Guide to STN Patent Databases – Basic Version - Paton - TU Ilmenau

1.2 The actual search
Offline preparation
Introduction
Prepare a sheet with the search criteria and the search logic as well as room for taking notes during the
online session (e.g. query numbers, hits)
Prepare a command file with the search criteria and search logic for the software used (e.g. STN
Express) particularly important with extensive searches
Enter the search criteria and their linking or execute the command file
Check the results of the search:
Evaluate the number of hits
Check the titles
Refine the search/new search
This will depend on the result already obtained
It may not be necessary
Check for duplicates, sort the documents
Display the documents or those selected, possibly request full text display or order full text
Save the transcript.
1.3 After the search
Evaluate and collate the results
Create a search report.
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