Volume 1 Chapter 2 Control Instructions

In addition to tests and screen assignments the instruction document can contain control instructions which determine various aspects of the overall search process. These are further discussed in chapter 8 but the most commonly used will be illustrated here.

Note that, in QUEST, you need type only the first four characters of these control instructions.

2.9.1 BEGIN-AT-REFCODE

This instruction is used to specify the reference code of the entry at which searching is to begin.

This feature can be used to good effect if a search was interrupted and has to be re-run at a later time.

The specified refcode need not actually be present in the CSD. If this is the case then searching will begin at the next entry in the alphabetic sequence.

Graphics QUEST3D Procedure

In QUEST3D this command is available in the SEARCH menu, as shown below.

Ex.

Select BEGIN-AT-REFCODE

Please type the REFCODE from which your search will begin
or press <RETURN> if you don't want to change the starting point.

Type LMNOPQ <R>

At this point the instruction document contains:

BEGIN  LMNOPQ

Basic QUEST Procedure

In QUEST this instruction is input by typing:

BEGI  LMNOPQ

2.9.2 HITALL

This instruction is used to declare that all database entries are to be classed as hits.

It can be useful if you wish to browse through a section of the database, either starting at the first entry or from a later point defined by BEGIN-AT-REFCODE.

If HITALL is specified then the search must be initiated using the START command.

Graphics QUEST3D Procedure

In QUEST3D this command is available in the SEARCH menu, as shown below.

Ex.

Select HITALL

All entries will be classed as hits. Select START to begin searching database.

Basic QUEST Procedure

In QUEST this instruction is input by typing:

HITA

2.9.3 PRINT

This instruction is used to specify the content and format of text information displayed for a hit.

Graphics QUEST3D Procedure

In QUEST3D four commands are available in the SEARCH menu shown below.

Ex.

Select STAND
At this point the instruction document would contain:
```
PRINT 10
```

The text information displayed for a hit on entry ALDCAR would be:

ALDCAR
2-Methyl-2-methylthio-propionaldehyde O-(methylcarbamoyl) oxime
Aldicarb
orthorhombic form, insecticidal activity
C7 H14 N2 O2 S1
F.Takusagawa,R.A.Jacobson
J.Agric.Food Chem., 25, 333,1977

The standard reference items which are displayed are:

REFC: reference code
COMP: compound name
SYNO: compound name synonym
QUAL: qualifier phrase
FORM: formula
AUTH: authors' names
CODE: journal name (rather than coden)
VOLU: journal volume
PAGE: journal page
YEAR: year of publication

In this standard display each of the principal items starts on a new line.

Basic QUEST Procedure

In QUEST the specification of the text display is achieved by typing: PRIN n

The value of n determines the content and format.

Ex. PRIN 8

This would produce the following display for the entry ALDCAR:

*REFC=ALDCAR // 2-Methyl-2-methylthio-propionaldehyde O-(methylcarbamoyl) oxime
// Aldicarb // *QUAL=orthorhombic form, insecticidal activity // *FORM=C7 H14 N2
 O2 S1 // *AUTH=F.Takusagawa,R.A.Jacobson // *CODE=96(J.Agric.Food Chem.) // *VO
LU= 25 // *PAGE= 333 // *YEAR=1977 //

In this compact format each item of information is separated from the next by //

In this print mode both the journal coden and journal name are displayed.

2.9.4 SAVE

This instruction is used to specify which output files are to be saved for kept hits.

Graphics QUEST3D Procedure

In QUEST3D six commands are available in the SEARCH menu shown below.

Ex.

Select FDAT
At this point the instruction document contains:
```
SAVE  FDAT
```

With this specification an FDAT file would be saved for all hits which are kept in the search process.

FDAT is the file format required as input to the programs GSTAT and PLUTO.

Basic QUEST Procedure

In QUEST this instruction is input by typing:

SAVE  FDAT

2.9.5 STOP-LIMIT

This instruction is used to specify the maximum number of accepted hits.

The default value is 1000.

Graphics QUEST3D Procedure

In QUEST3D this command is available in the SEARCH menu shown below.

Ex.

Select STOP-LIMIT

What is the maximum number of hits allowed ?
Enter a NEGATIVE number for QUEST's default : 1000

Type 200 <R>
At this point the instruction document contains:
```
STOP-LIMIT  200
```

Basic QUEST Procedure

In QUEST this instruction is input by typing:

STOP  200

2.9.6 TYPE

This instruction is used to display the contents of the instruction document.

Graphics QUEST3D Procedure

In QUEST3D this command is available in the SEARCH menu shown below (it is also available in the BUILD menu).

Ex.

Select TYPE
The screen clears and the contents of the instruction document are displayed, for example:
```
PRINt  10
T1  *BCLASS  .EQ.  49
SCREen  153
```

Basic QUEST Procedure

In QUEST this instruction is input by typing:

TYPE

Back to Table of Contents

Volume 1 Chapter 2 The Search Question and Search Initiation .

2.9 Control Instructions

2.9.1 BEGIN-AT-REFCODE

2.9.2 HITALL

2.9.3 PRINT

2.9.4 SAVE

2.9.5 STOP-LIMIT

2.9.6 TYPE