Database Platforms

DataStar

Address

Dialog, LLC
Part of the ProQuest family
11000 Regency Parkway, Suite 10
Cary, NC 27518
USA

URL

http://www.dialog.com

Contact Email

Customer@dialog.com

Contact Tel

1 800 3-DIALOG (North America)
00 800 333 42564 (UK)

Databases

– ABI/INFORM®
– Adis Clinical Trials Insight
– Adis Clinical Trials Insight
– Adis Inpharma®
– Adis PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News
– Adis R&D Insight
– Adis Reactions Database
– Agence France-Presse Newswires: Documentary
– Agence France-Presse Newswires: Economic
– Agence France-Presse Newswires in English
– Agence France-Presse Newswires: International
– Agence France-Presse Newswires in Spanish
– Agence France-Presse Newswires: General
– Agence France-Presse Newswires: Sports
– Allied & Complementary Medicine(TM)
– Allied & Complementary Medicine(TM) Vocabulary
– American Banker Full Text (1981–6/2008)
– Analytical Abstracts
– ANSA - Italian General News Service
– Arts & Humanities Search®
– Ärzte Zeitung: German Medical News
– Asia-Pacific Business Journals
– Australian Education Index
– Australian Education Index Vocabulary
– Automotive Engineering (DKF)
– Automotive Information & News
– Baltic News Service (1992–2001)
– BASE - DataStar Database Guides
– BBC International Reports
– BBC Monitoring: Summary of World Broadcasts (9/1993–3/2001)
– BCC Market Research
– BIOSIS Authority File
– BIOSIS Previews®
– Børsen
– British Education Index
– British Education Index Vocabulary
– British Library Inside Conferences
– British Nursing Index
– British Nursing Index Vocabulary
– Business & Industry(TM)
– Business Insights
– CA Search®: Chemical Abstracts®
– CA: Chemical Abstracts Registry Nomenclature
– CAB ABSTRACTS
– CAB ABSTRACTS [Subscribers] (1910+)
– CAB Global Health
– CAB Global Health [Subscribers] (1910+)
– CAB International Vocabulary
– CAB Tourism & Leisure
– CAB Veterinary Science & Medicine
– CANCERLIT® (1967–3/2003)
– CASH
– CELEX (European Community Law)
– Centaur Magazines
– Chem Sources Company Directory
– Chem Sources Chemical Directory
– Chemical Business NewsBase
– Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology Abstracts
– Chemical Industry Notes
– Chemical Safety NewsBase
– Cinco Días
– Creditreform: Austrian Companies
– Creditreform: German Companies
– Creditreform: Swiss Companies
– Cross Database Search
– Current Biotechnology Abstracts (1983–2005)
– Current Contents Search®—Bibliographic Records
– Current Contents Search®—Tables of Contents
– D&B®—Asia-Pacific
– D&B—Canadian Dun’s Market Identifiers®
– D&B—Dun’s Market Identifiers® (USA)
– D&B®—Eastern Europe
– D&B®—European Marketing Files
– D&B®—Israel
– D&B—European Financial Records(TM)
– D&B®—International Risk & Payment Review
– D&B®—Key British Enterprises Financial Performance
– D&B®—Middle East, Africa & Latin America
– D&B®—Nordic Financial Records (2006)
– D&B®—Who Owns Whom
– Danish Companies: Full Financial Data
– Databank Italian Company Financial Profiles
– Datamonitor Market Research
– Derwent Biotechnology Resource
– Derwent Crop Protection Backfile
– Derwent Crop Protection File (1985–2003)
– Derwent Crop Protection Registry (1/2004)
– Derwent Drug File Backfile
– Derwent Drug File
– Derwent Drug Registry
– Derwent Veterinary Drug Backfile
– Deutscher Fachverlag Publications (2000–6/2007)
– DH-DATA: Health Admin., Medical Toxicology & Env. Health
– DH-Data Vocabulary
– Dialog Global Reporter
– Dialog NewsRoom
– DIOGENES® FDA Regulatory Updates
– Dissertation Abstracts Online
– DKF Vehicle Test Reports (1979–2/1996)
– Drug Information Full Text
– EcoNovo: German Companies in Bundesanzeiger
– EcoRegister: German Company Registrations
– Ei Compendex®
– EIU Business Newsletters
– EIU Country Analysis
– EIU Country Risk and Forecasts
– EIU Market Research
– EIU ViewsWire
– Elsevier BIOBASE
– ELSA Swiss Newswire
– ELSA Swiss Sportwire
– EMBASE®
– EMBASE® Alert
– EMBASE® Classic [Subscribers] (1947–1973)
– EMBASE Vocabulary
– EMCare®
– Equifax UK Company Financial Data
– ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) Database
– ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) Vocabulary
– ESPICOM Business Intelligence Country Healthcare
– ESPICOM Pharmaceutical & Medical Companies
– ESPICOM Pharmaceutical & Medical Device News
– Euro DB - Belgian Companies
– Euromonitor Market Direction (1991–9/2003)
– Euromonitor Market Reports (1990 – 9/2003)
– Euromonitor Market Research Journals (1995–9/2003)
– European Research & Development Database (1990–1997)
– Evidence-Based Medical Journals (1998–2008)
– Evidence Based Medicine from MEDLINE®
– Extel International Cards
– FDA News
– FINECON OKB Finanz- und Wirtschaftsinformation
– FITT/ECONPRESS: German Business News (1990–2004)
– Flightline (1995–3/2008)
– Food Science & Technology Abstracts
– Food Science & Technology Abstracts Vocabulary Database
– Foodline®: LEGAL
– Foodline®: MARKET
– Foodline®: PRODUCT
– Foodline®: SCIENCE
– Freedonia Industry and Business Research Studies (1990–9/2006)
– Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Reports
– Gale Directory of Databases
– Gale Group Business A.R.T.S.SM
– Gale Group Company Intelligence®
– Gale Group Computer Database(TM)
– Gale Group Legal Resource Index(TM)
– Gale Group Magazine Database(TM)
– Gale Group Management Contents®
– Gale Group National Newspaper Index(TM)
– Gale Group PharmaBiomed Business Journals
– Gale Group PROMT®
– Gale Group Trade & Industry Database(TM)
– General Practitioner
– HandelsZeitung (1993–2/2007)
– Harvard Business Review (9/1990–7/2007)
– Hazardous Substances Databank (2002)
– Health Periodicals Database
– HSELINE: Health & Safety
– ICC British Company Annual Reports (1986–2003)
– ICC British Company Directory
– ICC British Company Financial Datasheets
– ICC British Directors Database
– IDIS Drug File
– Immunoclones (1985–1993)
– IMS Company Profiles
– IMS Company Search
– IMS New Product Focus
– IMS Patent Focus
– IMS Product Monographs
– IMS R&D Focus
– IMS R&D Focus Drug News
– Incidence and Prevalence Database (IPD)
– The Independent
– Inspec®
– Inspec® Vocabulary
– International Market Research Information
– International Pharmaceutical Abstracts
– Investext® (1993–3/2007)
– Irish Companies & Businesses (2005)
– ITI Telecommunications/Power Reports
– ITI Telecoms Reports – Markets
– Jerusalem Post Electronic Edition
– King's Fund
– Kompass: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Americas
– KOSMET: Cosmetic Science
– KreditFakta Swedish Companies (1999)
– Kreditschutzverband: Austrian Companies
– Lafferty Banking, Insurance and Professional Services Intelligence
– Lebensmittel Zeitung (1995–1999)
– Management & Marketing Abstracts (1975–4/2007)
– ManagementInfo Wirtschaft (10/1987–2007)
– Manual, Alternative and Natural Therpay(TM) MANTIS(TM)
– Market & Business Development
– Marketletter: Pharma, Generic and Biotech Daily Business News
– Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference
– MEDITEC: Medical Engineering
– MEDLINE®
– MEDLINE IN-PROCESS
– MEDLINE® Vocabulary File
– Miller Freeman Industry and Product News
– Mondaq Business Briefing
– Le Monde
– Mondo Economico, L’Impresa (1989–1997)
– Motor Industry Research
– MSI Reports (1992–1999)
– Neue Zuercher Zeitung
– The New England Journal of Medicine
– New Scientist
– New York Times® Abstracts
– New York Times® Full Text
– NewsRx Healthcare Newsletters
– NTIS: National Technical Information Service
– Nutraceuticals International
– The Official Register of Czech & Slovak Organisations
– El País (6/1996–2007)
– PASCAL
– Pharma Marketing Service (PMS)
– Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry News Database (PHIND)
– Pharmacontacts (2006)
– Pharmaprojects
– Pharm-line®
– PIERS US Exports
– PIERS US Imports
– PIRA (Packaging, Paper, Printing & Publishing, Imaging & Nonwovens Abstracts)
– PrivateStar—Your Own Private Database on DataStar
– Prous Science Daily Essentials
– Prous Science Drug Data Report
– Prous Science Drug News & Perspectives (1992–1/2005)
– Prous Science Drugs of the Future
– PsycINFO®
– PsycINFO® Vocabulary
– Quest Economics Database (1992–2004)
– RAPRA: Rubber & Plastics
– Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS®)
– Regulatory Affairs Journal
– Russian & CIS News (Formerly Soviet News)
– Scan-a-Bid: Business Opportunities
– SciSearch®: A Cited Reference Science Database
– SCRL French Companies Financial Profiles (1998)
– SEDBASE: Side Effects of Drugs (1995)
– Social SciSearch®: A Cited Reference Database for Social Sciences
– La Stampa
– Sueddeutsche Zeitung (1993–5/2002)
– Summary of Proposed Projects
– TableBase(TM)
– Teikoku Databank: Teikoku Japanese Companies
– Teikoku Japanese Companies: Full Financial Data (2007)
– Tenders Electronic Daily
– TFSD Worldwide Mergers & Acquisitions
– ToxFile
– La Tribune DB
– TULSA(TM) (Petroleum Abstracts) [Subscribers] (Latest 10 years)
– TULSA(TM) (Petroleum Abstracts) [Subscribers] (1965+)
– TULSA(TM) Petroleum Abstracts Vocabulary
– Umweltforschungsdatenbank (1974–8/2008)
– Umweltliteraturdatenbank (1976–3/2008)
– Verdict Market Research
– Wall Street Journal Abstracts
– wer gehoert zu wem: who belongs to whom (Germany)
– Who's Who in European Business
– Worldbox Swiss Company Financial Records

Summary

Dialog and DataStar together offer a formidable collection of databases, out of scope for this document. Links to the online library references are provided within this document.

The Dialog and DataStar services have long been recognised as providing high quality search facilities for researchers across many disciplines. The DataStar service itself was developed specifically to cater for the depth of content requirement needs of specialist searchers within certain environments, whilst having the broad content available to provide that service for multiple departments. It was originally commissioned for the pharmaceutical and related industries and retains the focus on maintaining quality of search whilst being accessible to end-users.

DataStarWeb has a specific interface developed for intermediate and novice searchers, which retains all of the powerful search features, but also includes all of the features designed to make it accessible to new users as have been developed with third parties such as the NHS and JISC. That development continues at a rapid pace demonstrating Dialog's commitment to this shift. A summary of some features of the Dialog service is listed below.

In the more than 35 years since its inception, Dialog as a company has been developing services that enable those facilities to be accessible to end-users. In addition to concentrating on knowledgeable information professionals, there is a parallel, but highly integrated development plan centred on the end-user and intermediate level searchers. Today this manifests itself as a set of solution-oriented capabilities based around two major core platforms. Those capabilities stretch from command language for expert searchers to Web service for remote interrogation by meta-search engines.

Whilst this has been prevalent in the corporate market for some time, it was the near simultaneous decisions by the NHS and JISC to choose Dialog (DataStar) services that brought this change to the attention of the Public Sector and related organisations within the UK.

The use of DataStar within this sector continues to expand as users appreciate the benefits and ongoing developments that Dialog is able to offer to these complex and varied user groups. The strength of the primary interface with an integrated comprehensive linking solution to electronic, print and loan material, as well as the support of third party applications has made DataStar a unique and extremely powerful offering.

DataStar provides access to a total of approximately 300 databases. Each database can be selected to be made available individually by clients. Databases can be displayed in subject area by tabs if required. Areas of common database grouping are: health, education, business, news, company data, market data, pharmaceutical databases, journal literature, humanities, chemistry and engineering. If requested, DataStar will only show the databases that are available on subscription to the end-users for each individual customer, so there is no risk of any unexpected charges.

Many users of Dialog services will be familiar with the flexibility that is available through the transactional pricing plans. It is possible to access most databases, with a minimum of standing charges, and pay for what you use. There are no limits on the choice of databases or subject areas available through this service.

However, the academic market has a strong preference for fixed pricing plans that enable access to be broadened to end-users at no risk to the institution. Such fixed rate pricing plans are available on many of the Dialog and DataStar databases. User limitations are set appropriately based on the type of contract desired by the client. It is possible to set up full access without the restrictions of concurrent users. Such pricing is competitive on DataStar, despite the lack of available public price list or formal consortia agreement on all databases.

The DataStar service has many unique features offering distinct advantages and giving your researchers the edge in their field. DataStar staff are very happy to visit and demonstrate the service at any time.

Content

Restrictions

Academic customers have an unrivalled collection to choose from on the DataStar platform. Databases can be matched to distinct departments and research needs whilst retaining the ability to streamline marketing, training and support for the services that you offer.

Databases are not formally fixed into collections, although discount is offered for increasing numbers of databases taken on subscription.

It is, however, possible to display the chosen databases in groups. Two examples would be:

• Education: British Education Index, Australian Education Index and ERIC
• Health: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Allied & Complementary Medicine, British Nursing Index, DH-Data

Embargo Rules

None.

Update Frequency

This varies according to database. DataStar is actually capable of updating content every 30 minutes as they do for some databases, such as NewsRoom. DataStar always updates the databases as soon as content is made available by the publishers and conforms to all standard intervals for the common databases.

Full details of update frequency, publisher information and other database-specific details can be found within the libraries:

• DataStar
• Dialog

Content Classification

Formal details of the classification systems used within each of the individual databases within Dialog and DataStar can be found within the library pages detailed above. DataStar is a platform provider and does not influence the schemes chosen by database producers.

However, DataStar does make consistent efforts to include the specifics of all classification programs in the design of their interface. All databases available through major agreements in the UK are afforded the complete benefits of thesauri and other features that can be powered by those classifications.

Thesaurus functionality is available through multiple methods, notably as a mapped thesaurus search, a browsable tree view as well as a look-up function for specific terms.

All DataStar databases are classified according to general research requirements and academic area. DataStar staff are happy to advise on suitable databases to supplement the search facilities in the library linked above.

Access Control

Authentication

• Username/Password
• IP Address
• Classic Athens
• SAML Compliant (e.g. Shibboleth)

Notes

Notes

• Shibboleth Gateway Compliance is available to ensure that all shibboleth users from current and future Shibboleth customers are accepted.
• Additionally, DataStar is able to handle AthensDA accounts.

IP Address

• Description: Authenticate a customer based on their globally visible IP address (REMOTE_ADDR in HTTP header). Typically corresponds to the IP address that a customer's firewall or proxy server Network Address Translates (NATs) the internal network IP address to. Ignore internal private IP addresses. Available for internet and intranet customers.
• Ideal For: "Site-wide" access. University campuses, corporate and government agency LANs and WANs. No need to enter a username and password.

Athens

• ATHENS is a national authentication service which controls access to online subscription services; it verifies that someone trying to log in to a service is eligible to do so. ATHENS is NOT a database or dataservice provider.
• All DataStar subscription services are available through ATHENS. Most commonly used for off-campus access, however, within the DataStar environment, it provides the user with a personalised search environment including personal alerts and saved searches.

AthensDA

• Athens is now able to offer a service which enables institutions to authenticate users by passing tokens based on the users' network or other logon. This avoids the user having to remember username and password. It simplifies the process for the institution managing those usernames, particularly with the annual refresh of users.

Shibboleth and Gateway

• Currently DataStar is able to offer total compliance with the Athens Shibboleth Gateway. DataStar can authenticate both current and future Shibboleth users, through dedicated functionality between DataStar and Athens (Eduserv).

Concurrency Limit

DataStar does not currently implement concurrency limitations.

Restrictions

DataStar imposes no restrictions on technologies such as proxy servers, as long as they are used in accordance with the general user licence.

Free Trials

DataStar provides trials where the publisher is agreeable. This would normally be made available through standard username and password. Special requests would certainly be considered. Trials are normally for 10 days, but can be extended upon request.

Search

Features

• Advanced Search
• Boolean AND
• Boolean NOT
• Boolean OR
• Exact Phrase
• Keywords
• Search by Author
• Search by Citation
• Search by Content Type
• Search by Date
• Search by Language
• Search by Subject
• Search by Title
• Search by Series Title
• Simple Search
• Wildcards

Notes

• Whilst there is no formal spell check, DataStar offers a facility to automatically translate between US and British spellings, particularly helpful within the large clinical databases MEDLINE and EMBASE. A similar facility is available to search automatically for plural and singular word forms.
• Easy-to-operate limits are available on the front page
• A selection of Special Search Terms is available on the front page to allow the easy creation of search sets based on criteria such as publication type, publication year, indexing, age groups, language, commonly searched subjects and journal subsets.
• Some database features are dependent on the format of the data available from the publisher, so do vary.
• Thesaurus mapping can be invoked by simply ticking a box before running your search.

Indexing

DataStar has thesauri for the major databases, such as MeSH (MEDLINE) and EMTREE(EMBASE). Further details can be made available on request; alternatively please consult the online datasheet relevant to your database.

Cross Database Search

Datastar provides multi-file searching across all databases. The level of commonality between databases can be reflected in the search facilities available, depending on user preferences.

Web Search

DataStar currently only supports content residing on its own servers.

Saved Searches

Permanent and Temporary (24 hour) searches are possible. Saved Searches can be run at any time. Each individual user has his or her own profile. This applies to all Athens (Shibboleth gateway) and standard username customers. Customers on IP address access can have the Saved Search facility, if they wish, in a shared capacity.

Search Tips

Datastar has a complete suite of documentation, including a dedicated support portal. This includes help for both end-users and Administrators.

Search Results

Features

• Deduplication
• Include Abstracts
• OpenURL linking

Notes

• 'Split' out results after previously combining search sets.
• 'Repeat' a search or number of search steps in an alternative database.
• Combine sets with the simple 'X and Y' command.
• Delete individual search steps or an entire history.

Ordering

As with other features, these vary depending on what fields are available within the database. Generally DataStar makes available most fields for sorting and displaying. Taking MEDLINE as an example:

• Publication date
• Publication year
• NLM Entry date
• Update date
• Update month
• Publication month
• Title
• Title in original language
• Author(s), including First Author
• Author affiliation
• Source
• Journal name
• Corporate Author(s)
• Descriptors
• Major Descriptors
• CAS Registry numbers
• Abstract
• Enzyme Commission Numbers
• Named persons
• Country of publisher
• Comment
• Information Provider
• Accession number and update

Exporting

• Endnote
• Reference Manager
• Email
• MS Excel
• MS Word
• Adobe Reader
• ProCite
• XML Direct export
• Tagged for tables
• ReportAid

ReportAid is a Java application for intermediate and expert searchers which allows them to define which articles are published into an external document. Along the way, the searcher can define a report format including the order and selection of fields as well as add commentary on the front page. Output is possible in .pdf, .rtf and XML.

Other Functionality

Citation Linking

Currently DataStar does not offer citation linking. They do offer automated cross-author searching.

Full Text Linking

The Dialog eLinks Manager allows the administrator to control all aspects of outgoing linking. A summary of features follows:

• Instant article level electronic links to full text are supported.
• Many thousands of journals and providers already defined for easy setup.
• Electronic links can follow any of the common protocols (OpenURL, SFX etc), but also DataStar can easily create custom links when needed.
• All changes made within the Dialog eLinks Manager are instantaneous.
• The eLinks Manager offers the ability to upload subscription holdings via spreadsheet for easy management.
• Links only appear on screen when content is available.
• Notifications of print availability within the physical library. It is possible to define: multiple physical libraries, opening hours, contact details, map and locations of print content within the physical library.
• A library loan facility.
• All links can be controlled according to the order and priority in which they are displayed to give administrators control over the screen.
• A custom URL so that users can be directed to a static URL for all instances of a given ISSN, perhaps if it was wished to offer PAYG full text access or entrance to the home page of a small journal that did not offer full linking.
• Ability to create links on all articles with a valid ISSN so that users can check your OPAC via OpenURL or similar protocol.
• Help-desk support and assistance in setting up links when required.

Help Information

• Help pages
• Contextual help
• Training

Training

DataStar provides personalised WebEx training to small groups of librarians and trainers on demand. They have specific courses for the UK academic community on both DataStar and the Dialog eLinks Manager. Detailed support is also available directly from the Account Manager and Knowledge Centre (help desk).

Interface Customisation

Most customers can have their own site customised with both aesthetic and functional search features if they desire. Currently, this is not available as standard for customers taking only the education databases. A customer logo can be defined, which in turn appears within .pdf and .rtf output and alerts. Outgoing links are highly customised and have been detailed above.

Alerting

Alerts can be set up in all suitable databases, certainly those used within the academic community.

Alerts can be set to register any new content when loaded

• daily
• weekly
• bi-weekly
• monthly

Output can be set in any of the following formats:

• .pdf
• .rtf
• .xml
• .ris
• .txt
• .tagged

Customer logos and persistent eLinks appear within the output document types.

After running a search, simply click on the 'Create Alert' button. You can then decide which search steps from your history are to be included in the alert.

You can name, edit and control your alerts online, as well as send results automatically to multiple recipients. Alerts can be set up to deliver to multiple email addresses if those addresses are separated by commas.

DataStar also offers an Alerts Manager tool, which allows an administrator to set up and publish standard alerts and then invite users to subscribe to them as they wish. All is controllable online.

All email requests, whether from alerts or directly from results are tracked within an internal application. This allows users to find out whether an email has been blocked by their local firewall and re-send or divert if necessary. All alerts over 2Mb in size are sent as a link to a retrieval site, to avoid problems with mail sizes.

Usage Stats

• Available Online

COUNTER compliant: Partial - DataStar can make the relevant data points available, but does not have the reports in the desired format available at the individual site level.

Technical Integration

DataStar has a SOAP api available for third party applications. They have not developed Z39.50, instead preferring the more robust SOAP api. They can also offer inbound URL-based commands and searching where appropriate.

Outgoing linking to full text resources is fully supported as detailed elsewhere in this document.

DataStar is able to produce customised search pages that integrate entirely into a client's environment. Such total customisation is normally chargeable and DataStar would normally only consider such to be appropriate for national projects or consortia.

VLE Integration

Information not provided

Social Bookmarking

Information not provided

Language Support

Information not provided

Other

Information not provided

Accessibility

W3C Compliance

Information not provided

Browser Compatibility

PC

• IE
• Firefox

Plugins Required

None.

DataStar does offer a small application called WebCharts which aids the process of exporting data into Microsoft® Excel.

ReportAid is a java application for intermediate and expert searchers which allows them to define which articles are published into an external document. Along the way, the searcher can define a report format including the order and selection of fields as well as the addition of commentary on the front page.

Availability & Uptime

24/7 Uptime

No.

Downtime (as specified in service level agreements)

DataStar has a planned downtime window currently at 7am Saturday (CET) for 1 hour. This is not always used. DataStar experiences a reliable service at other times. DataStar offers 99.9% uptime outside of this window.

Mirror Sites

DataStar is located within a significant U.S. facility providing security and support to a number of global information services. This facility includes an off-site backup site.