Problematic IFICDB records with "DE???"/AP,PRN

tewolff@amoco.com
Wed, 21 Feb 96 20:47 GMT

I have recently identified problematic IFI records with PRAI fields
containing values such as "DE ??? 521121" (see sample STN record at bottom
of this note). If this is an "old" problem, perhaps someone can fill us in
on its history and attempts at resolution. It seems that IFI could not
identify the priority application numbers so put in a place holder of
"???". This is a fatal impediment to using the SmartSelect feature on STN,
as the transcript shows below:

FILE 'WPIDS' ENTERED AT 09:47:36 ON 09 FEB 96
COPYRIGHT (C) 1996 DERWENT INFORMATION LTD

=> s l14<pn,apps>

*** SmartSELECT INITIATED ***

FILE 'IFICDB' ENTERED AT 09:47:53 ON 09 FEB 96
COPYRIGHT (C) 1996 IFI/Plenum Data Corporation (IFI)

SET SMARTSELECT ON
SET COMMAND COMPLETED

SEL L14 1- PN,APPS
L37 SEL L14 1- PN APPS : 363 TERMS

SET SMARTSELECT OFF
SET COMMAND COMPLETED

FILE 'WPIDS' ENTERED AT 09:48:09 ON 09 FEB 96
COPYRIGHT (C) 1996 DERWENT INFORMATION LTD

S L37
'?' TRUNCATION SYMBOL NOT VALID WITHIN 'DE???'

COMMAND STACK INTERRUPTED. ENTER "DISPLAY HISTORY"

If a set in IFICDB generated by SmartSelect contains such values, the
system bombs out upon attempting to search them in the WPIDS file. Doing
ordinary "dumb" select on "APPS" shows that the selected values are:

0 "DE???"/AP
0 "DE???"/PRN
0 "DE???"/APPS
("DE???"/AP,PRN)

Since "dumb" select works with this set, a workaround is possible. Just
search for these offending records and eliminate them from the set that
you want to do a SmartSelect on. Then do an ordinary select on the set of
offending records. For example, remove set L40 as shown below from your
target IFICDB set before SmartSelect over to WPIDS and do ordinary select
on the "AND" combination of L40 with your target answer set:

FILE 'IFICDB' ENTERED AT 09:52:03 ON 09 FEB 96
COPYRIGHT (C) 1996 IFI/Plenum Data Corporation (IFI)

=> s "DE???"/AP,PRN

0 "DE???"/AP
5404 "DE???"/PRN
L40 5404 "DE???"/AP,PRN

Of course, it would be better if IFI would eliminate these "DE???"/PRN
records. They might argue that this is an STN problem, but the folks at
the CAS Help Desk say the problems lies with IFI. Perhaps PIUG members
have tried in the past to have IFI implement a different arbitrary place
holder or could work for it at the next IFI subscribers meeting.

Tom

**************************************************************************

Thomas E. Wolff
Amoco Corp., Mail Code F-1/IS, P.O. Box 3011, Naperville, IL 60566
Phone: (708) 420-4662 Internet ID: tewolff@amoco.com
Fax: (708) 420-5576 X.400: c=US a=ATTMAIL p=AMOCO s=WOLFF g=THOMAS i=E

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and
do not necessarily reflect those of Amoco Corporation.

**************************************************************************

AN 0069411 IFICDB - Copyright (C) 1996 IFI/PLENUM DATA CORPORATION
TI PROCESS FOR CONVERTING PHTHALIC ACID INTO TEREPHTHALIC ACID
IN RAECKE BERNHARD (DE)
PA HENKEL & CIE GMBH DE (38472)
PI US 2863914 581209 (CITED IN 005 LATER PATENTS)
AI US 57-635945 570124
PRAI DE ??? 521121
FI US 2863914 581209
DT UTILITY
FS CHEMICAL
OS CA 53:3155
ECLM 1. IN A PROCESS OF CONVERTING COMPOUNDS OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF
PHTHALIC ACID AND ISOPHTHALIC ACID INTO TEREPHTHALIC ACID, THE STEP
OF HEATING A DIALKALI METAL SALT OF A COMPOUND OF THE GROUP
CONSISTING OF PHTHALIC ACID AND ISOPHTHALIC ACID TO A TEMPERATURE
BETWEEN 340*C. AND 500*C., IN A SUBSTANTIALLY OXYGEN-FREE INERT
ATMOSPHERE, THEREBY CAUSING REARRANGEMENT OF A PORTION OF THE
PHTHALIC ACID RADICALS OF SAID SALTS INTO TEREPHTHALIC ACID
RADICALS.