🚀 go-pugleaf

Okay-here are some things I wish I had known to start out

1.  I tried to start out by downloading from Medline, things I thought
I would need.  This was not a good Idea for two reasons.  Firstly-I have
a large number of references that I never use and every now and again
when I am bored, I sift through and delete useless things.  Secondly,
I have had to modify most downloaded files, adding relevent keywords and
standardizing the journal abbreviations.  Therefore, despite the amount
of work, I suggest entering new references.  

2.  Before starting, make a list of relevent standarized keywords so that
you can later move quickly to the references you want.  Put this up over
your computer and use it.  Set up your endnote plus to use QuickFind 
keywords only (Edit-menu).  
If you make it all fields, it can make your library
quickly become very big, especially if you do download and keep all the 
abstracts.  

3.  Set up to see the record numbers in the endnote list  (Edit menu-show 
Record numbers) on the screen (default only shows first author year and the
beginning of the title).  As you enter references write down the endnote 
number on the top of the paper along with any keywords you like.  I use a 
major keyword as the file name, so I can quickly locate the reference in 
my filing system as well.  

4. Be consistant in the way you enter the Journal names.  Get rid of 
the alternate Journal name (and abstract section).  (check the manual 
on how).  I use notes to remind me of key points and to enter erratum info
if available.  

Use the Journal Abbreviation  file (journals.en) and Ctl J to enter this 
field in order to prevent errors.  You should be able to download from the 
ftp site an appropriate journals list (I have never actually done 
this part, since I had already created my own, so I don't know how
easy this is).  This will make adapting the various styles which vary
in the abbrev wanted much easier.  

5.  Do run through the manual's tutorial which shows you how every thing
works and teaches you how to do some of the things I suggest.  

6.  I do download from medline from time to time, but I first add
keywords and modify the journal names before importing into a import.lib
rather than the main library.  I print them out using one of my style sheets
to make sure they are reasonable and consistant with the rest of the library
before moving them in to the final library.  Also check the capitalization
which is not alway correct in the databases, and greek letters.  Finally, 
any double barrel surnames are not usually imported correctly, so they need
to be checked.  To download, Endlink is needed too. Another Niles program.  

That's all I can think of for the time being.  I am rather a dinosaur and
still use Dos and Microsoft Word for DOS.  Therefore, if you need any help
on RTF interfacing (I now use DOS 6 for task swapping back and forth between
the two programs with some success and seem to be able to paste using the
tsr---most of the time) just ask.

Finally-welcome to the user group, which I find quite helpful, and its
nice to have the people at Niles for support.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leanne M Wiedemann			UK phone (071)-352-8133 x 5207
Janet: mblmw@uk.ac.daresbury.seqnet 	FAX      (071)-352-3299
Internet: mblmw@seqnet.uk.ac.daresbury  International +44-71-352-8133 x5207
Postal Address: LRFC at ICR, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, 
                London, SW3 6JB     United Kingdom
___________________________________________________________________________