Check out the new Advanced Search for NCBI, including PubMed. The link is immediately to the right of the main search box on the main search screen. It includes two distinct fields for searching by journal, author or other field types selected from the pull down menus. One can also add additional search fields, which is handy. It is possible to browse alphabetically by journal or author name. Looks like it is also possible to combine set numbers in the main search box on this screen (e.g., #1 AND #3). One can also lock or clear individual limits, rather than having to clear all limits. Please note that the search history displayed here only displays the most recent five searches. To see the entire search history on the Advanced Search screen, you will need to click on See More History.
I'll have to spend some more time working with these features to see how well they work in practice, but I am already pleased that there is finally something on the main PubMed search screen that lets folks know that a more advanced way of searching exists at all.
For more information, please see the NLM Technical Bulletin.
Martha
Posted by biomedref at May 27, 2008 12:39 PM