Library

How Do I Set Up Search Alerts in Aggregated Databases?

A search alert is a message that an aggregated database such as Proquest or Ebsco can send you when new information about a topic you are researching is added. Depending on the database, you can receive these alerts daily, weekly, montly, or every three months for as long as a year.

The following are some directions specific to each aggregated database available in the library on how to set up search alerts.

Proquest | Ebsco | WilsonWeb | CSA

Proquest

An example of a Proquest database is ABI Inform.

Creating Search Alerts:

  1. Make sure you are on the Set up Your Search Alert page by doing one of the following:
    • Run your search from either the Advanced or Basic pages.
      Note: If you want to receive notification only of full text documents, make sure you limit your search to full text documents.
    • From the Results page, click Set up Alert.
    • Or, from the Advanced or Basic pages, click # Recent Searches. Locate the search you want, and click Set up Alert next to the search.
    • Or, from the Results page, scroll down to the grey Tools bar at the bottom and click # Recent Searches. Locate the search you want, and click Set up Alert next to the search.
  2. Select how frequently you want alerts sent. Your options are:
    • Daily
    • Weekly
    • Monthly
    • Every three months
  3. Check the box next to Send message when there are no new results to receive an alert, even if no new results are available.
  4. Select when to stop sending the alerts. Alerts can be renewed, if you want..
  5. Enter the email address to which you'd like to send the alerts. You cannot send an alert to multiple addresses.
  6. The remaining fields are optional and include: a subject header for the email, and a message you'd like to include in the body of your email.
  7. Click Save.
  8. You will see a confirmation page, summarizing your information. If the information is correct, click Done. Otherwise, you can click Delete this Alert to delete the alert.

Viewing Saved Alerts:

In order to view a saved document, you must be able to log in to ProQuest. If you access ProQuest at Simmons and request to have the alerts sent to any email account, you will be able to view the results list. To view a document from home, you will have to log-in (using the same username and password that you use for WebMail and Web CT).

Once you have set up a search alert, you will receive an email that will include a results list similar in layout to the standard ProQuest search results page, including links to the pertinent information. This email can include up to 50 results. At the bottom of the page, you will seeApril 20, 2007 s link to rerun the search, showing both the newly published information and all previous information.

 

Editing, Updating, and Deleting Alerts:

To edit and update a search: at this point, ProQuest does not have a way to update or edit a search alert. If you need to change a search alert's guidelines, you must delete your current search alert and start over again with the new search terms that you want to be alerted to.

To delete an alert:

  1. Near the top of the email that ProQuest sends you, you will see a Delete this alert link.
  2. Click this link to delete the alert, so you no longer receive updated results.

For more information about setting up alerts in Proquest, visit Proquest Help or contact the library.

Ebsco

An example of an Ebsco database is Academic Search Complete

Creating Search Alerts:

  1. From the Search History/Alerts Screen, click Save Searches/Alerts. The Saved Search/Alert Screen appears. If you have not already signed in to My EBSCOhost, you will be prompted to do so.
  2. To save the search as an Alert that can be automatically run, click the Alert radio button. The Save Alert Screen appears.
  3. Enter a Name and Description for the Alert.
  4. To run the alert against a different database, select the Database from the drop-down list.
  5. To select how often the search will be run, from the Update Frequency drop-down list, select one:
    • Once a day
    • Once a week
    • Bi-weekly
    • Once a month (the default)
  6. To limit which articles are searched, from the Articles published within the last drop-down list, select one:
    • One month
    • Two months
    • Six months
    • One year
    • No limit (the default)
  7. In the Run Alert for field, select one:
    • One month
    • Two months
    • Six months
    • One year (the default)
  8. Select the Results format to use: Brief or Detailed.
  9. To limit EBSCOhost access to only the articles in alert (rather than the entire site), mark the checkbox to the left of this field.
  10. In the E-mail Options section, indicate how you would like to be notified. Select one:
    • E-mail all alerts and notices (the default) - you will receive all alerts and all notification messages via e-mail.
    • E-mail only creation notice - you will receive only the notification messages, not the actual links to the articles or table of contents.
    • No e-mail (RSS only) (What is RSS?)  
  11. Enter your E-mail Address. If you are entering multiple e-mail addresses, place a semicolon between each e-mail address.
  12. In the Subject field, enter a brief explanation that will appear in the subject line of the Alert e-mail.
  13. Title - you can optionally enter a title for the e-mail. The default value for the Title field is: EBSCOhost Alert Notification.
  14. E-mail [From] address - Defaults to: EPAlerts@epnet.com. You can enter a different "From" e-mail address if desired.
  15. Select the E-mail format to use: Plain Text or HTML.
  16. To have your search string included with your results, mark the Include query string in results checkbox. To include the alert frequency, mark the frequency checkbox.
  17. When you have finished making changes, click Save.

To set up a journal alert:

  1. Click the Publications link. To locate the publication, enter the title in the Browse Publications field and click Browse, or use the A - Z links and left/right arrows to browse through the list of titles.
  2. From the journal's Publication Details Screen, click the Journal Alert link. If you have not already signed in to My EBSCOhost, you will be prompted to do so.
  3. The Save Journal Alert Screen appears. The journal alert name, date created, and database name are automatically filled in.
  4. In the Run Alert for field, select how long the journal alert should run:
    • One month
    • Two months
    • Six months
    • One year
  5. In the Alert Options area, select the Alert Results format: brief or detailed.
  6. To limit EBSCOhost access to only the articles in the alert (rather than the entire site), mark the checkbox to the left of this field.
  7. In the E-mail Properties section indicate how you would like to be notified. Select one:
    • E-mail all alerts and notices (the default) - you will receive all alerts and all notification messages via e-mail.
    • E-mail only creation notice - you will receive only the notification messages, not the actual links to the articles or table of contents.
    • No e-mail (RSS only) (What is RSS?)
  8. E-mail Address - to be notified by e-mail when a new issue is available, enter your e-mail address. If you are entering multiple e-mail addresses, place a semicolon between each e-mail address.
  9. Subject - enter a brief explanation that will appear in the subject line of the Journal Alert e-mail.
  10. Title - you can optionally enter a title for the e-mail. The default value for the title field is: EBSCOhost Alert Notification.
  11. E-mail [From] address - defaults to EPAlerts@EPNET.COM. You can enter a different "From" e-mail address if desired.
  12. Select the E-mail Results format to use: Plain Text or HTML.
  13. Indicate whether you want to include: Link to TOC page on EBSCOhost or Article links embedded within the results.
  14. Include in e-mail - To have your search string included with your results, mark the Query check box. To include the frequency (how often the alert will run), mark the Frequency check box.
  15. When you have finished making changes, click Save. You will be returned to the Publication Details Screen. A message is displayed that indicates a journal alert has been set for the publication.

Viewing Saved Alerts:

  1. Log in to My Ebsco.
  2. Select Search History/alerts.
  3. Click Retrieve alerts. You will see all of your active alerts listed on the screen.

Editing or Updating Search Alerts::

  1. Log into My Ebsco.
  2. Click Retrieve alerts. You will see all of your active search alerts listed on the screen.
  3. Click Revise search. From there you can edit the details of your search.

Deleting a Search Alert:

  1. Log into My Ebsco.
  2. Click Retrieve alerts. You will see all of your active search alerts listed on the screen.
  3. Click on the X to the right of your search. That will delete the search.CAUTION: there is no prompt asking if you are sure you want to delete. It just deletes the alert right away so be sure that you really want to delete the search!

 

To Set Up RSS Alerts

What is RSS? 
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. An RSS feed, also known as a news feed, is a syndicated news feed in an XML format to which you can subscribe. All EBSCOhost databases and interfaces support RSS feeds for search alerts and journal alerts. RSS enabled alerts allow users to feed results from EBSCOhost search alerts and journal alerts into their RSS readers and aggregators, as well as their web sites.

What is a news feed reader?
A news feed reader, also known as a news aggregator, is software that lets you subscribe to RSS feeds.

Why should I use a news feed reader?
Using an RSS feed reader allows you to be alerted when new articles on the topics you're interested in are available. Many feed readers will pop up a new window when new results become available. When you are alerted of new EBSCOhost Search or Journal Alert results, you can click on a link that will take you directly to them.

Where can I get an RSS feed reader?
There are many freeware and shareware readers available.  To view a list of readers currently supported by EBSCO, for Search and Journal Alerts, please see this FAQ: EBSCO supported readers.

How do I incorporate my EBSCOhost Search and Journal alerts with my news feed reader?You can use RSS to be notified when your EBSCO databases have been updated with results related to your search alert or journal alert. In the E-mail Options section, select the No e-mail (RSS only) option. After you create the alert, a confirmation message will display on-screen. Be sure to copy the alert's Syndication Feed link (URI) into your newsreader.  An e-mail will also be sent when the alert is deleted.

 

For more information about setting up alerts in Ebsco visit Ebsco Help or contact the library.

WilsonWeb

An example of a WilsonWeb database is Library Literature.

WilsonWeb’s SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) service allows you to save searches in WilsonWeb databases, scheduling them to be rerun automatically, with the latest results emailed. A search can be saved and then an alert created for that search which can be emailed on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis to the user. At any time you can modify the alert settings, delete the alert, or start a new alert.

Creating SDI Alerts:

  1. Click on the new Create Alerts button on the left toolbar, or go to WilsonWeb’s Search History screen, which is where the Alert function is located.
  2. Either click the check box for the search you want in the Active Search area, or retrieve, load, and then check a previously saved search.
  3. Click the Alert button at the right of the search string.
  4. On the Set up Your Search Alert page, enter the required fields and other possible selections.
  5. Click Save Alert, or Reset if you wish to start over.
  6. To activate your Alert, go to the confirmation email that has been sent to your inbox and click on the Confirm Email Address link
  7. After activating your Alert, a notice screen appears stating, Your Search Alert has been Activated Successfully.

Viewing Alerts:

Alerts will be sent via email in the frequency you chose when you created or last updated your SDI alert (monthly, weekly, or daily). A link to your search will appear in the email. Click on it, and you will be directed to the article you are being alerted to..

Editing, Updating, and Deleting Alerts:

When you receive an Alert email, you will find Update Alert and Delete Alert links at the bottom of these pages. Select the appropriate link and follow the instructions.

For more information about setting up alerts in WilsonWeb visit WilsonWeb Help or contact the library.

CSA

An example of a CSA database is Social Services Abstracts.

A saved alert will be used to automatically search your selected databases for new content every week. After creating a personal account, you will receive an email message that contains up to 250 new records from each database that has new matching content.

Creating Search Alerts:

  1. Run a search strategy in your selected database(s).
  2. Click Search history.
  3. Choose a search strategy, then click Save as alert.
  4. Enter your email address and password, then click Continue. If you are a new user to alerts, click New user and then Create a personal profile.
  5. Choose the format that you want your results emailed (short format, full format, full -- omit refs, or custom format).
  6. You may choose to delimit your citations by journal article only or English only.
  7. You may also deselect database(s) from the search query, or enter comments to appear with the search results when emailed.
  8. Click Save as alert.

Viewing Saved Alerts:

  1. Click the Alerts button.
  2. If prompted, enter your email address and personal password you used to save your Alerts.
  3. Click Continue.

Saved alerts will be listed in reverse chronological order. An alert remains in effect for six months. Shortly before the six-month period concludes, you'll receive an e-mail from CSA with the option of continuing or deleting the alert.

Editing, Updating, and Deleting Alerts:

You can renew an alert anytime. You can also edit an alert's search strategy, run a search based on the alert's search strategy, or delete an alert.

  1. Click Edit
  2. Make changes to format, select or deselect journal articles only or English only, deselect databases, or add comments.
  3. Click Update alert.

Setting Up Journal Issue Alerts (for PsycARTICLES only):

From the Browse tab, you may create journal issue alerts for any full-text journal in PsycARTICLES. You will be notified by email when the newest volume of a particular title has been added to the full-text collection.

  1. Selecting the Table of contents link from a full-text record from the PsycARTICLES will also take you to the Browse tab.
  2. Select a journal from the browse tab.
  3. Then click the New issue alert link for the chosen journal or select a specific volume and then click the New issue alert link.
  4. Enter your email address and password, and then click Continue. If you are a new user to alerts, then click New user and then Create a personal profile.
  5. After accessing your profile, you will see your saved journal issue alert. From this view you may view the latest table of contents, view the archive, or delete the journal issue alert.

Viewing Saved Journal Alerts:

After closing your profile, you may use the Journal issue alert link in the search history tab or Alerts tab to return to your saved alerts.

For more information about setting up alerts in CSA visit CSA Help or contact the library.

Page updated: April 24, 2007

 

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