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

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Guide to STN Patent Databases
Creating the diagrams from saved tabular data (STN Express from version 8.0):
The STN Online and Results menu offers for example:
Edit Data Group File: to edit the grouped lists (PA, PAS, etc.) off-line if they were saved
Create Analyze Plus chart from saved data: to start creation of new Excel tables and diagrams with the
previously saved TBN file. This file contains all the tabular data and is not limited, e.g. to the most frequent
Patent Assignees. So these data can be used to create completely new diagrams.
27.7 ANALYZE or ANALYZE PLUS?
By using the ANALYZE command one can analyse the data from a number of fields in one step and then display the
results. There are several options for the analysis and to format the results display. Considerable time may be
needed to edit table data (e.g. Patent Assignee names) and to create Excel tables and diagrams.
When using ANALYZE PLUS the fields to be analysed need to be dealt with individually. This is likely to cause higher
on-line cost. Fewer sort options for the documents are available. Anyway, using the available tools the statistical
analysis including any diagrams can be created quickly, minimising the required working time. This way good
quality diagrams can be created even without in-depth knowledge of the Excel software.
27.7.1 Combining the ANALYZE command and ANALYZE PLUS
If you wish to perform analysis on several fields you may save cost by entering one ANALYZE command on
all desired fields together in the first step. ANALYZE PLUS is then applied for each each desired visualization
(One-Field-Analysis, Two-Field-Analysis). If you wish for example to analyse four fields (One Field Analysis)
you will be charged 1 ANALYZE command plus 4 ANALYZE PLUS rather than 4 ANALYZE commands plus 4
ANALYZE PLUS.
The Data Group function of ANALYZE PLUS lists all entries (e.g. Patent Assignee names) in alphabetical
order only. This means there is no ranking and one would in theory have to edit all the names even if one is
interested in the 20 most frequent companies only. Therefore you could first use the ANALYZE command
and display the list sorted by rank. Then you start ANALYZE PLUS. When grouping you concentrate on the
companies ranking highest. This procedure does not produce any extra charges.
The charge for ANALYZE PLUS is applied when
cancel the command (e.g. due to an error) no charge applies. This is why it is also a good idea to first
perform ANALYZE in order to keep any intermediate results.