European

Patent Office

Europisches
Patentamt

Office europen
des brevets

Published and edited by the EPOQUE group

EPO Principal Directorate Documentation 2003
Third Edition
EPO-95-001
Grafico de Poost Eindhoven

TABLE of CONTENTS
I N T E R N A L

EPOQUE Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Searching Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Combining with Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Searching with Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Qualifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Extra Features for Queries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
P E R S O N A L

85

PDB Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Query

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Qualifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
E X T E R N A L

99

Host Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Query

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Qualifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Index for the Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Index for the Queries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Quick Index
INT
..BR
..CL
..DET
..EDS
..ER
..ER CL
..ER FOR
..ER Mn
..ER PRn
..ER SE
..EX
..FAM
..FI
..FI CL
..FIEL
..FO
..FOR
..HE
..HI
..HI SE
..IND
..INFO
..KE
..KE Mn
..LI
..LI Mn
..LIM
..LIM *TR
..LP
..MEM
*Mn
..MEMS
..OP
..POP
..PR
..PSET
..RK
..SE
..SO
..ST
..STRS
..SV
..TH
..TR
..UNLIM
..UP

3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15,16
17
18
19
20
21
23
24
25
26
28,29
31
32
33
34
36
37
38
39
41
43
45
48
50
52
53
56
57
58
60
61
62
63
65
66
67

PDB

EXT

87

101
101
101

88

102

88
88

102

89

103

89

103
103
104
104
104
104
105
105
91 105
106

90
90
90
90,
91
91

106

92

107
107

93
93

107
108
108

94
94
95

109
109
109

95

110

96

110

:
:
;
?

+
*n
<, <=
=
=D
=nD
=W
=nW
> ,>=
#
_
.FLD
/.
/ALL
/HIGH
/LOW
/SAME
/SEL
AND
D
nD
=nD
F
L
NOT
NOTF
NOTL
NOTP
NOTS
OR
P
S
W
nW
=nW
YES

(relational operator)
(SSs ranging)
(stacking)
(limited truncation)
(for reserved terms)
(unlimited truncation)
(relative qualifier)
(relational operator)
(relational operator)
(proximity operator)
(proximity operator)
(proximity operator)
(proximity operator)
(relational operator)
(masking truncation)
(continuation charac.)
(field qualifier)
(negative qualifier)
(truncation qualifier)
(relation qualifier)
(relation qualifier)
(relation qualifier)
(truncation qualifier)
(boolean operator)
(proximity operator)
(proximity operator)
(proximity operator)
(occurence operator)
(occurence operator)
(boolean operator)
(occurence operator)
(occurence operator)
(occurence operator)
(occurence operator)
(boolean operator)
(occurence operator)
(occurence operator)
(proximity operator)
(proximity operator)
(proximity operator)
(field contents)

INT

PDB

EXT

74
83
84
69
71
69
79
74
74
72
72
72
72
74
69
84
81
82
70
80
80
80
70
72
72
72
72
73
73
72
73
73
73
73
72
73
73
72
72
72
84

97
97
97
97
97
97
97
97
97

111
111
111
111
111
111

97
97

97

111

111
111
111

111
111

97

97

111
111
111
111
111
111
111
111

INTERNAL

INTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

The SYNTAX used in this Quick Reference Guide

INTERNAL

Every mainframe command has a full name and

an abbreviated name. Hence different syntaxes
are possible between the minimum and
maximum number of characters to enter when
typing a command.
The presentation used in this booklet for
indicating these different possible syntaxes is to
give the full name of the command and to put
between brackets the characters which are
allowed but not necessary:

The parameter NONSTOP of the command

..LI is presented as:
..LI(ST) NONST(OP):
Any combination between the 3 syntaxes of
the command (..LI, ..LIS or ..LIST) and the 3
possible syntaxes of the parameter (NONST,
NONSTO or NONSTOP) is allowed,
e.g. ..LIS NONSTO.

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

The syntax used for the command for listing

records (..LI) is presented as: ..LI(ST):
the minimum required by EPOQUE is ..LI
(abbreviation),
the full name of the command is ..LIST,
the syntax ..LIS is recognized by EPOQUE,
the syntaxes ..L or ..LISTING generate error
messages.

Parameters associated to commands might also

have abbreviated and full name. In order to
avoid a difficult readibility of the commands,
these different syntaxes are mentioned only
once per command. Any combination between
the syntaxes of the command and of its
associated parameters is possible:

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

displays record by record

..BR

Command without parameter

browses records by starting...
... with the 1st record of the last SS
... in the STDR format
... with the page setting predefined for the
current active database

..BR(OWSE)

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

browses the records of a specific SS

..BR SS 8

browses in a specific predefined format

..BR MAX

browses in a format defined by the user

..BR <Format_Name>
..BR LITT

browses specific field(s)

..BR PN PR IC

browses a user format and additional fields

..BR PNPR PLUS EC PA

browses a predefined format with less fields

..BR STDR MINUS IN

browses with a user defined page setting

..BR PSET 10

combination of parameters

..BR SS 3 2 FULL PSET 4 FROM EPODOC

Navigation
Next page or next record if no next page
First page of current record
Next record
Skip x records
Previous record
Skip backwards x records
First record
Last record
Repeat same record in a predefined format
Default : MAX format
Repeat same record in a user defined format
Keeps the current record in SS 98
End of browsing operation

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

..BR 5

PERSONAL

browses from a specific record onwards

Options
M(ORE)
P
ND
M x or ND x
PD
P x or PD x
FD
LD
R(EPEAT)
R STDR
R(EPEAT) <Format_Name>
R ABRG
K(EEP)
N(ONE)

EPOQUE COMMANDS
INTERNAL

..BR

displays record by record

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

Remarks:

PERSONAL

The parameters may be combined in any order

except for FROM, always placed at the end.
The parameters PLUS and MINUS can NOT be
used with the pseudo-format COMPLETE.
A maximum of 100 document numbers can be
kept in SS 98.

Related topics:

EXTERNAL

..FO
..FOR
..LI
..LP
..PSET

(focus)
(specific formats)
(list)
(long list)
(defined page settings)

The SS 98 is followed by a < symbol in the

search history, indicating that no highlight, no
focus and no proximity operators can be used.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Parameters NOT implemented :
PSET, R <Format_Name>, MINUS, FROM
If the STDR format is not defined, then the
default format is MAX.
If the MAX format is not defined, all fields are
listed.
The navigation option R(EPEAT) uses the MAX
format, if defined, otherwise it displays all the
fields.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

creates, lists and deletes clusters

lists the name of the predefined public clusters

Command with parameter(s)
creates a cluster
max 12 characters for the cluster name
max 8 databases per cluster
max 12 defined clusters

..C(LUSTER)

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

lists the name of the private clusters defined by
the user

..CL

..C(LUSTER) PUB(LIC)

..CL <User_Cluster_Name> dBase1 dBase2

..CL LIT TDB INSPEC

lists the name of the databases defining the

specified public cluster

..CL <Public_Cluster_Name> PUB(LIC)

..CL TXTE PUB

erases the specified private cluster

..C(LUSTER) E(RASE) <User_Cluster_Name>

..CL ER LIT

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

EXTERNAL

..CL <User_Cluster_Name>
..CL LIT

PERSONAL

lists the name of the databases defining the

specified private cluster

Remarks:
The following EPOQUE reserved names may
NOT be used for a cluster name:
C(LUSTER)
P(UBLIC)
A(LL)
E(RASE)
Creating a cluster with Full-text databases
(whose name starts with the string TXT) is
not allowed.

Related topics:
..DET
..FI CL
..LI
..(P)OP

Creating and erasing a public cluster is only

allowed for some users (administrators).
Erasing a private cluster name is only allowed
when this cluster is not in use.
Erasing clusters is also possible with the
command ..ER CL.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(detailed display)
(activates a cluster)
(list)
(user options)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

provides details on the search in a cluster

..DET

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

displays detailed information
on the search results,
on the search history or
on the list of indexed terms
per database involved in the active cluster

..DE(TAIL) ON

displays only
the general search results,
the general search history or
the general list of indexed terms
for the active cluster

..DE(TAIL) OFF

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:
The command ..DET is only allowed in clusters.
The command ..DET sets the value of the
parameter DET of the ..OP command and this

EXTERNAL

Related topics:
..FI CL
..HI
..IND
..(P)OP
..SE

value is kept from one cluster to the next one

accessed.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(activates a cluster)
(search history)
(list of indexed terms)
(user options)
(pure search)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

edits a saved strategy

Command with parameter(s)
edits a PRIVATE saved strategy

..EDS

edits a PUBLIC saved strategy

..EDS <Public_Strategy_Name> PUB(LIC)

..EDS PHYT01 PUB

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

INTERNAL

..EDS <Private_Strategy_Name>
..EDS OPTIFIB

Remarks:

..HI SE
..ER SE
..EX
..SV SE

(lists the history of a strategy)

(erases a saved strategy)
(executes a saved strategy)
(saves a strategy)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

The syntax of the queries used in the saved

strategy is checked when exiting the edition.
The field names are NOT checked. Stacked
queries are not accepted. ..LIM, ..STRS and
*Mn are the only accepted commands.

EXTERNAL

Related topics:

PERSONAL

Editing public saved strategies is only allowed

for your own public saved strategies.
Only a small amount of users (administrators)
are allowed to edit public saved strategies of
other users.
Any editing, i.e. delete, cut, copy, paste or
insert, is allowed. Changes in the numbering
of the SSs have to be done manually by the
user.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

The strategies are saved as preparations, which
can only be edited in the Preparation Session.

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

..ER

erases search statement(s)

Command without parameter
erases last SS of the current active database

..ER(ASE)

Command with parameter(s)

erases a specific SS and its related SSs

..ER 3

erases several SSs

..ER 3-6 8

erases the SSs with nil (zero) results

..ER SSZ(ERO)

erases the whole search in the current active

database

..ER A(LL)

erases the search in all activated databases

..ER FROM BE(GIN) or

..ER A(LL) FROM BE(GIN)

same parameters for a non-current database

..ER 2-7 FROM ECLA

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

The FROM parameter has to be used at the

end of the command. When it is used with
BEGIN, any specified SS is ignored.
A maximum of 20 different SS numbers or
intervals may be specified.

Related topics:
..KE
..HI

(keeps SSs)
(displays the search history)

In CLUSTERS,
The parameter SSZERO can NOT be used.
The commands ..ER ALL and ..ER FROM
BEGIN are equivalent.

Personal (PDBs): ENTIRELY implemented

Specific SS numbers may NOT be combined
with the parameter FROM.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

erases a cluster defined by the user

Command with parameter(s)
erases a specific cluster defined by the user

..ER CL

erases all clusters defined by the user

..ER CL A(LL)

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

INTERNAL

..E(RASE) C(LUSTER) <Cluster_Name>

..ER CL NONPAT

Remarks:

Related topics:

Erasing clusters is also possible with the

command ..CL ER.

PERSONAL

Only clusters defined by the user can be

erased. Predefined PUBLIC clusters can only be
erased by some users (administrators).

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

..CL
(defines a cluster)
..FI CL (selects a cluster for search)

EXTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

..ER FOR

erases a format defined by the user

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

erases a specific format defined by the user

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

..ER(ASE) FOR(MAT) <Format_Name>

..ER FOR CLAS

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

PERSONAL

Only formats defined by the user can be

erased.

Related topics:
(lists and creates formats)

EXTERNAL

..FOR

Personal (PDBs): ENTIRELY implemented

10

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

erases memorised terms

..ER Mn
..ER(ASE) M1

Command with parameter(s)

erases specific term(s) from a specific memory

..ER M2 1-10,15 25-*

erases from the memory the terms...

... including a specific string
(up to 12 characters)
... excluding a specific string
(up to 12 characters)

..ER M3 WITH FR

..ER M4 NOT EP

..ER M1 1-20 LG 8 or
..ER M1 1-20 LEN(GTH) 8

... truncates the remaining terms up to a

specific character (excluded)

..ER M2 10-30 BO(UNDS) /

... truncates the remaining terms to the string

embedded between 2 specific positions

..ER M3 2 4 10 BO(UNDS) 9-12

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

PERSONAL

erases the designated terms and...

... truncates the remaining terms to a specific
length
Min : 1
Max : 255

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

erases the whole contents of a specific memory

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

EXTERNAL

Remarks:
The parameter BO <Character> allows only
one character.
The string of the parameters WITH or NOT
and the character of the parameter BO must
be between double quotes () and are set in
uppercase before they are compared with the
remaining terms.
The parameter BO 1-n is equivalent to the
parameter LG n.
The command ..ER M2 WITH EP is equivalent to the command ..KE M2 NOT EP.
The command ..ER M2 NOT H01 is equivalent to the command ..KE M2 WITH H01.

Related topics:
..KE Mn
..LI Mn
..MEM
..MEMS

(keeps memorised terms)

(lists the memory contents)
(extracts and stores terms)
(statistical analysis)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Erasing terms from memory Mn is only

allowed for data extracted by means of the
..MEM command. It is prohibited for ..MEMS
extracted data, i.e. only the command ..ER
Mn (without parameter) is allowed for
memories storing data extracted by means of
the ..MEMS command.
The parameters WITH, NOT, BO and LG are
mutually exclusive.
No intervals of extracted terms can be used
with the parameters WITH and NOT.
A maximum of 20 different term numbers or
intervals may be specified.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Only the command ..ER Mn (without
parameter) is allowed.
The extracted terms are memorised in a crossfile whose contents can be modified in the
Preparation Session.
11

..ER PRn

cancels an offline print order

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

cancels a specific print order

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

..ER(ASE) PR5

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

PERSONAL

The number of the print order to cancel

corresponds to the one given at the
confirmation of the offline print order. The
cancellation is only effective during the
buffering of the print order. The buffer is
emptied (approximately) every 45 minutes.

Related topics:

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(offline print order)

EXTERNAL

..PR

No space between PR and the print order

number for the cancellation : ..ER PR 5
generates an error message.

12

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

erases a saved strategy

Command with parameter(s)

erases, after selection, the saved strategies
which are listed in one go, ignoring the
Continue Y/N ? messages

..ER(ASE) SE(ARCH)

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

erases, after selection, the private saved
strategies, which are listed in groups of
maximum 16 names

..ER SE

..ER SE NONST(OP)

..ER SE US(ER) PUB(LIC)

erases a specific private saved strategy

..ER SE <Private_Strategy_Name>
..ER SE OPTIFIB

erases a specific public saved strategy created

by the user

..ER SE US <Public_Strategy_Name> PUB

..ER SE US PHYT01 PUB

PERSONAL

erases, after selection, the PUBLIC saved

strategies created by the user

Command with string search option(s)

..ER SE <String+>
..ER SE MET+

erases, after selection, the saved strategies

whose name contains the specified string
(up to 8 characters)

..ER SE WITH <String>

..ER SE WITH TEST

erases, after selection, the saved strategies

whose name does NOT contain the specified
string
(up to 8 characters)

..ER SE NOT <String>

..ER SE NOT LOOP

EXTERNAL

erases, after selection, the saved strategies

whose name starts with the specified string

Command with sorting option(s)

erases, after selection, the saved strategies
which are sorted by their creation date and
time...
... the most recent strategy listed first
... the oldest strategy listed first
combination of a listing parameter and a sorting
option

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

..ER SE DATE +
..ER SE DYN+ DATE ..ER SE WITH TE DATE - NONST US PUB

13

..ER SE

erases a saved strategy

Selection

INTERNAL

Selection of number(s) (or intervals of numbers)

corresponding to the listed saved strategies
Selection of all listed saved strategies
No selection and the next 16 strategies are listed
No selection and the ..ER SE command is no more
active

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

Options
n m-p or S(ELECT) n m-p
A(LL) or S(ELECT) A(LL)
M(ORE) or Y(ES)
N(O)

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

PERSONAL

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

The string associated with the parameters

WITH or NOT must be within double quotes
().
The parameters <Strategy_Name>, <String+>,
WITH <String> and NOT <String> are
mutually exclusive, i.e. no combination of
these 4 parameters is allowed.
However, the 3 last parameters may be
combined with the NONST, US PUB and PUB
parameters.
The sorting option DATE may be combined
with any of the parameters of the ..ER SE
command, except for the parameter
<Strategy_Name>, e.g. the command ..ER SE
MINESV DATE+ generates an error message.
If the sorting option DATE is ignored, the
names of the saved strategies are sorted
alphabetically (from A to Z).

Related topics:
..EDS
..EX
..HI SE
..SV SE

14

(edits a saved strategy)

(executes a saved strategy)
(lists the history of a strategy)
(saves a strategy)

A space separates mandatorily the order

criterion, defined by + (plus) or - (minus) from
the parameter DATE. The order criterion +
(plus) is the default one, i.e. it may be ignored.
The commands ..ER SE DATE and ..ER SE
DATE + are equivalent.
The parameter US(ER) has to be used with the
parameter PUB(LIC). Users are only allowed to
erase the public saved strategies they have
created.
Only a small amount of users (administrators)
are allowed to erase public saved strategies of
other users. Some categories of users have no
access to the common pool of public saved
strategies.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

The strategies are saved as preparations, which
can only be erased in the Preparation Session.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

executes a search

..EX(ECUTE)

... at the re-execution of the whole set of

queries in a new database

..FI PAJ;..EX FROM WPI

... when the re-execution of queries has been

partially performed

..EX

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

..EX 2 7-9 FROM TDB

PERSONAL

Command with parameter(s)

executes specific queries of a search done in a
different database

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

the command is only effective for queries
without any results...
... after the command ..UP

..EX

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

Related topics:
..FI
..HI
..LIM
..ST

(selects a database)
(lists the search history)
(limits the search to records)
(stops the session)

The FROM parameter has to be used at the

end of the command.
A maximum of 20 different SS numbers or
intervals may be specified.

EXTERNAL

A query with a nil (zero) result is a query WITH

a result. A query WITHOUT result is indicated
by a hyphen (-) in the history of the strategy.
The SSs are automatically renumbered at the
execution of a strategy. Executing a specific
query launches the execution of all queries
related to this 1st query, if any.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

In case no parameter is entered, i.e. no search
statement number is mentioned, the parameter
FROM is mandatory.
If the command ..EX, i.e. without the parameter
FROM, is used in the same database, search
statement numbers have to be entered.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

15

..EX

executes a saved strategy

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

executes a PRIVATE saved strategy

..EX(ECUTE) <Private_Strategy_Name>
..EX OPTIFIB

executes a PUBLIC saved strategy

..EX(ECUTE) <Public_Strategy_Name> PUB(LIC)

..EX PHYT PUB

executes a specific query of a private saved

strategy

..EX OPTIFIB 10

executes specific queries of a public saved

strategy

..EX PHYT 3 5-6 PUB

executes a saved strategy, keeping only the

result of the last SS

..EX OPTIFIB SSAU

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

The parameters may be combined in any order.

A ..LIM ALL command is automatically added
when a saved strategy containing ..LIM
command(s) is executed with the parameter
SSAU.
In order to execute a saved strategy, there must
be at least the same number of free SSs in the
search history as there are different SSs in the

Related topics:
..EDS
..ER SE
..HI SE
..SV SE

16

(edits a saved strategy)

(erases a saved strategy)
(lists the history of a strategy)
(saves a saved strategy)

saved strategy, otherwise the saved strategy can

not be executed (e.g. a saved strategy of 60 SSs
can not be executed when there are already 40
SSs in the search history (40 + 60 > 96)).
This applies also when the parameter SSAU is
used.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

The strategies are saved as preparations, whose
execution is launched by ..<Strategy_Name>
(without ..EX).

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

searches for the EPO family member(s) of a patent

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

searches for the complete patent family in the
EPODOC database from...
... the publication number /PN

..FAM

..FAM FR2498372/PN

... the application number /AP

..FAM EP930115910/AP

... the priority number /PR

..FAM US830943483/PR
..FAM GB2276066/PN

searches the family members of several

documents: the search field is mandatoriy given
as PREFIX

..FAM /PN EP207240,DE4415105

searches the family members of documents

retrieved for a specific SS

..FAM SS 3

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

PERSONAL

searches the family members of one document:

the search field is mandatoriy given as SUFFIX

Remarks:

Related topics: None

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

For ..FAM <doc>/PN, the following 2 queries

are automatically
generated:
1. <doc>/PN
2. ..ER M4;..MEM M4 /PR RK 1;*M4
/PR/AL
For ..FAM <doc>/AP, the following 2 queries
are automatically
generated:
1. <doc>/AP
2. ..ER M4;..MEM M4 /PR RK 1;*M4
/PR/AL
For ..FAM <doc>/PR, only 1 query is
automatically generated :
1. <doc>/PR

For ..FAM SS n, the following 2 queries are

automatically generated :
1. n
2. ..ER M4;..MEM M4 /PR RK 1;*M4
/PR/AL
If the 1st query of the different cases
mentioned above retrieves more than 10
documents, the command ..FAM stops, giving
only the results of this 1st query.
In CLUSTERS,
the command ..FAM is NOT allowed.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

17

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

..FI

selects a database for the search

Command without parameter
lists the name of the databases available for
search (navigation and selection possible)

..FI(LE)

Command with parameter(s)

lists the name of the databases, starting at the
4th position with the name which matches the
closest the specified string

..FI <String>+
..FI EP+

activates a database for the search

..FI EPODOC

activates an other database and...

... saves the search performed in the previous
database

..FI EPODOC SV or ..FI EPODOC SAVE

... erases the search performed during the last

time the previous database was active

..FI EPODOC ER

... erases the searches of all databases

previously activated and deactivates them

..FI EPODOC BEGIN

EXTERNAL

gives information on the contents of the

specified database

Navigation (..FI without parameter)

List of the next screen of database names
List the previous screen of database names
Selection of a database name within the list
End of list operation
FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

..FI EPODOC STAT(ISTICS)

Options
M(ORE) or Y(ES)
P(REVIOUS)
n or S(ELECT) n
N(ONE)
FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:
The number of listed database names
(command ..FI without parameter) depends on
the value of the parameter NL of the
command ..(P)OP.

Related topics:
..ER ALL
..EX
..FI CL
18

The information on the contents of a database

indicates the number of documents, the
number of indexed terms, the first and last
update period, if any.

Personal (PDBs): ENTIRELY implemented

(erases the current search)

(executes searches)
(selects a cluster for search)
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

selects a cluster for the search

Command with parameter(s)
selects a PRIVATE cluster defined by the user

..FI CL

selects a predefined PUBLIC cluster

..FI CL <Public_Cluster_Name> PUB(LIC)

..FI CL TXTUS PUB

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

INTERNAL

..FI(LE) C(LUSTER) <User_Cluster_Name>

..FI CL LIT

Remarks:

Related topics:
..CL
..DET
..FI
..(P)OP

PERSONAL

At the activation of a cluster, all previous

strategies are deleted and the databases
previously used are deactivated.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(defines a cluster)
(detailed display)
(selects a database)
(user options)

EXTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

19

INTERNAL

..FIEL

lists the field names

Command without parameter
lists the name of the fields constituting the
current database

..FIEL(DS)

Command with parameter(s)

lists the name of the fields constituting a specific
database

..FIEL FROM EUREG

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

PERSONAL

Remarks:
Each field has its name, the name of the
associated index, the type of indexing used
and a title used as description, all listed in
columns.

Related topics:

EXTERNAL

..FI
..IND
..FOR

20

(selects a database)
(lists the index names)
(lists the formats)

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Parameters NOT implemented :
FROM

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

displays the text surrounding the term(s) found during the search

Command with parameter(s)

focuses on the found terms of a specific SS

..FO(CUS)

..FO SS 2
..FO 7

focuses with x lines in total surrounding the

found (=highlighted) terms
Default : 3
Min : 1
Max : 10

..FO NL 6

focuses on the found terms with a whole

database sentence

..FO SEN(TENCE)

focuses on the found terms with a whole

database paragraph

..FO PRG

combination of parameters

..FO SS 2 7 NL 6 FROM PAJ

Keeps the current record in SS 98 and lists the

next record or passage
End of focussing operation

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

Next passage, or next record if no next passage

First passage of current record
Next record
Skip x records
Previous record
Skip backwards x records
First record
Last record
Repeat same record in a predefined format
Default : MAX format
Repeat same record in a user defined format

PERSONAL

focuses from a specific record onwards

Navigation

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

focuses around the found (=highlighted)
terms...
... starting with the 1st record of the last SS
... with x lines displayed
(x being set by the parameter NLFOC of
the command ..(P)OP)

..FO

Options
M(ORE)
P
ND
M x or ND x
PD
P x or PD x
FD
LD
R(EPEAT)
R STDR
REPEAT <Format_Name>
R CHEM
K(EEP)
N(ONE)

21

..FO

displays the text surrounding the term(s) found during the search

INTERNAL

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

Remarks:

PERSONAL

The parameters may be combined in any order

except for FROM, placed at the end.
The command ..FO is independent of the
value of the parameter HLIG of the command
..(P)OP.
The navigation from one passage to the other,
within a record is determined by the
parameter NL of the ..(P)OP command.
The value of the parameter NL of the

Related topics:

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(browses)
(lists)
(long list)
(user options)
(ranks records)

EXTERNAL

..BR
..LI
..LP
..(P)OP
..RK

command ..FO takes precedence on the value

of the parameter NLFOC of the ..(P)OP
command.
Using the ..FO command is NOT allowed for
SS 98 and SS 99.
A maximum of 100 document numbers can be
kept in SS 98.
The SS 98 is followed by a < symbol in the
search history, indicating that no highlight, no
focus and no proximity operators can be used.

22

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

lists and creates search / display / print formats

..FOR(MAT)

Command with parameter(s)

lists the formats defined by the user,
independently of the active database

..FOR US(ER)

..FOR <Format_Name> <field1> <field2> <field3>

..FOR CLAS EC ECC INF

. combination of parameters

..FOR FROM EPODOC

..FOR GBTX TI USAB EPAB FROM WPI

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

PERSONAL

creates a specific user format

max 10 fields per user format
max 10 formats per user
max 4 characters for the name of the format,
which starts mandatorily with a letter

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

lists the formats predefined for the current
database

..FOR

Remarks:

Related topics:
..ER FOR
..BR
..LI
..LP
..PR
..SE

(erases formats)
(browses)
(lists)
(long list)
(offline print)
(pure search)

Predefined and user formats may be

combined with extra or less fields by means
of the parameters PLUS or MINUS,
respectively, when used with the ..BR, ..LI,
..LP and ..PR commands.
Formats can be used as SUPERINDEXES
during the search.
The parameter FROM, always put at the end
of the command, can only be used for active
databases and is ignored for the CREATION
of user formats in CLUSTERS.

EXTERNAL

Every database has its own predefined

formats. MAX, STDR, TEST, ZOOM and VDTX
are mandatorily predefined formats.
COMPLETE is a pseudo-format which lists all
the fields of a database in the order of their
creation.
The fields defining a user format should exist
in the current active database, during the
creation of this format. However the latter can
be used in other databases, which have not all
the defined fields. The missing fields are
indicated by a star (*) when the ..FOR US
command is used.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Parameters NOT implemented :
FROM, US
Formats defined by the user can only be used
for the command ..LI and ..BR.
There is no limit for the number of defined
formats.
There is no limit for the number of involved fields.
Maximum 6 characters are allowed for the
format name.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

23

..HE

on-line help given for the syntax or use of a command

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

provides an on-line help, which guides the user
through menus

PERSONAL

Command with parameter(s)

gives information on the USAGE of the
command specified as parameter:
the ENTIRE name has to be entered

..HE(LP)

..HE LIST

provides the SYNTAX of the command specified

as parameter:
the ABBREVIATED name has to be entered

..HE LI

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

Each mainframe command has an abbreviated

name and a full name, e.g. when the
command ..LI is presented as ..LI(ST) in this
Quick Reference Guide,
LI
is its abbreviation
LIST
is its full name.

Related topics:

The command specified as parameter of the

..HE command can NOT be followed by any of
its associated parameter, e.g. ..HE LI NONST
generates an error message.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

..INFO (on-line information)

24

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

displays the history of the search

Command with parameter(s)

displays the history of specific search
statement(s)

..HI(STORY)

..HI 5-8

..HI FROM BEG(IN)

same parameters for a non-current database

..HI 12 FROM INSPEC

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

..DET
..ER
..KE
..(P)OP

The same applies for the Search Statements

having a ..LIM command used with ..(P)OP
LIM LIGHT, or when the command ..STRS
was used.
A maximum of 20 different SS numbers or
intervals may be specified.
In CLUSTERS,
the behaviour of ..HI depends on the ..DET
command or on the value of the parameter
DET of the ..(P)OP command.

EXTERNAL

Related topics:

PERSONAL

displays the history of the whole search done in

all activated databases

The FROM parameter has to be used at the

end of a ..HI command. When it is used with
BEGIN, any specified SS is ignored, e.g. e.g. in
the command ..HI 12 FROM BEGIN, 12 is
ignored.
The SS 98 associated to the command ..BR
and ..FO and the SS 99 of the command ..RK
and ..SO are followed by a symbol < in the
search history when the ..HI command is
used, indicating that no highlight, no focus
and no proximity operators can be used.

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

displays the history (set of search statements) of
the whole search done in the current active
database

..HI

Personal (PDBs): ENTIRELY implemented

(only allowed in clusters)

(erases SSs)
(keeps SSs)
(user options)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

25

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

..HI SE

lists the saved strategies

Command without parameter
lists the name of all strategies saved in the
PRIVATE pool of the user

..HI(STORY) SE(ARCH)

Command with parameter(s)

lists the saved strategies in one go, ignoring the
Continue Y/N ? messages

..HI SE NONST(OP)

lists the name of all strategies saved in the

PUBLIC pool common to all users

..HI SE PUB(LIC)

lists the PUBLIC saved strategies created by the

user

..HI SE US(ER) PUB(LIC)

lists the history of a specific PRIVATE saved

strategy

..HI SE <Private_Strategy_Name>
..HI SE OPTIFIB

lists the history of a specific PUBLIC saved

strategy

..HI SE <Public_Strategy_Name> PUB(LIC)

..HI SE PHYT PUB

EXTERNAL

Command with string search option(s)

lists the saved strategies whose name starts with
the specified string

..HI SE <String+>
..HI SE MET+

lists the saved strategies whose name contains the

specified string
(up to 8 characters)

..HI SE WITH <String>

..HI SE WITH TEST

lists the saved strategies whose name does NOT

contain the specified string
(up to 8 characters)

..HI SE NOT <String>

..HI SE NOT LOOP

Command with sorting option(s)

lists the saved strategies by sorting them by their
creation date and time...
... the most recent strategy listed first
... the oldest strategy listed first
combination of a listing parameter and a sorting
option

26

..HI SE DATE +
..HI SE DYN+ DATE ..HI SE WITH TE DATE - NONST US PUB

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

lists the saved strategies

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

(edits a saved strategy)

(executes a saved strategy)
(erases a saved strategy)
(saves a strategy)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

EXTERNAL

..EDS
..EX
..ER SE
..SV SE

A space separates mandatorily the order

criterion, defined by + (plus) or - (minus) from
the parameter DATE. The order criterion +
(plus) is the default one, i.e. it may be
ignored. The commands ..HI SE DATE and
..HI SE DATE + are equivalent.
The parameter US(ER) has to be used with the
parameter PUB(LIC). Users are allowed to list
selectively the public saved strategies they
have created. Only a small amount of users
(administrators) are allowed to list selectively
public saved strategies of other users. Some
categories of users have no access to the
common pool of public saved strategies.

PERSONAL

Related topics:

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

INTERNAL

The string associated with the parameters

WITH or NOT must be within double quotes
().
The parameters <Strategy_Name>,
<String>+, WITH <String> and NOT
<String> are mutually exclusive, i.e. no
combination of these 4 parameters is allowed.
However, the 3 last parameters may be
combined with the NONST, US PUB and PUB
parameters.
The sorting option DATE may be combined
with any of the parameters of the ..HI SE
command, except for the parameter
<Strategy_Name>, e.g. the command ..HI SE
MINESV DATE + generates an error message.
If the sorting option DATE is ignored, the
names of the saved strategies are sorted
alphabetically (from A to Z).

..HI SE

The strategies are saved as preparations, whose

history can only be listed in the Preparation
Session.

27

..IND

lists the index names

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

lists the name of the indexes related to the
current database

..IND(EX)

lists the name of the indexes related to the

specified database

..IND FROM DOSYS

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

Remarks:

PERSONAL

The list is constituted of the name of indexes

and the title of the associated field.

Related topics:

Personal (PDBs): ENTIRELY implemented

(lists the field names)

(lists and creates formats)

EXTERNAL

..FIEL
..FOR

The parameter FROM can only be used with

databases which are already active.

28

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

searches for records from a list of indexed terms

Command with parameter(s)

displays an alphabetically sorted list of 15
indexed terms around the searched term
(navigation and selection possible)...
... in the basic index

..IND(EX) <Searched_Term>
..IND AERO

PERSONAL

... in a specific index

..IND(EX)

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

displays an alphabetically sorted list of 15
indexed terms around the searched term
(navigation and selection possible) which was
not found and thus generated the error
message Term not in index
(term context sensitive)

..IND

..IND /EC H01H11

Navigation

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

M(ORE) or Y(ES)
P(REVIOUS)
n m-p or S(ELECT) n m-p
A(LL) or S(ELECT) A(LL)
N(O)

EXTERNAL

List of the next 15 indexed terms

List of the previous 15 indexed terms
Selection of terms (or intervals of terms) within
the 15 listed indexed terms
Selection of all listed terms
End of list operation (term context inhibited)

Options

FROM in clusters: Allowed

Remarks:
If the searched term exists in the list of
indexed terms, it is displayed at the 5th
position in the list. Otherwise the most
accurate terms around the searched one are at
position 5 and 6.
The indexed terms are extracted from the
basic index (BI) if no field is mentioned, e.g.
the command ..IND AERO is equivalent to
..IND /BI AERO.
In case of term context sensitivity, if a
query (e.g. DUMMI) generates the error
message Term not in index, the command

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

..IND which follows the failed query is

equivalent to ..IND /BI DUMMI.
Numericals should be delimited by double
quotes (), e.g. the command ..IND 9 might
list the indexed terms with the 9th indexed
term of the previously ..IND list on position 5
whilst the command ..IND 9 lists the
indexed term 9 at position 5.
The use of the command ..IND is PROHIBITED
in the fields concerned by the database
confidentiality.

29

INTERNAL

..IND

searches for records from a list of indexed terms

In CLUSTERS,
The command ..IND <Searched_Term> with
the parameter FROM(e.g. ..IND DUMMI
FROM WPI) displays ONLY the list of indexed
terms : NO selection of terms is possible.
The command ..IND displays the list of

PERSONAL

Related topics:
..DET
(only allowed in clusters)
..IND
(lists the index names)
..SE
(pure search)
/SEL, /ALL (truncation qualifiers)

indexed terms of each involved database

depending on the ..DET command or on the
value of the parameter DET of the ..(P)OP
command.
The command is not term context sensitive.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

An existing indexed term is listed at the 1st
position in the list. The list displays indexed
terms with their corresponding number of
OCCURRENCES.
The command is NOT term context sensitive.

EXTERNAL

A field, linked to the basic index BI, has still its

own list of indexed terms.

30

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

on-line information on EPOQUE

Command with parameter(s)

provides information on a specific topic

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

..INFO

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

provides information on EPOQUE through
menus

..INFO

..INFO NEWS

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

Related topics:
..HE

PERSONAL

The topics for which information is available

may be found back in the first menu shown
when the command ..INFO WITHOUT
parameter is used.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(on-line help)

EXTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

31

..KE

keeps search statement(s)

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

keeps a specific SS and its related SSs

..KE(EP) 3

keeps several SSs

..KE 3-7 9

same parameters for a non-current database

..KE 2 5-9 FROM PAJ

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

PERSONAL

The parameter FROM has to be used at the

end of the command.

Related topics:

Personal (PDBs): ENTIRELY implemented

(erases SSs)
(displays the search history)

EXTERNAL

..ER
..HI

A maximum of 20 different SS numbers or

intervals may be specified.

32

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

keeps memorised terms

Command with parameter(s)
keeps specific term(s) in the specified memory

... excluding a specific string

(up to 12 characters)

..KE M2 WITH FR

..KE M3 NOT EP

..KE M4 1-20 LG 8 or
..KE M4 1-20 LEN(GTH) 8

... truncates them up to the specified

character (excluded)

..KE M1 10-30 BO(UNDS) /

... truncates them to the string embedded

between 2 specific positions

..KE M2 2 4 10 BO(UNDS) 9-12

PERSONAL

keeps in the specified memory the designated

terms and...
... truncates them to a specific length
Min : 1
Max : 255

..KE(EP) M1 1-10 15

INTERNAL

keeps in the specified memory the terms...

... including a specific string
(up to 12 characters)

..KE Mn

Remarks:

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

Related topics:
..ER Mn
..LI Mn
..MEM
..MEMS
*Mn

(erases memorised terms)

(lists the memory contents)
(extracts and stores terms)
(statistical analysis)
(searches memorised terms)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Keeping terms in memory Mn is only allowed

for data extracted by means of the ..MEM
command. It is prohibited for ..MEMS
extracted data, i.e. only the command ..KE
Mn (without parameter) is allowed for
memories storing data extracted by means of
the ..MEMS command.
The parameters WITH, NOT, BO and LG are
mutually exclusive.
No intervals of extracted terms can be used
with the parameters WITH and NOT.
A maximum of 20 different term numbers or
intervals may be specified.

EXTERNAL

The parameter BO <Character> allows only

one character. The string of the parameters
WITH or NOT and the character of the
parameter BO must be between double
quotes () and are set in uppercase before
they are compared with the remaining terms.
The parameter BO 1-n is equivalent to the
parameter LG n.
The command ..KE M2 WITH 1998 is
equivalent to the command ..ER M2 NOT
1998.
The command ..KE M3 NOT G06F is
equivalent to the command ..ER M3 WITH
G06F.

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented
The extracted terms are memorised in a crossfile, whose contents can be modified in the
Preparation Session.

33

..LI

lists the contents of the retrieved records

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

lists all retrieved records of the last SS...
... in the STDR format
... with the page setting predefined for the
current active database

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

Command with parameter(s)

lists the records of a specific SS

34

..LI(ST)

..LI SS 7

lists specific record(s)

..LI 1-5 8

lists records in a specific predefined format

..LI MAX

lists records in a format defined by the user

..LI <Format_Name>
..LI CLAS

lists specific field(s)

..LI EC ECC INF or ..LI /EC/ECC /INF

lists records in a user format with additional

fields

..LI OWN PLUS KW AW

lists records in a predefined format with less

fields

..LI FULL MINUS AB

lists records with a page setting defined by the

user

..LI PSET 3

lists records without the copyright header of

each record, except for the very first one

..LI NOHE(ADER)

lists all retrieved records of the last SS for every

database involved in a CLUSTER

..LI NONST(OP)

combination of parameters

..LI SS 2 1-3 ZOOM PLUS XPN FROM WPI

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

lists the contents of the retrieved records

..LI

Remarks:

Related topics:
(browses)
(focuses)
(specific formats)
(long lists)
(defined page settings)

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Parameters NOT implemented :
PSET, NONST, MINUS, FROM

PERSONAL

..BR
..FO
..FOR
..LP
..PSET

In CLUSTERS,
the parameter NONST avoids the question
Continue on the next database Y/N ? during
the listing of results.

INTERNAL

The parameters may be combined in any

order except for FROM, always placed at the
end of the command.
The parameters PLUS and MINUS can NOT
be used with the pseudo-format COMPLETE.
A maximum of 20 different record numbers or
intervals may be specified.

If the STDR format is not defined, then the

default format is MAX.
If the MAX format is not defined, all fields are
listed.

EXTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

35

..LI Mn

lists memorised terms

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

lists the contents of a specific memory, 15 by 15
extracted terms (navigation possible)
lists specific term(s) stored in the memory

..LI M2 10-30 60-80

lists the whole memory contents in one go

..LI M3 NONST(OP)

combination of parameters

..LI M4 1-20 25 NONST

Navigation

PERSONAL

..LI(ST) M1

. List of the next 15 extracted terms

. End of the list operation
FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

Options
Y(ES) or M(ORE)
N(ONE)
FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

A maximum of 20 different term numbers or

intervals may be specified.

Related topics:
..ER Mn
..KE Mn
..MEM
..MEMS
*Mn

36

(erases memorised terms)

(keeps memorised terms)
(extracts and stores terms)
(statistical analysis)
(searches memorised terms)

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

The extracted terms are memorised in a crossfile, whose contents can be listed in the
Preparation Session.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

limits the search to the result of a SS

Command with parameter(s)
limits to a search statement (SS) number

..LIM

..LIM(IT) 3
..LIM H01H/EC AND JP/PN
..LIM OR CAR?,VEHICLE?,AUTOMOBILE?

all search limitation(s) are inhibited

..LIM(IT) A(LL)

INTERNAL

limits to the result of a query

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

Related topics:

The SSs with a ..LIM command generated

with ..(P)OP LIM LIGHT are indicated by <
in front of the ..LIM command in the search
history when the ..HI command is used.
Several commands ..LIM can be used in a
same search but the parameter ALL inhibits
them all at once whilst the ..UNLIM command
removes them one by one, starting with the
last ..LIM command.
A command ..LIM on a nil (zero) result is NOT
cancelled.
The use of the command ..LIM is RESTRICTED
in the fields concerned by the database
confidentiality.

PERSONAL

In order to avoid restricting prematurarily

ones workspace on the mainframe, it is
recommended to limit ones search to a query
and NOT to a search statement (SS) number.
Another way to prevent filling up ones
workspace on the mainframe is to use the
value LIGHT of the parameter LIM of the
..(P)OP command instead of the value FULL.
The ..(P)OP LIM FULL stores in the
workspace the position (field, paragraph,
sentence, rank) of each term found in the
retrieved records.
The ..(P)OP LIM LIGHT stores only the
record numbers in which the terms have
been found.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

..HI
(displays the search history)
..LIM *TR (searches extracted PNs)
..(P)OP (user options)
..UNLIM (removes a level of limitation)
..UP
(limits search to update periods)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

37

..LIM *TR

searches extracted PN numbers

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

searches in the active full-text TXTCCx or PAJ
databases, the PN numbers which were
extracted in EPODOC with the ..TR command

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

PERSONAL

The list of extracted PN numbers is submitted

by means of the ..LIM *TR command to the
/PN field of PAJ or of the full-text database
which is active, i.e. use the ..FI command
before the ..LIM *TR command.
..LIM *TR can only be applied to the TXTCCx
or PAJ database.
Since the same TR list of extracted PNs can be
submitted to different databases, the ..LIM *TR
command can also be applied to the public
full-text clusters, e.g. TXTUS, TXTE, TXTF or
TXTG.

EXTERNAL

Related topics:

..LIM(IT) *TR(ANSFER)

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

The ..LIM *TR command cant be used when a
..LIM (or ..UP) is already active, i.e. use the
..LIM ALL (or ..UP ALL) command before the
..LIM *TR command if a ..LIM is active.
The command ..LIM *TR is implicitly of the
LIGHT type (opposed to the FULL type;
see the command P(OP) for more details)).
The search statement of ..LIM *TR is followed
by a symbol < in the search history, indicating
that no highlight, no focus can be used for this
SS.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

..MEM (extracts and stores terms)

*Mn
(searches memorised terms)
..TR
(extracts and stores PNs)

38

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

displays long records page by page

Command with parameter(s)

lists the records of a specific SS

..LP

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

lists records by starting...
... with the 1st mainframe page
... concerning the 1st record of the last SS
... in the STDR format
... with the page setting predefined for the
current active database

..LP

..LP SS 15

lists in a specific predefined format

..LP ZOOM

lists in a format defined by the user

..LP <Format_Name>
..LP ABST

lists specific field(s)

..LP TI AB USAB /EPAB

lists a user format and additional fields

..LP PNPR PLUS DESC

lists a predefined format with less fields

..LP MAX MINUS CLMS

lists with a user defined page setting

..LP PSET 2

combination of parameters

..LP SS 3 4-10 MAX PSET 6 FROM TDB

Navigation
Next page within a document
Previous page within a document
First page of the next document
First page of the previous document
Next page where a highlighted term is present or
last page of the document, if no further
highlighted term
Previous page where a highlighted term is present
or first page of the document, if no further
highlighted term
End of list operation

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

..LP 2-4 7 10-13

PERSONAL

lists specific record(s)

Options
M(ORE)
P(REVIOUS)
ND
PD
F

PF

N(O)

FROM in clusters: Allowed

39

..LP

displays long records page by page

Remarks:

INTERNAL

A mainframe page contains 18 lines of text.

The ..LP command ignores the value of the
parameter NL of the ..P(OP) command.
A maximum of 20 different record numbers or
intervals may be specified.

Related topics:

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(browses)
(specific formats)
(focuses)
(lists)
(defined page settings)

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

..BR
..FOR
..FO
..LI
..PSET

The parameters PLUS and MINUS can NOT be

used with the pseudo-format COMPLETE.
The parameters may be combined in any order
except for FROM, always placed at the end.

40

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

extracts terms from records of a SS and stores them in a memory

..MEM /IC

extracts from several specific fields

(up to 4 fields)

..MEM /PN /PNFP /CT

extracts from a specific SS

..MEM SS 6 /PN

extracts from specific record(s)

..MEM 1-50 100 /EC

stores in a specific memory (M1, M2, M3, M4)

..MEM M3 /PR

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

extracts and stores in the default memory M1...
... every term contained in the specified field
... from all records
... of the last SS

..MEM

PERSONAL

Command with extraction option(s)

extracts terms from...
... a specific paragraph of the specified field
Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEM /PN PRG 1

..MEM /AP SEN(TENCE) 3

... a specific sentence of each paragraph
Min : 1
Max : 255

extracts the terms...

... including a specific string
(up to 12 characters)

..MEM /PR RK 2 or
..MEM /PR RANK 2

EXTERNAL

... a specific position in each sentence of each

paragraph
Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEM /PR WITH US

..MEM /AP NOT EP

... excluding a specific string
(up to 12 characters)
extracts from the terms stored in the specified
field...
... the strings of a specific length
Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEM /EC LG 8 or
..MEM /EC LEN(GTH) 8

... the strings up to a specific character

(excluded)

..MEM /ECC BO(UNDS) /

.... the strings embedded between 2 specific

positions
Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEM /ICO BO(UNDS) 7-15

combination of parameters

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

..MEM M3 SS 2 1-50 /PN PRG 1 RK 1 WITH EP

/CT SEN * FROM WPI
41

..MEM

extracts terms from records of a SS and stores them in a memory

INTERNAL

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

The command ..MEM appends the extracted

terms to those of a previous extraction.
Cleaning a memory is performed by the
command ..ER Mn.
The fields have to be preceded by a slash (/).
The parameters may be combined in any order
except for the parameter FROM, always
positioned at the end of the command.
A maximum of 20.000 terms can be extracted
before the extraction process is interrupted.
Approximately 5000 extracted terms may be
stored in a memory, depending on their
length.
The parameter BO 1-n is equivalent to the
parameter LG n.
The parameter BO <Character> allows only
one character.
The string of the parameters WITH or NOT
and the character of the parameter BO must
be between double quotes () and are set in
uppercase before they are compared with the
indexed terms.

Related topics:
..ER Mn
..KE Mn
..LI Mn
*Mn
..MEMS
..TR

(erases memorised terms)

(keeps memorised terms)
(lists the memory contents)
(searches memorised terms)
(statistical analysis)
(extracts ans stores PNs)

. The parameters SEN, PRG and RK can not be

used for fields of the ODAT and ONUM type.
These parameters can use the relative qualifier
restricted to the last item (*), e.g. ..MEM /EC
SEN *2 is NOT allowed.
The use of the command ..MEM is
PROHIBITED in the fields concerned by the
database confidentiality.
A maximum of 20 different record numbers or
intervals may be specified.
In CLUSTERS,
the parameter FROM is MANDATORY for the
SS 98 associated to the commands ..BR and
..FO, and for the SS 99 associated to the
command ..RK and ..SO. For the other SSs, the
parameter FROM can be either used or
ignored.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Parameters NOT implemented :
PRG
A word is delimited by spaces for the use of the
parameter RK. A sentence is delimited by a
semi-colon (;) for the use of the parameter SEN.
The extracted terms are stored in a file, named
Mn, which can be only used as a cross-file.
Besides Mn, any valid file name may be used.

42

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

searches memorised terms

*Mn
*M1

Command with parameter(s)

searches the memorised terms in a specific
index

*M2 /PR

*M3 /EC/ECC/INF/ICC

searches for specific term(s)

*M4 1-10 30-40 /PN

searches for terms selected from the list of

retrieved terms
(navigation and selection possible)

*M1 /PN /S or
*M1 /PN /SEL(ECT)

searches for all terms memorised

*M2 /PN /A(LL)

combination of parameters

*M4 1-50, 100 120-130 /PN /CT /EX /AL

Navigation

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Options
M(ORE) or Y(ES)

EXTERNAL

List of the next 15 retrieved terms (only when

more than 19 terms are generated)
Selection of terms (or intervals of terms) within
the 15 (or 17) listed terms
Selection of all listed terms
End of list operation

PERSONAL

searches in several indexes

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

searches the memorised terms in the basic
index BI

n m-p or S(ELECT) n m-p

A(LL)
N(O)

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

43

*Mn

searches memorised terms

Remarks:

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

The parameter SEL(ECT) and A(LL) take

precedence on the value of the TRUNC
parameter of the ..(P)OP command. The latter
is taken as default if the parameter S(ELECT)
or A(LL) are not mentioned.
The qualifier /SE does not exist (use /S or
/SEL(ECT)).
Use preferably the syntax /AL because /A or
/ALL might be field or index names in
different EPOQUE databases.

Related topics:

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(erases memorised terms)

(searches indexed terms)
(keeps memorised terms)
(lists the memorised terms)
(extracts and stores terms)
(statistical analysis)
(truncation qualifiers)
(searches extracted PNs)

EXTERNAL

..ER Mn
..IND
..KE Mn
..LI Mn
..MEM
..MEMS
/SEL, /ALL
..LIM *TR

For the parameter SEL, 17 terms are listed if

the *Mn command retrieves less than 19
terms, otherwise 15 terms are listed.
A maximum of 20 numbers of intervals is
allowed for the selection of memorised terms.
The use of the command *Mn is RESTRICTED
in the fields concerned by the database
confidentiality.

44

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

analyses terms extracted from records and stores them

..MEMS(ORT) /EC

..MEMS /IN /PA

analyses terms of a specific SS

..MEMS SS 3 /IC

analyses terms of specific record(s)

..MEMS 1-100 /ICC

analyses terms of a specific subset of records

evenly distributed in the corresponding SS
Default : subset of 500 records

..MEMS SET 1000 /EC

stores in a specific memory (M1, M2, M3, M4)

..MEMS M1 /ICO

PERSONAL

analyses terms from several specific fields

(up to 4 fields)

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

analyses and stores in the default memory M2...
... every term contained in the specified field
... from a subset of 500 records
... of the last SS
... ranked by decreasing frequencies

..MEMS

Command with extraction options

..MEMS /PN PRG 1

... a specific sentence of each paragraph

Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEMS /AP SEN(TENCE) 3

... a specific position in each sentence of each

paragraph
Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEMS /PR RK 2 or
..MEM /PR RANK 2

analyses the terms...

... including a specific string
(up to 12 characters)
... excluding a specific string
(up to 12 characters)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

analyses terms from...

.... a specific paragraph of the specified field
Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEMS /PR WITH FR

..MEMS /AN NOT NN

45

..MEMS

analyses terms extracted from records and stores them

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

analyses from the terms stored in the specified

field...
... the strings of a specific length
Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEMS /ICO LG 8 or
..MEMS /ICO LEN(GTH) 8

... the strings up to a specific character

(excluded)

..MEMS /IC BO(UNDS) /

... the strings embedded between 2 specific

positions
Min : 1
Max : 255

..MEMS /INF BO(UNDS) 5-15

Command with analysis options

EXTERNAL

terms are ranked in the memory...

... by decreasing frequency (Default)

..MEMS FRQ /EC or

..MEMS FREQ(UENCY) /EC

... by decreasing order of occurrences

..MEMS OCC /AW

... by alphabetical order

..MEMS ALPHA /TI

combination of parameters and extraction /

analysis options

..MEMS M3 ALPHA SS 2 1-500 /PN RK 1 WITH

EP /EC SEN 1 FROM EPODOC

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:
The fields have to be preceded by a slash (/).
The contents of the memory are automatically
erased at each new command ..MEMS. The
memory per default is M2.
The parameters may be combined in any
order except for the parameter FROM which is
always positioned at the end of the command
and under the condition that the extraction
options are mentioned after the analysis
options and the parameter SET.
Ranking a term by frequency means sorting it
according to the number of records
containing this term. Ranking a term by
occurrence means sorting it according to the
number of occurrences of this term in the
46

corresponding SS, without taking the records

into account.
For a same frequency or occurrence value, the
terms are ranked alphabetically.
Only the frequencies are counted for the
parameter ALPHA.
Below 500 records, the command ..MEMS
extracts terms from all the records.
Between 500 and 1000 records, the command
..MEMS extracts terms of the first 500 records.
Above 1000 records, the command ..MEMS
extracts a sample of records evenly distributed
(e.g. for a SS of 1000 records, it extracts every
2 records).

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

analyses terms extracted from records and stores them

Related topics:

In CLUSTERS,
Unlike for the command ..MEM, the
parameter FROM is MANDATORY for any SS
when the command ..MEMS is used.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(erases memorised terms)

(keeps memorised terms)
(lists the memory contents)
(searches memorised terms)
(extracts and stores terms)
(extracts and stores PNs)
(statistical analysis)

PERSONAL

..ER Mn
..KE Mn
..LI Mn
*Mn
..MEM
..TR
..SO

A maximum of 20 different record numbers or

intervals may be specified.

INTERNAL

Only the commands ..ER Mn (without

parameter) and ..KE Mn (without parameter)
are allowed for memories storing data
extracted by means of the ..MEMS command.
The use of the command ..MEMS is
PROHIBITED in the fields concerned by the
database confidentiality.

..MEMS

EXTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

47

..OP

lists and defines temporary working options

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

. lists the defined TEMPORARY options
Command with parameter(s)
sets a temporary option to a specific value:
number of lines displayed before a Continue
Y/N question
Default : 24
Min : 10
Max : 10.000
length of the messages :
in full length (Default)
abbreviated

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

behaviour at truncations:
display of the found indexed terms
(Default)
no display of the retrieved indexed terms

..OP NL 1000

..OP MSG LO(NG)

..OP MES(SAGE) SH(ORT)

..OP TRUN(CATION) S(ELECT)

..OP TRUN AU(TO) or
..OP TRUN NONST(OP)

treatment of SSs with nil (zero) results:

SSs with nil results are kept (Default)
deletion of SSs with nil (zero) results

..OP SSZ(ERO) SV or ..OP SSZ SAVE

..OP SSZ ER(ASE)

highlight of the terms found in the retrieved

records:
on (Default)
off

..OP HLIG ON
..OP HLIG OFF

delay (in seconds) between Processing

messages and before an interruption (<F12>) is
taken into account
Default : 30
Min : 1
Max: 300
detailed information on the search performed
in a cluster:
off (Default)
on
the default display mode for the ..FO
command if the latter is used without the
parameter NL, SEN and PRG:
focuses with x lines around the found
(highlighted) terms
Default : 3
Min : 1
Max : 10
focuses with a whole database sentence
focuses with a whole database paragraph
48

..OP(TION)

..OP TLIM 5

..OP DET(AIL) OFF

..OP DET ON

..OP NLFOC 6

..OP NLFOC SEN(TENCE)

..OP NLFOC PRG
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

lists and defines temporary working options

combination of parameters

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

..OP LIM(IT) FULL

INTERNAL

the way the results of a ..LIM command is

stored in the users workspace:
storage of the position (field,
paragraph, sentence, rank) of the
terms found in the retrieved records
(Default)
storage of the record number in which
the terms have been found

..OP

..OP LIM(IT) LIGHT

..OP NL 2000 HLIG ON TRUN AU MSG LO TLIM

3 SSZ SV DET ON NLFOC 5 LIM LIGHT
FROM in clusters: Unavailable

PERSONAL

Remarks:

Related topics:
..DET
..ER
..FO
..LIM
..OP
/SEL, /ALL
..ST

(detailed display)
(erases SSs)
(focuses)
(limits the search to records)
(temporary working options)
(truncation qualifiers)
(stops the session)

command ..DET changes the settings of the

..OP command accordingly. The DET option
of the ..OP command keeps the DET mode set
by the user from one cluster to the other.
The parameter NL, PRG or SEN used in a ..FO
command takes precedence on the value set
by the parameter NLFOC of the ..OP
command.
Only the boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)
are allowed when combining a query with the
SS having a ..LIM command generated with
..OP LIM LIGHT. The highlight is lost since
the position of the found terms in the
sentences and paragraphs of the field is not
stored.

EXTERNAL

The permanent options can temporarily be

changed by the ..OP command. The settings
of the temporary options are effective during
the current session, i.e. until the session is
stopped by the command ..ST EN. At a new
session, the parameters are set to their default
value, i.e. the value of the permanent working
options.
The truncation qualifiers /SEL and /ALL take
precedence on the value of the TRUN
parameter.
The command ..OP TRUN NONST / AUTO
works only on truncations. The extraction of
indexed terms for the requested truncation(s)
stops automatically at 30.000 different
retrieved indexed terms and no result is then
provided.
Searching ranges of terms is interrupted after
every 1000 found indexed terms and the
question Continue Y/N has to be answered.
The ..OP DET ON / OFF is equivalent to the
..DET ON / OFF command. Using the

In CLUSTERS,
The parameter TRUN is automatically set to
NONST and the parameter SSZ to SV. Hence
these parameters can NOT be changed.
The options set before entering into a cluster
are set back once the cluster is left.
Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented
Parameters ONLY implemented :
NL, SSZ
For the value of the parameter NL:
Default : 23
Min : 10
Max : 10.000
No combination of parameters is allowed.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

49

..POP

lists and defines permanent working options

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

lists the defined PERMANENT options
Command with parameter(s)
sets a permanent option to a specific value:
number of lines displayed before a Continue
Y/N question
Default : 24
Min : 10
Max : 10.000

PERSONAL

length of the messages :

in full length (Default)
abbreviated

EXTERNAL

behaviour at truncations:
display of the found indexed terms
(Default)
no display of the retrieved indexed terms

..POP NL 1000

..POP MSG LO(NG)

..POP MES(SAGE) SH(ORT)

..POP TRUN(CATION) S(ELECT)

..POP TRUN AU(TO) or
..POP TRUN NONST(OP)

treatment of SSs with nil (zero) results:

SSs with nil results are kept (Default)
deletion of SSs with nil (zero) results

..POP SSZ(ERO) SV or ..POP SSZ SAVE

..POP SSZ ER(ASE)

highlight of the terms found in the retrieved

records:
on (Default)
off

..POP HLIG ON
..POP HLIG OFF

delay (in seconds) between Processing

messages and before an interruption (<F12>) is
taken into account
Default : 30
Min : 1
Max: 300
detailed information on the search performed
in a cluster:
off (Default)
on
the default display mode for the ..FO
command if the latter is used without the
parameter NL, SEN and PRG:
focuses with x lines around the found
(highlighted) terms
Default : 3
Min : 1
Max : 10
focuses with a whole database sentence
focuses with a whole database paragraph
50

..POP(TION)

..POP TLIM 5

..POP DET(AIL) OFF

..POP DET ON

..POP NLFOC 6

..POP NLFOC SEN(TENCE)

..POP NLFOC PRG
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

lists and defines permanent working options

combination of parameters

Related topics:
..DET
..ER
..FO
..LIM
..OP
/SEL, /ALL
..ST

(detailed display)
(erases SSs)
(focuses)
(limits the search to records)
(temporary working options)
(truncation qualifiers)
(stops the session)

..POP NL 2000 HLIG ON TRUN AU MSG LO TLIM

3 SSZ SV DET ON NLFOC 5 LIM LIGHT

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

The parameter NL, PRG or SEN used in a ..FO
command takes precedence on the value set
by the parameter NLFOC of the ..OP
command.
Only the boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)
are allowed when combining a query with the
SS having a ..LIM command generated with
..POP LIM LIGHT. The highlight is lost since
the position of the found terms in the
sentences and paragraphs of the field is not
stored.

EXTERNAL

The values of the permanent working options

are effective after their settings and are
automatically transfered to the temporary
working settings (see the command ..OP).
The truncation qualifiers /SEL and /ALL take
precedence on the value of the TRUN
parameter.
The command ..POP TRUN NONST / AUTO
works only on truncations. The extraction of
indexed terms for the requested truncation(s)
stops automatically at 30.000 different
retrieved indexed terms and no result is then
provided.
Searching ranges of terms is interrupted after
every 1000 found indexed terms and the
question Continue Y/N has to be answered.
The DET parameter of the ..POP command
keeps the DET mode set by the user from one
session to another.

..POP LIM(IT) LIGHT

PERSONAL

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

..POP LIM(IT) FULL

INTERNAL

the way the results of a ..LIM command is

stored in the users workspace:
storage of the position (field,
paragraph, sentence, rank) of the
terms found in the retrieved records
(Default)
storage of the record number in which
the terms have been found

..POP

In CLUSTERS,
The parameter TRUN is automatically set to
NONST and the parameter SSZ to SV. Hence
these parameters can NOT be changed.
The options set before entering into a cluster
are set back once the cluster is left.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Parameters ONLY implemented :
NL, SSZ
For the value of the parameter NL:
Default : 23
Min : 10
Max : 10.000
No combination of parameters is allowed.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

51

..PR

orders an offline print of the retrieved records

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

prints all retrieved records of the last SS...
... in the MAX format
... with the page setting predefined for the
current active database

PERSONAL

Command with parameter(s)

prints the records of a specific SS

..PR(INT)

..PR SS 8

prints specific record(s)

..PR 1-5 8-12 20

prints specific field(s)

..PR PN IC TI

prints in a specific predefined format

..PR STDR

prints in a format defined by the user

..PR <Format_Name>
..PR ABRG

prints in a user format and additional fields

..PR OWN PLUS IN PA

prints in a predefined format with less fields

..PR FULL MINUS AB

prints with a page setting defined by the user

..PR PSET 4

combination of parameters

..PR SS 8 STDR 1-20 PSET 10 FROM EUREG

EXTERNAL

Command with print options (TI, SO)

a title is printed at the top of each page:
the lines are separated by an exclamation
mark (!)
max 3 lines per title
. max 60 characters per line

..PR SS 3;TI Patents on medical equipment!retrieved in A61B

the printed records are sorted according to a

specified criterion (see the ..SO command)

..PR MAX;SO /PN RK 1 +2

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:
The parameters may be combined in any order
except for FROM, always placed at the end.
Maximum 500 records can be printed for a

Related topics:
..ER PRn
..FOR
..PSET
..SO
52

same offline print command.

The print options TI, SO are separated from
the ..PR command by a semi-colon (;).

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(cancels print orders)

(specific formats)
(defined page settings)
(sorts records)
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

lists and creates page settings

lists the page settings predefined for the

CURRENT database and the page settings
defined by the user

... with page settings parameter(s):

right margin for the whole text
Default : 0
Min : 0
Max : 5

..PSET

..PSET NUM(BER) 2

..PSET NUMB 2 RMG 4

..PSET NUMB 2 LMG 8

left margin for lines excluding the field

name
Default : 4
Min : 0
Max : 20

..PSET NUMB 2 LMC 3

indentation of paragraphs and string

starting the paragraphs (up to 4
characters)
Default : 4 -
Min : 0
Max : 20 xxxx

..PSET NUMB 2 PRG 12 #

string starting the sentences (up to 4

characters)
Default :
Min :
Max : xxxx
number of blank lines between the fields
Default : 0
Min : 0
Max : 4

..PSET NUMB 2 SEN @

EXTERNAL

left margin for the line including the field

name
Default : 0
Min : 0
Max : 10

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

PERSONAL

Command with parameter(s)

creates a specific page setting, identified by a
number,...
... without page settings parameter:
the parameters are reset to their default
values
Min : 1
Max : 30

..PSET(TING)

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

lists only the page settings defined by the user,
if NO datatabase is activated

..PSET

..PSET NUMB 2 FLD 1

53

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

..PSET

54

lists and creates page settings

length of the field name and string
following the field name (up to 4
characters)
if FLDT is used
Default : 0
otherwise
Default : 4 -
Min : 0
Max : 6 xxxx

..PSET NUMB 2 FLDN 4 *

FIXED length for the field title and string

following the field title (up to 4
characters)
if FLDN is used
Default : 0
Min : 0
Max : 20 xxxx

..PSET NUMB 2 FLDT 10 :

REAL length for the field title and string

following the field title (up to 4 characters)
if FLDN is NOT used
Default : VAR -

..PSET NUMB 2 FLDT VAR :

REAL length for the field title, put on a

separate line and string following the field
title (up to 4 characters)

..PSET NUMB 2 FLDT PRG :

string indicating the empty fields (up to 4

characters)
Default :
Min :
Max : xxxx

..PSET NUMB 2 FLDE ***

number of blank lines between 2 records

Default : 1
Min : 0
Max : 10

..PSET NUMB 2 DOC 2

page feed between 2 records (ONLY for

the offline print command ..PR)

..PSET NUMB 2 DOC NPG

combination of parameters

..PSET NUMB 2 DOC 2 FLD 1 FLDE X FLDT 20

: LMC 3 LMG 8 PRG 12 # RMG 4 SEN @

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Allowed

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

lists and creates page settings

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

(browses)
(lists)
(long list)
(offline print)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

..BR
..LI
..LP
..PR

In CLUSTERS,
no page setting can be created: only the
display of defined page settings is allowed.

PERSONAL

Related topics:

The page settings defined by the user are

common to all databases and hence the
parameter FROM is ignored for the CREATION
of user page settings.
There is no way to delete a user defined page
setting.

INTERNAL

Setting only some parameters to specific

values will reset the remaining parameters to
their default values.
A field name is the abbreviation used for the
search (e.g. PN), its field title is the description
corresponding to the field name (e.g. Patent
number). The parameters FLDN and FLDT
may be used simultaneously.
Each database has its own predefined page
settings used by the commands ..LI, ..BR,
..FO, ..LP and ..PR. However the command
..FO can NOT be used with the parameter
PSET.
The FROM parameter can only be used with
the ..PSET command without any page
settings parameters. It then lists the page
settings predefined for the ACTIVE database
and the page settings defined by the user.

..PSET

55

INTERNAL

..RK

ranks the records of a SS

Command without parameter
ranks the records of the last SS

..RK or ..RANK

Command with parameter(s)

ranks the records of a specific SS

..RK SS 4

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Mandatory

Remarks:

PERSONAL

The records are sorted in SS 99 for display,

print and for cross-search.

The SS 98 is followed by a < symbol in the

search history, indicating that no highlight, no
focus and no proximity operators can be used.
Moreover SS 99 can NOT be used for
searching.

EXTERNAL

The ranking formula is: Rd = ( Nocc * Noccd ) / Ndoc

where Rd
is the relevance of document d
Nocc
is the total number of occurrences in the SS
Ndoc
is the total number of documents in the SS
Noccd
is the number of occurrences in the document d
This means that Rd is proportional to Noccd, i.e. the number of occurrences / found terms / highlights in
the concerned record.

Related topics:

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

..MEMS (statistical analysis)

..SO
(sorts records)

56

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

search command

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

..SE(ARCH) VIDEO 2W (OR CAMERA?, PICKUP?)

equals
VIDEO 2W (OR CAMERA?, PICKUP?)

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

searches for specific term(s)
the command ..SE can be used implicitly, i.e.
the query <Term(s)> is equivalent to the
command ..SE <Term(s)>.

..SE

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

PERSONAL

The parameter FROM is not available and is considered as a searched term if used in the command.
Up to 800 SSs are allowed for the whole Internal session, i.e. the total number of SSs generated in the
whole set of active databases may not exceed 800.
This limit is defined as 96 x 8 + 32,
where 96 is the maximum number of SSs possible in one database,
8 is the maximum number of databases defined in one cluster.

..BR
..ER
..FO
..HI
..KE
..LI
..LP

EXTERNAL

Related topics:

Personal (PDBs): ENTIRELY implemented

(browses)
(erases SSs)
(focuses)
(displays the history)
(keeps SSs)
(lists)
(long lists)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

57

..SO

sorts the records of a SS

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

sorts up to a limit of approximately 2000
records of the last SS...
... on a specific field
... in ascending order (for TEXT, KW and
CODE fields)
... in descending order (for ODAT, DATE,
ONUM and NUM fields)
sorts on several fields (up to 3 fields)

..SO /EC /ECC/ICO

sorts records of a specific SS

..SO SS 3 /PA

sorts specific record(s)

..SO 1-20 25 /INW

EXTERNAL

sorts on terms (only for fields of TEXT, KW,

CODE type)...
... at a specific position
Default : 1
Min : 1
Max : 255

58

..SO(RT) /IN

..SO /EC RK 1 or
..SO /EC RANK 1

... in a specific sentence

Default : 1
Min : 1
Max : 255

..SO /AP SEN 3 or

..SO /AP SENTENCE 3

... in a specific paragraph

Default : 1
Min : 1
Max : 255

..SO /PN PRG 2

sorts for a specific number of characters in the

sorted terms, called Sort Key length
Default : 10 (for ODAT, DATE fields)
Default : 16 (for ONUM, NUM fields)
Default : 20 (for TEXT, KW, CODE fields)
Min : 1
Max: 100

..SO /PN 2

sorts in ascending order

Default for fields of TEXT, KW, CODE type

..SO /PN RK 3 +6
..SO /NPR +

sorts in descending order

Default for fields of ODAT, DATE, ONUM,
NUM type

..SO /EC SEN 1 -2

..SO /PD -

combination of parameters

..SO SS 3 1-50 /PA SEN 1 /PN RK 1 -2 FROM

EPODOC

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Mandatory

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

sorts the records of a SS

..SO

Remarks:

..MEMS (statistical analysis)

..RK
(ranks records)

PERSONAL

Related topics:

Unlike the commands ..MEM and ..MEMS,

the parameters RK, SEN and PRG do NOT
allow the use of the relative qualifier (*).
A maximum of 20 records numbers or
intervals is allowed for a specific criteria if
records are specifically mentioned.
The parameters may be combined in any
order, except for the FROM parameter, always
placed at the end of the command.

INTERNAL

The records are sorted in SS 99 for display,

print and for cross-search.
The SS 98 is followed by a < symbol in the
search history, indicating that no highlight, no
focus and no proximity operators can be used.
Moreover SS 99 can NOT be used for
searching.
At least one field has to be mentioned and a
slash (/) is mandatory before a field name.
A same field name can be used in several
sorting criteria. The maximum allowed sorting
criteria is 3, i.e. up to 3 fields, different or
identical, may be involved in the sorting.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Parameters NOT implemented :
PRG
A word is delimited by spaces for the use of the
parameter RK. A sentence is delimited by a
semi-colon (;) for the use of the parameter SEN.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

No space is allowed between the sort key

length and the order direction sign, e.g. ..SO
/PN + 6 generates an error message.

59

..ST

stops the session

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

stops the Internal session with TEMPORARY
saving of the search.
At the next reconnection to the Internal
session, the previous search is still available...
...
IF the question Continue your
previous search session: Y/N ? is
answered by Y(ES)
and
IF the mainframe has NOT been
reset in the meantime

PERSONAL

Command with parameter(s)

stops the Internal session WITHOUT any saving
of the search
FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

..ST(OP)
..ST SV or ..ST SAVE

..ST(OP) EN(D)

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

Queries performed in a database are saved at

the swap from this database to another by
means of ..FI <New_Database_Name> (see
the command ..FI).
These queries may be re-executed in this new
database by means of ..EX FROM
Old_Database_Name> (see the command
..EX).

Related topics:
..EX
..FI
..HI

60

The history of the search may be listed by

means of ..HI FROM <Old_Database_Name>
(see the command ..HI).

Personal (PDBs): ENTIRELY implemented

(executes a search)
(selects a database)
(lists the search history)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

searches for a string of characters

..STRS <String>
..STRS SiH4
..STRS 1,2

..STRS /TI VITAMIN B

..STRS /AB/USAB VITAMIN B
..STRS FUZZY/IW NOT LENS/AB

searches a string in records of a specific SS

..STRS SS 4 So3w/AB

searches different strings using boolean

operators (AND, OR, NOT)

..STRS (VITAMIN A AND VITAMIN E) NOT

VITAMIN B1

searches different strings using co-occurrence

operators (only P or S are allowed)

..STRS /AB Ar-X-CH2-CO

searches a string using truncations (?, #, +)

..STRS COLO?R OR LOGIC#

..STRS ELECTRO+GRAM

searches a string using double quotes () for

strings including blanks or for EPOQUE reserved
strings (or characters)

..STRS /USAB PH=7

..STRS AUDIO AND VIDEO

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

PERSONAL

searches a string in specific field(s)

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

searches a specific string...
... in all the fields
... of the records retrieved
... in the last SS

..STRS

Ar-CHB-CO

EXTERNAL

Remarks:
The string search is performed on the first
5000 records. The maximum length for a
searched string is 255 if NO quotes are used,
127 if quotes are used.
The EPOQUE reserved charaters or strings
must be delimited by double quotes (). The
only character which can NOT be specified in
a substring is the semi-colon (;).

Related topics: None

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Highlights, the proximity operators and the

command ..FO can not be used on the results
of a string search. This search statement is
thus followed by the < symbol in the search
history.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

61

..SV

saves a search permanently

INTERNAL

Command with parameter(s)

saves the current search in a PRIVATE pool

..SV SE(ARCH) <Private_Strategy_Name> or

..SAVE SE(ARCH) <Private_Strategy_Name>
..SV SE FUZZY

saves the current search in the PUBLIC pool

common to all users

..SV SE <Public_Strategy_Name> PUB(LIC)

..SV SE CAMERA PUB

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

FROM in clusters: Mandatory

PERSONAL

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

If a strategy is saved under an existing name, a

confirmation for overwriting is requested.
A search containing ..UNLIM commands can
NOT be saved.
The strategy name is maximum 8
alphanumerical characters long, starting
mandatorily with an alphabetical character.
The following EPOQUE reserved names may
NOT be used for saving a strategy :
A(LL)
CLUSTER
DATE
NOT
NONST(OP)
PUB(LIC)
US(ER)
WITH

Related topics:
..EX
..HI SE
..EDS
..ER SE

62

(executes a saved strategy)

(lists the saved strategies)
(edits a saved strategy)
(erases a saved strategy)

In CLUSTERS,
a strategy can only be sabved with the
parameter FROM because the saved strategy is
linked to the database in which it has been
saved. It may however be executed in any
active database (see the ..EX command).

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Parameters NOT implemented :
PUB
The strategy is saved as a preparation.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

searches records with a list of related terms

Command with parameter(s)

displays the different relations involved for a
specific field

... using specific relation(s)

..TH /<Field_Name>
..TH /EC

PERSONAL

displays a list of 15 indexed terms which are

related with the searched term (navigation and
selection possible)...
... using all defined relations

..TH(ESAURUS)

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

displays all classification fields whose contents
may be related by a thesaurus and displays the
different relations involved, i.e. HIGH, LOW and
SAME
These relations are issued from the
classification hierarchy of the corresponding
field

..TH

..TH /<Field_Name> <Term>

..TH /EC H04N5/225
..TH /<Field_Name> <Term> /<Relation>
..TH /EC H04N5/225 /SAME

Navigation

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

List of the next 15 related terms

Selection of terms (or intervals of terms) within
the 15 listed related terms
End of the list operation

Options
Y(ES) or M(ORE)
n m-p or S(ELECT) n m-p
N(ONE)

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

63

..TH

searches records with a list of related terms

Remarks:

INTERNAL

The ..TH command can only be used for the classification fields of EPODOC:
the relationships between the different classes are issued from the hierarchical structure of the
classification, meaning that
the relations between the /EC classes and /ICO codes are built from the ECLA classification,
the /IC relations are extracted from the IPC7 classification,
the /FI relations are generated from the FICLA classification and
the /UC symbols are issued from the UCLA classification scheme.

PERSONAL

The order <Field_Name>, <Term>, <Relation>

has to be respected for the ..TH command.
A relation is always preceded by a slash (/).
A space between the searched term and the
relation(s) is MANDATORY.
More than one relation may be used in a same
..TH command, e.g ..TH /EC H04N5/225
/SAME/LOW.
The terms related to the searched term with a

Related topics:

higher classification level (HIGH) are listed

before the ones with a lower level (LOW) and
with a same classification level (SAME).
Every term which is listed below the one
beside which the relation is indicated, is of the
same classification level as the latter.
In CLUSTERS,
the command ..TH can NOT be used.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

EXTERNAL

..IND
(lists indexed terms)
/HIGH, /LOW, /SAME (relation qualifiers)

64

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

extracts PN numbers from EPODOC

Command with parameter(s)

extracts the PNs from a specific SS of EPODOC

..TR(ANSFER)

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

extracts the PN numbers from all records
retrieved in the last SS of EPODOC

..TR

..TR SS 4

extracts specific PNs from EPODOC

..TR 1-100,1000 *100-*

FROM in multiple databases: Unavailable

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

PERSONAL

Remarks:

Related topics:

The relative qualifier can be used for the Search

Statement number or/and for the record
numbers or ranges.
A second command ..TR overwrites
automatically the previous one. The contents of
a TR list can not be viewed, erased, sorted or
saved. The TR list is erased when the service is
shut down.

EXTERNAL

Up to 100.000 PN numbers can be extracted by

means of the ..TR command from the /PN field
of EPODOC. EPODOC is the only database
where the ..TR command is allowed.
A maximum of 20 numbers or/and ranges of
numbers corresponding to the record numbers
of the PNs in the designated Search Statement
is allowed. The numbers or/and ranges are
separated by commas or by spaces from each
other.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

..LIM *TR (searches extracted PNs)

*Mn
(searches memorised terms)
..MEM
(extracts and stores terms)

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

65

..UNLIM

removes a level of limitation

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

removes the stacked ..LIM commands one by
one and restores the search back to the context
of the previous limit (if it exists)

EXTERNAL

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

..UNLIM(IT)
Fictious search :
SS1
10000

CAMERA?

SS2
SS3

1000
100

..LIM VIDEO
CAMERA?

(limited to SS2)

SS4
SS5

10
1

..LIM FUZZY
CAMERA?

(limited to SS4)

SS6
SS7

1000
100

..UNLIM
CAMERA?
..UNLIM

SS8

10000

CAMERA?

(searched in the
whole database
or cluster)

(limited to SS2)

(no limit :
searched in the
whole database
or cluster)

FROM in clusters: Unavailable

Remarks:
A ..LIM ALL command removes all stacked
..LIM commands in one go.
A ..UNLIM command performed after a ..LIM
ALL command restores the context prior to the
..LIM ALL command.
Erasing a SS containing a ..UNLIM command
erases all subsequent SSs, i.e. from the SS with
the ..UNLIM command until the last SS of the
search.

Related topics:

Saving a search strategy containing ..UNLIM

command(s) is NOT allowed. However saving
strategies containing ..LIM command(s) is still
possible.

Personal (PDBs): NOT implemented

..LIM
(limits to the result of a SS)
..LIM *TR (searches extracted PNs)
..UP
(limits to update periods)

66

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

limits the search to a selected update period

Command with parameter(s)

limits the search to the records added to the
current database...
... during the specified update period

..UP(DATE)

..UP 3
..UP 13-18

... during the specified update year

..UP 1987

... during the specified update year range

..UP 1987-1989

Navigation (..UP without parameter)

FROM in multiple databases: Allowed

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

..UP A(LL)

Options
M(ORE) or Y(ES)
n or S(ELECT) n or
m-p or S(ELECT) m-p

EXTERNAL

List of the next screen of update periods

Selection of a period within the listed update
periods
Selection of an interval of periods within the listed
update periods
End of list operation

PERSONAL

... during the specified update interval

the update limitation is inhibited

INTERNAL

Command without parameter

lists the update periods chronologically from the
most recent to the oldest
(navigation and selection possible)

..UP

N(O)

FROM in clusters: Mandatory

67

..UP

limits the search to a selected update period

Remarks:

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

The command ..UP processes only a single

period interval, taking the upper and the lower
boundaries: no discontinuous intervals can be
selected.
The number of listed update periods for
selection with the command ..UP (without
parameter) depends on the value of the
parameter NL of the command ..(P)OP.
The update years have to be given in the
format YYYY.
The FROM parameter has to be present at the
end of the command.

Related topics:
..LIM
..EX

(limits the search to records)

(executes a temporary search)

After an update period selection or after an

inhibition of this period, the SSs of the active
database are erased, the strategy being
temporarily saved.
The command ..EX executes this saved
strategy in the newly selected update period.
In CLUSTERS,
the execution of the temporarily saved strategy
is automatically launched.

Personal (PDBs): PARTIALLY implemented

Only navigation is allowed : no direct selection
(period, interval, year or range) is possible,
except for ..UP 1.

EXTERNAL

The parameter CONV creates a SS collecting all

records which were UPDATED during the
selected update period(s).

68

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

SEARCHING TERMS
Truncations

limited truncation: ?
? represents any character or no character

left truncation:
only possible for databases with 2 basic
indexes BI (uppercase) and bi (lowercase)
(see the command ..FIEL and the
corresponding database factsheets)
the unlimited / limited / masking truncation
sign is mandatorily followed by a string of a
least 3 characters long

GAME?
ANALYS??

FUZ#Y
SYNCHRONI#ED

+FLUOR+
##LIMIT+
??CENTRALI#ED

EXTERNAL

embedded truncations:
Up to 7 series of unlimited / limited /
masking truncations and of strings may be
mixed up for a same truncated term

DRILL+
RAT+

PERSONAL

masking truncation: #
# represents any character which is
mandatory present

INTERNAL

unlimited truncation: +
+ represents a string of any length
including any character
at least 3 characters must be mentioned if
unlimited truncations are used

?#+

ELECTRO+GRAPH??
HEX?FLU##ACETYL+
1 23 4 5
6 series

Remarks:
No truncation is allowed for fields of the ODAT, DATE, ONUM or NUM type.
The 2 query modes (see the truncation qualifiers /SEL, /ALL) depend of the value of the parameter TRUNC
of the command ..(P)OP and/or of the truncation qualifiers /SEL and /ALL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

69

/SEL , /ALL

TRUNCATION qualifiers

INTERNAL

A query with truncations may search in 2 different

modes:
... with the DETAILED mode activated by the
qualifier /SEL or by the value SEL of the
parameter TRUNC of the command
..P(OP), indexed terms can be selected
individually

PERSONAL

... with the AUTOMATIC mode activated by

the qualifier /ALL or by the value AUTO /
NONST of the parameter TRUNC of the
command ..P(OP), all indexed terms
concerned by the truncation are
automatically taken into account for the
search

HEAT+/S or HEAT+/SEL(ECT)

FOCUS+/A(LL)

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

The DETAILED mode is effective only if the query has truncations and if more than 1 indexed terms is
retrieved.
The navigation and the selection of indexed terms are identical to the one used for the ..IND command.
In the AUTOMATIC mode, the query is stopped and the error message Er39 is issued if the limit of 30.000
indexed terms involved for a same truncated term is reached.
The qualifiers /SEL and /ALL take precedence on the value (SEL or AUTO) of the paramater TRUNC of the
command ..P(OP).
The qualifier /SE does not exist (use /S or /SEL(ECT)).
Use preferably the syntax /AL because /A or /ALL might be a field or index name in different EPOQUE
databases.
In the Personal session,
the qualifiers /SEL and /ALL are NOT implemented.

70

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Delimiter for special characters, reserved terms

Double quotes () delimit reserved strings:

AND, OR, NOT
W, D
F, P, S, L
NOTF, NOTP, NOTS, NOTL

VITAMIN W D
3D

3 W DIMENSION+

PERSONAL

Double quotes delimit numericals if they also

exist as existing SS numbers in the history of the
search

X-RAY

INTERNAL

Double quotes () delimit terms with special

characters:
slash (/), semi-colon (;), comma (,),
hyphen (-), truncation characters (+, ?, #),
etc...

Remarks:
In the External session,
if quotes are used for delimiting special or reserved terms, they have to be doubled since they also delimit
the part(s) of the command which will be sent unconverted to the host.

EXTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

71

COMBINING WITH OPERATORS

INTERNAL

AND, OR, NOT

searches records including...
... the first or the second term, or both : OR

TIN OR CAN

... the first and the second term : AND

PLUTONIUM AND ISOTOPE

... the first but not the second term : NOT

GAME NOT VIDEO

Remarks:

PERSONAL
EXTERNAL

BOOLEAN operators

If more than 2 boolean NOT operators are used, they have to be nested, e.g.
(PRINTER? NOT LASER) NOT COLO?R+
is correct
PRINTER? NOT LASER NOT COLO?R+ generates an error message.
Using the operator OR for search statements is equivalent to ranging these search statements.
The use of the boolean, the proximity and the co-occurrence operators is ruled by their hierarchy levels.
Factorisation and nesting can be useful.

W, nW, =nW, D, nD, =nD

searches records including both terms...
... in the correct order and separated by a
maximum of n terms : nW
Default : 0 (W equals 0W)
Min : 0
Max : 9

72

PROXIMITY operators
VITAMIN W B
WOOD 3W PRESERVATIVE?

... in the correct order and separated strictly by

n terms: =nW
Default : 0 (=W equals W)
Min : 0
Max : 9

AIR =5W PUMP?

... in any order and separated by a maximum of

n terms : nD
Default : 0 (D equals 0D)
Min : 0
Max : 9

DRIL+ D MACHINE?
HEAT+ 3D ELECTRIC+

... in any order and separated strictly by n terms

: =nD
Default : 0 (=D equals D)
Min : 0
Max : 9

CAMERA =2D LENS?

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Remarks:

INTERNAL

The counting of the term position takes into account the stopwords.
Terms of a query with more than 1 (same) operator are searched from left to right.
Brackets must be used for queries with several operators (even of the same hierarchy level).
The proximity operators are automatically replaced (without a warning message) by the co-occurrence
operator S for the database sentences longer than 255 terms.
The use of the boolean, the proximity and the co-occurrence operators is ruled by their hierarchy levels.
Factorisation and nesting can be useful.

In the Personal session,

proximity operators are NOT implemented.

CO-OCCURRENCE operators

/EC B01B1/00 F B01F13/00B

... in the same database paragraph : P or L

/PA CIBA P GEIGY

... in the same database sentence : S

/EC A01B63 S N

searches records including the first term except

those including both terms...
... in the same field : NOTF

/DS DE NOTF FR
KEVLAR NOTP CONSTITUT+

... in the same database sentence : NOTS

/EC/INF B06C15/02D NOTS N

EXTERNAL

... in the same database paragraph : NOTP

searches records including the first term at least

once in a paragraph where the second term is
absent: NOTL

PERSONAL

searches records including both terms...

... in the same field : F

F, P, S, L, NOTF, NOTP, NOTS, NOTL

/EC A61K7/13R NOTL C09B51

Remarks:
The use of the boolean, the proximity and the co-occurrence operators is ruled by their hierarchy levels.
Factorisation and nesting can be useful.
In the Personal session,
co-occurrence operators are NOT implemented.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

73

=, <, >, <=, >=, :

RELATIONAL operators

INTERNAL

searches records which verify a specific relation

between a date and the contents of a field or
subfield of the ODAT or DATE type:
equal to a specific date

PD=19871020 or /PD=19871020
PD<1970

former to a specific date (excluded)

PD>1993-12

subsequent to a specific date (excluded)

ORD<=1985

former to a specific date (included)

ORD>=1994-10-30

subsequent to a specific date (included)

PD=199401:200108

PERSONAL

within a period interval

EXTERNAL

searches records which verify a specific relation

between a numerical value and the contents of a
field or subfield of the ONUM or NUM type:
equal to a specific value

OHMH1=1 or OHMH1/NVAL=1
HZL3 < 100

inferior to a specific value (excluded)

NPR>1

superior to a specific value (excluded)

BYTEH1 <= 32

inferior to a specific value (included)

WH3>=500

superior to a specific value (included)

NPR=2:4

within a range

Remarks:
Subfields may be followed by the corresponding field name separated by a slash (/), e.g.
OHMH1/NVAL=1.
If the field name is not mentioned, the sub-field is taken in the default field, e.g. OHMH1=1.
If only the field name is specified, it concerns exclusively the fields of the ODAT or ONUM type. The slash
(/) is optional.
In the Personal session,
relational operators are valid for any field. The relation is however always alphabetical, e.g. 020 is less
than 100 but 20 is greater than 100.

74

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Hierarchy of operators
For the query (A <opn> B) <opm> C, the following rule must be respected :
the hierarchy level n of the operator <opn> must be less than the level m of the operator <opm> (n <= m):
5:
4:
3:
2:
1:
0:

AND / NOT
NOTF - NOTP - NOTS
F
P / L / NOTL
S
W/D
OR

INTERNAL

Hierarchy level
Hierarchy level
Hierarchy level
Hierarchy level
Hierarchy level
Hierarchy level
NO hierarchy:

Boolean operators
Co-occurrence operators
Co-occurrence operators
Co-occurrence operators
Co-occurrence operators
Proximity operators
Boolean operators

PERSONAL

Legend:
/means that the operators of the same hierarchy level can be used in the same query:
e.g.
(PRINTER? AND LASER) NOT COLO?R
(PRINTER? NOT LASER) AND COLO?R
are allowed
-means that the operators of the same hierarchy level can NOT be used in the same query:
e.g.
(PRINTER? NOTF LASER) NOTP COLO?R
(PRINTER? NOTS LASER) NOTS COLO?R
are not allowed

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

The lowest priority is the hierarchy level 0 of the proximity operators W, D.

The highest priority is the hierarchy level 5 of the boolean operators AND, NOT.
The boolean operator OR can be combined with any other operator.
In the Personal session,
the allowed operators, i.e. the boolean operators, have the same hierarchy level.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

75

SEARCHING WITHIN FIELDS

INTERNAL

Superindex

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

queries can be performed simultaneously in

several fields or indexes...
... grouped in a serie of fields or indexes, each
separated by a slash (/)

CORK/AB/EPAB
equals
CORK/AB OR CORK/EPAB

... grouped in superindexes, predefined for

some databases

The superindex /ABS includes the fields

/AB, /DEAB, /EPAB, /GBAB, /USAB in WPI,
GOLF/ABS
equals
GOLF/AB/DEAB/EPAB/GBAB/USAB

... grouped in superindexes, defined by the user

by means of the command ..FOR

Suppose the user format ABST contains the fields

/EPAB, /USAB, /GBAB
(..FOR ABST EPAB USAB GBAB),
FOCUS/ABST
equals
FOCUS/EPAB/USAB/GBAB

Remarks:
In the Personal session,
no superindex is predefined for the personal databases.

76

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Suffix, prefix
A prefix or a suffix can be...
... a format defined by the user

FOCUS+/ABST

... a field
with or without the negative /. qualifier
with or without the field .FLD qualifier

/TI GAME? OR ENTERTAIN+

CORKSCREW+/.TI
MARTIN A D/IN.FLD

... a superindex predefined for the database

TRAP?/ABS

... the truncation qualifiers /SEL or /ALL

ESTER+/S

... the relation qualifiers /HIGH, /LOW or

/SAME

A22C11/00B/EC/SAME

... or any combination of these items:

These items being recognized in the
following order:
1. user format
2. index
3. field
4. superindex
5. relation qualifiers
6. truncation qualifiers

/A/IN.FLD MITSUBISHI

Suppose the user format /TX contains the fields

/IW and /AW (..FOR TX IW AW),
PERFUM+/TX OR FRAGRAN+/TX
equals
PERFUM+/IW/AW OR FRAGRAN+/IW/AW

Suppose that the fields /TI and /AB are indexed in

the basic index BI,
CHAIN W SAW?
equals
(CHAIN W SAW?)/BI or
(CHAIN W SAW?)/TI/AB

A suffix has priority on the prefix:

a prefix is applied to any searched term which
is not qualified by a suffix

/TI CAMERA OR PICKUP/AB

equals
CAMERA/TI OR PICKUP/AB

If a term has a suffix within a query with

proximity operators or with co-occurrence
operators,
all the terms of the query are qualified by the
same suffix

VIDEO W CAMERA?/USAB
equals
VIDEO/USAB W CAMERA?/USAB or
(VIDEO W CAMERA?)/USAB

When boolean operators are used,

a suffix is only applied to the searched term
which precedes it

Suppose the fields /TI and /AB are indexed in the

basix index BI,
ELECTRONIC+ AND GAME?/AB
equals
ELECTRONIC+/BI AND GAME?/AB or
ELECTRONIC/TI/AB W GAME?/AB

EXTERNAL

If no prefix nor suffix is used in a query,

the latter is performed in the basic index BI

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

PERSONAL

CANON/PA

INTERNAL

... an index of the database

77

 A relation used as prefix is applied to all terms,

except for those which are already suffixed by
a relation

/SAME A22C11/00/EC OR G05D11/0+/IC /LOW

equals
A22C11/00/EC/SAME OR
G05D11/0+/IC /LOW

The slash (/) precedes mandatorily each item of a

prefix or suffix:
if the item does not exist, it is recognised as a
searched term (different cases exist for
database and cluster modes)

Suppose the field /ABRG does not exist,

GOLF/ABRG/AB
searches for the term GOLF/ABRG in the field
/AB.
GOLF/AB/ABRG
generates an error message.

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

Suffix, prefix

78

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

QUALIFIERS
RELATIVE qualifier

*n
INTERNAL

The relative qualifier has as reference the last

item, i.e. the last SS, the last record, the last
paragraph, the last sentence or the last rank.
* means the last item
(*0 is NOT valid)
*1 means one before the last item
*2 means two before the last item
etc...

only the last item (*) of the relative qualifier may

be used...
... at the PARAGRAPH level
... at the SENTENCE level
... at the WORD level
The commands concerned are:
..MEM
..MEMS
. any combination of levels

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

..ER 1 *3-*
..EX *2
..HI *5-*
..LI SS *2 PN PR TI
..LIM * OR *1
..MEM M3 SS *4 /PN RK 1
..SO SS *1 /PR RK 2
..FAM SS *6
*1 AND *5

EXTERNAL

... the RECORD level

The commands concerned are :
..BR
..MEMS
..FO
..PR
..LI
..SO
..LP
..TH
..MEM
..TR

PERSONAL

The relative qualifier may be used...

... at the SEARCH STATEMENT level
The commands concerned are:
..BR
..MEM
..ER
..MEMS
..EX
..PR
..FAM
..RK
..FO
..SE
..HI
..SO
..KE
..STRS
..LI
..TH
..LIM
..TR
..LP

..BR *10
..FO *7
..LP SS 3 5-*
..PR 1-5 *5-*1 PN TI

..MEM M2 /PN PRG *

..MEMS /CT SEN *
..MEMS M1 /PN RK *

..MEMS SS *1 *10-* /PN PRG * RK * WITH EP

/CT SEN * WITH US

79

Remarks:

In the Personal session,

the relative qualifier *n is implemented, except for the parameters PRG, SEN and RK of the command
..MEM.

/HIGH, /LOW, /SAME

A classification code can be searched in EPODOC
with its related class codes...
... having HIGHer classification hierarchy level

... having LOWer classification hierarchy level

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

*0 is NOT a valid relative qualifier.

Error messages are generated when the relative value is beyond the absolute limits, e.g. the command
..ER *2 generates an error message if only two SSs exist.
The relative qualifier can NOT be used...
... when designating the memory number, e.g. ..LI M*
... when designating the number of an off-line print job, e.g. ..ER PR*
... when navigating through records with ..BR or ..FO commands, e.g. M * for skip x records
... when designating an item in a list, e.g. ..IND; *3-*1 or ..ER SE A+;*5-*
... when designating a page setting number, e.g. ..LI PSET *
The RK, SEN and PRG parameters of the ..SO command and the print option SO of the ..PR command
can NOT use the relative qualifier.

RELATION qualifiers

H04N5/225/EC/HIGH
equals
/EC OR H04N5/225, H04N5/00, H04N5/222
H04N5/225/EC/LOW
equals
/EC OR H04N5/225, H04N5/225C,
H04N5/225C2, H04N5/225C3, H04N5/225C4,
H04N5/225L,
H04N5/225V, H04N5/228, etc...

... having the SAME classification hierarchy level

H04N5/225/EC/SAME
equals
/EC OR H04N5/225, H04N5/222P, H04N5/253,
H04N5/257, H04N5/262, H04N5/28

80

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

Remarks:

The relations between the

EC
ICO
IC
FI
UC

codes are extracted from the

codes
codes
codes
codes

ECLA
ECLA
IPC7
FICLA
UCLA

INTERNAL

The fields of EPODOC which have related terms, are: /EC, /ICO, /IC, /FI and /UC. They can be listed by
means of the ..TH command.
Searching an EC classification code and its related class codes having higher classification hierarchy level
(for instance H04N5/225/EC /HIGH) is equivalent to...
... determine the classes which have a higher classification hierarchy level (by means of the structure
stored in the ECLA database),
... and search the EC code together with these related classes in the /EC field of EPODOC.
database,
database,
database,
database,
database.

In the Personal session,

the relation qualifier is NOT implemented.

FIELD qualifier
Suppose the fields /PA and /PAW are indexed by
the index PA,
CANON/PA
searches CANON in the index PA, i.e. CANON
can be found in the fields /PA and /PAW

EXTERNAL

if 2 fields have the same index and if one of these

fields has the same name as the index name, the
search is restricted to this latter field by means of
the .FLD qualifier

.FLD

CANON/PA.FLD
searches CANON exclusively in the field /PA
CANON/PAW
searches CANON exclusively in the field /PAW

Remarks:
In the Personal session,
the field qualifier is NOT implemented.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

PERSONAL

More than one relation can be used for a search, e.g. H04N5/225/EC /SAME/LOW.
The command ..TH (..TH /EC H04N5/225 /SAME/LOW) lists the found related class codes before selection
and search.

81

/.

NEGATIVE qualifier

INTERNAL

if several fields are indexed by the same index,

restricting the search to all fields except for one
can be done by means of the /. qualifier.

Suppose the fields /TI, /AB, /USAB, /EPAB are

indexed by the basic index BI,
LENS/.TI
equals
LENS/AB/USAB/EPAB

Remarks:

PERSONAL

only one field can be mentioned in the negative qualifier.

EXTERNAL

In the Personal session,

the negative qualifier is NOT implemented.

82

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

EXTRA FEATURES FOR QUERIES

Factorisation
OR HERBIC+,FUNGIC+,PESTIC+
equals
HERBIC+ OR FUNGIC+ OR PESTIC+

If a field is mentioned as prefix, the factorised

operator is put between this field and the
searched terms

/EC OR H04N5/225,H04N5/23,H04N5/232
equals
/EC H04N5/225 OR H04N5/23 OR H04N5/232

Brackets must be used if there are different

operators, e.g.

OR PLAY?, GAME? AND VIDEO

should be written
(OR PLAY?, GAME?) AND VIDEO
or
OR PLAY?,(GAME? AND VIDEO)

Ranging
2:5
equals
2 OR 3 OR 4 OR 5 or OR 2,3,4,5

ranging terms which are neither dates nor

numericals...
... equals searching the terms included in the
list of indexed terms starting with the first
term of the range and ending with the last
term of the range (alphabetically)

Suppose /EC has the following indexed terms:

H04N5/22
H04N5/225
H04N5/23
H04N5/232
H04N5/232C
/EC H04N5/225:H04N5/232
equals
/EC OR H04N5/225,H04N5/23,H04N5/232

ranging dates or numericals is done with the

relational operator (:)

OPD=20010815:20020919

EXTERNAL

ranging search statements...

... is equivalent to the use of the operator OR
for the SSs concerned by the specific range

Remarks:
Searching ranges of terms is interrupted after every 1000 found indexed terms and the question
Continue Y/N has to be answered.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

PERSONAL

Remarks:

INTERNAL

In order to avoid typing the same operator for

separating several terms, FACTORISATION can be
used, i.e. the operator is mentioned as a prefix
and the terms are separated by commas (,)

83

Nesting

INTERNAL

terms and operators, grouped within brackets,

can be NESTED up to 5 levels.

WINDSURF+ OR
(WIND W (OR SURF,SURFING))

Stacking
a semi-colon (;) separates 2 successive queries

VIDEO AND CAMERA?; 1 AND GAME?

Stacking can also be used for commands, in selection dialogues and for navigation options, e.g. ..ER M1;
..MEM /PN RK 1; *M1 /CT

Continuation character
a underscore (_) separates 2 successive parts of a
same command or query:
EPOQUE waits until the 2nd part is sent before
executing the whole command or query.

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

Remarks:

HEXA_
FLUOR+
equals
HEXAFLUOR+

Remarks:
the continuation character can be useful for long queries since they can not exceed 256 characters, each.
in the Personal session,
the continuation character is NOT implemented.

YES

Indicator of field contents

searches records where a specific field is NOT
empty.

CT=YES

Remarks:
The use of the indicator of field contents YES is PROHIBITED in the fields concerned by the database
confidentiality.

84

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE INTERNAL

PERSONAL

PERSONAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

85

INTERNAL
PERSONAL
EXTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

displays record by record

Parameters

Differences with internal

..BR SS 8
..BR 5
..BR MAX
..BR LITT
..BR PN PR IC
..BR PNPR PLUS EC PA
..BR STDR MINUS IN
..BR PSET 10
..BR FROM OWNPDB

PERSONAL

There is no predefined format: all formats have to

be defined by the user.

Not implemented
Not implemented
Not implemented

Navigation options

Differences with internal

(next page)
(previous page)
(next record)
(skip x records)
(previous record)
(counterskip x records)
(first record)
(last record)
(list the same record in a format)

EXTERNAL

R STDR
R ABRG
K
N

INTERNAL

The default format is STDR if the latter has been

defined by the user.
Otherwise the default format is the user defined
MAX format.
If none of these formats are defined, all fields are
browsed.

BR(OWSE)

M
P
ND
M x or ND x
PD
P x or PD x
FD
LD
R

..BR

Repeat uses the format MAX if the latter has been

defined by the user, otherwise it lists all fields.
Not implemented
Not implemented

(store in SS 98)
(stop browsing)

creates, lists and deletes clusters

provides details on the search in a cluster

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

..CL
..DET

87

..EDS

edits a saved strategy

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

..ER

erases search statement(s)

Parameters
..ER
..ER
..ER
..ER
..ER
..ER
..ER

Differences with internal

3
3-6 8
SSZ(ERO)
A(LL)
FROM BEG(IN)
A(LL) FROM BEG(IN)
FROM OWNPDB

..ER CL

erases a cluster defined by the user

..ER FOR

erases a format defined by the user

Parameters

Differences with internal

EXTERNAL

..ER(ASE) FOR(MAT) CLAS

..ER Mn

erases memorised terms

Parameters

..ER PRn
..ER SE
88

Differences with internal

ER(ASE) Mn

The memorised terms are stored in a file, named

Mn, which has to be used as a cross-file. Any valid
file name may be used instead of Mn.

..ER
..ER
..ER
..ER
..ER
..ER
..ER

Not
Not
Not
Not
Not
Not
Not

M2
M3
M4
M1
M1
M2
M3

1-10,15 25-*
WITH FR
NOT EP
1-20 LG 8
1-20 LEN(GTH) 8
10-30 BO(UNDS) /
2 4 10 BO(UNDS) 9-12

implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented

cancels an offline print order

erases a saved strategy
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

executes a search

..EX

Parameters

Differences with internal

Not implemented

..EX FROM OWNPDB1

..EX 2 7-9 FROM OWNPDB2

In case no search statement number is mentioned,

the parameter FROM is mandatory.

..EX 2 7-9

If the command ..EX without the parameter FROM

is used, search statement numbers have to be
entered.

..EX

searches for the EPO family member(s) of a patent

selects a database for the search
Parameters

Differences with internal

SV or ..FI DOC46 SAVE

ER
BEGIN
STAT(ISTICS)

Navigation options
M or Y
P
n or S n
N

..FI

EXTERNAL

FI(LE)
..FI DOC+
..FI DOC46
..FI DOC46
..FI DOC46
..FI DOC46
..FI DOC46

..FAM

PERSONAL

executes a saved strategy

INTERNAL

..EX(ECUTE)

Differences with internal

(next screen)
(previous screen)
(selection of a PDB)
(stop list)

selects a cluster for the search

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

The question has to be answered before the

command can be deactivated.

..FI CL

89

..FIEL

lists the field names

INTERNAL

Parameters

Differences with internal

..FIEL(DS)
..FIEL FROM OWNPDB

..FO

displays the lines surrounding the term(s) found during the search

..FOR

lists and creates search / display formats

Parameters
..FOR(MAT)
..FOR US(ER)

PERSONAL
EXTERNAL

Differences with internal

Not implemented

..FOR REM ICO INFO

No limit for the number of defined formats.

No limit for the number of involved fields.
Maximum 6 characters are allowed for the format
name.

..FOR FROM OWNPDB

Not implemented

..HE

on-line help given for the syntax or use of a command

..HI

displays the history of the search

Parameters

Differences with internal

..HI(STORY)
..HI 5-8
..HI FROM BEG(IN)
..HI FROM OWNPDB

..HI SE

lists the saved strategies

..IND

lists the index names

Parameters

Differences with internal

..IND(EX)
..IND FROM OWNPDB

90

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

searches for records from a list of indexed terms

Parameters

..IND

Differences with internal

The command is not term context sensitive:
without any parameter, it gives always the list of
the index names.

..IND(EX) AERO
..IND /EC H01H11

An existing indexed term is listed at the 1st

position in the list. The list displays indexed terms
with their corresponding number of occurrences.

Navigation options

Differences with internal

Not implemented
Not implemented

..INFO

on-line information on EPOQUE

..KE

keeps search statement(s)

Differences with internal

..KE(EP) 3
..KE 3-7 9
..KE 2 5-9 FROM OWNPDB

..KE Mn
..LI
Parameters

keeps memorised terms

lists the contents of the retrieved records
Differences with internal

..LI(ST)
..LI SS 7
..LI 1-5 8
..LI MAX
..LI CLAS
..LI EC ECC INF
..LI OWN PLUS KW AW

The default format is STDR if the latter has been

defined by the user.

..LI FULL MINUS AB

Not implemented

Otherwise the default format is the user defined

MAX format. If none of these formats are defined,
all fields are listed.

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE

GUIDE PERSONAL

91

EXTERNAL

Parameters

PERSONAL

M or Y
(list of the next 15 indexed terms)
P
(list of the previous 15 indexed terms)
n m-p
(selection of terms)
S(ELECT) n m-p
(selection of terms)
A(LL) or S(ELECT) A(LL)
(selection of all terms)
N
(stop list)

INTERNAL

..IND(EX)

INTERNAL

..LI PSET 3
..LI NOHE(ADER)
..LI NONST(OP)
..LI 1-5 REM ADM FROM OWNPDB

..LI Mn

limits the search to a result of a SS

..LIM *TR

searches extracted PN numbers

PERSONAL

..LP

displays long records page by page

extracts terms from records of a SS and stores them in a memory
Parameters
..MEM
..MEM
..MEM
..MEM
..MEM

EXTERNAL

Not implemented
Not implemented

lists memorised terms

..LIM

..MEM

Not implemented

Differences with Internal

/IC
/PN /PNFP /CT
SS 6 /PN
1-50 100 /EC
M3 /PR

The extracted terms are stored in a file, named Mn,

which has to be used as a cross-file. Any valid file
name may be used instead of Mn.

Extraction Options
..MEM /PN PRG 1

Not implemented

..MEM /AP SEN(TENCE) 3

..MEM /PR RK 2 or ..MEM /PR RANK 2

A sentence is delimited by a semi-colon (;) for the

use of the parameter SEN. A word is delimited by
spaces for the use of the parameter RK.
The relative qualifier (*) can NOT be used for the
SEN or RK parameters.

..MEM
..MEM
..MEM
..MEM
..MEM
..MEM

*Mn
..MEMS
92

/PR WITH US
/AP NOT EP
/EC LG 8 or ..MEM /EC LEN(GTH) 8
/ECC BO(UNDS) /
/ICO BO(UNDS) 7-15
/TI RK 1 FROM OWNPDB

searches memorised terms

analyses terms extracted from records and stores them
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

lists and defines the temporary working options

Parameters

Differences with Internal

Default : 23

..OP
..OP
..OP
..OP
..OP

Not
Not
Not
Not
Not

Min : 10

INTERNAL

..OP(TION)
..OP NL 1000
MSG LO(NG)
MES(SAGE) SH(ORT)
TRUN(CATION) S(ELECT)
TRUN AU(TO)
TRUN NONST(OP)

..OP

Max : 10.000

implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented

..OP SSZ SV or ..OP SSZ SAVE

..OP SSZ ER(ASE)
Not implemented
Not implemented
Not implemented

..OP DET(AIL) ON
..OP DET OFF

Not implemented
Not implemented

..OP NLFOC 6
..OP NLFOC SEN
..OP NLFOC PRG

Not implemented
Not implemented
Not implemented

..OP LIM(IT) FULL

..OP LIM LIGHT

Not implemented
Not implemented

..OP NL 1000 SSZ ER

No combination of parameters is allowed.

PERSONAL

..OP HLIG ON
..OP HLIG OFF
..OP TLIM 5

Parameters

Differences with Internal

..POP(TION)
..POP NL 1000

Default : 23

..POP
..POP
..POP
..POP
..POP

Not
Not
Not
Not
Not

MSG LO(NG)
MES(SAGE) SH(ORT)
TRUN(CATION) S(ELECT)
TRUN AU(TO)
TRUN NONST(OP)

..POP

Min : 10

Max : 10.000

implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented

..POP SSZ SV or ..POP SSZ SAVE

..POP SSZ ER(ASE)
..POP HLIG ON
..POP HLIG OFF
..POP TLIM 5
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

Not implemented
Not implemented
Not implemented
93

EXTERNAL

lists and defines permanent working options

INTERNAL

Parameters
..POP DET(AIL) ON
..POP DET OFF

Not implemented
Not implemented

..POP NLFOC 6
..POP NLFOC SEN
..POP NLFOC PRG

Not implemented
Not implemented
Not implemented

..POP LIM(IT) FULL

..POP LIM LIGHT

Not implemented
Not implemented

..POP NL 1000 SSZ ER

No combination of parameters is allowed.

PERSONAL

..PR

EXTERNAL

Differences with Internal

orders an offline print of the retrieved records

..PSET

lists and creates page settings

..RK

ranks the records of a SS

..SE

search command
Parameters

Differences with Internal

..SE(ARCH) VIDEO AND (OR CAMERA?, PICKUP?)

..SO

sorts the records of a SS

Parameters

Differences with Internal

..SO(RT) /IN
..SO /EC/ECC/ICO
..SO SS 3 /PA
..SO 1-20 25 /INW

94

..SO /EC RK 1 or ..SO /EC RANK 1

..SO /AP SEN 3 or ..SO /AP SENTENCE 3

A word is delimited by spacesfor the use of the

parameter RK. A sentence is delimited by a semicolon (;) for the use of the parameter SEN.

..SO /PN PRG 2

Not implemented

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

Parameters

Differences with Internal

..SO /PN RK 3 +6
..SO /EC SEN 1 -2
..SO /PN RK 1 FROM OWNPDB

Parameters

..ST
Differences with Internal

..ST(OP)
..ST SV or ..ST SAVE

INTERNAL

stops the session

Both commands are equivalent.

..ST EN(D)

..STRS

saves a search permanently

Parameters

..SV SE CAMERA PUB

..SV SE FUZZY FROM OWNPDB

Differences with Internal

The strategy is saved as a preparation.

Not implemented

searches records with a list of related terms

..TH

extracts PN numbers from EPODOC

..TR

removes a level of limitation

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

..UNLIM

95

EXTERNAL

..SV SE(ARCH) FUZZY or

..SAVE SE(ARCH) GAME

..SV

PERSONAL

searches for a string of characters

..UP

limits the search to a selected update period

INTERNAL

Parameters

Differences with Internal

..UP(DATE)
..UP 1

Only the value 1 is allowed for a direct selection

of an update period: navigation has to be used for
the other periods.

..UP 13-18
..UP 1987
..UP 1987-1989

Not implemented
Not implemented
Not implemented

PERSONAL

..UP A(LL)
(..UP CONV)

This parameter creates a SS collecting all records

which were updated during the selected update
period(s). It is only implemented for the PERSONAL
session.

Navigation options
(next screen)
(selection)
(stop listing)

EXTERNAL

M or Y
n or m-p
N

Differences with Internal

96

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

QUERY
Queries

INTERNAL

+
?
#

Differences with Internal

(unlimited truncation)
(limited truncation)
(masking truncation)

Queries

Differences with Internal

Superindex
Suffix, prefix
Factorisation
Nesting

(colon)

(ranging SSs, terms)

PERSONAL

YES
(field contents indicator)
;
(semi-colon)
(stacking)
_
(underscore)
(continuation character)
(quotes)
(special reserved term delimiter)

Not implemented

Ranging dates or numericals is NOT allowed.

OPERATORS
Operators

Differences with Internal

EXTERNAL

AND, OR, NOT

W, nW, =nW, D, nD, =nD
F, P, S, L, NOTF, NOTP, NOTS, NOTL

Not implemented
Not implemented

=, <, >, <=, >=, :

the relation is always alphabetical, e.g. 020 is less

than 100 but 20 is greater than 100.

Hierarchy of operators

Same level for all allowed operators.

QUALIFIERS
Qualifiers
.FLD
/.
/SEL, /ALL
/HIGH, /LOW, /SAME
*n

Differences with Internal

(field qualifier)
(negative qualifier)
(truncation qualifiers)
(relation qualifiers)
(relative qualifier)

Not
Not
Not
Not

implemented
implemented
implemented
implemented

The relative qualifier (*) can NOT be used for the

SEN or RK parameters of the ..MEM command
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE

GUIDE PERSONAL

97

INTERNAL
PERSONAL
EXTERNAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE EXTERNAL

EXTERNAL

EXTERNAL
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

99

LEGEND for this CHAPTER

INTERNAL

EPOQUE commands have been converted into the

language of the major external commercial servers.
These servers, STN and DIALOG, are integrated in
EPOQUE in order to provide the user with a unique
command language, the set of commands of
EPOQUE.

+ means that the EPOQUE command, or a part

of it (parameter), has been converted and thus it
can be used in the Conversion ON mode of the
EXTERNAL session.
- means that the EPOQUE command has NOT
been converted: this case occurs when the
command exists in EPOQUE but has no equivalence
in the external host language.

PERSONAL

The tables in this chapter indicate whether an

EPOQUE command has been converted or whether
it has no equivalence in the language used by the
integrated external hosts. The parameter FROM is
not supported by any of the 2 servers and thus is
ignored in these tables.

x means that the EPOQUE command has not

been converted although an equivalent command
exists in the external host language.

If a command or paramater exists in the language of an external host but is NOT available in the EPOQUE
language, quotes () can be used: the string which is not between quotes will be converted and the string
which is within the quotes will be sent to the external host unchanged.
Parts of commands, parameters and even a whole command can be sent to an external host between quotes
even if the Language / Data Conversion mode is set to ON (LC/DC = ON).

EXTERNAL

examples:
on STN host, the command
will be converted into

..LI ACC 102:3567 TI AB

DIS ACC 102:3567 TI AB

on STN host, the command

may be sent with LC/DC = ON.

DIS ACC 102:3567 TI AB

on STN host, the command

will be converted into

..POP ABB ON
SET ABB ON PERM

A command may be converted even if the Language / Data conversion mode is OFF (LC/DC = OFF)
by putting it between @ characters.
example:
on STN host, the command
will be converted into

100

@..HI@
D HIS

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

displays record by record

Parameters

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

Parameters

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+
+

-1
-

EXTERNAL

..CL(USTER)
..CL PUB(LIC)
..CL LIT TDB INSPEC
..CL LIT
..CL TXTUS PUB
..CL ER(ASE) LIT

..CL

Remarks:
1 On the DIALOG host, clusters can NOT be defined. However a cluster can be used by typing the
command ..FI <dbase1> <dbase2> <dbase3>... This ..FI command can also be used on the STN host.

provides details on the search in a cluster

..DET

Parameters

STN

DIALOG

..DET(AIL) ON
..DET OFF

+
+

+
+

edits a saved strategy

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

PERSONAL

creates, lists and deletes clusters

INTERNAL

..BR(OWSE)
..BR SS 8
..BR 5
..BR MAX
..BR LITT
..BR PN PR IC
..BR PNPR PLUS EC PA
..BR STDR MINUS IN
..BR PSET 10
..BR FROM INSPEC

..BR

..EDS
101

..ER

erases search statement(s)

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

Parameters
..ER(ASE)
..ER 3
..ER 3-6 8
..ER SSZ(ERO)
..ER A(LL)
..ER FROM BEG(IN)
..ER A(LL) FROM BEG(IN)
..ER FROM BIOSIS

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+
+
-

+
-

..ER CL

erases a cluster defined by the user

..ER FOR

erases a format defined by the user

..ER Mn

erases memorised terms

Parameters

EXTERNAL

..ER(ASE) M1
..ER M2 1-10 15
..ER M3 WITH FR
..ER M4 NOT EP
..ER M1 1-20 LG 8
..ER M1 1-20 LEN(GTH) 8
..ER M2 10-30 BO(UNDS) /
..ER M3 2 4 10 BO(UNDS) 9-12

STN

DIALOG

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x

..ER PRn

cancels an offline print order

..ER Mn

erases memorised terms

..EX

102

executes a search

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

executes a saved strategy

Parameters

STN

DIALOG

+
-

+
-

searches for the EPO family member(s) of a patent

Parameters

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+
+
+
-

EXTERNAL

..FI(LE)
..FI DOC+
..FI DOC46
..FI DOC46 SV
..FI DOC46 SAVE
..FI DOC46 ER
..FI DOC46 BEGIN
..FI DOC46 STAT(ISTICS)

..FI

Remarks:
Selecting a database by its corresponding number after a ..FI command is NOT allowed in any external
hosts.

selects a cluster for the search

Parameters
..FI(LE) CL(USTER) MYLIT
..FI CL MEDECINE PUB(LIC)

..FI CL
STN

DIALOG

+
+

-1
-

Remarks:
1 On the DIALOGhost, clusters can NOT be defined. However a cluster can be used by typing the
command ..FI <dbase1>
<dbase2> <dbase3>... This ..FI command can also be used on the STN host.
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

PERSONAL

selects a database for the search

..FAM

INTERNAL

..EX(ECUTE) OPTIFIB
..EX PHYT PUB(LIC)
..EX OPTIFIB 10
..EX PHYT 3 5-6 PUB(LIC)
..EX OPTIFIB SSAU

..EX

103

..FIEL

lists the field names

INTERNAL

Parameters
..FIEL(DS)
..FIEL FROM MEDLINE

..FO

PERSONAL

..FO(CUS)
..FO SS 2
..FO 7
..FO NL 6
..FO SEN(TENCE)
..FO PRG

..FOR

+
-

+
-

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+
-

+
+
+
-

lists and creates search / display formats

Parameters

EXTERNAL

DIALOG

displays the lines surrounding the term(s) found during the search
Parameters

..FOR(MAT)
..FOR US(ER)
..FOR CLAS EC ECC INF
..FOR FROM INSPEC

..HE

STN

DIALOG

+
x
x
-

+
+
x
-

on-line help given for the syntax or use of a command

Parameters
..HE(LP)
..HE LIST
..HE LI

104

STN

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+

+
+
+

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

displays the history of the search

Parameters

STN

DIALOG

+
-

+
+
-

lists the saved strategies

Parameters

STN

DIALOG

+
x
-

+
x
-

Parameters
..IND(EX)
..IND FROM BIOSIS

..IND
STN

DIALOG

+
-

+
-

searches for records from a list of indexed terms

Parameters
..IND(EX) AERO
..IND /EC H01H11
..IND (term context sensitive)
..IND ASPIRIN FROM MEDLINE

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

STN

DIALOG

+
+
-

+
+
-

..IND

105

EXTERNAL

lists the index names

PERSONAL

..HI(STORY) SE(ARCH)
..HI SE NONST(OP)
..HI SE PUB(LIC)
..HI SE US(ER) PUB
..HI SE OPTIFIB
..HI SE PHYT PUB
..HI SE MET+
..HI SE WITH TEST
..HI SE NOT LOOP
..HI SE DATE+
..HI SE DYN+ DATE-

..HI SE

INTERNAL

..HI(STORY)
..HI 5-8
..HI FROM BEG(IN)
..HI FROM MEDLINE

..HI

..INFO

on-line information on host

INTERNAL

Parameters
..INFO
..INFO COVERAGE
..INFO HOURS

STN

DIALOG

+
+

+
+

..KE

keeps search statement(s)

keeps memorised terms

..LI

lists the contents of the retrieved records

Parameters
..LI(ST)
..LI SS 7
..LI 1-5 8
..LI MAX
..LI CLAS
..LI EC ECC INF
..LI OWN PLUS KW
..LI FULL MINUS AB
..LI PSET 3
..LI NOHE(ADER)
..LI NONST(OP)
..LI 1-10 FROM INSPEC

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

..KE Mn

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+1
+
+
+
-

Remarks:
1 On DIALOG host, display formats are specified by numbers. These numbers may be used with the
Language / Data Conversion mode ON by preceding the number by an underscore.

..LI Mn
..LIM
..LIM *TR
..LP
106

lists memorised terms

limits the search to a result of a SS
searches extracted PN numbers
displays long records page by page
EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

extracts terms from records of a SS and stores them in a memory

Parameters

x
x
x
x
x
-

searches memorised terms

Parameters

STN

DIALOG

x
x
x
x
x

analyses terms extracted from records and stores them

lists and defines the temporary working options
Parameters
..OP(TION)
..OP Host_Parameter

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

STN

DIALOG

+
+1

+
+1

EXTERNAL

*M1
*M2 /PR
*M3 /EC/ECC/INF/ICC
*M4 1-10 30-40 /PN
*M1 /PN/S
*M1 /PN/SEL(ECT)
*M2 /PN/A(LL)

*Mn

PERSONAL

DIALOG

INTERNAL

..MEM /IC
..MEM /PN /PNFP /CT
..MEM SS 6 /PN
..MEM 1-50 100 /EC
..MEM M3 /PR
..MEM /PN PRG 1
..MEM /AP SEN(TENCE) 3
..MEM /PR RK 2
..MEM /PR RANK 2
..MEM /PR WITH US
..MEM /AP NOT EP
..MEM /EC LG 8
..MEM /EC LEN(GTH) 8
..MEM /ECC BO(UNDS) /
..MEM /ICO BO(UNDS) 7-15
..MEM /AN FROM INSPEC

STN

..MEM

..MEMS
..OP

107

..

function
Remarks:

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

1 Each external host has its own working options. In order to set them to a value, QUOTES () should be
used, e.g. for DIALOG, ..OP POSTINGS ON.
Special options have been introduced which have no equivalence in the EPOQUE internal session and which
are not converted into the host language since they all concern the Language / Data Conversion:
..OP
..OP
..OP
..OP
..OP

TagSoff
DataSoff
TagDoff
DataDoff
RecDoff

..POP

switches the tag conversion in the search off.

switches the data conversion in the search off.
switches the tag conversion in the display off.
switches the data conversion in the display off.
switches the data conversion in the display AND the EPOQUE-like formatting of
the records off.

lists and defines permanent working options

Parameters
..POP(TION)
..POP Host_Parameter

STN

DIALOG

+1

EXTERNAL

Remarks:
1 STN is the only external host with the per-manent working options, ..POP AUHELP OFF.

..PR

orders an offline print of the retrieved records

Parameters
..PR(INT)
..PR SS 8
..PR 1-5 8-12 20
..PR PN IC TI
..PR STDR
..PR ABRG
..PR OWN PLUS IN PA
..PR FULL MINUS AB
..PR PSET 4
..PR SS 3;TI Search in external session
..PR MAX;SO /PN RK 1 +2
..PR SS 7 FROM MEDLINE

..PSET
108

STN

DIALOG

x
x
x
x
x
-

x
x
x
x
x
-

lists and creates page settings

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

ranks the records of a SS

..RK

search command

..SE
STN

DIALOG

..SE(ARCH) VIDEO 2W (OR CAMERA?,PICKUP?)

sorts the records of a SS

Parameters

..SO

+
+
+
+
-

..SO(RT) /IN
..SO /EC/ECC/INF
..SO SS 3 /PA
..SO 1-20 25 /INW
..SO /EC RK 1
..SO /EC RANK 1
..SO /AP SEN(TENCE) 3
..SO /PN PRG 2
..SO /PN RK 3 +6
..SO /EC SEN 1 -2
..SO /AU FROM BIOSIS

stops the session

Parameters

..ST
STN

DIALOG

+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+

..ST(OP)
..ST SV
..ST SAVE
..ST EN(D)

searches for a string of characters

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

..STRS

109

EXTERNAL

DIALOG

PERSONAL

STN

INTERNAL

Parameters

..SV

saves a search permanently

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

Parameters
..SV SE(ARCH) FUZZY
..SAVE SE FUZZY
..SV SE CAMERA PUB(LIC)
..SV SE LOGIC FROM INSPEC

STN

DIALOG

+
+
-

+
+
-

..TH

searches records with a list of related terms

..TR

extracts PN numbers from EPODOC

..UNLIM

removes a level of limitation

..UP

limits the search to a selected update period

Parameters

EXTERNAL

..UP(DATE)
..UP 3
..UP 13-18
..UP 1987
..UP 1987-1989
..UP A(LL)

STN

DIALOG

+1
+1
-

Remarks:
1 Listing the update periods is possible but selecting a update period is NOT allowed.

110

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

QUERY
Queries
(unlimited truncation)
(limited truncation)
(masking truncation)
Queries
Superindex
Suffix, prefix
Factorisation
Nesting
(indicator of field contents)
(stacking)
(continuation character)
(delimiter for special, reserved terms)
(Ranging SSs)
(Ranging terms)

+
+
+

+
+
+

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+

+
+
+

+
+1
+
-

+
+1
+
-

PERSONAL

YES
;
_

:
:

DIALOG

INTERNAL

+
?
#

STN

Remarks:

EXTERNAL

1 If quotes are used for delimiting special, reserved terms, they have to be doubled since they also delimit
the part(s) of the command which will be sent unconverted to the host.

OPERATORS
Operators
AND, OR, NOT
W
D
nW
nD
=nW
=nD
F, NOTF
P, NOTP
L, NOTL
S, NOTS
=, <, <=, >, >=, :

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

STN

DIALOG

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

111

QUALIFIERS
Qualifiers

DIALOG

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

.FLD (field qualifier)

/. (negative qualifier)
/SEL, /ALL (truncation qualifiers)
/HIGH, /LOW, /SAME (relation qualifiers)
*n (relative qualifier)

STN

112

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

INDEX for the COMMANDS

87,
87,
89,
89,
87,
88,
88,
88,
88,
88,
88,
88,
89,
89,
89,
90,
90,
90,
90,
90,
90,
90,
91,
91,
91,
91,
91,
92,
92,
92,
92,
93,
93,
94,
94,
94,
92,
92,
94,
95,
94,
92,
95,
95,
95,
95,
95,
95,
96,

101
101
103
103
101
101
102
102
102
102
102
102
102
102
103
104
104
104
104
105
105
105
105
106
106
106
106
106
106
106
107
107
108
108
108
109
107
106
109
110
109
107
109
109
110
110
110
110
110

EXTERNAL

3,
5,
19,
18,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
13,
15,
16,
17,
20,
21,
23,
24,
25,
26,
28,
29,
31,
32,
33,
34,
36,
37,
39,
41,
48,
50,
52,
53,
56,
43,
38,
57,
63,
58,
45,
60,
61,
62,
63,
65,
66,
67,

PERSONAL

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE EXTERNAL

..BR
..CL
..FI CL
..FI
..DET
..EDS
..ER
..ER CL
..ER FOR
..ER Mn
..ER PRn
..ER SE
..EX
..EX
..FAM
..FIEL
..FO
..FOR
..HE
..HI
..HI SE
..IND
..IND
..INFO
..KE
..KE Mn
..LI
..LI Mn
..LIM
..LP
..MEM
..OP
..POP
..PR
..PSET
..RK
*Mn
..LIM *TR
..SE
..TH
..SO
..MEMS
..ST
..STRS
..SV
..TH
..TR
..UNLIM
..UP

INTERNAL

Browsing
Cluster definition
Cluster selection
Database selection
Detail of cluster search
Edition of saved strategies
Erasing SSs
Erasing defined clusters
Erasing defined formats
Erasing memory contents
Erasing print orders
Erasing saved strategies
Executing a search
Executing saved strategies
Family search
Field name list
Focussing
Format definition
Help on-line
History of search
History of saved strategies
Index name list
Indexed terms selection
Information on line
Keeping SSs
Keeping memorised terms
Listing
Listing memorised terms
Limiting
Listing page by page
Memorising terms
Options
Permanent options
Printing off-line
Page setting definition
Ranking
Searching memorised terms
Searching extracted PNs
Searching terms
Searching a list of related terms
Sorting
Statistical analysis
Stopping a session
String searching
Saving strategies
Thesaurus of classes
Transfering / Extracting PNs
Unlimiting / Removing one limit
Update selection

113

INDEX for the QUERIES

AND, OR, NOT
F, L, P, S, NOTL, NOTP, NOTS
_
YES
.FLD
/.

D, W
:
/HIGH, /LOW, /SAME
=, <, <=, >, >=, :
*n


;
/ABS
/SEL, /ALL
? # +

72,
73,
84,
83,
84,
81,
82,
84,
70,
72,
83,
80,
74,
79,
71,
71,
84,
77,
76,
70,
69,

97, 111
97, 111
97, 111
97, 111
97, 111
97, 112
75, 97
97, 112
97, 111
97, 111
97, 111
97, 111
97, 112
97, 111
97, 112
97, 111
97, 111
97, 111
97, 111
97, 111
97, 112
97, 111

EXTERNAL

PERSONAL

INTERNAL

BOOLEAN operators
CO-OCCURENCE operators
Continuation character
Factorisation
Field contents
FIELD qualifier
Hierarchy of operators
NEGATIVE qualifier
Nesting
Prefix (field)
PROXIMITY operators
Ranging SSs or terms
RELATION qualifiers
RELATIONAL operators
RELATIVE qualifier
Reserved terms
Special characters
Stacking
Suffix (field)
Superindex
TRUNCATION qualifiers
Truncations

114

EPOQUE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE PERSONAL

European Patent Office

Patentlaan 2
2280 HV Rijswijk (ZH)
The Netherlands