Keep up to date with the published research in your field by using automatic alerts. Alerts are available through FindIt@Flinders and most other databases. They can be used to:
Search Alerts
You can save your searches in Findit@Flinders and most other databases. New results for your queries can be sent directly to you by email or RSS allowing you to keep up to date with recently published research, saving you time and effort.
Table of Contents Alerts
No longer worry about missing an issue of your favourite journal! You can have the table of contents (ToC) of journals emailed directly to you. This function is available in most databases. You can also go to most individual journal websites to set up ToC alerts if the database you like using does not offer this service.
Article Citation Alerts
Want to know when your work is cited? Many databases offer a citation alert service that will inform you when a chosen work is cited.
Author Alerts
Want to know when a key researcher publishes new material? In many databases you can follow an author to receive email updates every time a new work by that author is indexed in that database. You can also set an author citation alert in some databases such as Scopus that inform you whenever anyone publishes a work that cites a particular author.
Most databases will allow you to save your searches and set up a variety of RSS feeds or email alerts. The process varies with each database.
You will generally need to create an account. Look for links such as Sign In, Log In, Register or anything starting with My... e.g. My Tools, My Account, My Projects etc.
The option to save a search and set up alerts for new results is usually offered after you have conducted a search. On the results screen look for phrases like Create an Alert, Search Alert, Save Search or symbols such as for saving,
for email or
for RSS feeds.
To set up table of contents alerts you often need to find the record for the journal first. You can usually browse journal titles by subject or alphabetically. Look for tabs or pages such as Browse, Publication List, Title List or Journals. If you know the name of a journal you may be able to search Journal or Source Titles. Once you've found your journal record look for an RSS symbol or words like Create Alert, Content Alert, Publication Alert, TOC Alert. Some databases enable you to subscribe to a journal table of contents alert from article records. If available this functionality is usually more fully described, for example "Create TOC alert for this journal".
Some databases offer citation alerts although this is not as common as search or table of contents alerts. Find the record for the article you wish to create an alert for. Look for terms such as Citation Alert or Track Citation in either the article record or the full text.
You can generally manage your alerts from your account area within the database. Email alerts will often provide a link and instructions on how to modify or delete an alert. RSS feeds can be deleted from your RSS reader.
All databases have a help page. These often contain a section on setting up alerts and advertise what functionality is available. You may also be able to search a FAQ page for further help.
Note that the alerts in each database will only return results from that particular database. For example, if you set an author alert in Scopus and that author publishes an article in a journal not indexed in Scopus it will not appear in your author alerts.
Scopus allows you to save your searches, set up email alerts and RSS feeds. You can set up search, author, citation and table of content alerts. To create alerts you will need to be logged into a personalised Scopus account. If you do not have an account you can easily register for your own account. You can edit your alerts anytime via the Alerts tab.
Search Alerts
Note you also have the option to save your search or set an RSS feed based on your search.
Article Citation Alerts
Author alerts
Table of contents Alerts
Watch video: Scopus Tutorial: How to save searches and set alerts
Web of Science allows you to save your searches, set up email alerts and RSS feeds. You can set up search, author, citation and table of content alerts. To create alerts you will need to be logged into a personalised Web Of Science account. If you do not have an account you can easily register for your own account. You can edit your alerts anytime via the My Tools tab
Search Alerts
Article Citation Alerts
Author alerts
Table of contents Alerts
Web of Science has its own YouTube channel called Web of Science Training that has many helpful videos on using the Web of Science database including this one on how to create alerts.
Watch video: Setting Citation Alerts in Web of Science
Watch video: Web of Science: Saving Your Search and Setting Alerts
Watch video: Create Table of Contents Alerts in Web of Science
Google Scholar allows you to save your searches and set up alerts for new results.
Saving searches and alerts
Alternatively, after you have signed in, click on Alerts button in the top right hand corner of the screen to set up an alert query. This screen also enables you to review and delete your alerts.
Informit allows you to set up email alerts for your saved searches. It also offers RSS feeds of table of contents for new journal issues.
Saving searches and setting up email alerts
Table of contents RSS feeds
JStor allows you to save your searches, and set up email alerts and RSS feeds. You can also subscribe to journal table of contents and keep track of when a specific work is cited.
Saving searches, email alerts and RSS feeds
Table of Contents email alerts and RSS feeds
Citation alerts
Proquest allows you to save your searches, set up email alerts and RSS feeds. You can also have the table of contents of new journal issues sent directly to you.
Saving searches, email alerts and RSS feeds
Setting up table of contents email alerts and RSS feeds for new journal issues
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