Provides an overview for searching the ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) database on Lockheed's DIALOG system, noting changes during its 11-year history. Background, focus, overlap with other files, vocabulary, full text searching, truncation, search saves, search tips, search examples, superselect, full text backup, and search aids…

Describes the structure, services and role in the development of solar energy of the Solar Energy Information Data Bank. (RAA)

Examines a number of searches dealing with the synthesis of organic compounds which the author performed on CA CONDENSATES and CASIA data bases (on DIALOG) at the request of users. Results show that a combined use provides the users with a more satisfying result even if the larger output contains some undesired citations. (JD)

The results of running nine chemistry searches on SDC, BRS, and LRS indicated performance was not markedly different for general subject searches, but costs varied. (Author)

Describes the automatic indexing project undertaken in 1978 to convert by means of a "bridge vocabulary" the terms in the ABI/INFORM database to index terms of a controlled vocabulary. Components of the bridge vocabulary are explained, and examples demonstrating the process of conversion are provided. (JD)

Discusses content-based image retrieval systems that effectively utilize information from image databases, and provides a taxonomy for approaches to image retrieval. Highlights include image retrieval architecture that supports query operators; conceptual issues; and two application prototypes. (100 references) (Author/LRW)

Describes a framework for building "story traces" (compact global views of a narrative) and "story projects" (selections of key elements of a narrative) and their applications in text understanding and classification. The resulting "abstract story traces" provide a compact view of the underlying narrative's key…

Reports results of a preliminary study of sign frequency in American Sign language(ASL). Identifies some surprising trends in the organization of the ASL lexicon that merit further investigation. (Author/VWL)

A definition of fiber art, its history, materials and techniques, vocabularies, and creators and users of those vocabularies offer background for understanding the problems in preparing surrogates of this relatively recent art form for text and image databases. Four examples of fiber image information systems are described. (32 references) (EAM)

Discusses the need for computer assisted strategies to search multiple databases. A method is presented in which a pool of predefined searches is set up and a strategy is developed to identify an optimal search path. The application of this method is illustrated using a search carried out in seven databases. (11 references) (CLB)

Defines corporate family searching as the act of using computerized databases to identify a parent company and all of its related companies. Business databases available on Dialog that can be searched to trace a corporate family are identified and appropriate search strategies are described. (CLB)

Discusses the potential sources of knowledge for customizing transportable natural language query systems, including sophisticated dictionaries, database content, and human database experts. A rough quantification of the importance of each source is provided. (17 references) (Author/CLB)

This examination of the ability of Westlaw and Lexis to answer statistical questions about judicial decision making shows that the two databases have failed to achieve an adequate level of record segmentation and data integrity to answer questions reliably, and that editorially supplied text is not an adequate substitute. (MES)

Compares WILSONDISC's Index to Legal Periodicals with LEGALTRAC's Legal Resources Index in terms of: contents; searching (including comparison of several identical searches run on both databases); and costs. (MES)

Outlines the steps involved in bibliometric studies, and demonstrates the ability to execute simple studies on microcomputers by downloading files using only the capability of MS/DOS. Detailed illustrations of the MS/DOS commands used are provided. (eight references) (CLB)