Volume 6, Number 2 October 1993
Books & Bytes is produced by the HSLIC Library Staff for Health Sciences Center personnel. Copyright University of Washington.
- Wilco: New Interface to Libraries Databases
- You Win With UWIN!
- Accessing the White House Over the Internet
- New Improved UWIN!
- Willow Gets a New Face for Fall
- Willow From Your Office
- National Health Care Reform Plan Available
- Campus Network Accounts for Clinical Faculty
- Requesting Library Services Via Electronic Mail
- Seattle Public Library Catalog
- University-Industry Relations Seminar
- Corporate Research Funding Services
- Improving Your Connection to UWIN and MEDLINE
- Recent Gifts and Contributions to the Collections
Wilco: New Interface to Libraries Databases
A new experimental interface to the Libraries databases is now accessible via UWIN. Wilco blends the ease of command key controls available in PINE with the browse features of Willow to produce a user-friendly interface to the databases for users with no X-emulation.
Once connected to UWIN, use the arrow keys to highlight the categories LIB -> UWLIB -> WILCO -> [database of choice]. After selecting your database you will see a screen such as the one below.
By selecting S or A (or T for Title in the Libraries Catalog), you will see a browse list from which to select words or phrases; you can select more than one to view by using <crtl-x> with each title.
Select K to enter your own term(s) for a quick search. Any BRS commands used in the old interface ("and", "or", "with", etc.) are acceptable.
Choose C to bring up a composition screen similar to Willow. The template allows you to build a search query, including limits, and to specify field labels. Browse lists for many fields (e.g., authors, MeSH subject headings, journal title abbreviations, publication types) are available to select search terms.
Search results are displayed in a numbered summary list which contains author, truncated title, and year. You can select one or more from the list to retrieve the full record for that item. To see only a short record for that item, use the S (short summary) command, which is not yet documented on the command line.
Search results can be printed directly on your printer or forwarded to yourself or anyone else via email. File transfer options include FTP if you are directly connected to the campus network, or ASCII capture or Kermit file transfer if you are using the system via modem.
As with the other interfaces, Wilco has built-in, on-screen help. Printed documentation will not be produced until the interface has stabilized.
Those of you who want to know "Does the Library carry the Journal of Irreproducible Results?" and similar information will appreciate the quick browse lookup feature for Titles and Authors in the UW Libraries Catalog.
We think you will also appreciate the simplified print, email and file transfer features of Wilco. Another feature that is not listed on the menu as of this week is the ability to change the default field labels (long) to short for easy downloading of references into your reference database manager. Use the E command to toggle between short and long field labels. If you prefer to use the "short" rather than the "full" record, use the L command as a toggle. Both the E and L commands must be issued from the Main Menu while connected to a database.
We urge those of you who have asked about using Willow from home with a dial-up modem to try Wilco and let us know what you think. Please send your comments and questions about this new interface to ketchell@u.washington.edu. Your suggestions and concerns will be reviewed and referred to the most appropriate person for handling. If you include an email address you will receive a reply.
Communications Software and Wilco
Wilco is a developing user interface, and changes and improvements will be added regularly. Your current dial-up software may not support all the features of the new interface, and you may encounter problems with use of the up/down arrow keys and on-screen display of bold characters or line drawings. Wilco expects you to use VT100/VT102 terminal emulation. If you do experience problems using Wilco, check your terminal emulation, since many dial-up software programs assume TTY as the default.
If your screen becomes "scrambled," try using CTRL-L (hold down the control key and press the L key) to clear your screen. If this cleans up the display, you have a terminal emulation problem. Please report difficulties in accessing the system to libquest@u.washington.edu.
You Win With UWIN!
The month of September was a turning point for users of UW Libraries online information services. Over Labor Day weekend, Geac was replaced by a new system for circulation, reserve, and technical processes, and by the end of the month users had access to a host of improvements in accessing the UW Libraries databases and other online resources.
This issue of Books & Bytes focuses on improvements and new features in UWIN (University of Washington Information Navigator), Willow (the graphical interface), the new Wilco interface, and a myriad of other online resources available through the Internet. Try 'em; you'll like 'em!
Accessing the White House Over the Internet
A new Internet mailing list is now available as a conduit for White House health-reform announcements. It is available directly to health professionals and others with electronic mail addresses. LIST.HEALTHPLAN is on the Institute for Global Communications (IGC) system. Subscribe by sending a message to sfreedkin@igc.apc.org in the following exact format:
To: SUBSCRIBE LIST.HEALTHPLAN
Message: ADD your-electronic-address
Your real name
Your postal address (optional)
City, State
Profession
Professional interest in health care (if any)
Institutional affiliation, if relevant
You will receive a welcome letter describing the list in detail and telling you how to retrieve items that have been posted previously. If you would like to receive only the welcome letter, send a message to sfreedkin@igc.apc.org in the following exact format:
To: WELCOME *ONLY* LIST.HEALTHPLAN
Message: your-electronic-address (your real name in parentheses)
Please send WELCOME TO HEALTH LIST letter ONLY.
To write to the White House electronically about health care or any other issue, use the addresses president@whitehouse.gov or vicepresident@whitehouse.gov. Be sure to include your postal address if you want a reply; only a generic reply letter goes out electronically. The most effective letters are very brief and to the point.
New Improved UWIN!
A new version of UWIN (University of Washington Information Navigator) became available on the campus computing network on September 23. Many of the changes are behind the scenes. Among visible changes are pop-up boxes and a significant improvement in system speed. The "Jump" function for immediately selecting a database is no longer announced on the welcome screen, but the function is still available. Other major improvements are listed below.
- The complete medline database from 1966 to date is now available online, with database segments grouped under "The medline Databases."
- Wilco is now available under UWLIB as an alternate to the original character-based interface.
- NETLIB now includes the Seattle Public Library catalog and the Library of Congress LOCIS system.
- New additions to the UWINFO category are the UW Faculty Handbook and the UW Course Catalog.
- New additions to the Desk Reference category are the CIA World Fact Book (facts about countries) and the Federal Register.
- UW Computing & Technologies information offers summaries of computing, networking, and telecommunications services available on campus. The Getting Started section is particularly good. You can forward text from this and most other UWIN resources to any email address, including your own.
Willow Gets a New Face for Fall
Version 2.0 of Willow was released for general use on September 24. Willow is the graphical interface to medline, the Libraries Catalog, and other Libraries databases. Over 25 X-terminals with Willow access are now available in HSLIC and the Social Work and K.K. Sherwood Libraries. In addition, X-terminals are available in clinical areas in both the UW and Harborview Medical Centers.
All of the features described below, with the exception of Course Reserves, are also available in the new Wilco interface available via UWIN. Please let us know what you think about the new features. Comments about either the Willow or Wilco interfaces should be sent to Debbie Ketchell at ketchell@u.washington.edu.
Enhancements to the Search Window:
Copyright window that must be acknowledged when logging into a database. (Sorry, folks; this is a legal requirement!) Terminology changes: "Advanced Searching" is the new title of the Search Window. "Keywords" replaces Any Words, indicating that you are searching the terms in that query box anywhere they appear in a record. "Author Affiliation" replaces Institution to more accurately reflect the content of this field.
Browse lists to assist in query building are now integrated into the search window. When you click a query line with a browse list, the button becomes active at the bottom of the window. Browse lists for medline are: author, Mesh subject headings, publication type and journal title abbreviation. Libraries Catalog browse lists include: title, author, subject and library location. By clicking a term (or ctrl-click more than one term) and then clicking OK, you will transfer the term to the query box automatically. If you choose more than one term, an "or" connector is placed between each term.
Date range limits are available for publication year and UW load date. Changing the field label button to Year will automatically produce an "oldest" to "newest" line. You can then change "oldest" or "newest" to any year within the range of the database. To run the same query against a database for monthly updates, you can now range the UW load date by month and year in the same way as for publication year.
Save queries: Choose 'Queries' from the menu bar and choose `Add query' to save a snapshot of your current Search window. This allows you to run another search but retain your earlier query for later use. To retain a query or set of queries to use during another Willow session, use the "Save query set" option. You can save a query via FTP to any computer on the network or Internet that has FTP enabled. You will be prompted for the computer name, your account/password and a name for the query set. To retrieve this query set , choose "Retrieve query set" and fill in the information just as you did to save it.
Enhancements to the Summary and Record Retrieval Windows:
Close replaces "Hide" for closing a window on both the summary and record retrieval windows. To reopen the window, use the Windows menu bar option on the Advanced Searching window.
The redesigned Summary list is now numbered, and it displays author, truncated title, and year. Select one or more items (for multiple selections, ctrl-click or click-drag) to print to the designated printer, email to any address, or save via file transfer protocol over the campus network. You can retrieve the full record for all selected items from the summary list with the Retrieve Full button. (Previously you could only retrieve or print one full record at a time.) You can also print, email or file transfer all full records from the Record Retrieval window.
The standard field label format for both summary and full records is now the "expanded" field description to make the information easier to understand. To change to the abbreviated two letter field label format, choose Record Formats from the Options. This is essential for importing information into reference database managers. The Save/Mail button provides a quick way to email results of a search to yourself. Click the button, and the email dialog box is displayed. Fill in your email address (and those of others if you wish) and a descriptive subject line. You can also mail the records to a central printer to be printed and mailed to you via campus mail by entering the address in this format: Joe_Doe, SB-55 [your mailstop]@mail.washington.edu. The Save/Mail button also offers the option of transferring records via FTP to any computer on the network or Internet that has FTP enabled. For example, MacX users can transfer results directly to their hard disk if NCSA Telnet is running and `FTP enabled' is checked on the File menu. Many will want to save results to their Uniform Access account. The FTP dialog box will prompt you for the computer name, your account/password and a filename. Each time you save via FTP, the records are appended to the same filename unless you change it.
Libraries Catalog Basic Searching Window:
The Basic Searching window offers a quick lookup feature for Authors, Titles or Subjects. You can select one or more terms from a browse list. A fast keyword search may also be accomplished in this mode. Course Reserve materials are now available for lookup by instructor or course name. This information is updated each night, so may not include newly processed items.
Circulation status is now displayed automatically for short summary and full records.
To move between the new Basic Searching and the Advanced "template" Searching mode, click the "Go to..." button next to the database name.
Willow From Your Office
With the new generation of powerful computers and the right software, Willow is now accessible from your office.
If you are directly connected to the campus network using a sufficiently powerful Macintosh, MS-Windows PC, OS/2 PC, NeXT computer, or X-terminal, you can put Willow on your desktop.
For home access via a dial-up modem, we have developed a new VT100, plain text interface called Wilco that emulates Willow but will run at slower modem speeds and with any computer. Wilco also provides for downloading via text capture or Kermit file transfer.
An effective Macintosh Willow desktop is a fast `030 or `040 Mac equipped with at least 8MB RAM, a 13" monitor, and three required software programs: MacTCP, NCSA Telnet and MacX. MacTCP v. 1.1.1 and NCSA Telnet v. 2.5B2 are probably already loaded on your computer. MacX provides the "X emulation" required to run X Windows programs on your Mac. MacX version 1.2 for System 7.1 may be purchased for $27 as MacX Update Part #1197LL/B by UW departments; or you can purchase directly from the UW Bookstore for $35. You can obtain the MacX 1.1.7 fonts from the Academic Computing Center. For instructions on how to set up MacX to access the anonymous Willow server, contact Debbie Ketchell (ketchell@u.washington.edu) or get the file "willow_macx.txt" from the HSLIC anonymous FTP server (gizmo.hslib.washington.edu under directory /hsldocs/willow).
An effective MS-Windows desktop is a fast 386 or 486 computer with at least 8MB RAM, MS-Windows 3.1 and a fast video card, a 14" SVGA monitor (800x600 with 256 colors) and two pieces of software: TCP\IP and X-emulation software. Typical TCP\IP programs include LAN Workplace for DOS (available on campus under site license), PC\TCP and Chameleon. Various X-emulation programs such as PC-Xware, Xsoft, eXceed, and eXcursion are available. A good choice is PC-Xware which comes with the required TCP\IP stack and costs approximately $273. You can also run PC-Xware with LAN Workplace for DOS, which provide MS-Windows ftp and telnet capabilities. PC-Xware Netpack includes TCP\IP plus telnet and ftp for approximately $370. Installation of these programs requires working knowledge of Windows and TCP\IP drivers. Check with your departmental systems "guru" for advice or contact Debbie Ketchell (ketchell@u.washington.edu).
Next users need co-Xist software to run X Windows. Co-Xist is available from Pencom Software (1-800-PENCOM4) for about $300. OS/2 users need IBM's TCP/IP and X Window System Server software. Single purchase price is about $200. Contact IBM for more information. If you have an X-terminal and need instructions on accessing the anonymous Willow server, contact Debbie Ketchell, or ftp the file called "willow_xterm.txt" from the HSLIC anonymous FTP server (gizmo.hslib.washington.edu under directory /hsldocs/willow).
National Health Care Reform Plan Available
On September 28 when the National Health Care Reform Plan was officially released, the document became available electronically through FedWorld, an electronic marketplace operated by National Technical Information Service. To access FedWorld, telnet to: fedworld.gov or 192.289.92.201. You can search the plan online, download sections of high interest and arrange to have a paper copy - which has many graphs, charts and tables not included in the electronic version - delivered to your doorstep the next day.
You can also access the federal health care documents through Gopher. On the UWIN Gopher follow this path: Other -> North America -> USA -> General -> Extension Service USDA -> White House and Congress -> Health Care Reform.
To order a paper copy of the plan, call the NTIS sales desk at 703/487-4650 and ask for PB93-233625KSV. Send FAX orders to 703/321-8547. The price is $15. American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and NTIS deposit accounts are accepted. Rush service is available for an additional fee by calling 800/558-NTIS.
Campus Network Accounts for Clinical Faculty
One of the benefits available to clinical faculty is the privilege of establishing a "Uniform Access" account on the campus computing network. Your account can be used to search medline and other locally- mounted databases for research or instruction; for exchanging email with colleagues across campus or around the world; and for accessing countless resources available on the Internet. A Uniform Access account is your gateway to a wealth of information resources at the UW and beyond.
The primary Uniform Access computer for email, UWIN, and Internet access is Carson, although accounts can also be established on Stein or Hardy. For information about modem and communications software parameters, pick up a copy of "Connecting to UWLIB" on the library's information kiosks, or call 543-5531 to receive a copy by mail.
You may create your own Uniform Access account online by dialing into the campus network. Call 685-7724 for 2400bps or 685-7796 for 9600+bps and then type carson when prompted for a computer name. If you are connecting directly over the campus network, telnet to: carson.u.washington.edu.
At the login prompt, type "new." You will be prompted for your name, date of birth and social security number, login name(or userid), and password of your choice. Hang up, wait a few minutes, and dial in again. You should then be able to connect to the system with your personal userid and password.
Your new account will be allocated resources (disk space, connect time, etc.) based upon whether you are faculty, staff or student. To verify the resources available to you, enter the command: assets.
If Carson fails to recognize your account, call 543-5970, C&C User Account Information, Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm. If your clinical faculty appointment cannot be confirmed by Computing & Communications' records, you will be sent an account request form which must be signed by your department chair and forwarded to C&C to establish your account. For additional information about establishing your account, send an email message to help@cac.washington.edu or call 543-5970.
Requesting Library Services Via Electronic Mail
by Jon Frank, Document Delivery TechnicianHSLIC offers UW faculty, staff and students several options for requesting library services via electronic mail (email). You can place email requests for document delivery, interlibrary loan, or database searches; place holds on books which are checked out; ask a reference question; make a suggestion; request general reference services; or register for library-sponsored instruction.
From Carson, Stein, or other computers, send an email message to hsl at u.washington.edu. We will then forward to you the appropriate email document delivery form with instructions on how to submit your request.
To conveniently obtain copies of items retrieved from a UW Libraries database search on UWIN or Willow, send your search results to your personal email account. After deleting unwanted citations, you can then forward the remaining citations by email to HSLIC's Document Delivery Service. By specifying "ILL option," requests for any item not available on campus will be immediately forwarded to Interlibrary Loans for processing.
Please include your name, address, how you wish the documents to be delivered (mail, pick up or fax) and billing information (budget number and name or Visa/MasterCard number and expiration date) with each article or chapter citation which you are requesting. The HSLIC Document Delivery staff can help you create a "signature file" to attach this information automatically. For more information, call 543-3436 or send an email request to hsl at u.washington.edu.
Seattle Public Library Catalog
Access to the Seattle Public Library's (SPL) catalog, Quest, has been available via dial-up modem for some time. Now the SPL system can also be accessed through the UWIN menu under NETLIB.
Quest also serves as a gateway to the UW Libraries Catalog for those who do not have other Internet access or an account on the UW computing network. The Libraries Catalog is the third most popular service currently available on the SPL Internet Resources menu.
To access SPL from home, dial 386-4140, 386-4142, 368-4147, or 386-4149. Use the following terminal settings: 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, full duplex, Echo Off, XON/XOFF. For more information, call 386-4134.
University-Industry Relations Seminar
by Diana Hall Research Funding Service LibrarianA day-long symposium on "University-Industry Research Relationships" featuring speakers from UW offices, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and biotechnology and medical device companies, is scheduled for Tuesday, October 26, 8 am - 3 pm, in Hogness Auditorium (Health Sciences A-420.) The symposium, which is sponsored by the Faculty Council on Scientific Affairs of the School of Medicine, the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), and the Research Funding Service, is aimed at UW researchers in the health sciences, biological fields, and engineering. Sessions will include an overview of university-industry interactions from the perspectives of UW, industry, and NIH; presentations by UW faculty and industrial representatives on collaborative experiences; discussions of UW research policies and conflict of interest issues; and an introduction to campus resources that can help UW investigators facilitate contacts with industry. For more information contact OTT (543-3970) or Scientific Affairs (543-6116).
Corporate Research Funding Sources
by Diana Hall, Research Funding Service LibrarianInvestigators interested in exploring corporate research funding possibilities as well as the usual federal, foundation, and association sources may want to consult a new reference book on this topic. Get Funded! A Practical Guide for Scholars Seeking Research Support From Business by Dorin Schumacher, Ph.D. (Sage Publications, 1992) (Health Sciences Reference Books LB2336 S33 1992) is aimed at those who want to acquaint themselves with issues involved in university-corporate relations and to equip themselves with strategies for building such partnerships.
The author is director of a university office of industry relations and leader of a university-industry-federal research and development laboratory consortium. She emphasizes individual researcher contacts and relationships as the key to developing university-corporate linkages. This theme, accompanied by a background section on the corporate environment, leads into a discussion of strategies for organizing a network of corporate contacts, developing long-term relationships, and negotiating contracts. Other chapters cover new investigators, education and training projects, joint program organization, public relations, industry relations services for faculty, ethics, history, and trends.
For a sample of Schumacher's advice, see her article, "Getting Grants From Industry Requires Partnership Approach" in The Scientist, 6(18):21-22, September 14, 1992.
Improving Your Connection to UWIN and MEDLINE
By using a direct network connection or a fast modem, you can significantly reduce the time required to find and retrieve information in the Libraries databases on UWIN. As an illustration, we ran a simple keyword search, "nocturnal and asthma", and calculated the average time required to retrieve the summary list for the first 30 records (out of 232 total) using the new Wilco interface on UWIN. We used a Mac Quadra 700 with a 14,400 BPS SupraFaxModem, Microphone Pro communications software for the modem test, and NCSA Telnet Mac for the direct connection test. Your results will varying depending on your communication program and computer.
Connection Time
2400 BPS 17 seconds
9600 BPS 7 seconds
14,400 BPS 4 seconds
Ethernet 4 seconds
Although not illustrated in this test, a direct ethernet connection is the best investment for on-campus users, due to its overall speed, the ability to ftp records to your own computer, and flexibility in accessing other network-based programs and services. Depending on your building and wiring, a direct ethernet connection can cost as little as $225. You must also have an ethernet board/adapter in your computer, which costs $150-$250. A dedicated phone line with modem is not recommended for on-campus use. Such a configuration incurs ongoing phone charges and does not allow you to take advantage of new information retrieval and management programs.
The day is fast approaching when U.S. West or your cable company will offer a high-speed ethernet-style connection in your home for a monthly fee. Proposals for such services may be available within a year in Seattle. In the meantime, a high speed modem is the best investment for your home to access campus and Internet resources.
A year ago a high speed modem meant 9600 BPS Now economical 14,400 BPS modems are available, and this should be your first choice if budget permits. The University Bookstore is currently selling the US Robotics Sportster (14,400 data, 9600 fax) modem for $219 (IBM) or $249 (Mac.)
The phone number to connect to the UW at 14,400 BPS and above is 685-7796. Your communication software should be set for 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit. Use VT100 or VT102 terminal emulation.
UnCover: Unrestricted Access to a Current Contents Service
UnCover, a current contents service previously available only to a limited number of users on UWIN, became available with no restrictions over the Internet in September. The Uncover service, which provides access to over five million citations and 12,000 journal titles, is updated within 48 hours of journal issue receipt. Uncover spans all disciplines. In the area of biomedicine, it covers most of the basic titles. Its coverage will become more comprehensive as the UCLA and Stanford medical library holdings are added to the database.
This new "Open Access" service also includes a new software and interface upgrade. To access UnCover, telnet to database.carl.org or 192.54.81.76. When the system prompts for a password, just hit the <return> key. For help in using the system, enter the question mark (?) at any prompt.
Recent Gifts
Acknowledgment and appreciation are extended to the following individuals and departments who have recently made contributions to the Library:
Mrs. Bertha Appleman; David G. Ashbaugh; Dr. Jason E. Aten; Dr. John Bottern; John Brunzell; Dr. Harold T. Dodge; Dr. B. Raymond Fink; Prof. Wilfred Y. Fujimoto; Dr. Sherrilynne Fuller; Dr. John P. Geyman; Dr. Allen Gown; Dr. Thomas Greer; Dr. Paul C. Griffith; Dr. Rodger C. Haggitt; Dr. Bertil Hille; Dr. Nina Hollander; Linda Lyson; Ronald Margolis; Elizabeth M. Rose; Dr. Bruce B. Smith; Prof. Karen Thomas; Dr. Noel S. Weiss; Dr. Loren C. Wintersheid; Children's HMC Library; Children's Hospital; Health Services Research; Department of Neuropathology; Nursing Education Library; Department of Pathology; Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Regional Primate Research Center.
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/bnb/archive/6/2.html