The STN Mentor Laboratory CD ROM provides new features for training in online searching on STN International:
STN Training Section for DOS and Windows
The Hypertext lessons provide insight regarding how
bibliographic STN databases are built and how they can be searched. A
brief quiz, the "Self-Test Section" is also included for you. In
addition it provides an explanation of the major Messenger
commands and operators. The Windows version also includes
the Hypertext version
of the official "Guide to Commands" published in printed
form in August 1994.
STN Messenger Training/Simulation Software
The STN Messenger simulation software enables you to
practice online searching, on your PC, in a manner so real,
you will think you are online with STN International. Large training
databases with some 10.000 documents are searchable using many of the
same commands that you would use if you were online. Example
searches are provided with each database or you can try your own
searches. This is a tool for those just getting started in online
searching or experienced searchers that want to teach the
basics of online searching not only by using paper based
tutorials.
Installation program for DOS: DOSINST BAT Installation program for Windows: WININST EXE List of available training files: FILES LST Subdirectory with DOS programs: DOS <DIR> Subdirectory with Windows programs: WIN <DIR> BIOSIS training File: BIOSISLA <DIR> CA training File: CALAB <DIR> CEABA training File: CEABALAB <DIR> FORKAT training File: FORKATLA <DIR> INSPEC training File: INSPECLA <DIR> KKF training file: KKFLAB <DIR> NTIS training File: NTISLAB <DIR> PATDPA training File: PATDPALA <DIR> TA training File: TALAB <DIR> TRIBO training File: TRIBOLAB <DIR> VTB training File: VTBLAB <DIR> ULIDAT training File: ULIDATLA <DIR> UFORDAT training File: UFORDATL <DIR> Hypertext Tutorial: HYPERLAB <DIR> Subdirectory with STN Software and Installation examples: SOFTDEMO <DIR> Microsoft Power Point shows: POWERPNT <DIR> Help File for GMELIN: GMELIN HLP <DIR> STN Express scripts for SPECINFO: SPECINFO <DIR> Subdirectory with ICSD demonstration programs: ICSDDEMO <DIR>
- For the pure DOS installation switch the actual drive to the CD ROM Drive (e.g. E) and run the program "DOSINST.EXE" from the CD-ROM. It will provide you with an easys to use installation screen.
- Simply select the option "Install STN Mentor Lab CD" and press the [RETURN] key; the INSTALL program starts. The major decision you have to make is to which subdirectory you want to have the software installed.
- To make shure that the retrieval software runs without problems, let the installation program make all changes for you. Therefore enter "Y" when asked.
- After a successful installation, leave the installation program using the "ALT + X" key combination.
- Once STN Mentor Laboratory CD ROM retrieval software is installed on your hard disk, you can run it by typing [MENTOR] (upper or lower case) followed by the [RETURN] key. Make sure that you are in the correct drive and correct working directory, (e.g. C:\MENTOR).
- For direct access or when there is not enough memory available, you may also start the Messenger simulation software directly at the DOS prompt by using the command "START".
- The Loginid you will be asked for in both procedures is "STN" and the password is "MENTOR".
- Use the Windows Program-Manager ("FILE"-->> "RUN") or the Windows File-Manager to start the "WININST.EXE" from the root directory (e.g. E:\WININST.EXE). It will provide you with an installation screen.
- Simply doubleclick on the [OK] Button; the INSTALL program starts. The major decision you have to make is to which subdirectory you want to have the software installed.
- Once the STN Mentor Laboratory CD ROM Messenger Simulation software is installed, the group "STN-PFS" is available. It basically contains 4 icons:
- - To start the Messenger Simulation use the "Mentor Lab" icon.
- - To install the training files from the CD-ROM use the "Load Files" icon.
- - To modify the colors used in the Messenger Simulation use the "Colors" icon.
- - To read news information, not included in this manual activate the "News" icon.
- In addition to these basic icons, three more icons can be installed:
- - To install the "STNMENTLAB" icon use the Windows
Program-Manager ("FILE"-->> "RUN") or the Windows
File-Manager to start the "SETUP.EXE" program from the "HYPERLAB"
subdirectory of the CD ROM (e.g. E:\HYPERLAB\SETUP.EXE). It will provide you
with an easys installation of the hypertect tutorial.
It is based on the Microsoft Multimedia
Viewer/Compiler.
- - To install the "SCRNCAMP" icon use the Windows Program-Manager ("FILE"-->> "NEW") to access the Lotus ScreenCam player module located in the "SOFTDEMO" subdirectory (e.g. E:\SOFTDEMO\SCRNCAMP.EXE)
- - To install the "PPTVIEW" icon use the Windows Program-Manager ("FILE"-->> "NEW") to access the Microsoft Power Point player module located in the "POWERPNT" subdirectory (e.g. E:\POWERPNT\PPTVIEW.EXE)
- Doubleclick on the "Load Files" icon. The setup window is activated.
- Select the training files you want to use and doubleclick on the [OK] button for the final installation. Simply accept all default entries in the following screens or modify them to your needs.
- The "Mentor Lab" icon to run the STN Messenger Simulation software can now be activated.
As you run the STN Mentor Laboratory, you will have a choice of three distinct interactions:
- Sometimes you simply read the information presented and use the [RETURN] key to continue.
- The Self-Test feature within STN Mentor is a multiple-choice questionnaire designed to test your knowledge of Messenger at all stages of the learning process.
- As you run the STN Messenger simulation from the menu or by the "START" command on DOS level, you are automatically placed into the "HOME.FILE" of the CD ROM database system. Here the interaction will be almost identical to that of the real Messenger search and retrieval system used by STN International. A general description of the STN Messenger simulation is given on the following pages.
- Run the STN Messenger simulation by doubleclicking on the "Mentor Lab" icon, you are automatically placed into the "HOME.FILE" of the CD ROM database system, provided that you have loaded at least one training file first. Here the interaction will be almost identical to that of the real Messenger search and retrieval system used by STN International. A general description of the STN Messenger simulation is given on the following pages.
- Run the Hypertext Tutorial by doubleclicking on the "STNMENTLAB" icon.
- Run Software installation and usage demonstrations using the Lotus Screen Cam Player. It can be activated by doubleclicking on the "SCRNCAMP" icon. All software demos available are located in the "SOFTDEMO" subdirectory of the CD ROM.
- Run instructive Powerpoint Shows by doubleclicking on the "PPTVIEW" icon. All Powerpoint shows available are located in the "POWERPNT" subdirectory of the CD ROM.
The STN Mentor simulation software supports those basic commands based on the STN Messenger retrieval language which meet the following requirements:
The following section outlines a list of the commands and features which can be used as you run the STN Messenger simulation. These commands are a subset of the real Messenger command set used by STN International. "Supported" commands are those executed as close as possible to the actual Messenger retrieval system on STN International.
"Non-supported" commands are rejected with an error message specific to the Messenger simulation : "Messenger option not installed"
The supported commands are listed in the order that most users use them during the course of a complete search through bibliographic databases on STN International.
=>
Subcommand Prompt
:
Command Language Versions
> NOVICE - tutorial, options listed. Use 4 or more letters of command name
> EXPERT - default options assumed. Use only 3 letters of command name (or only first letter for SEARCH, DISPLAY, or EXPAND).
> FILE name
Delete Character
> [Ctrl H] or Backspace [<F128M><188> <F255D>]
Ignore last Input
> $
> HELP or ?
Specific Explanation
> HELP COMMANDS
> HELP FUNCTION
List of files available
> HELP FILE NAMES
Help available in current file
> HELP DIRECTORY
> AND, OR, NOT
Adjacent Terms
> (W), (nW)
Adjacent Terms (in any order)
> (A) , (nA)
In the same field (index)
> (L)
=
less than
<
greater than
>
less than or equal to
=< or <=
greater than or equal to
=> or > =
value area
"n" - "x"
? (not valid within a term)
Any number of characters
! (valid within or at the end of a term)
One or Zero Characters
# (not valid within a term)
> SEARCH or S
> SEARCH TERM1
> SEARCH TERM1?
> SEARCH TERM1#
> SEARCH TERM1!
> SEARCH TE!M1!?
> SEARCH TERM1###
> SEARCH TERM1 AND TERM2
> SEARCH Term1 AND Term2 AND Term3 ...AND Term n
> SEARCH Term1(nW)Term2
> SEARCH Term1(nA)Term2
> SEARCH Term1(L)Term2
> SEARCH L1 AND L2
> SEARCH L1 NOT L2
> SEARCH Term1(w)(Term2 or Term3 or T4)
> SEARCH 1985 <=PY<=1989
> SEARCH STRING e.g. S '58/68661'/PN od. S plasmid 'AND'episome/CT
> SEARCH with implied proximity
> SEARCH L#-L#
> SEARCH TERM1/Field
> SEARCH Term1/Field1 AND Term2/Field1
> SEARCH Term1/Field1 AND Term2/Field2
> SEARCH (Term1 AND Term2)/Field1
> SEARCH (Term1 AND Term2)/Field1,Field2,Field3
> SEARCH Term1/Field1 OR Term2/Field1
> SEARCH Term1/Field1 OR Term2/Field2
> SEARCH (Term1 OR Term2)/Field1
> SEARCH (Term1 OR Term2)/Field1,Field2,Field3
> SEARCH (Term1 OR Term2)/Field1 AND Term3/Field2
> SEARCH E#-E#
> DISPLAY L# or D L#
> DIS HIST L#-
> DIS HIST -L#
> DIS HIST L#-L#
> DISPLAY ACC Accession Nummer
> DISPLAY Field, Field
> DISPLAY Format, Field
> DISPLAY Format, Field range
> DISPLAY SAVED
> DISPLAY SAVED/Q
> DISPLAY SAVED/A
> DISPLAY QUE L#
> SAVE NAME/Q
Save Answer Set
> SAVE NAME/A
> ACTIVATE NAME/Q
Answer Sets
> ACTIVATE NAME/A
> DELETE NAME/Q
Answer Sets
> DELETE NAME/A
Search History
> DELETE HISTORY
> SET PRINT ON
Switch continuous printing off
> SET PRINT OFF
Capture your session in an ASCII file (default = SCRIPT.TXT)
> SET SCRIPT ON
Capture your session in the "XXX" ASCII file
> SET SCRIPT "XXX"
Terminate session capture
> SET SCRIPT OFF
Switch on continuous scrolling
> SET PAGE SCROLL
Switch back to scrolling for "n" lines of text
> SET PAGE n (10<=n<= 24)
> SORT L# YY
Sort Answer Set by the XX, YY, ZZ field codes (up to a max. of 5)
> SORT L # XX YY ZZ
> LOGOFF
Single-Step Logoff
> LOG Y
> LOGOFF HOLD or LOG H
File Size - Because of the limited capacity of a training CD ROM, the training files only contain 10.000 - 20.000 documents each. A real STN File may contain millions of documents.
Type of searches - The STN Messenger simulation software used in STN Mentor Laboratory CD supports bibliographic search simulation. However, structure and full-text searching are not supported.
Search Fields - The documents included in the STN Messenger simulation are real documents from files on STN International. These documents have been captured online and adapted so as to be retrievable with the simulation software. Depending on the file and its structure, some search fields or display formats may be missing compared to the original file on STN International.
If you are in the STN Messenger simulation, you first have to logoff using the "LOGOFF" command before you press the [ESC] key.
All electronic data and written material that constitute STN Mentor Laboratory are copyrighted by the American Chemical Society, the Fachinformationszentrum Karlsruhe and the company Kramer & Hofmann.
The data contained in the training files are copyrighted by the producer(s) of the original databases.
Copying all or individual parts of the STN Mentor Laboratory software for resale or for other than personal backup purposes is strictly prohibited.
Problems?
If you have any problems running STN Mentor Laboratory, please read back through the instructions.
Remember that STN Mentor Laboratory only runs on IBM PCs and 100 % compatibles. If you still can't find the problem, please call or write the STN-Karlsruhe Help Desk, Phone (+49) 7247-808-555 Fax (+49) 7247-808-131.
An outstanding group of database providers in physics, biotechnology, chemistry, pharmacology, engineering, medicine, patents and other fields cooperate in making information available via the STN International network. STN is the first network of its kind devoted to scientific and technical information, and STN databases (more than 200 of them) are all searchable through one command language, Messenger.