Thomson Gale Databases (Powersearch interface)

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Introduction | Accessing | Searching | Search Tips | Search Results | Locating Full Text | Managing Search Results | Additional Features

Introduction

Thomson Gale databases cover a wide range of subjects including general academic, business, health, and children's resources. Most Thomson Gale databases utilize the Powersearch interface and include Academic OneFile, General Business File ASAP, Health Reference Center Academic, Gale Virtual Reference Library, InfoTrac OneFile, LegalTrac, etc. In addition, there are other databases from Thomson Gale which have their own unique interfaces including Literature Resource Center, Biography Resource Center, and others. This tutorial covers the Powersearch interface only.

Accessing

This database may be accessed from the Databases page of the Electronic Resources section of the NSU Alvin Sherman Library website.

For more on how to access databases visit http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/lessons/electroniclibrary/

Opening screen in a Thomson Gale database with Powersearch interface.

Searching

To construct a search in a Thomson Gale Powersearch database

• type your search term(s) in the text box
• click on Search to obtain a list of records

Advanced search screen in a Thomson Gale Powersearch database.

Search Tips

Phrase searching

To search for a phrase in the PowerSearch interface, put the phrase in double quotes

• "higher education"
• "sustainable energy"

Field searching

To limit your search to a specific field (index) in the record, from the advanced search screen.

• click on the pull-down arrow on the right of the box that says "Keyword(ke)"
• scroll to the field to limit your search to
• click on the field's name

Field searching in a Thomson Gale Powersearch database.

Boolean Operators

The Boolean operators, AND, OR, and NOT, can be used to modify a search

• click on the pull-down arrow to the left of the search field menu
• click on the desired Boolean operator
  
  
  Using Boolean operators in a Thomson Gale Powersearch database.

Use AND to narrow a search. AND looks for both terms in the same record.
leadership and vision; mainstreaming and science

Use OR to broaden a search. OR looks for either term in the same record.
mainstreaming or inclusion; elementary education or secondary education

Use NOT to eliminate records with a certain term.
Saturn not car; Venus not planet

Searching by Date

To limit a search to specific years do one of the following

• go to Limit the results section below the entry boxes and enter a date or range of dates in the by publication date(s) box.
  
  
• use a field (index ) search for "Publication Date" and enter a date or range of dates.
  

In both places, the date can be entered in any of the following formats:

• single year:  2007  (yyyy)
• range of years:  2000-2006  (yyyy-yyyy)
• specific date:  01/01/2000  (mm/dd/yyyy)
• range of dates:  01/01/2000-06/30/2000  (mm/dd/yyyy-mm/dd/yyyy)
• open-ended year or date range:  2000-  OR  01/01/2000-

Searching by Publication Type

Thomson Gale Powersearch databases allow searches to be limited to certain types of documents. Simply put a checkmark in the box next to the desired category.

NOTE: Peer-reviewed publications are those where the quality of the articles is maintained by a review process by experts prior to publication. These publications are usually more appropriate for academic research, so in many cases it may be advisable to limit to peer-reviewed publications.

Find It! is available in the Thomson Gale Powersearch databases, so it's a good idea to NOT check the option to limit your search to documents with full text. Instead, conduct a search for all documents and let Find It! locate full text for those that are not within the database you're searching.

Plurals

Use the following symbols in Thomson Gale databases to locate plural forms, truncate search terms, or replace characters:

Search Results

Search results will vary. If you get:

• No records matched your search, then check your spelling or the fields you searched in.
• Too many, then go back and limit your search. Sometimes a search needs to be modified with: additional search words, searching only a specific field, adding date limitations, or type of materials.
• Too few, then go back and expand your search. Consider synonyms for your search words or concepts. Try to use professional language or terminology.
• Irrelevant results, then try new search terms. Consider synonyms or related concepts. Identify and search using descriptors. Try a different database.

Results lists

Search results will display a list of citaitons arranged by tabs. There are separate tabs for results found in Academic Journals, Magazines, Reference, News, and Multimedia sources.

The following information is included for each item in the results list:

• title of the resource
• citation
• icons linking to citation, abstract or full-text options
  

  		Citation and abstract
  		Citation only
  		Full-text  (no images)
  		Full-text with graphics
  		PDF

• icons linking to other resources and information
  

  		About this publication
  		How to cite  (generate citation using one of several styles)
  		Check NovaCat  (check library catalog for this publication)
  		Check Find It!  (check for other sources with full text for this item)

Records

To view a record click on the title of the article.

The information in the record, especially the title of the item, subject headings and the abstract–if available–will help you determine if you need the item.

Locating Full Text

Most Thomson Gale databases include selected full text. If full text is available for a particular article, the record will include icon(s) linking to the full text formats available. Full text documents may be available in one or more of the following formats:
 

	•		Full-text - Full text of the document in html format, but excluding all graphics.
	•		Full-text with graphics - Full text of the document in html format with graphics. Graphics will not appear as in the original document.
	•		PDF - PDF format. Adobe Reader required to view and print. Graphics and typography appear as in the original document.

Full text links and Find It! link.

If full text for a particular article is not available within the database you've searched, click on the Find It! icon to locate other sources for the full text. Learn more about Find It!

Managing Search Results

Databases typically allow you to manage your search results by

• marking or tagging records to select only the records that you want from your search results from later printing, emailing and/or saving
• printing the search results list and/or specific records
• emailing the search results list and/or specific records to your email address
• saving the search results list and/or specific records–some databases may allow you to save your file for export into commercial bibliographic citation manager software, such as EndNote or ProCite

Not all search management features are available in all databases.

Marking

The "mark" feature allows you to select records from within your search results. By marking items, you can print or email multiple records at one time.

To mark a record

• in the list of citations, click in the check box to the left of a citation
• in a record, click in the check box labeled Mark, to the left of the journal/source name

To view your list of marked records click on the icon at the top of the screen.
    
You may then email or print the items you have selected. If available, full-text can be printed or emailed as well.

Printing

To print a marked list or record

• click on the Print button near the top of the screen
• when printing a Marked List select Citation List for a list of citations only or Full Document to include full text (including graphics) where available. This will NOT print documents which are available in PDF format only. To print PDF documents, the document must be open in and printed from Adobe Reader.
• select a citation format. Please note that database rendered citations may not conform exactly to the selected standards.
• click on the Print button

Print options.

To print a full text document, click on the icon for the desired format.

For full text and full text with graphics formats,

• click on the Print button near the top of the screen and another window will open with the full text content.
• hover the mouse over the new window and right click
• select Print from the menu

For PDF format documents,

• click on the Print button in the Acrobat Reader toolbar.

Emailing

To email a record or marked list (including full-text, graphics or images) if available

• click on the link at the top of the screen  
• enter a complete email address
• select the desired options
• click Send

You can include a note about what you are sending in the Message box.

Emailing records in a Thomson Gale Powersearch database.

Saving

To save a record

• click on Download
• the dialog box will appear
• select the desired format
• click Download
• click Save and save the file to the desired location

Use a word processing or text editor program to open your file.

Additional Features

Subject Guide Search

A subject guide search allows you to search the database for a list of subject headings containing your entry. The subject headings that appear when you perform a Subject Guide search may include the names of companies, people, industries, and locations.

To access and search the Subject Guide

• click on Subject Guide Search –on the top of the search screen
• enter search terms in the entry box
• click on the Search button

For the best results in a Subject Guide search, limit search expressions to one or two words. Here are examples of some words you might use in a Subject Guide search

Microsoft	(company name)
shoes	(subject)
fish farms	(industry)
Malaysia	(location)
alan bond	(person)

InfoMarks

An InfoMark icon at the top of any page indicates that the URL of the page persists even when the session is over. Persistent URLs can be bookmarked for future reference or copied into an email or onto a Web page. Most pages can be InfoMarked including search results and individual records.

To create an InfoMark

• make sure that the InfoMark icon appears at the upper left of the page
• click on the InfoMark link
• then copy the resulting InfoMark URL, bookmark it, or email it to yourself or others

InfoMark in Thomson Gale databases.

For InfoMarks to work, your Internet browser must be set to accept cookies. And anyone using the resulting InfoMark URL will have to authenticate using their last name and NSU ID number.