STN-Easy

Access to the Chemical Abstracts database

Easy Search is designed for the infrequent searcher who wants general sci-tech information about a subject. No category selection or knowledge about databases is needed, because we have done that for you! Simply enter your search terms in the box and press the "Search" button. STN-Easy searches the basic index of the Chemical Abstracts (CA) file.

Three kinds of searches can be done: Easy search, Advanced search, or, CAS Number search

Easy and Advanced searches search the Chemical Abstracts bibliographic file: This is the search mode you will use when searching for concepts or subject terms other than chemical substance names. The results you get are references to articles, patents, or other publications. Searches may be done using author names, subject keywords, or substance names (though this is better done via the CAS number search).

CAS Number Search is designed for people who want to get a CAS Registry Number for a chemical, or who have a CAS Registry Number and want to get the chemical name(s). It is also designed for people who want to begin their search with a CAS Registry Number and then crossover to other databases for an inclusive search on the chemical of interest. STN Easy automatically determines which categories contain additional information about the chemical name or CAS Registry Number that you searched and lists those categories at the end of the display as links.

Boolean operators and other Internet search standards work within STN Easy's search boxes. The Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT, and NEAR all work within the search boxes. Quotes can be used to search word groups as a phrase. As always, right truncation can be used to search words for a variety of endings (for example, "chromatogra?" will search "chromatograph," "chromatography," "chromatographic," "chromatogram," etc.). Parentheses may be used in conjunction with Boolean operators to specify the order in which the search should proceed. For more detailed information click on the "?" in the upper right-hand corner of the search page to enter the Search Page Helps. Under "Guidelines for Searching," you can access details about all of these search features.

Refine your answers by adding more search terms. Limiters may also be useful. You can get only the most recent information by limiting the year. If you want only Patents, Reviews, or some other type of publication, limit by Document Type. You may not want publications in a language you can't read so use the Language limiter.

Searches are charged on a flat rate per search, and another flat fee per record displayed or printed STN-Easy is accessible using our current "Academic account" - which is valid only after 5 p.m. and receives a 90% discount.

4 files are accessible through our academic account: CAOLD ; CA ; REG ; and CIN. CA and CAOLD lead to references for articles, patents, and other publications. REG is a database of substance records, from which you can “cross over” to references in the CA and CAOLD files. CIN is a file of news about the chemical industry.