Volume 6, Number 5 February 1994
Books & Bytes is produced by the HSLIC Library Staff for Health Sciences Center personnel. Copyright University of Washington.
- Why Wilco?
- Jumpstarting Wilco
- University Handbook at Your Fingertips
- Expanded Document Delivery Services
- Locating Alternative to Testing Animals
- Current Awareness References by email
- Set Your Wilco Options First!
- Selecting From Wilco Browse and Summary Lists
- Advanced Searching Highlights
- Bibliographic CDs Now Networked
- Importing References Into Personal Databases
- Mac Users: Check Your NCSA Telnet Version Number!
- Serial Title Changes: February 1994
- Recent Gifts and Contributions to the Collections
Why Wilco?
Wilco, along with its graphical twin, Willow, is a general purpose information retrieval tool capable of acting as the front-end to any network-accessible database. It can enhance existing databases, connect to different resources, and make databases on different search software look the same. Why is this important? More and more information is available over the Internet, and it may be more cost-effective to retrieve information from a remote source than to support a database here on campus. Many information sources are available at no charge, but you currently need to learn different search commands to use them.
Wilco and Willow use database drivers to "talk" to a particular database, translating instructions on how to make the connection; display search windows and browse lists; define record display fields and command syntax and parse incoming data. Since configuration for each database is separate from the interface, new drivers for different databases or search engines can be added or modified as needed.
An example of different databases running on different search systems over the Internet is the new Z39.50 driver developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Z39.50 driver, an ANSI standard search protocol on Willow, makes searching the MIT catalog and the OCLC FirstSearch databases look just the same. As the Z39.50 protocol matures, other Z39.50 library catalogs and Internet resources will also be searchable using Willow and Wilco.
It is also possible to merge information from more than one search system here on campus, as is done with the UW Libraries Catalog. The catalog data is searched using BRS protocols, but the circulation information and the latest issue information for journals is provided by a direct link to the Libraries transaction system.
You can also use different vocabularies for framing a search. For example, a UW IAIMS project proposes to link the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) to Willow as a terminology browser for health-related databases.
External "hooks" are also a feature of the Willow/Wilco interfaces. One example currently being tested is the image retriever link from Willow to twenty materials sciences journals supplied as TIFF images by the publisher. A click of a button retrieves an article using Swiftview as the external viewer, and provides output to email, postscript printers, and fax. This document delivery prototype may be significant as more journals become available in TIFF or SGML format. Willow or Wilco might also link to databanks of images in the Health Sciences Center. Consider doing a search on a topic, retrieving image titles for scanning, clicking to view a thumbnail sketch, and clicking again to retrieve or output the full image.
The flexibility of the Wilco and Willow interfaces also allows enhancement of existing BRS databases, such as the list browser and the book browser features. You can currently browse lists of authors, journal titles, subject headings, publication types, and languages in MEDLINE The basic search mode for the catalog uses the browse feature for lookups of known authors and titles. You can try out the Wilco book browser by searching the full text of the UW Handbook and the Course Catalog (available in UWIN under UW Info). In addition to standard search features, you can scan the index of the book or the hierarchical table of contents.
So why Wilco? First, Wilco and Willow offer many searching improvements, such as checkbox limits for human and English, field qualifications and date ranging by selection, viewing and printing of records in fewer steps, and browse lists for known items or terminology assistance. Second, these interfaces are capable of integrating information across databases, across search systems, and across the Internet.
Does Wilco do everything that the old interface did? No, not yet or not in the same way. Wilco is in its infancy. We hope that you will help us nurture and support it by sending your comments to hsl at u.washington.edu. There are special features and concerns for the health sciences community, and you can help us as Wilco grows into a strong and useful information retrieval tool.
Jumpstarting Wilco
If you were one of the experienced users surprised by the recent move to Wilco as the standard interface for searching the UWLIB databases, you have by now probably explored and taught yourself how to use some of its special features. But have you discovered the FTP and record format options which offer a simpler approach to essential print and email functions? For new and experienced Wilco users alike, the hints in this issue of Books & Bytes provide a jump start to many of Wilco's unique features.
To continue using the old interface, select 'Command (old) interface' from the UWIN main menu, or simply type J and press return. When asked for the service code, type the database short name, preceded by the letters CM and a hyphen, e.g., cm-medl for MEDLINE.
Contact the HSLIC Reference Desk (543-3394 or hsl at u.washington.edu) to request printed Wilco documentation, including "MEDLINE: Wilco Quick Guide," "Using FTP and NCSA Telnet," and individual fact-sheets for importing information into reference database managers. Quick demonstrations of MEDLINE using Wilco are given at HSLIC each Tuesday at 9:30 am and Wednesday at 1:30 pm throughout the quarter. Registration isn't necessary; simply meet at the Reference Desk at those times. Your library liaison will be happy to work with you as well. See HSLIC Factsheet #6 for liaison names and phone numbers.
University Handbook at Your Fingertips
Looking for the University regulation on campus solicitation for a political office on campus? The University Handbook is now available on your desktop by choosing UW News and Information and then University Handbook from the UWIN menu.
Searching the Handbook works just like searching the Libraries databases because of the standard Wilco interface. You can search with keywords, or you can browse the index or the table of contents. For the topic above, for instance, choose keyword and type solicit$ for your search term. ($ is the truncation symbol that will retrieve anything that begins with that root word.) This retrieves six sections. By highlighting the section on advertising, you can obtain the full text that will answer the question. Alternatively, you can also use the table of contents or index browse features to locate the same information.
Expanded Document Delivery Services
Document Delivery will now obtain photocopies from commercial vendors of current journal articles that are not owned by the University of Washington Libraries. The turnaround time varies depending on the supplier, but averages five working days.
This service is available at regular Document Delivery prices for UW faculty, staff and students. See HSLIC Factsheet #9 for prices. For library users who are not affiliated with the university, prices vary depending on the source of the article. The cost for non-UW clientele includes the actual fee paid to the commercial vendor, 14.7% University surcharge, 8.2% sales tax, and a $4 handling fee. You will be notified of the exact cost before ordering. The average price is $20 per article. The usual delivery charges (mail, fax, etc.) apply in addition to these rates. To inquire about this service, contact Document Delivery staff at 543-3436.
Locating Alternative to Testing Animals
To determine if there are alternatives to animal testing for your research, talk to your HSLIC reference librarian. We provide free access to many relevant databases which you can search directly to identify alternatives. Check the list of subject headings for the desired database to help formulate your search, or talk to a reference librarian for assistance in building your search strategy. You may also request a librarian-mediated search on your topic.
The library also has a collection of AWIC (Animal Welfare Information Center) documents produced by the National Agricultural Library, which includes bibliographies and video tapes addressing regulations, legislation, and general animal welfare issues. This collection is located behind the HSLIC reference desk.
Current Awareness References by email
Attention Email Alert Services subscribers! If you have been receiving your MEDLINE monthly updates in paper form, you may want to consider receiving your results electronically. The National Library of Medicine recently added FTP (File Transfer Protocol) as an output option, allowing us to transfer your search results directly to your electronic mail account.
If you are already a subscriber to HSLIC's Current Awareness Service, simply send an email message indicating your desire to receive results via electronic mail to Lou Pray at hsl at u.washington.edu. Please include your electronic mail address.
For further information about the Email Alert Service , see HSLIC Factsheet #20. If you are interested in becoming a subscriber, call the Reference Desk at HSLIC (543-3394), the K.K. Sherwood Library (223-3360), or the Social Work Library (685-2180). Or send an email message. It's a convenient and inexpensive way to keep up with the literature in your field.
Set Your Wilco Options First!
After connecting to your database through Wilco, you should immediately set your options so that your retrieval for that session will appear in the format you prefer. Type O for Options from either the main menu or the summary list to change any of Wilco's default choices.
| O P T I O N S | ||
| F - | Record Format Length | Select summary or all fields to display |
| L - | Record Field Labels | Select short or long field labels |
| S - | Save Method | Select default save method |
| Y - | Print Method | Select default print method |
Record format length lets you select the citation display format, e.g., the complete record with all fields (the default), versus selected fields (citation plus subject headings for MEDLINE). Record Field Labels lets you select between two letter abbreviations, e.g., AU for author, and "expanded" field name (AUTHOR.) Most personal files management programs require the short field labels.
Saving and printing options permit you to specify the output options which best fit your computer and working style. "Ask each time" tells Wilco to prompt you each time you choose Save/Mail to specify the type of save method to use. If you choose one of the other methods, that will become the default for all saves during that Wilco session.
Save method
Ask for method each time
FTP : overwrite existing files
FTP : append to existing files
Kermit
Text/File Capture
Campus Mail
Email, the default Save/Mail option, lets you send records to yourself or anyone else with an email address. FTP lets you send records via FTP to any networked computer. 'FTP overwrite' should work for everyone. 'FTP append' works only if your FTP software supports the 'append' function. Kermit lets you send records using the Kermit transfer protocol which is commonly used by modem communications software. Text/File Capture displays the records to the screen for your communications software to "capture" or "log." Campus Mail, also available as a print method, lets you send records to a central printer and have the printout delivered to your campus mail stop.
Print method
Ask for method each time
ANSI: use printer attached to ANSI terminal
Prt: print using prt
Other: specify print command
Campus MailANSI, the default print option, prints records to an attached printer. This works for most networked and some dial-up computers. Prt allows you to print to a registered, networked printer, including C&C supported printers. Campus Mail delivers your printout to your campus mail stop.
The most common options settings for importing MEDLINE citations into personal files management software packages are: long record length, short record field labels, and FTP (overwrite or append). Your search session will take less time if you set these options at the start of your session. For example, by selecting ANSI as the default print option, just choose Y for Print and press RETURN to print the record(s). With FTP as the default, fill out the Host, Username, Password the first time you save a record, and thereafter change only the Filename. Username and Password are required only if you are FTPing to a computer that requires this information.
The options you set when beginning a session will remain in effect for your entire search session. You will not have to make choices each time you retrieve, display, save or print search results. An enhancement planned for the future is a personalized version of UWIN which will permit you to permanently set your own options for all UWIN sessions.
Selecting From Wilco Browse and Summary Lists
The browse and summary lists available from Wilco assist you in quickly locating the information you need. If the specific item you want is highlighted, simply press the RETURN (or Enter) key to retrieve it. To retrieve several items at once, mark each item desired by pressing the CTRL and x keys (abbreviated ^X on the screen) to make your selections. A future enhancement will offer the ability to select an entire list of references at one time.
You can select appropriate search terms from browse lists for many fields. MEDLINE, for example, has browse lists for author, journal title abbreviation, MeSH subject headings, language, and publication type. In advanced searching, the ^T (ToBrowseList) command appears on the menu whenever you highlight a field box with a browse list. Use ^T (hold down CTRL and press T) to open the browse list. Type the beginning of the term you are looking for, and the browse list will move to the closest match. Highlight the term you want, press RETURN (or Enter) and the term will be pasted into the field box. To select more than one term from a browse list, use ^X to mark your choices and then press RETURN. An 'or' connector is automatically placed between each term selected.
Advanced Searching Highlights
By selecting C (for Compose Advanced Search Queries) from the Wilco main menu, you will receive an onscreen template which permits use of boolean search logic, field limits, and other advanced searching techniques. Following are some key advanced searching techniques.
Changing the field box name
You can change the field names on the search template to fit your particular search. With any of the five search term boxes highlighted, use the ^X command (hold down CTRL and press x) and a pop-up selection menu will appear. Use arrow keys to navigate, and press RETURN to select a field. MEDLINE fields are: keywords, subject heading (also subject major and single), title words, author, journal title, source (journal title, volume, date), year, language, publication type, author affiliation, and UW load date (to limit a repeat search as newer records are added each month).
Selecting limits
A few key limits for each database are listed in small boxes across the bottom of the screen. MEDLINE limits are English Only, Review Only, Human. Use the TAB or arrow keys to move to the appropriate box and select it by pressing the space bar or ^X. A selected limit is displayed in reverse video (white characters on a black line.)
Date ranging
Year and UW Load Date are rangeable selections. First, use ^X to change a field name to either Year or UW Load Date. Then use ^T bring up the 'Set Range' pop-up box. The TAB key moves between the boxes. The up/down arrow keys move through the possible date options. After making your selection, press the RETURN key to paste your selected date range to the field box.
Year Year
+____________+ +____________+
From : | | To : | |
+____________+ +____________+
Bibliographic CDs Now Networked
Access to several of HSLIC's bibliographic databases on CD-ROM was recently improved in the Reference Area by making the databases available on more workstations. Previously, to search CINAHL, HealthPlan, TOXLIT Plus or Biotechnology Citation Index, users had to sign up for time on one specific workstation. By putting these four tools on a central server, these databases may now be reached from any of three workstations in the Reference Area. Presently only one person may use each database at a time. If you receive a message "database in use," please try again later. We are tracking usage and will be purchasing multi-user licenses for the heavily used products.
Importing References Into Personal Databases
It is possible to import MEDLINE citations from Wilco into most reference file manager databases. To successfully import MEDLINE citations, select 'long records' and 'abbreviated record field labels' for your options.
Factsheets describing the steps to import citations are available for both the PC and Macintosh versions of the following software: EndNote, ProCite and Reference Manager. If you are using another program, the text file of your Wilco citations may need to be edited in order to import successfully.
To request a factsheet, call the Reference Desk at 543-3394 or email hsl at u.washington.edu.
Mac Users: Check Your NCSA Telnet Version Number!
NCSA Telnet for the Macintosh version 2.5W-B3 is required to take full advantage of the Print and Save/Mail options on the new Wilco interface to UWIN, such as:
Choose Y for Print and then "Print to attached ANSI" (or RETURN default option) to print all the retrieved records to your attached printer or the networked printer in your department.Choose S for Save/Mail and then "FTP append to existing files" to send retrieved records to an existing file or to create a new file. The "append" function is useful when you are retrieving different groups, but want all saved in the same file on your Macintosh hard disk. Another option, "FTP overwrite existing files," creates a new file each time you save.
To determine exactly which version of NCSA Telnet you are using, click once on the NCSA Telnet icon. Then choose "Get Info" from the File menu. To update your version, contact your departmental computer "guru"; or get the program via anonymous ftp using the directions below. You will need to have Unstuffit on your Mac and know how to set up the NCSA "config.tel" and "telepass" password file. Anonymous FTP site:
ftp.cac.washington.edu
Directory: /mac/ncsa/beta
Files: Telnet2.5W-B3.bin
Telnet25docs.sea.bin [documentation]
README.Telnet25W [Installation help]
config.tel [Telnet configuration file]
telepass.bin [password file]
Once version 2.5W-B3 is installed on your Mac, enable FTP in your config.tel file and set up a password file for added security. If you choose to omit the password file, leave the "user" and "password" boxes blank when using Wilco to FTP retrieved records to your Mac.
In addition to Wilco compatibility, version 2.5W-B3 allows you to interact with the UW ADP system, print to your attached printer from Pine email and other UW systems, create aliases for remote computers (e.g., carson for carson.u.washington.edu), and save the text of a session to a file. For more information or questions about setting up the NCSA Telnet to be compatible with Wilco, send email to: hsl at u.washington.edu or call the Reference Desk at 543-3394 and ask for the NCSA/FTP factsheet.
Serial Title Changes: February 1994
New Serial Titles Added:
Aging (Milan, Italy), v.1(1989), v.2:n.1-3(1990:Mar-Sep), v.3:n.1,4(1991: Mar,Dec) v.4(1992)--.
Current drug therapy, v.2(1993)--.
Healthcare information management, v.7:n.4(1993:Fall) v.8(1994)--.
Proceedings / American Medical Informatics Association, 1st(1990)--.
Serial Title Changes:
Enzyme & protein, v.47(1993)--.
Continues: Enzyme.
Japanese journal of human genetics, v.37(1992)--.
Continues: Jinrui idengaku zasshi.
Transactions of the American Academy of Insurance Medicine, v.76(1992)--.
Continues: Transactions of the Association of Life Insurance Medical Directors
of America.
Recent Gifts and Contributions to the Collection
Acknowledgment and appreciation are extended to the following individuals and departments who have recently made contributions to the Library:
Contributions to Collections:
Mr. Jon R. Conte; Dr. Philip J. Fialkow; Dr. B. Raymond Fink; Dr. H. Thomas Greer; Professor Lorraine Gutierrez; Dean Nancy R. Hooyman; Mr. Ronald Margolis; Dr. Peter Milgrom; Dean Paul B. Robertson; Drs. Cornelius Rosse & Penelope Gaddum-Rosse; Ms. Rosle Roth; Dr. M. J. Schiffrin; Professor Craig S. Scott; Ms. Brenda Senturca; Dr. William Trier; Professor James K. Whittaker; Dr. Loren C. Winterscheid; Dr. Francis C. Wood, Jr. Cardiology Department; Ophthalmology Department; Pediatric Dentistry.
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/bnb/archive/6/5.html