A computer data base system for indexing research papers

Abstract

A set of computer programs has been developed that allows the cataloging, classifying, retrieval, and editing of citations of research papers through the use of a computer terminal. The system is designed to help the user organize, edit, file, and retrieve copies of research papers.The program allows the user to list alphabetically (by first author) all references stored and retrieve them through the computer terminal or hard-copy printing device. A major advantage of implementing a system for personal copies of research papers is that it allows the user to consider the references as forming a research data base and allows the user to search through them using new search strategies. The key-word mode allows the user to select up to six key words (up to 16 characters each). The key words are then extracted whenever they appear in either the key-word index or the title of the research paper. The extracted record is then printed (hard copy) or appears on the computer display terminal (at the option of the user). The record appearing lists the author, record number, file code, publication date, title, publication name, volume and page number, and up to six key words. InputThe user makes decisions concerning the file arrangement and the key words for each reference article and enters each reference sequentially. Later, changes can be made through the computer text editor. Once data have been entered, the user can search and retrieve any article through a key-word or author search. Modes of OperationData Base Supervisor Program. When the data base system is activated, a message is sent to the user terminal requesting the data base name. At this time, the operator should type "File name." By doing so, the proper data base is assigned and data will be generated in the proper format for subsequent processing.EDIT Mode. The user may edit the KGS data base by typing the command "EDIT." Execution of the EDIT mode begins by requesting one of the five EDIT modes: (1) search, (2) update, (3) append, (4) delete, and (5) return. All editing is performed by referencing the data base record number. Records are numbered from one to the last record in the file. There is no maximum number of records, except that which is dictated by disk storage capacity. Each data base record consists of 15 lines (elements). Maximum line (element) sizes are preassigned for each record.SEARCH Mode. The SEARCH mode is used to locate a data base record. The program asks for an author's name and searches the data base for that author. When a record containing a match on the author's name is found, the number of that record is displayed along with the author and publication title. The program then asks if the search process should continue for that author. A "no" response terminates the SEARCH mode; a "yes" response continues the search until the end of the data base is reached.UPDATE Mode. The UPDATE mode is used to modify an element or elements in a data base record that are already in the data base. The program first asks for the record number and the...

A word processing-linked FORTRAN data base of journal and book references

“…One major advantage of this program over others that depend primarily on sequential types of access (e.g., Glass, Kaetzel, & Smith, 1980), is that direct access, in general, minimizes retrieval time. Access time for the direct-access operation is also less affected by variables such as the sorted position of the record in the file, Alphabetization of references retrieved by the directaccess operation, however, is slightly more timeconsuming.…”