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    4.2 - Abstract Service Preferences

    This form can be used to customize settings which affect the ADS Abstract Service.



    4.2.1 - General Preferences

    The top section of the preference setting form deals with some general settings for the Abstract Service:

    Name
    if you enter your name in this field, it will be displayed at the top of the Abstract search forms.

    Select Database(s)
    check the list of databases that you want to query by default.

    Use tables
    this setting controls whether HTML tables are to be used when formatting results or whether preformatted text should be used instead. Preformatted text transfers much faster than tables, but it does not provide all the Retrieval Options.

    Use multiple windows
    check Yes to have full bibliographic records displayed in a separate window.

    Preferred article format
    when following a link to a full-text article available from a third party, you can specify whether you prefer to retrieve the article as a PDF or PostScript file (when the option is available)

    Preferred language
    when viewing full bibliographic records in the ADS, this is the language that the document will be translated to when you follow the link Translate Abstract



    4.2.2 - Specifying A Proxy Server

    Users working at institutes which provide access to external databases and publishers via URL-rewriting proxy services can specify the URL of the proxied ADS abstract service in their preferences so that all links that they follow to resources outside of the ADS website will be properly proxied. In order for this to work you have to know your library or IT department must have set up a proxied host for the main ADS server name (or the equivalent mirror site). If this is the case, specify the corresponding URL in the proxy server field and all your queries outside of the ADS will be properly handled by it. A similar approach can be accomplished through the use of a Library Link server.



    4.2.3 - Selecting Mirror Sites

    Records in the ADS databases link to millions of related datasets available from several providers. In some cases, the providers may make these datasets available from different sites. The ADS provides users with the option to select which mirror site should be used when linking to a resource available from several sites. In order to do this, simply use the proper pull-down menus to select the appropriate site. For faster service, we recommend you select a mirror site that is closest in location.



    4.2.4 - Selecting the Look of Returned Pages

    This section allows users to change the default colors in the generated pages which are used for background, foreground, text, links, and highlighting. You can also choose to modify the default font size. A Color Table can help you in selecting color values for these preferences.



    4.2.5 - Reference Formatting

    The reference formatting capability allows the user to specify a format in which a bibliographic reference is returned. Users can either select one of the pre-defined formats that we provide, or create their own. The predefined formats are:

    • AASTeX -- Used to prepare papers for all AAS journals
    • Icarus -- Used to prepare papers to be submitted to Icarus
    • MNRAS -- Used to prepare papers for Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
    • Link -- used to create hyperlinks to be included in HTML documents

    If you desire to specify your own format for bibliographic references, you may do so by selecting the Custom format entry and entering the proper format. The format is described in the section ADS Custom Format.

    4.2.6 - Customizing the Table of Contents Page

    The Customized Table of Contents Query Page provides access to the latest volumes of selected journals. The page shows only the journals for which the user has not yet read the latest volume.

    The user can select which journals should be included on this form from the bottom of the Preference Settings Form. The user can specify the ones to be listed or excluded on the ToC Page by checking or unchecking the box associated with the corresponding journal abbreviation.



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