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Search History Table

The Search History table appears at the bottom of the Advanced Search and Search History pages for all product databases. Whenever you perform a search, the results of your search display in the Search History table.

When performing an All Databases search, the Search History table appears at the bottom of the Search History page.

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What Does the Search History Table Display?

Set Column

Displays the number of the search set (#1, #2, #3, etc.). Search sets are listed in reverse chronological order with the most recent search set at the top of the table.

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Results Column

Displays the total number of results retrieved, along with a link that takes you to the Results page.

A compound structure Compound Structure image graphic indicates a Compound Search was performed.

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Search History Details Column

Displays field tags, search terms, timespan, and other information in the Search History table.

The phrase "Refined by" will appear before each set that you create using the Search within Results, Refine Results, and Analyze Results options.

Did You Know ... The product does not display timespan information for compound searches.

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View Structure Drawing Link

This link opens the View Structure Drawing page, which displays a graphical image of the compound structure in 2D Rendering. To view the structure in 3D Rendering:

Right-click the mouse to display the following menu options: File, Edit, 3D Rendering, Color, and About.
Select 3D Rendering.
Select additional options from the right-click menu as needed, such as Rotation, Display, and Options.

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Combining Sets

You are able combine search sets created from any of the following functions within the product database.

Search
Advanced Search
Cited Patent Search
Compound Search
Refine Results
Search within Results
Analyze Results

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Combine Sets

The search sets are listed in the Search History table in reverse numerical order - the most recently created set is at the top of the table.

To combine two or more sets:

Click the AND or OR option under the Combine Sets column.
Select the check box under the Combine Sets column of each set that you want to combine.
Click the Combine button.
Click the link in the Results column to view the results of your search.

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Set Combination Examples

#1 AND #2

Finds all records that appear in both set #1 and set #2.

#2 OR #3

Finds all records that are in set #2 and all records that are in set #3, including records common to both sets.

#1 AND #2 AND #4 AND #6

Finds all records that are common to all sets (#1, #2, #4, and #6).

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Combine Compound Search with Other Searches

When combining a Compound Search with a General Search using the OR Boolean, the system combines the patent records found in the Compound Search with the patent records found in the General Search.

The results are surprising. For example:

Let us assume you perform a Compound Search for nickel (SYN=nickel) and find 197 compound results. If you click the Find All Patent Records button from the Compound Results page, the system returns 26,979 patent records.

If you perform a Topic search TS=(recharg* lithium batter*), the system returns 2,950 patent records.

Combine the two search queries using the AND Boolean: #2 AND #1 and the system returns 31 patent records.

Now combine the two search queries using the OR Boolean: #2 OR #1 and the system returns 29,898 patent records, which is:

26,979 + 2,950 = 29,929 - 31= 29,898 records.

Note: These numbers are likely to change as new patent and compound records are added to the product database.

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Save History / Create Alert

This feature allows you to save your search queries to a search history file that you can retrieve and open at a later date.

Click the Save History / Create Alert button to go to the Save Search History overlay dialog where you can save your work to the host server or to your local workstation.

You can save up to 40 search sets from the Search History table. A search history contains the search query and the selected settings for each search query.

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Open Saved History

From the Search History or Advanced Search page, click the Open Saved History button in the Search History table to go to the Saved Searches and Alerts overlay dialog.
Click the Open button of the needed search history file from the host server or from your local workstation.
From the View History page, click the Run Search button.
From the Select Database(s) and Timespan page, change your timespan and settings, if needed.
Click the Save As My Defaults button if you want to save your revised settings so that they are available each time you open this particular search history file. This step is optional.
Click the Continue button to go to the Search History page.
Click the desired number link under the Results column to go to the Results page to view and / or output your records.

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Delete Sets

From the Search History or Advanced Search page:

Select the check box in the Delete Sets column of the unwanted search query, and then click Delete to remove the search history set from the Search History table.

Click the Select All button to select all search queries, and then click Delete to remove all of the search historys set from the Search History table.

Dependent Sets: After you click Delete, the product checks for dependent sets. Selected sets that are not referenced in other sets are deleted. If, however, a set is referenced in a set that is not selected for deletion, the product returns the following error message.

At least one of the sets you have selected to delete is referenced in a set combination. We have marked the affected set combinations for you. Please verify the checkmarks and click DELETE to remove the sets.

In this instance, the product marks the Delete Sets check box of both the original set marked for deletion and the referenced set. You can either delete both sets or neither set.

Example 1: You create a set combination (set #3) that includes sets #1 and #2. You cannot delete set #1 because set #3 (the referenced set) is dependent on set #1. You can, however, delete both sets #1 and #3.

Example 2: You create a set (set #2) by using the Refine Results option from the Results page. You cannot delete this set because it is dependent upon the original parent set (set #1). You can, however, delete both sets.

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Saving Search Queries

You can save up to 40 search sets from the Search History table. If the table contains more than 40 sets, then a message appears above the 40th row indicating that the sets below this point can be saved, but those at row 41 and above cannot be saved.