Sample Search for Compendex

The following steps outline the PROCESS of searching and retrieving information from one of OhioLINK's Research databases, Compendex

Starting to search ...

Start at OhioLINK's homepage.

Click on Research Databases.

From the Subject list, click on Science and Technology.

Click on Compendex

Updated monthly, this database provides citations and abstracts to worldwide engineering research from more than 2,600 journals, conference proceedings and papers, technical reports, books and other engineering materials.

The opening search screen defaults to a KEYWORD search.

For this sample search, the topic is "salicylic acid."

A WORD search allows the system to identify records WHEREVER the word or phrase appears in the record. Consequently, you may retrieve records that are not what you want.

Type in your search term, salicylic acid. Press ENTER, or, click on PERFORM SEARCH.

The DISPLAY shows 170+ titles with the KEYWORD, salicylic acid.

To look at the search results, point and click on DISPLAY. You will be able to browse the first group of titles retrieved.

TEN titles can be browsed at one time.

Select one title by pointing and clicking on the underlined title.

As you review the information given in the record, you need to write down the information in the SOURCE line. This is the TITLE you must search in UTMOST to see if the library owns this publication.

Also, remember to notice the words or phrases in the SUBJECT field of the record. Review the terms or topics given in the SUBJECT HEADINGS to decide if there is a better choice of terms to be using when you are searching. You can start a new search and type in the more specific terms you identified in the SUBJECT field..

Search hint: As you review the search results, if you start to notice the words or topics in the SUBJECT HEADINGS area of the record, you can START OVER and search using these specific terms. This process can be used in any electronic database to identify information more specific to your information needs.

As you browse the list of titles, you can choose to look at the ABSTRACT, a short version of the bibliographic record, or the COMPLETE record.

?If you want to know how to "read" all the information you are given in the COMPLETE record, just click here.

Select more titles than you think you might need. Carlson Library will not own all of the publications found in the SOURCE area of the record. Remember, you will want to WRITE DOWN the title as it is given in the SOURCE area.

TIME SAVER:

To see if Carlson Library has a particular title, you can be more efficient and effective in your searching by:

From the menu options listed at the top of the screen : Use the FILE pull down menu and open a NEW WEB BROWSER. Go to the Library's homepage at http://www.cl.utoledo.edu
Click on UTMOST.
Choose UTMOST again.
Click on TITLE.
Type in the NAME OF THE publication in the SOURCE area to see if the library has the specific publication you need.
Look at the box of information. This area will type you what years and which volumes the library owns AND where the title is kept. If the title is not listed, Carlson Library does not own the title.

Using the search process outlined above should retrieve a group of titles that will be relevant to your information needs.

Some search tips to keep in mind:

It is easy to get started searching in Compendex. Just type in your topic and click on PERFORM.
There are some LIMITS on the opening screen you can select. You can limit by language (English), publication type (Journal Articles and/or Conference papers), and a range of years.
You can use the ICONS across the top of the SCREEN to change the way you search.

There is a wide range of LIMITS that can be used to refine your search. If you want to be MORE SPECIFIC select some of the LIMIT options to control your search results.

Remember the basics:

- Punctuation is optional.
- Backspace and type over typographical errors.
- Upper and lower case is not necessary.

Retrieving the search results… ...

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The University of Toledo does NOT own every title so you must check to see if Univ. of Toledo is shown as owning the title and the particular issues you need. And, if UT does own the title and the issue, you must also find out where the title is being kept.

To see if your institution has the journal, click on the icon, HOLDINGS.

To see if UT owns the journal title requires a 3 step process:

1.) First check to see if Univ. of Toledo is listed in alphabetical order. Point and click on the box for U of Toledo. Click on the CONTINUE key.

2.) If Univ. of Toledo is listed, then make sure UT has the volume and year that you need. the notation is written as:

v.45- 1987- This notation shows the title started being purchased with Volume 45, 1987 and continued to be purchased.

v. 32-71; 1985-1994. This notation show the title WAS purchased starting with volume 32, 1985, and was purchased through volume 71, 1994, BUT is not longer being purchased.

3.) AND FINALLY, make sure to check where the title is physically being shelved. This will save you time running around campus and up and down the various floors of Carlson Library.

ALL JOURNALS ARE FILED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY THE FULL NAME OF THE PUBLICATION. ONLY THE INITIAL ARTICLES LIKE "THE" AND "A" ARE DISREGARDED.

Locations can be:

Carlson Periodicals :

Journals are in ALPHABETICAL order.
Very recent issues are shelved in the lower level in the Current Reading Room.
Titles starting with the letters, A - N, on the 2nd floor.
Titles starting with O - Z on the 3rd floor.

Carlson Microfilms : Journals are stored in either microfilm or microfiche in the lower level of the library.

Bowman-Oddy Reading : This is a designated reading room located in the Bowman-Oddy Building, Room 2059.

You may want to keep a copy of the record(s) you retrieved. This is especially important when you are writing a paper. You will need the information from the record to create the footnotes.

Whether you want to email, download, or print the information, you will need to use the CITATION MANAGER.

As you review the list of titles point and click on the bubble to "mark" the record. This is how the system identifies the records you are interested in saving.

Select the bubbles for each category as shown below. And, then, select the option from the far right column that you want.

Follow the steps as given to email, download, or print.

Important note:

IF University of Toledo (U of Toledo) is not listed as owning the title, you can order the article through a free service called, Inter-Library Loan (ILL). Complete the form and submit. Plan ahead!!!! It can take up to take TWO WEEKS to get the article. You will be notified when the article arrives and you can pick up the article at the CIRCULATION DESK.

The Finer points...

You can continue to select records that meet your information needs by using the NEXT RECORD button on the top or the bottom of the screen.

Choose more records than you think you might need since the University of Toledo does not own all of the publications you can retrieve.

Compendex allows for all levels of searching. And provides it's own help screen .

By using the icons provided you can make your search more focused and precise. The process outlined above gives you a framework to search this database. Like any skill, the more you search, the better you get.

If you have questions on searching, the results you retrieved, or locating the article, please let me know.

Send Comments to:glenn.lipscomb@eng.utoledo.edu