Computer-Assisted Research
Resources Database

Dr. Harry Hahne, Tyndale Seminary, Toronto

Copyright © 1996-1999 Harry Hahne

About the Resources Database

A database is being built with a directory of computer resources for seminary students and ministers. It includes a bibliography on computer-assisted research, Internet theological discussion groups, World Wide Web sites of interest to biblical and theological studies, FTP sites for downloading shareware and public domain software, and many other resources.

New entries will be added to the database periodically, so you will want to check it every month or two.

About the Database Search Program

The database is maintained by the Library Master bibliographic and textual database manager.

A demonstration version of the full Library Master program is also available so you can see how Library Master can help you manage your own bibliographic references and format bibliographies, citations and footnotes for your term papers or thesis.

Downloading the Resources Database

You may download a personal copy of the database for use on your own PC. It is available from http://www.balboa-software.com/semcomp/resource.zip.

When you download the database, you will also receive a read-only version of the Library Master bibliographic database manager so you can browse and search the database on any IBM PC compatible computer.

Searching the Database in the Library

To open the database in the OTS library, double click on the "Computer Resources Database" icon any computer in the OTS computer laboratory.

There are 3 ways you can learn how to use the database program:

  1. Read the brief Tutoral below.
  2. Press F1 while you are running the database program to view Online Help.
  3. Consult the Library Master Getting Started manual for a tutorial about using the Library Master program. This manual and the Library Master Reference Manual are available on reserve in the OTS library.

Using the Resources Database on Your Computer

Installing the Resources Database

Follow these steps to install the database on your own IBM PC compatible computer:
  1. Download the database to your personal computer.
  2. Insert a blank floppy disk into drive A:.
  3. Use PKUNZIP to uncompress the program files and put them on the floppy disk. Enter this command from a DOS prompt:
    pkunzip resource A:
  4. Make the floppy disk the default drive by entering:
    A:
  5. Install the search program and database by entering the command:
    install C:\libread

Starting the Database Search Program

Follow these steps to start the Library Master database search program:
  1. Change to the drive and subdirectory where the database is installed by entering the commands:
    C:
    cd \libread
  2. Start the program by entering:
    lib computer
    The program will begin and the computer resources database called "computer" will be opened.

A Brief Tutorial on Using the Library Master Database Program

The following tutorial will introduce you to the basics of using the Library Master search program.

Browsing the database

From the Main Menu, follow these steps to browse the database:
  1. To enter the Browse Mode, press B from the Main Menu.
  2. You may now select a field to browse by. Press S to browse by subject, A to browse by author or T to browse by title. For now, press S to browse by subject.
  3. Records will be displayed in alphabetical order by subject. You may type in a subject at any time to view a record with that subject. For example, if you type "Greek" (without quotes) you will see the first record about a computer resource that deals with Greek.
  4. To see a list of subjects press F3. Move the cursor keys to highlight a desired subject and press Enter to see the first record with that subject.
  5. You can browse the records by pressing PgDn or PgUp.
  6. To display the details about a particular record, move the cursor to highlight the record and press ENTER.
  7. To display the second screen of a record press Ctrl-PgDn. Most records contain a description of the particular item on the second screen.
  8. While the full record is being displayed, you can browse the records by pressing PgDn or PgUp.
  9. To return to the brief view of records, press F6.
  10. When you are done browsing the database, press Esc twice to return to the Main Menu.

Searching and Printing Records

From the Main Menu, follow these steps to conduct a simple search of the database and to print the matching records:
  1. To enter the Search Mode, press S from the Main Menu.
  2. From the Search Menu, press F to search the Full Database.
  3. If any search criteria has already been entered, press F5 to clear the entry.
  4. You can now type in the search criterion. An easier way to search is to select the search criterion from a pick list. To select from a list of subjects, press F3, then enter "SUBJECTS" to view a list of the subjects in the database.
  5. Move the cursor keys to highlight a desired subject and press Enter to enter this search criteria.
  6. Press F10 to conduct the search.
  7. All records with the selected subject will be shown. You may browse through the subjects with the same keys as in the Browse Mode.
  8. You may press Esc to abandon your search or you may press F10 to save the results of your search.
  9. If you choose to save the search results, enter up to 8 characters as the name of your search results. This is called a Record List. You may later browse this Record List or print it out.
  10. You will now be asked if you want to generate a report from the record list. Press Y.
  11. To send the results to the printer, press P. The default report settings will generally give an acceptable report. Press F10 to print with these settings.
  12. After the printing is finished, press Esc to return to the Main Menu.

Advanced Searching

Searches can combine any combination of fields using AND, OR, and NOT logical operators. For example, to find records that deal with Greek or Hebrew grammar, enter the following search criteria:
SUBJECTS = Greek--Grammar OR SUBJECTS = Hebrew--Grammar
You can use wildcards to find a word or phrase contained anywhere within a field. The character '{' indicates any characters are allowed before the search term. The character '}' indicates any characters are allowed after the search term. To search for the phrase "church fathers" anywhere within the description, enter the following search criterion:
DESCRIPTION = {church fathers}

Viewing Online Help

Press F1 at any time to read detailed online help about using the Library Master search program. You may browse through the help with the PgDn key or press F1 again to see an index to the help topics. Press Esc when you are done viewing online help.

Consult the Library Master Getting Started manual for a more detailed tutorial about using the Library Master program.

Exiting the Program

When you are done using Library Master, press Esc from the Main Menu and press Y to confirm that you want to exit the program.