STN International - The Scientific and Technical Information Network

FAQs about the STN Retrieval Language

How to assign online costs to a cost center or a project number?

From the CAS/STN Help Desk: In the examples, user input is in BOLD, STN output is in regular text, and comments are in italics.

Suggested Solution:

  1. STN allows you to establish cost centers using the SET ACCOUNTcommand.
  2. When you establish a cost center, all online charges will be allocated to that cost center until you change or delete the cost center. 
  3. You have the option of permanently establishing a cost center by including the word PERM on the same command line as SET ACCOUNT.
  4. You also have the option of retrospectively assigning charges to a cost center by including the word BACK to the same command line as SET ACCOUNT.
  5. If you want display your cost center charges after conducting an online search, use either DISPLAY COST BRIEF or DISPLAY COST FULL, not DIPLAY COST.
  6. Any and all costs assigned to a cost center will appear on your STN invoice in the form of a Cost Center Summary and associated detail.

To establish a Cost Center for your session, enter SET ACCOUNT followed by the cost center name at an arrow prompt (=>).  The setting takes effect at the next FILE command and remains in place until you issue another SET ACCOUNT command, a FILE COST=name command, or log off.

 Example:

    => SET ACCOUNT
    ENTER COST CENTER (NONE):RESEARCH LAB
    COST CENTER SETTING WILL TAKE EFFECT WITH THE NEXT FILE COMMAND
    SET COMMAND COMPLETED

    => FILE CAPLUS
    FILE 'CAPLUS' ENTERED AT 16:03:56 ON 28 MARCH 2005
    CHARGED TO COST=RESEARCH LAB

To assign a cost center to the beginning of the current file session, enter SET ACCOUNT BACK.

 Example:

    => SET ACC BACK LIBRARY
    SET COMMAND COMPLETED

If you wish to retain the Cost Center beyond your current session, enter SET ACCOUNT PERM at an arrow prompt.

To have the system prompt you at login for a Cost Center, enter SET ACCOUNT PROMPT PERM.  The PROMPT option is not valid with the BACK.

 Example:

    => SET ACC PROMPT PERM
    COST CENTER SETTING WILL TAKE EFFECT WITH THE NEXT FILE COMMAND
    SET COMMAND COMPLETED

    => FILE BIOSIS
    ENTER COST CENTER (NONE):R&D
    FILE 'BIOSIS' ENTERED AT 16:23:12 ON 28 MARCH 2005

    At next login:

    FILE 'HOME' ENTERED AT 16:30:00 ON 28 MARCH 2005
    ENTER COST CENTER (NONE):R&D
    CHARGED TO COST=R&D

With some versions of STN Express, the SET ACCOUNT PROMPT PERM may cause problems with Guided Search and user-defined scripts.  It is recommended that you not use this option if you are using these features of STN Express.

To remove Cost Center that you have set, enter SET ACCOUNT NONE.

To see the current and permanent values set for your ACCOUNT, enter
DISPLAY SET ACCOUNT at an arrow prompt.

How to display online charges during a online session?

From the CAS/STN Help Desk: In the examples, user input is in BOLD, STN output is in regular text, and comments are in italics.

Suggested Solution:

  1. STN allows you to display cost information during an online session using the DISPLAY COST command.
  2. In addition, STN will display a summary of your online charges upon logoff.
  3. You have the ability to vary the degree of detail during an online session and/or upon logoff.  If you wish to see more than a summary of charges during your online session, enter DISPLAY COST BRIEF or DISPLAY COST FULL. BRIEF will display detailed charges for the current file session and summary charges for the entire session. FULL, on the other hand, will display detailed charges for the entire online session.
  4. If you want to vary the amount of detail displayed upon logoff, or, toggle on/off the display of charges upon logoff, execute SET LCOST. The default setting is ON. You can also choose between OFF, BRIEF, or FULL.
  5. Additional online help can be obtained by either executing HELP DISPLAY COST or HELP SET LCOST.
  6. Lastly, STN Express allows you to capture online cost information and create detailed reports using a variety of sorting parameters.

=> HELP DISPLAY COST

To see the estimated cost of your online session, enter "DISPLAY COST" at an arrow prompt (=>). You will be prompted for a cost format. Here is an explanation of the different cost formats, in order of the amount of detail included in each one.

With the ON cost format, the cost for the current file and total cost for the session will be displayed. The BRIEF format includes a detailed summary for the current file, a summary of the total session by file and cost center, and total cost for each cost center. The most detailed format, FULL, includes everything in the BRIEF format plus detailed cost for each file entered in the session. All costs are estimated and displayed in your billing currency.

For information on changing the value of the SET parameter COST, enter "HELP SET COST" at an arrow prompt. Costs for offline prints are estimated based on formats requested by the user.  Actual offline print charges may be more, but usually will be equal to or less than the estimated cost.

=> HELP SET LCOST

The SET LCOST command allows you to control the amount of cost data displayed when you logoff from STN. You can set the value of LCOST to: ON (default), OFF, BRIEF, or FULL. Enter SET LCOST and the value at an arrow prompt (=>).

With the default ON cost format, the cost for the current file and the total cost for the session will be displayed. The BRIEF format also includes a summary of the total session by file, and cost center and total cost for each cost center. The most detailed format, FULL, includes everything in BRIEF plus detailed cost for each file entered in the session. All costs are estimated and displayed in your billing currency.

You may suppress the automatic display of cost summary data at logoff by entering SET LCOST OFF at an arrow prompt. If you wish to reinstate the cost display, enter SET LCOST. The ON default will be assumed. If you wish to retain the value of LCOST beyond your current session, enter SET LCOST value PERM at an arrow prompt. To see the LCOST values set for your login ID, enter D SET LCOST.

How to park or pause during an online session at minimal cost?

From the CAS/STN Help Desk: In the examples, user input is in BOLD, STN output is in regular text, and comments are in italics.

Suggested Solution:

  1. STN offers two options for parking or pausing your online session at minimal expense. For instance, you can move into a free file such as STNGUIDE, or, you can execute LOGOFF HOLD.
  2. If you move into a free (or lower cost) file, keep in mind that STN has a 15 minute inactivity timeout. This means that if the system does not recognize any interaction (i.e. a carriage return) within an 15 minute interval, the system will automatically terminate your session.  If you log back on, you will get a new session and all your previous work will be lost.
  3. If you choose the LOGOFF HOLD (LOG H) option, STN will suspend your online session for up to 60 minutes at no cost.  Simply logon again within the 60 minute window and you can pick up where you left off. If you need to review your session activity thus far, simply execute DIS HIS at an arrow prompt.

=> FILE STNG
      .
      .
      .

=> HELP COST

 STN International Fees and Prices Effective January 1, 2005

 

STNGUIDE File EURO
   
Connect Hour Fee (per hour) 0,00
   
Search Fees
Display Fees (per answer)
Print Fees (per answer)
Archive/Redistribute Fees (per answer)		 0,00
0,00
0,00
0,00
   
SDI FREQUENCY:NOT AVAILABLE  

=> HELP LOGOFF

The LOGOFF command is used to end a session. The system will stop the session,  and will delete all L# items (queries, screen sets, structures, and answer sets).

Example:
=> LOGOFF
ALL L# QUERIES AND ANSWER SETS ARE DELETED AT LOGOFF
LOGOFF? (Y)/N/HOLD: Y
STN INTERNATIONAL LOGOFF AT 10:25:33 ON 02 JUN 93

If you wish to hold your session for a short period, use the
LOGOFF HOLD command or enter "HOLD" or "H" at the prompt.

Example:

=> LOGOFF HOLD
SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR 60 MINUTES
STN INTERNATIONAL SESSION SUSPENDED AT 10:23:19 ON 02 JUN 93

At logoff, the system will display the cost. The amount of detail is determined by the value of the SET option LCOST, which can be set to ON, OFF, BRIEF, or FULL.  These values can also be used with the LOGOFF command to override the SET value, for example, LOGOFF Y FULL.

With ON, the cost for the current file and total cost for the session will be displayed. BRIEF includes a detailed summary for the current file, a summary of the total session by file and cost center, and total cost for each cost center. FULL displays the same information as BRIEF plus detailed cost for each file entered in the session. All costs are estimated and displayed in your billing currency.

If you wish to save an L# item for a future session, use the SAVE command before logoff.  For an explanation of SAVE, enter "HELP SAVE" at an arrow prompt (=>).

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