PubMed@UCSF QuickGuide: My NCBI Alert Service




		INSIDE PUBMED@UCSF QUICKGUIDE


			Basics of Using PubMed@UCSF

			Advanced Search Tips

			Alert Services

			-	My NCBI

			-	RSS Feeds

HELP & HOW-TO

PubMed@UCSF FAQ

Free Related Classes

NLM Search Manual

UC-eLinks QuickGuide

print-friendly version

GALEN Home > Collections & Resources > Databases > PubMed@UCSF > QuickGuide > Alert Services > My NCBI

Creating Alerts with My NCBI

My NCBI (formerly Cubby) is a service provided by the National Library of Medicine's
PubMed system. It allows you to

-	save search strategies that are run automatically with PubMed search results emailed to you on a regular basis;
-	save search strategies that can be run at a later date to retrieve new information added to PubMed since you last ran the search;
-	place search filters on the search retrieval page to focus your searches with specific topics and other limits. [more about filters]

Register to Use My NCBI




	To register for My NCBI, choose the My NCBI link on the PubMed@UCSF sidebar, and choose the register for an account link; or go directly to the registration page by selecting Register from the My NCBI box at the top right of the PubMed@UCSF screen. Complete the online registration form and choose the Register button.

Log in to My NCBI




	Log into My NCBI to store searches, rerun searches, set up automatic email updates, and set up search retrieval filters. Log in by choosing the My NCBI link in the PubMed@UCSF sidebar, or choosing the Sign-in link at the top right of the PubMed@UCSF screen. Keep me signed in unless I sign out By choosing this option, you will remain logged into My NCBI indefinitely. This is particularly important when using search retrieval filters, since filters will only appear if you are signed into My NCBI. Do not use this option on a publicly accessible computer. This would enable anyone using the computer to access your personal My NCBI.



	1. Create and run your search in PubMed.

	Note that links to related articles and search numbers used to combine searches on the History screen (e.g. #3) cannot be stored as My NCBI searches. Dates and date ranges are also not recommended for stored searches.

	2. Save your search.


	Choose the Save Search link to the right of the PubMed search line. Log into My NCBI if you are not already logged in. My NCBI will display your last search query: Your search strategy will be used as the name of your saved search unless you change it. To give the search a different name, edit the Enter name for your search window. Select Yes if you wish to receive automatic email updates for your search and No if you simply want to store the search for future use. Choose OK.

	3. Set options for automatic updates, if desired.


	If you selected Yes in step 2, you will be presented with an additional screen of features for automatic email updates: My NCBI will email your updates to the email account you used to register for the service. Set the update frequency for monthly, weekly, or daily in the How often? Options. Set the format in which you wish to receive the references in the email update in the Format: section. Check the Basics of Using PubMed@UCSF for more information on Display formats. It is recommended that you receive the updates in an HTML format rather than Text, since this will enable you to link from your email message to PubMed and view abstracts or full text, when available. Set the maximum number of references you wish to receive in the email updates, select whether you wish to receive acknowledgement of the search when no references are retrieved, and add any additional notes in the text box at the bottom of the window. Choose OK to store the search.

	Tips


	- You can store up to 100 searches in My NCBI per user name. - Stored searches can be reviewed and deleted but not edited.

Find New Citations with a Saved Search



	When you enter My NCBI, you are taken to the My Saved Searches screen. If you are not on this screen in My NCBI, choose the Saved Searches link in the sidebar. Select the stored search(es) you want to run by selecting the check box(es) next to the search name and choose the What's New for Selected button. My NCBI displays the list of searches selected along with a column indicating the number of new items retrieved since you last ran this update. Choose the # new items link to view the new citations.

	Tip


	You can run a saved search against the entire PubMed database by clicking the search name.

UCSF Library and Center for Knowledge Management | Privacy Statement

Last updated: 29 January 2008 | ©2006 The Regents of the University of California