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OvidSP Search Tips and Information
| General | ||
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The retrieval interface OvidSP offers a range of high-quality databases, e.g. Medline and PsycInfo. You are able to search simultaneously across all subscribed online resources (journals, books, databases). Most databases are indexed intellectually with subject headings . This enables very precise thematical searches. In addition OvidSP offers different search modes and tools. Employees may access OvidSP databases worldwide by using a personal login which offers full functionality (e.g. save your search strategies or setting up AutoAlerts). For getting a personal login, use the online application form. Please use your cbs.mpg.de Email address and no private address in the application form. You can leave the login fields blank and use the IP protected login as well. This option does not allow personalized features and generally works only within the IP range of the Institute. Use the proxy server for IP protected login via remote access . Please do not use your brower's arrow keys but Ovid's own navigation options! Also make sure to use standard browsers (e.g., IE, Mozilla, Iceweasel). | |
| Select Resources | ||
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When entering OvidSP a list with all available resources turns up. You already see the interface itself so feel free to enter e.g. My workspace without choosing a resource. You may pick several resources or just one (which we recommend in order to keep specific database attributes). For every database you can open the Datebase Field Guide marked with the  icon to see all essential information for the database. Knowing about the structure of a database makes your searches more precise. You may also create a group with all resources you use the most. Use the function New Group . To change databases select Ovid Resources (appears in the search box) and the list of databases will be back on screen again. |
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| Basic Search | ||
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Basic Search allows searching with natural language terms and phrases (using Natural Language Processing ). Simply enter a couple of keywords, a topic or question. By applying Include Related Terms you broaden a search using alternative search terms (word variants, synonyms and acronyms). Search results are ranked by relevancy (Score). In order to specify your search you can apply Limits (see below) or use Filter By options. Misspelling will also be displayed (The term '...' may be misspelled. Please edit your term and rerun your search). Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) do not work in Basic Search. It is not appropriate for searching authors, either. | |
| Find Citation | ||
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Find Citation searches any combination of words from author, article title, journal title or DOI. You may also truncate author names and journal names. Use truncation to search terms with identical word stems. | |
| Search Tools | ||
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These tools work on the basis of the database's intellectually attributed thematical indexing vocabulary. Searching with Subject Headings helps you to build up and broaden your search vocabulary and makes your retrieval more precise. Search tools enable you to see how subjects are structured within the database and subordinated to each other. Find a list of available tools below: | |
| Map Term | Suggests Subject Headings which are identical with the search term or which contain it. | |
| Tree/Thesaurus | The Tree (Medline) or Thesaurus (PsycInfo) option chooses the Subject Heading which matches the search term best and shows it within its tree or thesaurus context (sub- and superordinated Subject Headings). In Medline (whose vocabulary are called Medical Subject Headings , in short MeSH) this is more detailed in comparision to the thesaurus in PsycInfo. | |
| Permuted Index | This allows you to enter a single term and view an index of subject headings that include the word as well as associated see and see related terms. This tools is quite similar to the Map Term tool, but covers a bigger range of terms. It is therefore helpful in expanding your terminology. | |
| Scope Note | Chooses the Subject Heading that matches the search term best and displays information and definitions about it (advisable especially for Medline). | |
| Explode | Chooses the Subject Heading that maps the search term best and expands the search automatically to subordinated Subject Headings (see below Explode). | |
| Classification Codes (PsycInfo) | Displays a browsable classification (so-called subject categories in PsycInfo). As it is not possible to search this classification with own search terms you have to leave the search field empty. | |
| Subheadings (Medline) | In Medline the search with Subject Headings can be restricted to specific research fields (see below Subheadings). | |
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Within the tree/thesaurus view several Subject Headings can be chosen and combined by AND or OR. You are only able to fill in one term or phrase in the search box at the same time to map with Subject Headings. So, in most cases you have to use the Search History or the Multi Field Search to combine several Subject Headings. You can broaden or narrow your search results by selecting: | |
| Explode | Ovid searches the chosen Subject Heading and all of its subordinated Subject Headings. This is advisable if you want to get an overview about a topic. | |
| Focus | Ovid retrieves only articles whose matching Subject Heading is considered as major concept (*). | |
| Subheadings | If you are using Medline you are able to constrict your search to specific research fields. You can choose several Subheadings and combine them with AND or OR. You can also select all Subheadings. Subheadings include Diagnosis , Microbiology or Ultrastructure , e.g., (and many more). | |
| Search Fields | ||
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This option makes it possible to search a range of database field indexes or metadata , e.g. abstract, authors, ISSN, year of publication. The Display Indexes option allows you to see the search term in the context of an alphabetically ordered index list of one or several field categories and to browse in this index list. It is particularly advisable to use this option for author search because this way you can find all possible spellings of an author name. The Search option retrieves results instantly. You may also have a look at each field index, respectively. Two icons appear when you move the curser to a field category. The option displays the whole index of the chosen field category and can be used without applying a search term at all. You can pick as many terms from the index list as needed and start your search. With the  icon you are able to add specific fields to your own list. |
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| Advanced Search | ||
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The Advanced Search is our default mode when entering OvidSP. It offers index searching by author, title, journal as well as a keyword search . You can map your keyword to a matching Subject Heading by ticking the Map Term to Subject Heading box. This is genuinely the same option as Map Term in Search Tools. You can apply Limits to specify your search (see below). | |
| Multi Field Search | ||
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Use Multi Field Search to search multiple terms in all or specified fields . Combine these fields with Boolean Operators. Choose from all fields available in the database. Click + Add New Row to add as many additional search boxes as needed. | |
| Combine Searches | ||
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To combine different search results you can access all results from the Search History . Combine search queries by clicking the appropriate checkboxes and then select the operators AND or OR . You can also enter the numbers and operators in the search box (e.g. #1 not #2), since the operator NOT is not available as a button in the History. Use the search box within the Advanced Search mode. In comparison to the Multi Field Search the combination via Search History is advisable, if you want to build up complex search queries including the application of different limits (see below). | |
| Result Tools | ||
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With the Filter By option you can refine your search results by Year, Subject, Author, Publication Year, Journal, and Publication Type. Filter options are dynamically calculated basing on the frequency of the respective data in the initial search result (e.g., the option Subject offers you those subjects which occured most often in your search). In the Basic Search mode it is also possible to filter by Relevancy . | |
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In the Basic Search, Advanced Search and Multi Field Search you can apply Limits to your search. Limits restrict search results according to selected static criteria (like, e.g., Review Articles oer Core Clinical Journals) and are specific to the database(s) selected. Commonly used limits are available from the Main Search Page . All existing limits are made available by clicking the Additional Limits button. In Medline these include categories like animals or age groups. It is possible to customize which limits are to appear on the main search page. In order to do this, select Edit Limits and choose some from the appearing menu. Changes made while logged into My Account are saved. | |
| Find Similar Articles | ||
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You can find articles which are similar to an initial article by clicking on the Find Similar button in the gray field right next to the reference in the citation list or in the complete reference display. Find Similar is based on related words and synonyms in titles as well as abstracts. | |
| Find Citing Articles | ||
| Find Citing Articles will retrieve articles which are citing the initial one. You can find this option right under the Find Similar function. | ||
| AutoAlert Service | ||
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To save search queries, use the options Save , AutoAlerts or RSS near More >> in the pulldown menu. You will need to create a personal login to use these features. Save the current search history with the Save Search History (or RSS) button. AutoAlerts automatically deliver search results via Email or RSS. You find an overview to the saved searches, all your alerts and also RSS within My Workspace . | |
| Export (EndNote) | ||
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Mark the results you want to export. You can choose between Print , Email , Export or Add to My Projects . To export your results to the bibliographic management software EndNote choose Export and the Export Citation List will be opened. Choose from the dropdown list Export to EndNote and from Select fields to display a default option or customize which fields you want to export for a citation. If you working with Windows (locally installed on your PC or via Citrix receiver) a Direct Export will start. All references will automatically be loaded into EndNote. While working with Linux you have to save your results set (since the Direct Export does not work). Then open EndNote and open the saved file (File/Import). The appropriate Import Option is the database you were using and the provider (e.g. Medline (OvidSP)) All citations are loaded into the temporary folder Imported References . | |
| Search Ovid from EndNote | It is also possible to search OvidSP (and including databases) from within EndNote and import references directly. Pick Medline (OvidSP), PsychInfo (OvidSP) or any other database you want to connect to from the Online Search in the right menu. Make sure you started the Integrated Library & Online Search mode or the Online Search mode. You can search multiple fields and use Boolean operators. | |
| Journals | ||
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All available journals are accessible via the tab Journals . Under My Subscriptions all subscribed journals are listed in alphabetical order. Select the star icon to add journals to a favorites list. | |
| New Feature: My Workspace | ||
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This is an individualized area within OvidSP where you can save and organize OVID references, queries, alerts and upload other materials and documents. OvidSP offers 50 MB storage capacity. Find all including functions below: | |
| My Projects | This is the main part within My Workspace . You can save and organize bibliographic references from within OVID (which also can be annotated), TOCs (Table of Contents) from journals a well as full texts of articles hosted at OVID and search queries by using Projects and *Folders*. It is also possible to upload your own materials. By way of the AutoAlerts options search results can be saved directly into *Projects*. After installing the OvidSP toolbar into your browser external web pages can be linked and documents can be attached to them. | |
| Working with My Projects | ||
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From the Actions button at the top of Manage Projects you can add a New Folder to an existing project or create a new project. You can create a citation manually by using a blank form. The Actions option also allows you to upload files stored on your PC when clicking Upload File . | |
| My eTOCs | Saves all Table of content for selected journals (hosted at OVID). Receive an Email whenever new content is available. | |
| My Searches and Results | Administer all saved searches, AutoAlerts and RSS. | |
| Export citations to MS Word | Besides exporting references to EndNote you might as well export them to MS Word (also several other formats available). Choose between Output Styles (e.g. APA). Annotations can be exported with every reference as well. Fill out all fields in the Export Citation List and confirm your selection. After that MS Word will be opened. Save the document as needed. | |
| Ovid Toolbar | ||
| The Ovid Toolbar is designed to allow the user to collect links to external sites and save them to My Projects . You are to edit the document's titles and optionally other metadata and might also attach a document. Open the Toolbar in the browser while using external resources and choose Add to My Projects*. To install follow the *Install Toolbar link inside My Workspace . | ||
| Legal Stuff | ||
| Copying, duplication, redistribution, retransmission, publication, transfer or commercial or other exploitation of the Product, in whole or in part, is permitted. Please contact if you have any questions regarding legal issues! | ||
| Further Information | ||
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Ovid page powered by the Information Retrieval Service of the Biology & Medical Section of the MPS (IVS-BM) | |
| Online Workshops held by IVS-BM | ||
| Homepage der IVS-BM | ||
| Medline (1950 -) | Database Guide Medline | |
| PsycInfo (1806-) | Database Guide PsycInfo | |
| OVID Online Help | ||
| OvidSP Ressource Center | ||
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Last update: Dec 2, 2010 3.21.29 pm
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2010
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences