1. Introduction

This guidebook presents new features of the CDS/ISIS for Windows (WinISIS) system, which is developed by UNESCO. It covers innovations introduced in consecutive versions of the system till the version 1.4. This version was still in final beta tests when this book was prepared.

WinISIS is a Windows version of the CDS/ISIS system (Computerized Information Service / Integrated Scientific Information System) which was originated at ILO the early 60's and since 70's is maintained and developed by UNESCO. In 1985 the first microcomputer version of CDS/ISIS was launched and since then it was disseminated to over 20 000 institutions in various countries. The first Window version was distributed for testing in May 1995 and the first WinISIS version officially realized was version 1.31 launched in November 1998. UNESCO distributed with this version two documents:

• CDS/ISIS for Windows Reference manual (version 1.31),
• WinISIS – Supplement to the Reference Manual (versions 1.0 to 1.3).

• WinISIS 1.4 Changes and News.

This guidebook is addressed to experienced users of CDS/ISIS for DOS and therefore good knowledge of all functions of this system and experience in its applications are initial requirements. The book will provide readers with information on new features available in the Windows version of the system and with examples of their applications. The new features considerably increase user-friendliness of the system. However, many of innovations of the formatting language are quite advanced and therefore these features can be fully utilized only bases designed by the users who are conversant with this language.

The chapter 2 of this guidebook presents a general overview of the most important new features of the WinISIS system. The next four chapters provide detailed descriptions of the new features available during data entry, retrieval, sorting and printing and database definition. The seventh chapter is devoted to the new features of the formatting language. It discusses among others the hypertext commands that enable creation of interactive display formats. The last chapter is devoted to management of the WinISIS system. It describes among others the numerous new system parameters of WinISIS and methods of the system personalization.

All examples of application of the new WinISIS features have been taken from the MTS database developed by ITC. This database stores bibliographic descriptions of various types of publications related to the Multilateral Trading System. The MTS database contains references to various auxiliary databases maintained in ITC, such as the TITT database that stores the Thesaurus of International Trade Terms. The annex presents in detail structure of the MTS database and of all the auxiliary databases. This fully functional application of WinISIS can be applied as an example by the readers who will design new WinISIS databases for own purposes or adjust for WinISIS structures of existing databases that have been designed using CDS/ISIS for DOS.