Search Tools & Features
Ovid delivers advanced, effective search tools to the desktop
One of the main goals of research is to find references and articles that accurately reflect the breadth of information available for a given topic. Ovid bibliographic database searching is an essential and powerful tool for accomplishing this goal.
Using Ovid to search bibliographic references in 80+ databases ensures that the user gets complete coverage of the information in the field. Ovid's powerful tools allow users to quickly search through great quantities of citations and narrow the focus to find precisely the information they want. The combination of coverage and precision makes Ovid an excellent tool for the librarian, faculty members and students, and for corporate researchers and scientists.
The following are only some of the features that distinguish Ovid Web Gateway and Ovid Web Online:
- Vocabulary "Mapping" and Thesauri - These two features help focus searches on appropriate terms. "Mapping" suggests database-specific controlled-vocabulary terms in lieu of natural-language queries. Thesauri display vocabulary terms in hierarchies and tree segments.
- Basic and Advanced Mode Searching - Users with varying searching experience can get started quickly or use the most sophisticated command-driven search strategies.
- "Lateral" searching and URL Hyperlinking - Designed specifically for Ovid on the Web, "Lateral" searching links selected fields like author names and subject headings back to Ovid to search for additional documents. Also, URL's embedded in abstract or full text fields will be hyperlinked automatically.
- Database-Specific Limits - Ovid takes advantage of the inherent organization of each database, greatly increasing precision. Database-specific limits allow users to search in fields that apply specifically to the database in which they are working.
- Saving and Re-Executing of Search Strategies - Re-execute a favorite search strategy across databases or refine searches in several sessions, saving strategies from one session to the next.
- Combine Sets - Ovid supports Boolean AND, OR and NOT operators, for combining search sets and strategies. This is a powerful feature for searching quickly and accurately.
- Citation Manager - Another feature designed specifically for Ovid on the Web, the Citation Manager allows searchers to effectively group their documents for printing, saving, and emailing.
- Simple Hypertext Help - Help is available from every screen. It remains consistently up-to-date, and helps reduce the need for printed documentation. Answers to users' frequently asked questions are included.