Designing an Information Service: Experience with CA Search Database

The paper describes the steps NCSI undertook for designing a SDI information system using CA SEARCH database tapes produced by American Chemical Society. Actual design work was started after defining the objectives and the design environment. A bottom-up approach to design was adopted. Starting at the base level, a clear understanding of the format and contents of CA SEARCH was obtained. The design objectives were than encompassed by gradually moving upwards in the design work. The specific design steps are: analysis and definition of CA SEARCH format, study, of information content, decision on database access elements and search strategy, generating quantitative data for file design, file structure design, batch and online search system design. These steps were then followed by implementing the production system.