Reference Update^�

Reference Update (RU) is a table-of-contents database from the Institute for Scientific Information^� (ISI^�). It enables researchers and information professionals to keep abreast of current journal literature in the fields of biomedicine, veterinary and animal science, agriculture, and the life sciences.

In addition to providing complete bibliographic information, author abstracts (in the Deluxe Abstract edition), searchable author-assigned keywords, and convenient access to ordering full-text documents, Reference Update enables researchers to export references directly to Reference Manager^� or other bibliographic management programs.

Published weekly in three editions, Reference Update is available on diskette or the Internet via FTP.

Options:

• What Are Its Benefits?
• Product Information
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Reference Update Reprint Request Cards

Reference Update
What Are Its Benefits?

Reference Update (RU) is the weekly table-of-contents database that makes it easy and affordable for researchers and information professionals to keep abreast of the current scientific literature in the fields of biomedical and life sciences research.

Its coverage extends beyond the life sciences to include disciplines within clinical medicine and health sciences, animal and veterinary sciences, and food sciences and agriculture. This unique combination of coverage -- in a single current awareness database -- enables researchers to stay current in their fields of interest in the most economical and efficient way possible.

Reference Update includes data from articles soon after they are published, providing researchers with the important information they need while it is still timely. In each weekly issue, users receive comprehensive, accurate bibliographic data for every item covered, including journal name, volume and issue number, article title, and author name(s).

In addition to comprehensive bibliographic data, features/benefits include:

• full-length, English-language author abstracts (in the Deluxe Abstract edition)
• searchable, author-assigned keywords
• author addresses for generating reprint request cards
• custom search strategies that can be created, modified, and saved to run against future issues
• truncation and Boolean logic to broaden or narrow the scope of your search
• journal inclusion/exclusion feature for searching only those publications of interest
• synonym table for defining custom synonyms
• non-English characters, such as �, �, �, � in author names, and superscripts, subscripts, italics, and Greek characters in titles, for accuracy in submitting bibliographies
• ability to search multiple issues - up to 255 on Windows and up to 100 on DOS and Macintosh - with a single command
• ability to export references directly to Reference Manager^� or other bibliographic management programs
• Reprint request utility for the easy preparation of article requests
• Convenient access to the full text through the ISI document delivery service, ISI Document Solution^(SM).

Reference Update
Product Information

Reference Update is published weekly in three editions, all of which are available on diskette or the Internet via FTP:

• Reference Update Deluxe Abstract Edition - covers more than 1,300 publications; includes author-assigned abstracts
• Reference Update Deluxe Edition -- covers more than 1,300 publications
• Reference Update Basic Edition -- covers more than 450 publications (a subset of the publications included in the Deluxe Editions)

All versions display the tables-of-contents from recent journals in various disciplines in biomedical and life sciences research. The most heavily-covered categories are neuroscience, biochemistry and molecular biology, pharmacology, cell biology, and immunology. In addition, Reference Update coverage goes beyond traditional life sciences fields to include plant sciences, medicine, biology, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, biotechnology, and other related fields.

Platforms:

• Windows
• Macintosh
• DOS

Delivery Methods:

• Diskette
• Internet FTP

Technical Specifications:

• Reference Update on Diskette for Windows
  
• Reference Update on Diskette for Macintosh
  
• Reference Update - FTP Delivery

Note: If you use Reference Manager with Reference Update for Windows, you must have Reference Manager version 6.02 or higher.

An annual subscription to Reference Update includes:

• 52 weekly data issues
• Search and retrieval software
• Complete documentation and technical support

Reference Update
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How does Reference Update differ from other current awareness databases?

Reference Update provides comprehensive coverage of biomedical and life sciences information from the most prestigious journals. Unlike other databases, Reference Update includes non-English characters in author names, as well as superscripts, subscripts, italics, and Greek characters in titles. This way, selections are publication-ready. Subscribers can define the criteria necessary for each search, broaden or narrow that search with ease, and then modify and save these search strategies for future use.

How long has ISI handled the Reference Update product line?

ISI has managed the Reference Update product line since September 1996. ISI is the parent company of Research Information Systems, Inc. (RIS), which introduced Reference Update to the market in 1988. After RIS's acquisition of PBS, a leading supplier of bibliographic management software programs such as ProCite^�, the decision was made to move the Reference Update product line to ISI. This enables RIS to focus exclusively on the development, distribution, and servicing of its software products.

What's new with Reference Update?

Effective in late August 1998, a Web-browser based FTP interface changed the way subscribers get their weekly issues via FTP. For the first time, subscribers to Reference Update could use their Web browsers to easily download issues of Reference Update from the Internet. For more information, see the section below about Reference Update via FTP.

To strengthen the current journal coverage, significant additions and changes are made regularly. ISI updates journal coverage on a regular basis, so please send your coverage suggestions to our Webmaster at the e-mail address below.

What new Reference Update program improvements are in the works?

ISI is actively supporting Reference Update product development.

A software upgrade to Reference Update for Macintosh in Autumn 1998 enabled RU Macintosh subscribers a seamless export of references to the new version of ProCite from RIS.

The PowerMac software upgrade in 1997 included the correction of memory management problems and allowed users to use the Apple Event Manager to open weekly updates.

Where do I go if I'd like information about Internet FTP delivery of Reference Update weekly issues?

Internet FTP delivery provides you with access to weekly issues immediately upon release. The Reference Update data accessed via FTP is the same data that customers receive in weekly diskettes. Issues are loaded on the ISI FTP server upon publication, and the ten most recent weeks are available at any time, to make sure that all subscribers have ample time to transfer the data.

To receive Reference Update issues via FTP, you will need a Reference Update subscription, a local Internet connection and a standard Web browser. No special FTP software is required. Each week, each subscriber receives an email notification from ISI that the week's data is available. To download the data, users access an assigned URL using a password and click on a data issue. The Web browser will then initiate an FTP file transfer and allow the user to save the file to his or her local hard drive or network server.

To try this method of delivery, please email your request to isiorder@isinet.com. (Note: For non-subscribers to Reference Update, a trial kit with instructions will be mailed to you. It will include Reference Update diskette program software, which must be loaded on your hard drive or server before data issues can be read and used.)

Subscribers and non-subscribers who have loaded the program software can download and sample recent issues of the Reference Update Basic Edition, Deluxe Edition and Deluxe with Abstracts Edition.

To preview Reference Update FTP, go to: www.isinet.com/ruftp

Where do I go if I'd like information about Reference Manager and ProCite?

There is information included in the ISI Web site, or try the RIS homepage at http://www.risinc.com. RIS is continuing to focus its efforts exclusively on the ongoing service, support, and development of these and other bibliographic management software programs.

Reference Update
Reprint Request Cards

Reference Update Reprint Request Cards are used to prepare author reprint requests right from the desktop. A user simply marks an article of interest in Reference Update, and all the necessary information - bibliographic information, author address, reprint request, and the user's return address - is automatically printed on the form.

These handy cards allow users to easily customize their requests by changing the salutation, date format, opening, summary, closing and return address. They are available in either laser or dot matrix cards in quantities of 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000, or 5,000.