LexisNexis / Westlaw "Saved Searches"
This guide provides detailed step-by-step instructions on how to set up LexisNexis Alerts and Westlaw WestClip "saved searches." If you have questions about these searches, please contact the research services staff during research services hours, or via email to research.services@law.csuohio.edu.
LexisNexis Alerts
Westlaw WestClip
LexisNexis Alerts
LexisNexis allows you to save a search then have it automatically run for you on a periodic basis.
You can have "Alert" search results delivered to you as a regular LexisNexis print or emailed.
You must first conduct a search in order to save it as an "Alert" search. You cannot enter "Alerts," then create a search.
As with all LexisNexis searching, the "Alerts" service allows you to combine numerous source files in which to run your search. During your source file selection, the system will prompt you as to whether specific source files can be combined.
Whenever you are in the results of a desired search, click on the “Save as Alert” link at the top.
The "Save LexisNexis Alert” page should appear.
At the "Save LexisNexis Alert” page, you:
(I) Name the search.
(II) Specify daily, weekly (as well as what day of week), or monthly (as well as what day of month), frequency for the search to be run.
(III) Specify online, print or email delivery – various options apply to each of these choices (eg, Cite, KWIC, or Full documents).
(IV) Specify whether you want email notification of search delivery.
(V) After making your selections, click on “Save” at the lower right. The “Confirm LexisNexis Alert” page should appear, verifying your Alert search set-up. Click on “Save” to really save the Alert search.
To manage your "Alert" searches, whenever you’re in LexisNexis, click on the “Alerts” tab at the top. The “Alerts” page should appear.
At the "Alerts" page, information on each search is displayed. Here you can:
(A) Edit an Alert search -- Click on “Edit” to the right of the desired search. The “Edit Alert Properties” page should appear. Click on “Edit Search” button at top right. The “Edit Alert Search Properties” page should appear.
- or -
(B) Delete an Alert search -- Click on “Delete” to the right of that search. The system will ask if you really want to delete the search – click on “Yes.”
Westlaw WestClip
Westlaw allows you to save a search then have it automatically run for you on a periodic basis.
You can have search results delivered to you as a regular Westlaw print or emailed.
As with all Westlaw searching, the WestClip service allows you to combine up to ten databases in which to run your search. However, not all databases are available for WestClip searches. During your database selection, the system will prompt you as to whether specific databases are available for WestClip.
After signing on to the Westlaw Research System, you can initiate a WestClip search by:
(1) Click on the "Alert Center" link at the upper right.
(2) At the "Alert Center Directory" page, click on "Create" in the "WestClip" line, then follow the directions and prompts.
You can also initiate a WestClip search whenever you are in the results of a desired search by:
(1A) When in "Full Screen View," click on "Result Options" at the bottom right - or - (1B) When in "Full Text Results," and have the "Result List" tab selected in the left frame, click on "Result Options" at the upper left of the left frame.
(2) Whichever method used, a menu should appear, and you should select "Add Search to WestClip" within that menu.
Whichever above method you use to initiate a WestClip search, the “WestClip: Create Entry” page should appear.
At the "WestClip: Create Entry” page, you:
(I) Under “Entry Details” (in left column), name the “clip” search. [Here you are also able to change or add database(s), as well as edit your search.]
(II) Next to “Delivery Settings” (in right column), click on “Edit” and specify search:
(A) Frequency (eg, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, etc.)
(B) Destination (eg, Stand-alone Printer, Download to Disk, E-mail, etc.). [Notification options are here too.]
(C) Result Format (eg, All Pages, First Pages, List of All Citations, etc.)
(D) Size of Results(1) Inform me of no results(2) Limits (eg, Maximum lines per result, etc.)
(E) Ranking Order
(F) Next Run Date
(G) End Date
(III) Click on "Save" at the lower left, and the system should return you to the "WestClip: Create Entry" page.
(IV) After making your selections, click on “Save” at the lower left. The “Alert Center Directory” page should appear, with your WestClip search listed.
To manage your WestClip searches, whenever you’re in Westlaw, click on the "Alert Center" link at the top right. The “Alert Center Directory” page should appear. Under "WestClip," information on each search should be displayed.
Under WestClip, at the "Alert Center Directory" page, you can:
(A) Edit a WestClip search -- click on its name. The “WestClip: Create Entry” page should appear. Click inside the “Database” box to change database identifier. Click inside the “Query” box to edit search. Click on “Edit” at the upper right to change “Delivery Settings.”
- or -
(B) Delete a “WestClip search -- Click inside the box to the left of the search to be deleted, then click on “Delete” above the box.
The system will ask if you really want to delete the search – click on “OK.”
LER
September 2007