Current Contents on Diskette and Reference Update

Both Current Contents on Diskette and Reference Update provide an excellent mechanism for keeping abreast of the biomedical literature with a personal computer. Both systems are compatible with the two major database management programs for manipulating reprint files. Reference Update exports directly to Reference Manager (a choice on the main menu). Exporting to a file can also be done with one of four formats: Table of Contents, MEDLINE, Full, and One Line. To export Reference Update records into Pro-Cite, for example, the records must first be downloaded into MEDLINE format. Current Contents on Diskette also exports in four different formats: MEDLINE, Comma Delimited, Screen Image, and DIALOG. MEDLINE corresponds to Reference Manager format, and Comma Delimited corresponds to Pro-Cite format. Both products include reprint request systems that can be used directly from the programs. The two products share many features and differ primarily in terms of journal coverage. Current Contents on Diskette provides document delivery by means of the Genuine Article service, and Reference Update offers a synonym feature. Both programs are attractive alternatives to manual or on-line searching of the biomedical literature.