Iconda

What is ICONDA?

ICONDA covers worldwide technical literature relating to all aspects of planning and construction. It contains references taken from sources in more than 20 different countries. Sources include over 400 periodicals, books, research reports, conference proceedings, business reports, theses, and non-conventional literature that is normally outside the public domain, with coverage dating back to the launch of the database in 1976. ICONDA is endorsed by the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction CIB and the International Union of Building Centres UICB. You will need an Athens username and password. External members and mentors are not entitled to an Athens password.

How do I log in?

Do not use Internet Explorer to search ICONDA. It has a fault which makes it difficult to display the full text of articles. Use Firefox or Google Chrome.  Go to ICONDA using our Databases section of the Search For menu, then click ICONDA. Enter your Athens username and password and click Login>>

How do I search?

The search screen opens at Specified search. This gives you a range of options to increase the accuracy of your search. You can enter data into the following fields:

• Free Search: Combined search in all fields of the database
• Keyword(s): All references are indexed with central and controlled key words concerning contents, regional references and functions [architect, engineer, etc.]. Enter search terms in their basic forms.
• Abstract: A brief description of the content of a document. Intended to include informative, indicative, critical or evaluative abstracts, summaries, etc.
• Title: Title of the target item (book, article etc.)
• Author(s): Individual authors.
• Organisation: You can search for corporate authors. As corporate authors are considered: all associations, organisations and institutions, enterprises and events, that form an individually identifiable body, such as "International Council for Research and Innovation in Building" or "CIB", as well as authorities like governments, ministries, regional and local administration, and their departments.
• Publication Date: Year of publication
• Source Title: For documents that are a part of a larger publication entity use this field to enter [parts of] the title that contains the article(s)
• Language: Publication language
• ISBN: International Standard Book Number (hyphenated or unhyphenated )
• ISSN: International Standard Serial Number (hyphenated or unhyphenated )
• Publication Type: To select several items:
  Windows- hold "ctrl" key and click on items
  Mac OS- hold "cmd" key and click on items
• Classification code(s): Classification code(s)

You don't have to enter data into every field! Enter your terms, then click Submit to run the search. The database will then display your results.

How do I view detailed results?

You can view more detail for individual references by clicking on the title. Check if we have the item in stock at Glasgow Caldonian by clicking 360 link check GCU library. There may be other options available by clicking the publishers link in the same box. If the databse asks you to pay for an article, don't! Check if we already subscribe by clicking the 360 link icon, and if we don't have it, then you can request a copy using our inter-library loan service.

Go back to the main results list by clicking the blue Return to hit list button at the top of the page.

How do I print references?

Select the references that you want to process further by clicking in the box beside the title. Then select the format in which to view your records from the drop-down menu and click the blue display button. To print, click the blue print button at the top of the screen.

How do I save to RefWorks?

You can keep a note of your search results and format them into a bibliography using RefWorks.

Select your records, then click the blue export as Endnote Tagged format button at the top of the list. You may hear a bleep as the pop-up blocker blocks the export, just click the yellow band at the top of the screen and select the download file option. It is easiest to save the file to your desktop.

Log in to RefWorks from the A-Z database list on the library web page. Select Import from the References menu. Select Endnote view in the import filter/data source box. Then use the browse button the select the data file from your desktop. Click Import and your references will be imported. Remember to move them to a file that you have created.

Some search hints

• thermal insulation - References containing these terms in exactly this order are displayed (phrase search).
• renovation and insulation - This entry will find both terms, regardless of their order within the reference.
• renovation or renovation - This entry will find terms containing either "renovation" or "insulation" or both terms.
• renovation and not insulation - This entry will find terms containing "renovation" but not "insulation".
• (renovation or insulation) and energy - Use of brackets forms a set of terms.
• insulat* - This entry will find the terms "insulated", "insulation" etc.
• Small and capital letters - The search is case insensitive. It makes no difference between small and capital letters

Search history

The search history is a list of searches that you have run in this session. A serial number is assigned to each search.
The last search will be displayed at the beginning of the search history. For each search a number of results will be displayed. If you click this number, the hits will be displayed.

It is possible to connect the searches with logical operators (AND/OR). In this case, a new search will be generated.
This new search consists of serial numbers of older searches that are connected with AND/OR. A number sign stands before each query number. For example, the AND connection of the second and first queries looks as follows: "#2 and #1"

How do I log off?

There is no log off button on this database. Just navigate away from it or close the window.

Where can I get help?

If you have any questions which cannot be answered by this guide please contact your librarian or come to a drop-in session.