Now You Can Use a Common Command Language to Search WESTLAW(r) and DIALOG(r)
Databases

Dwight D. Opperman, President and CEO of the West Publishing Company, and Dr.
Roger K. Summit, President and CEO of Dialog Information Services, Inc. have
announced a new way to access information from DIALOG.

Beginning in early 1991, a new transparent interface designed by the two
companies will enable WESTLAW subscribers to locate individual DIALOG databases
through the WESTLAW directory and access these databases using familiar WESTLAW
logic and commands.  According to Mr. Opperman, "In recent years, law firms,
corporate legal departments, and other users of computer-assisted legal research
have found it increasingly important to access news, business, technical, and
other information in addition to traditional legal research.  Accessing these
materials through DIALOG, the world's largest source of online information, will
enable legal professionals to increase their efficiency and service to their
clients."

WESTLAW subscribers will need to know only familiar WESTLAW commands to search
DIALOG.  They will even be able to use West's EZ ACCESS, a menu-driven approach
that will help them select the right DIALOG database and to formulate a query
that will run in both WESTLAW and DIALOG databases.

"This alliance will make us an even more formidable force in the CALR
(computer-assisted legal research) market than we are today, commented Dr.
Summit.  "WESTLAW subscribers will now be able to use a single, powerful
research system to access the world's largest collection of online information
in conjunction with their legal research on WESTLAW."

Under the new arrangement, over one hundred and forty DIALOG databases will be
available on WESTLAW in early 1991.  These files will contain business and
financial data, scientific and technical material, intellectual property
registration data, and general news and information.  Additional DIALOG
databases will be added monthly.

The existing gateway between WESTLAW and DIALOG, available since 1987, will be
maintained.  Through this gateway, all three hundred and eighty DIALOG databases
can be accessed using DIALOG search language.

West Publishing Company is the nation's premier publisher of legal information
and supplier of WESTLAW.

Dialog is the premier supplier of information from world-renowned business and
financial publications, news sources, and scientific, technical, government, and
patent literature.  Offices are located throughout North and South America,
Europe and Asia.  Dialog's parent, Knight-Ridder, is a respected international
information and communications company.

For more information on WESTLAW, call 1-800-WESTLAW (1-800-937-8529).
For more information on DIALOG, call 1-800-3-DIALOG (1-800-334-2564) or
415-858-3785, or fax 415-858-7069.

Copyright 1991, Telecomputing Magazine -- All rights reserved.