Options for Searching the Chemical Abstracts Database

 

The Database and Its Components
    1. The Registry File, 1965-
    2. The Bibliographic File, 1967- (including abstracts)
    3. Limited data searchable for 1957-66
    4. Images of all abstracts, 1907-66

 

Vendors of the Database
    1. CAS/STN International (Academic Program hours)
    2. Questel/ORBIT
    3. OCLC FirstSearch

 

Options for Searching CA Databases Online on STN
    1. Command-language searching
    1. Many options possible for the skilled searcher.
    2. Novice assistance possible by using full search commands.
    3. Capability to use the CAS Registry Numbers as the access key to other files.
    1. STN Express with Discover!
    1. Front-end software
    2. Gives much assistance to novice users, especially with structure searching.
    1. STNEasy
    1. A Web-based option
    2. Fixed pricing
    1. SciFinder and SciFinder Scholar
    1. Limited search control, but very easy to use.
    2. Less search capability on the academic version

 

OCLC’s CA Student Edition
    1. Limited coverage: about 230 journals plus all dissertations
    2. Fixed cost

 

CA on CD-ROM
    1. Coverage: 12th CI (1987-91) and 13th CI (1992-96)
    2. 1997- with monthly updates

 

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