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Auto-alerts types and how to set them up

Database-based auto-alerts

Alerts based on saved searches in bibliographic databases

The most common type of auto-alert is a Search alert, generated from bibliographic database such as Web of Science , PubMed , Scopus automatically. Most frequently, the search criteria are based on a topic, author, or journal title. If you set up an alert based on one or more journal titles, you are basically setting up a Table of Contents alert. Emails are sent to you whenever the database is updated or on a schedule that you have defined.

As alerts from databases are generated when new citations have been added to the database, it is important to consider the frequency that the resource is updated. For example, Web of Science is updated weekly, so this would be a good database in which to set up an alert. On the other hand, even though CAB Abstracts is only updated monthly, you might want to set up alerts in this resource, too, since it offers the most comprehensive coverage of agricultural topics.

Citation-based alerts

Several databases such as Web of Science and Scopus send out citation alerts as well. Every time the article of your choosing is cited, you will receive an alert.

Cost / Registration

Auto-alerts services are free to users; however in most cases, you will be required to fill in a brief registration, creating an account in order to use the service.

Instructions for setting up auto-alerts

Go to the Database-based Auto-alerts: Listed by Database or Catalog page to find instructions for setting up alerts in databases such as Web of Science , PubMed , Scopus, or Academic OneFile .  You will also find instructions for setting up alerts to items that appear in Google, Google News, and more.

 

Publisher-based Auto-alerts

Typically, publishers provide Table of Contents (TOC) alerts. When the entire contents of a new, complete issue is posted on the Web, you will be immediately alerted of the Table of Contents – much faster than the articles appear in indexes such as  Web of Science , PubMed , Scopus, etc.!

Some publishers also provide article alerts. When individual articles are released on the web, you will be notified of its title, author, journal name and usually a link back to the article.

Additionally, some publishers provide auto-alerts that are similar to database-based Search alerts and Citation alerts. It enables you to track the topics, authors and articles important to you.

Instructions for setting up auto-alerts from publisher's sites

Auto-alerts services are free to users. In many cases, you will be required to register an account in order to use the service. You also need to know the publisher's name to use the auto-alerts services. Instructions on setting up from major publishers can be found at the  Auto-alerts Instructions Listed by Search Interface and Publishers page. If you have trouble figuring out the publisher for a specific journal, please go to a University of Illinois library reference desk.