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Download DCIS 2.0.6 for Macintosh
Download DCIS 2.0.6 for Windows
(NOTE: This URL will retrieve a self-extracting installer. Run this file, then run the Setup.EXE file it creates to install DCIS. If you have previous versions of DCIS you should delete them before running the installer.)
DCIS is also available on the Web.
When you launch the DCIS application it presents a list of resources that include databases and reference materials selected by the College librarians as well as resources of use to the general college campus.
If the resource you select is a locally-mounted database DCIS will be used to search that database and display and print the results. It provides sophisticated search and retrieval capabilities to a broad collection of bibliographies, full texts and administrative databases. DCIS provides a common interface to databases delivered by a wide variety of database managers, handling user interaction and data formatting.
DCIS acquires setup information from the server with which it customizes its search and retrieval functionality for each database. Complex data driven display formatting for each database can be defined on the server. Display formatting can be controlled by the occurrence of database fields and by the contents of markup information in the result data.
DCIS provides both a simple multiple index search mode and a full boolean logic search mode with proximity operators and interactive index name and operator recognition. The contents of database indexes can be browsed and index terms used to retrieve the associated records. The text of retrieved records can be locally searched as an aid in manipulating lengthy records.
Search results are cached on the client workstation utilizing local computing power for scrolling, further manipulation and graphical display of results in both server supplied and user definable formats. Result records can be selectively retrieved and individually formatted for display. Full user control of typography is available. Complex typography described by SGML tagging can be rendered on the client workstation. SGML entity mappings for both input and display are provided. Texts can be further enhanced by the inclusion of digitized illustrations in the result records.
Result sets can be sorted in both server supplied and user defined orders. Search results can be saved to disk or printed with full typography. Retrieved text can be copied and pasted to any other application like word processors or bibliography managers.
A search history is maintained providing access to result sets generated in the same database session. Multiple database sessions can be open simultaneously permitting research in many databases in tandem. Secure user authentication is supported with IDAP servers.
In library catalog applications complete integration of circulation and holding information is possible with database cross searching linkages. Extensive user customization of settings is available and can be saved for each individual database. Searchable local help topics and balloon help are provided in the application.
At Dartmouth over 250 local databases and hundreds of external sources of information can be used by DCIS through the same user interface. Some of the local databases include the Dartmouth College Library Catalog, the Oxford English Dictionary, Books in Print, the Wilson Indexes, and the MLA Bibliography. External sources are reached through protocol-translating gateway servers. Access to WAIS and Z39.50 services at other campuses and businesses is made in this way.