Combine search sets created from previous searches. Sets are listed in the Search History table in reverse numerical order - the most recently created set is at the top of the table.
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Click the AND or OR option.
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Select the check box of each set that you want to combine.
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Click the Combine button.
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Click the link in the Results column to view the results of your search.
Combine Search Examples
#1 AND #2
Finds all records that appear in both set #1 and set #2.
#2 OR #3
Finds all records that are in set #2 and all records that are in set #3, including records common to both sets.
#1 AND #2 AND #4 AND #6
Finds all records that are common to all sets (#1, #2, #4, and #6).
You can use set numbers to combine two structure searches that retrieved compound records. Similarly, you can combine two structure searches that retrieved reaction records. However, you cannot combine a structure search that retrieved compound records with a structure search that retrieved reaction records.
Combining Structure Searches with Bibliographic Searches
When you combine a set created from a structure search with a set created from a search for bibliographic information in any database, the result of the set combination will be a number of article records.
For example, in the Search History table below, assume that the 65 reactions in set #2 are from six different articles. Two of these articles are also found in set #1. Set #3 is therefore the number of article records in set #1, plus the number of article records in set #2, minus the duplicates. Set #4 consists of the article records common to both sets #1 and #2.
| #4 | 44 | #1 AND #2 Language=All; Doc Type=Article; Databases=SCI-EXPANDED,CCR-EXPANDED (back to 1840), IC; Timespan=1945-2002 |
| #3 | 424 | #1 OR #2 Language=All; Doc Type=Article; Databases=SCI-EXPANDED,CCR-EXPANDED (back to 1840), IC; Timespan=1945-2002 |
| #2 | 65 |
[structure drawing]=(Substructure) AND Reaction Keyphrases="oxidation" [Reactions] Language=All; Doc Type=Article; Databases=SCI-EXPANDED,CCR-EXPANDED (back to 1840), IC; Timespan=1945-2002 |
| #1 | 420 | TS=(disaccharide* OR trisaccharide*) AND SO=synthe*
Language=All; Doc Type=Article; Databases=SCI-EXPANDED,CCR-EXPANDED (back to 1840), IC; Timespan=1945-2002 |
Also, be aware that if you use AND to combine a set created from a search of the Science Citation Index with a set created from a search of Index Chemicus and/or Current Chemical Reactions, there may be no intersection between the sets if the timespan for each search is Latest 1, 2, or 4 weeks. If you want to limit results to the most recent 1, 2, or 4 weeks, go to the Date & Database Limits page, select all three databases, and then perform the search.
About Highlighted Sets
Would you like to see more information about why some sets are highlighted in green or gold in the Combine Sets column?
Search History Options
Combine Search Rules
You must select either the AND or OR Boolean operator to perform a combined search.
Select as many sets as you wish to combine in your search.
Search Tip
To exclude records from a set combination search, go to the Advanced Search page and use the NOT operator in the test field. For example:
(#1 AND #2) NOT #3)
Error Messages
Click here for a list of error messages that may appear on the Search History page.