Re: Search History

Kevin Thomas (mailto:kevint@OVID.COM)
Thu, 1 Feb 1996 09:35:39 -0500

Message-Id: <199602011447.IAA02712@library.wustl.edu>
Date:         Thu, 1 Feb 1996 09:35:39 -0500
From: Kevin Thomas <mailto:kevint@OVID.COM>
Subject:      Re: Search History
To: Multiple recipients of list WEBCAT-L <mailto:WEBCAT-L@WUVMD.WUSTL.EDU>

Hello John!

On Wed, 31 Jan 1996, John D Boggs wrote:

> One disadvantage I can see of using a web search engine is that there
> is, to the best of my knowledge, no way to have a search history
> capability. With a dedicated Z39.50 client it is easy to keep old
> search commands (even from session to session) and even sets from
> previous searches.

Actually, Ovid's web software (now in beta) does save search strategies on the host, just as the terminal-emulation software does. Distributing the saved strategies is not always a good thing: if a researcher is working from home, and then wants to run the same search a couple of days later from the office, we'd rather they not have to go home again.

> when clients that do the
> same thing could spread the load around to people's desktops.

Disk space is cheap no matter where you put it. Physically transporting humans is expensive and time-consuming.

I stress that this is my opinion, with no relationship express or implied with that of my employer.

Enjoy life, Kevin Thomas