Essentials for Classic STN®

Agenda

• Classic STN®
– Patent family databases
– Non-patent literature
– Substance searching in CAS databases
• PatentPakTM on STN®
• Essential Classic STN® commands
– Basic keyword search
– Multifile basics
 3

STN – The Choice of Patent Experts

• Used by intellectual property professionals and patent examiners at
the world's major patent offices, law firms and research organizations
• STN provides the world’s patent, non-patent and substance
information on one integrated platform :

– Journal articles – Chemical structures

– Patents – Sequences
– Dissertations – Polymers
– Conference proceedings – Properties
 4

STN (Scientific and Technical Information Network) is available through several

interfaces

• STN Easy®
• STNext™
• STN® on the Web™
Classic STN
• STN Express®
• STN AnaVist
• New STN

The Global Value Plan (GVP) provides unlimited

access to all platforms and most databases.
 5

Classic STN provides all the sources and features needed for patent searching

 More than 100 scientific databases

 Patent and non-patent literature
MEDICAL MATERIALS
 Chemical structure searching BIOTECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING
SCIENCE SCIENCE

including Markush structures

 Substance searching PHARMACOLOGY PATENTS AGRICULTURE CHEMISTRY

 Biosequences
 Polymers
 Reactions
 Patent classification
(CPC, IPC, USPC, ECLA, F-TERM)
 6

STN provides comprehensive patent family searching and full-text patent content
including claims text

• CAplus
– Sixty-three patent authorities
– Comprehensive subject indexing
– Substance indexing for small and large molecules
• INPAFAMDB
– INPADOC (EPO) content with a STN exclusive family display
• Full-text patents from
• AU CA CN DE EP FR KR GB IN JP WO (PCT) US
 7

Additional databases focus on non-patent literature in biology, chemistry and

engineering disciplines

• Biomedical: BIOSIS, EMBASE, MEDLINE

• Agriculture/food: CABA, FSTA

• Chemical: CAplus, REAXYSFILE

• Engineering: COMPENDEX, INSPEC

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CAS databases provide the core of substance searching

• CAS REGISTRY
– > 149 million small molecules
– > 67 million additional biosequences
– > 1.8 million polymers
• CASREACT
– Structure-searchable reaction database
• MARPAT
– More than 1 million Markush structures from 1961 to date
 11

STN continues to evolve to meet changing market conditions and user needs

 Expert searchers are rotating out of traditional search professional roles

 Newer patent professionals are less able to invest the months and years it takes today to
become a search expert
 Installation of client software is time consuming, creates administrative dependencies,
and delays availability of new features
 The need for a single platform for searching global scientific and technological
information remains constant
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Introducing a new gateway to the world’s premier solution for scientific,

technical and IP research

elevates the classic STN experience

• Built on the classic STN foundation to deliver proven capabilities and content
• Secure, browser-based solution reduces administrative overhead
• Intuitive interface and contextual assistance speed the path to proficient searching
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STNextTM benefits the entire spectrum of STN users and is available to all STN
customers at no additional charge

• Experienced searchers
‒ Access to key classic STN content and capabilities
• New and occasional searchers
‒ Intuitive interface and in-product guidance
• Information consumers
‒ Enhanced view of results and new reporting
• Administrators
‒ No clients to install or manage
 14

Parity with classic STN solutions ensures availability of essential information

and functionality

• Access the same databases

• Perform the same searches using the same search operators for Boolean, proximity and
truncation
• Use the same advanced search capabilities and proprietary features, including patent
family sort, thesaurus searching and analysis
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Enhanced workflow in STNext

• Enhanced view of results improves readability

and decreases review time
• Autosuggest reduces typos and spelling errors
• Automatic retention of search assets, including
transcripts, structure queries and scripts,
enables easy access and reuse
 16

Enhancements increase usability and efficiency…

• Easy access to the CAS Lexicon is ideal for users who

are not yet familiar with STN content and indexing
• Advanced encryption offers even greater security
• Many system limits doubled to enable more efficient
searching and allow more structure searches to run to
completion
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…while new features further extend efficiency gains

• Enhanced view of results improves

readability and decreases review time
• Autosuggest reduces typos and
spelling errors
• Automatic retention of search assets,
including transcripts, structure queries
and scripts, enables easy access and
reuse
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And beautiful reports...

 19

Query Summary File

Your Name

Automatically Generated
history of search commands
 20

STNext Tables automatically create Excel spreadsheets

 21

As part of STNext development, STN System Limits have been significantly

increased to make searching more efficient

Description STNext All other Classic

platforms
Structure iteration limit 100,000,000 12,000,000
Answers per file per session 100,000,000 20,000,000
L-numbers 999 999
Saved non-TEMP answers 1,600,000 1,600,000
Saved TEMP answers 2,000,000 2,000,000
Saved Answer sets 500 500
Saved Queries 1,000 1,000
Saved L-number lists 100 100
Saved user-defined formats 100 100
Saved user-defined search fields 50 50
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PatentPak is built on the indexing effort of the scientific analysts that create the
CAS REGISTRYSM

• Scientists review each patent and identify

new substances for CAS REGISTRY inclusion
“I analyzed the chemistry in this
• They mark the specific location of entire patent to save you time.”
substances in the text during analysis Keiko Sugimoto
Sr. Scientific Information Analyst, CAS
• Algorithmic processing with human
intervention allows previously registered
substances to be located and annotated in
backfile documents
 24

PatentPak example US6403990: Find various alloys

• A search for Aluminun

Gallium Indium Arsenide
compounds

• Retrieves various
stoichiometries, no
matter how they were
described in the text

• The complete structure is assembled in a table at

the back of PDF+ document, including page
numbers, CAS RN, chemical name, and structures
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PatentPak example WO2014184355: Find assembled Markush tables

• 9.5 pages of “table Markush”

structures - a core structure
shown at the top, with
fragments

• The complete structure is

assembled in a table at the back
of PDF+ document, including
page numbers, CAS RN,
chemical name, and structures
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Access STNext via https://next.stn.org with your existing STN ID and password
 28

STNext offers the classic STN experience in a clean, modern interface

Review session activity in History

Access the CAS Lexicon

Manage transcripts

Type and run classic STN commands

 29

Mouse over transcript line to bring up additional options

Edit transcript name with pencil icon,

Pause transcript capture, Download or
Start New transcript.

Click pencil icon to edit transcript names. Click or Enter key to accept new name.
 30

Use My Files to access saved transcripts, structures and scripts

• Transcripts are saved for 90 days indefinitely

‒ Download as a .pdf, .rtf, or .txt file
• Structures and scripts are saved indefinitely
• Can be grouped into Folders
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Transcripts are automatically captured with sequential names and stored

under My Files

Delete selected transcripts

 32

Access User Settings and Help under User Name

Most frequently used SET commands Settings.

• Auto Suggest (only in STNext)
• Query Summary File Download
• Abbreviations
• Audit
• Logoff History (LHIST)
• Multiple Steps (MSTEPS)
• Plurals
• Spellings
 33

Database selection and information icon

Hyperlink to DBSS
 34

History Tab

• History tab keeps track of your searches

• L numbers (L1, L2, etc.) are hyperlinks to the location in the
transcript where they were created
• File changes are noted
• Structures can be recalled and edited directly from the
history - - no need to go to My Files
• Analyze Results for any L-number with
• Create Alerts with or or click next to
• Hover pointer over Multiple files to see list of files entered
 35

Autosuggest is command sensitive

FILE suggests file names.

• S and E suggest terms based

on the CAS Lexicon
• S will also suggest L
numbers created during the
current session.
 36

Display autosuggest is contextual for displays

 37

CAS Lexicon can be easily accessed by clicking terms above the command line

• Or use the searchable, interactive browser tab

• Select individual terms to add to command line
or use Add All links to add relationship codes
in the CT field
 38

Three Search wizards are available under the Λ to assist with searches

Choose Command Line to exit a wizard.

 39

Author Search wizard shows an EXPAND select list

Search applicable e-numbers

on the command line.
 40

Organization wizard searches with (S) proximity in the

Corporate Source (CS) field

The CS field also searches the

Patent Assignee (PA) field.
 41

Subject wizard helps build search query proximity

 42

Enhanced view of CAS databases makes review easier

 43

HITPPAK display puts direct links to substances in the original patent

publication
 44

STNext convenience functions

• Press ESC key to put cursor back in command box while in the Session panel
• Up and down arrow keys move through commands, and autosuggest lists
• Keyboard shortcuts (next slide)
 45

Session Keyboard Shortcuts

To see keyboard shortcuts for

moving between tabs and pages -
type Ctrl + Shift + ? in session panel.
 46

Scripts can automate repetitive tasks

Import a Script from

STN Express.

Create a new Script.

Edit a Script.

Run a Script.

Delete Script.
 48

STNext incorporates a new structure drawing editor

• Searches like STN Express or STN on the Web editors

• Recorded e-seminar devoted to Structure Searching in STNext
• Work-in-progress - new functionality is added a few times a year
– Most recently, being able to draw Deuterium or Tritium in structures!
 49

Use CAS Registry Number®, SMILES or InChI strings to build structure queries
 50

Manage saved structures from My Files

 51

Import .cxf, .str or .mol structures into the Structure Editor

• Make sure you open any imported structure in the Structure Editor and click Save to give
it your own name , or Save and Upload to accept a sequential name
• The structure editor performs a “clean up” of imported files to make them ready to
search in STNext
• Structures can be uploaded as modifiable queries, or unmodifiable, so that display in the
transcript matches one saved in your structures under My Files.
 53

Browser functions that work with STNext

• Ctrl + F to find within a page

• Spell check (browser specific function enabled)
• Ctrl + ‘= ’ Zoom in
• Ctrl + ‘- ’ Zoom out
• Press Tab key to move through interface
 54

Access STNext Help under your User Name

STNext Help is still

under development.
 55

Many STN searches start with a simple question that needs to be answered

Search Questions
• What thermoplastics have been used in injection moldings?
• Find controlled-release drugs for treatment of alzheimers.
• How are carbon-fiber reinforced plastics being used in
aircraft materials?
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Essential commands required for every classic STN search

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Basic Search Strategy

1. Enter a database
2. Search the main concepts
3. View potential answers
a. Refine strategy
4. Display complete answers of interest
5. Logoff / Logoff Hold
 58

Determine which database(s) you want to search

• Information about the databases can be found

at http://support.cas.org/products/stn/dbss
• STN Database Summary Sheets are produced for
every database on STN and include:
– File content, sources, file data, and producer
– Search fields and examples
– Display fields and formats
– Sample record
 59

Identify main concepts and develop a search strategy using Boolean operators

OR
Find answers that include any term
(Enclose synonyms in parentheses)

AND
Find answers that include
all terms
NOT is also available but
should be used cautiously
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Conduct a Preliminary Search

Command line format

=> Command Instructions <Enter>

Examples:
=> FILE CAPLUS <Enter>
=> SEARCH THERMOPLASTIC AND INJECTION MOLDING <Enter>
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Evaluate answers to determine quality of your search

• Evaluate your search by reviewing answers to

– Verify your search is retrieving the information you want
– Identify additional terminology to refine your search
• Aspects to consider:
– Do answers in the evaluation step cover the topic of interest sufficiently?
– Are many answers irrelevant?
– Is the number of answers acceptable?
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There are a few ways to broaden retrieval

• Use SET commands to automatically search for plurals, abbreviated terms,

and alternate spellings
• Supplement the initial search with synonyms derived from
– reviewing prospective answers
– viewing what is in the search index
– utilizing online thesauri
• Use “wild-card” truncation characters
 64

The EXPAND command can be used to view what terms are in the search index

• The EXPAND command (E) is used to verify that a term is in the database
– confirm spellings
• EXPAND is useful in keyword searching to
– identify alternate terms
– determine where to truncate a term
• EXPAND results in alphanumeric list of terms adjacent to requested term
 65

EXPAND provides an alphabetical listing of terms

 66

STN truncation symbols enhance retrieval

Truncation Symbol Definition Location Example Retrievals

ASSAYED
Left or
BIOASSAY
? Zero to any Right or ?ASSAY?
IMMUNOASSAY
Both
RADIOASSAYS

GROW
Left or
# Zero or one
Right
GROW### GROWS
GROWTH

Left or TOOTH
! Exactly one Within or T!!TH TEETH
Right TRUTH
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There are a few ways to narrow down retrieval

• Add additional concepts

• Use more precise operators
– implied proximity for phrases
• Add additional requirements using specialized indexes
– document type (patent, journal, etc.) publication date, assignee, etc.
• Use more precise controlled terminology
 68

STN proximity operators provide focused searching

Operator Definition Example

(L) Same information unit (link)* HARVEST? (L) CELL

(P) Same paragraph* BIND? (P) RELEAS?

(S) Same sentence* EXCHANGE (S) RESIN

NOT can be incorporated here
(A) or (N) Adjacent (or NEAR), any order EBOLA (A) ?PEPTID? and is very powerful, e.g:

(nA) n words or fewer, any order POLYMER (5A) MATRIX HARVEST? (NOTL) CELL

BIND? (NOTP) RELAS?

(W) or space Word adjacency, fixed order RING CLOSURE
POLYMER (5NOTA) MATRIX
(nW) n words or fewer, fixed order ALKALI (1W) HALIDE
ALKALI (5NOTW) HALIDE

* Varies by database: => HELP (L), => ? Proximity, etc. for details in each database of interest
 69

Numbers may be used with proximity operators to define precise relationships

=> S (SKIN OR DERMAL) (2A) (SUBSTITUTE OR ARTIFICIAL)(S) (PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE)
...
=> D TI HIT
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Specialized indexes including Publication Year (PY) or Document Type (DT) can
be used to refine results

=> S (SKIN OR DERMAL) (2A) (SUBSTITUTE OR ARTIFICIAL)

(S) (PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE)
...

L1 385 (SKIN OR DERMAL) (2A) (SUBSTITUTE OR ARTIFICIAL)(S) (PREPARATION OR MANUFACTURE)

=> S L1 AND PY>2000

18911605 PY>2000
L2 248 L1 AND PY>2000

=> S L2 AND P/DT

9717953 P/DT
L3 206 L2 AND P/DT
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The DISPLAY (D) command is used to see more content from the record

• The DISPLAY command requires three pieces of information:

• Answer set L-number
• Answer number(s)
• Format
• Use the Novice mode by typing four or more letters

=> DISPLAY
ENTER (L6), L# OR ?:.
ENTER ANSWER NUMBER OR RANGE (1):1-3 <ENTER>
DISPLAY FORMAT (BIB):IBIB ABS
 72

Summary: Basic Subject Search

Step 1 Determine your search question.

Step 2 Identify a relevant database.  Database summary sheets

Step 3 Build a search query.  Main concepts and synonyms

 Logic operators (AND, OR)

Step 4 Conduct a preliminary search. => FILE CAPLUS

=> S ANTITUMOR AND ANTIBODY
=> D HIT
Step 5 Evaluate answers.
=> D TI IND

Step 6 Adjust the search strategy.  Allow for abbreviations, plurals,

alternate spellings
 File-specific terminology
 Truncation symbols

Step 7 Display final answers. => D L# 1- IBIB ABS

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Multifile features and commands

• INDEX provides an option for exploring search strategies in a multifile environment

• Clusters group databases by subject coverage
• D RANK orders INDEX results by frequency
• SET MSTEPS ON provides an L-number for each database searched
• DUPLICATE removes duplicate records or merges answer sets across databases
– SET DUPORDER FILE
 74

Find relevant STN databases with INDEX

Use => INDEX ALL to identify relevant files

Search example:
Find databases with prior art related to the use of
graphene in field effect transistors for biosensors.

=> INDEX ALL

INDEX 1MOBILITY, 2MOBILITY, ADISCTI, ADISNEWS, AEROSPACE, AGRICOLA,
ANABSTR, APOLLIT, AUPATFULL, BIOSIS, BIOTECHABS, BIOTECHDS, BIOTECHNO,
CABA, CANPATFULL, CAPLUS, CASREACT, CBNB, CEABA-VTB, CIN, CNFULL,
COMPENDEX, COMPUSCIENCE, CROPB, CROPU, DDFB, ...'
91 FILES IN THE FILE LIST IN STNINDEX
 75

Use DISPLAY RANK to order results by frequency

=> S FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR; D RANK

F1 205917 USPATFULL
F2 135514 WPINDEX Screen databases for
F3 107796 USPAT2 technology of interest with
F4 102756 WPIDS
F5 92513 CAPLUS the SEARCH (S) command.
F6 88369 CNFULL
F7 86016 IFIALL
F8 84426 JPFULL DISPLAY (D) RANK will list databases
F9 76587 INSPEC
F10 65605 INPADOCDB in descending order of hits.
F11 57902 KRFULL Use semicolons to stack commands.
F12 56135 COMPENDEX
F13 52539 SCISEARCH
F14 49396 PCTFULL
F15 44076 INPAFAMDB
Information is found in
F16 43432 DEFULL both patent and NPL files.
F17 38941 TEMA
F18 37174 PQSCITECH
F19 32986 EPFULL
F20 20023 AEROSPACE
F21 17515 DPCI
...
L1 QUE FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR
 76

Major technical/engineering files on STN

CAplus
– Bibliographic information and enhanced abstracts
• Analytical chemistry • Chemical engineering
• Applied chemistry • Macromolecular chemistry
• Biochemistry • Organic chemistry
– Patent family data available for each bibliographic record:
• Basic patent
• Equivalents (information about the same invention issued in other countries)
– 1907 to the present, updated daily
– Thesauri
• Classification Code (/CC), Company Name (/CO), Controlled Term (/CT), Patent (/CPC), (/ECLA), (/FTERM), (/IPC), US Patent Classifications Current (/NCL) and Issue (/INCL), and
Role (/RL)
– Cited references for journals, conference proceedings, and basic patents from the US, EPO, WIPO, and German patent offices added to
CAS databases since 1997
– Patent examiner citations from British and French patents (2003-present), Canadian patents (2005-present), Japanese patents (2011-
present), as well as nearly 300,000 patent records from 1982-2008
– Citing references
– Legal status information for U.S. patents since 1980
– Patent classifications: IPC, CPC, ECLA, ICO, NCL and FTERM
 77

Major technical/engineering files on STN

WPINDEX
– Bibliographic information and enhanced abstracts
– All patent-relevant areas of science and technology. Coverage varies by subject matter and patent authority:
• Pharmaceuticals: 1963
• Plastics and polymers: 1966
• Mechanical, electrical, and general technology: 1974
• Agricultural chemicals: 1965
• All other chemistry and general technology: 1970
– Value-added titles, abstracts, general and (where appropriate) in-depth chemical and electrical indexing. Electrical, engineering
drawings and chemical structure drawings.
– Patent family data available for each bibliographic record:
• Basic patent
• Equivalents (information about the same invention issued in other countries)
• The Invention and Member Patent Levels can be searched individually or in combination.
– Numeric values of 55 physical and chemical properties in almost 400 unit variants are searchable in all English text fields (titles,
abstracts, claims).
– Thesauri
• European Patent Classification, F-Term,, ICO (in-computer-only) Classification, International Patent Classification, Cooperative Patent Classification, Derwent
Manual Code, Polymer Indexing Enhanced, Title Terms, and US National Patent Classification. There is a thesaurus-like feature in the Compound Number,
Registry Number, Patent Assignee Code, and Plasdoc Key Serials.
 78

Use SET MSTEPS ON to get one L-number per file

=> SET MSTEPS ON; FILE CAPLUS INSPEC COMPENDEX SCISEARCH PQSCITECH TEMA
...
=> S FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR AND BIOSENSOR AND GRAPHENE

L2 408 FILE CAPLUS

L3 201 FILE INSPEC SET MSTEPS ON provides one
L4 241 FILE COMPENDEX L-number for each database
L5 443 FILE SCISEARCH
L6 93 FILE PQSCITECH
L7 87 FILE TEMA

TOTAL FOR ALL FILES

L8 1473 FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR AND BIOSENSOR AND GRAPHENE
 79

DUPLICATE REMOVE to get unique answers

=> SET DUPORDER FILE

Order results by database.
=> DUP REM L8

PROCESSING IS APPROXIMATELY 41% COMPLETE FOR L8

PROCESSING COMPLETED FOR L8
L9 863 DUP REM L8 (610 DUPLICATES REMOVED)
ANSWERS '1-408' FROM FILE CAPLUS
ANSWERS '409-529' FROM FILE INSPEC
ANSWERS '530-605' FROM FILE COMPENDEX
ANSWERS '606-829' FROM FILE SCISEARCH
ANSWERS '830-846' FROM FILE PQSCITECH
ANSWERS '847-863' FROM FILE TEMA

=> S L9 NOT PATENT/DT

...
TOTAL FOR ALL FILES Most of the records retrieved are
L22 768 L9 NOT PATENT/DT
Non-Patent Literature
 80

Display answers

Click on Full Text button to see figures.

 81

Display answers (cont.)

Hit indexing shows the additional information

(related to the query) that CAS analysts add to
the record to enhance retrieval.
 82

Display answers (cont.)

L22 ANSWER 314 OF 768 INSPEC (C) 2020 IET on STN
ACCESSION NUMBER: 2020:19447485 INSPEC
TITLE: Sensing ability and formation criterion of fluid supported lipid
bilayer coated graphene field-effect transistors
AUTHOR: Shu-Kai Hu; Fang-Yen Lo; Chih-Chen Hsieh; Ling Chao (Dept. of Chem.
Eng., Nat. Taiwan Univ., Taipei, Taiwan)lingchao@ntu.edu.tw
SOURCE: ACS Sensors (26 April 2019), vol.4, no.4, p. 892-9, 52 refs.
ISSN: 2379-3694 Published by: American Chemical Society, USA
DOCUMENT TYPE: Journal
TREATMENT CODE: Practical; Experimental
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English Full-text
AN 2020:19447485 INSPEC Full-text
AB
Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) have been widely used to provide native
environments for membrane protein studies. In this study, we utilized
graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) coated with a fluid SLB to
perform label-free detection of membraneassociated ligand-receptor
interactions in their native lipid bilayer environment. It is known...
CT biochemistry; biomembranes; biosensors; chemical sensors; field effect
transistors; fluorescence; graphene; hydrophobicity; lipid bilayers;
molecular biophysics; molecular configurations; optical sensors;
INSPEC adds controlled
proteins; radiation quenching ST graphene fluorescence; ligand binding; terminology to records
SLB acyl chain hydrophobic region; graphene field-effect transistors;...
 83

Find numeric property information on STN

• Claims in engineering applications often include numeric property limitations

• Find substances having reported numeric properties
– CAS REGISTRYSM, ReaxysFileTM
• Find references with numeric property information using the NPS feature
– 18 databases including full-text patents
 84

Property information in CAS REGISTRY is found in property fields

Properties are searchable numerical data

points licensed or extracted from the
literature during the CAS indexing process.
References to CAplus records are
hyperlinked.
Type HELP PROPERTIES for more
information.
 85

NPS searches the text for properties

=> FILE COMPENDEX
…
=> S ALUMINIUM SHEET (5A) THICK? (3A) 0.05-0.5 INCH/LEN Imperial and U.S. customary units
can be used for searches.
=> D 1-40 KWIC

This search is for an aluminium sheet

with a thickness of 1/20th to ½ inch.
 86

The SAVE, ACTIVATE, and DELETE commands are used to manage stored STN
search results.

• SAVE/SAVE TEMP answer sets, search queries and L- number lists

• DISPLAY SAVED to view saved items
• ACTIVATE to recall saved search results in a future online session
• DELETE answer sets no longer needed

Type => HELP SAVE for details

 87

Online help is available

• www.cas.org/support/training/stn
• stn-international.com/en/training-center

https://www.cas.org/support/training/stn/getting-started

http://www.stn-international.com/materials_for_searching_stn.html
 88

For more information …

CAS FIZ Karlsruhe

help@cas.org helpdesk@fiz-karlsruhe.de
Support and Training: Support and Training:
support.cas.org www.stn-international.de