- 35 -
is possible here to describe them in full, only the main attributes
will therefore be surveyed.
The simplicity is one of the most attractive features: only 4 main
commands, apart from the logon and logoff procedures are sufficient
to perform a search. They closely parallel the logical steps
performed during a manual search in library. the 4 main commands are
supplemented by 15 auxiliary ones.
Nevertheless ESA-QUEST is extremely powerful as measured by the
response time, as perceived by the customer, to any one command In
spoite of the fact that there may be up to 200 simultaneous users,
the response time overall is kept in the bracket of 5 to 10 seconds
except for certain specific functions (stem truncation) where it is
allowed to reach 1 minute.
A consequence of power is cost effectiveness: indeed ESA-IRS is the
only existing host computer to be able to handle as integral files
such mammoth databases as Chemabs currently containing in excess of
2.6 Million references. Even there the response time is maintained
in the above mentioned bracket thanks to a unique method of parallel
processing at command input.
The advantage over services similar to ESA-IRS where Chemabs is
splitted in 5 subfiles is evident from the gain in time hence budget
saving.
ESA-QUEST is also adapted to factual data handling in particular,
data manipulation via statistical routines (correlations,
regressions, trends etc) or range searching on any adequate
parameter as required for the factual databanks including LEDA.
ESA-QUEST supports multiple retrieval Languages as evidenced by the
superposition (actually integration) to the basic software of the
Common Command Language created on the avent of EURONET.
ESA-QUEST also supports distributed databases not physically
resident on the ESA-IRS mass storage. This is in particular the case
for the INIS and AGRIS databases which are located at the IAEA in
Vienna (Austria). The distributed database concept allows a regular
IRS customer currently logged on the ESA-IRS computer to interrogate
directly the Vienna Computer without bothering about the differences
between dissimilar computers, access procedures. and shortly -
through use of the Common Command Language - dissimilar retrieval
softwares.
ESA-QUEST also supports alternative applications such as Online Data
Entry for the creation of private files; electronic mail;
distributed input for the creation of private files; computer Aided
Instruction.
Finally ESA-QUEST supports poly alphabetic files. As an example an
arab customer equipped with an arab/latin alphabet terminal can
create directly an arabic database and interrogate it in arabic.
Proca 5
