading (such as asthma) into the text entry box. If the term entered is not a
subject heading of the database, Ovid maps the term to a subject heading for you.
2. Select the Tree Radio button.
Ovid opens a Tree display for the subject heading term.


Tree Display for the Subject Heading asthma

Use the keyword command tree <subject heading> to open a Tree Display for a known
subject heading. For example, the command tree asthma opens the Tree Display at the point
of the subject heading asthma.
In the Tree Display, Ovid arranges terms in a hierarchical system of branches that depicts your term’s
relationship with broader (more general) and narrower (more specific) terms. For convenience, Ovid
highlights your term within the display. Numbers in the Hits column indicate the number of results to
which the term has been indexed. You can retrieve these results by selecting the check box of the term
and clicking the Continue button.
The Tree Display lists your subject heading in the first conceptual context to which it applies within the
full vocabulary of the database. For example, the subject heading asthma is listed as a narrow term for
the broader subject headings: bronchial diseases, respiratory tract diseases, bacterial and fungal
diseases, and finally diseases. As well, narrower terms display below your subject heading term.
The Tree Display has several active elements to further your search.


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