Yes, the DCB is moribund. It was out of date and extremely clunky.

The L'Annee is really a cinch to use compared with the DCB, but you can't do
the intricate searching you could on the DCB. The data is now 1969-2001.
It's definitely a sine qua non for Classical Studies.

There is a quirky thing about the author search, however. Some records went
in Last name comma first and some w/o the comma so you may find the same
author it 2 wildly different locations.  Do search by first initial only
because of the multi forms of names, and then select the likely ones for
your search.

I've included below some instructions I came up with, but it is so simple
you may not even need them.

Jean Susorney Wellington
Classics Library
University of Cincinnati

.............

L'ANNEE PHILOLOGIQUE ONLINE INSTRUCTIONS
(www.annee-philologique.com)

Searching  - Select one of the following search headings at the top of the
page:

Modern Authors - or  - Ancient Authors:  (both texts by and articles & books
about)
- Type only the last modern name or any part of an ancient name or text and
select              
appropriate entries from the list by clicking on the box to left of the
entry.
- Remember to use the L'Année spelling; e.g. Juvenal = Iuuenalis.
- Click "Confirm selection."
-Because of   inconsistencies in entering authors in the database, some
authors are "split",
       i.e. "Smith  John" files near the beginning of the Smith list, but
Smith, John at the end.
N.B. You might also try a Full text search for books & articles about
ancient works to pick up mentions made in résumés.

Subjects and Disciplines:
- To reach lower levels in the subject outline/tree, click on the + before
the subject 
displayed.  (Note that the subject list differs before and after v. 67 for
1996.)
- Click on left-hand box to choose a heading or headings and click on
"Search" button.

Full Text:
- Type in a word or words and click on "Search."
- Truncation: * at the beginning or ending of a word.

Other criteria:
- Searches by word(s) in title, language, collection, periodical or APh ID
number.

To view the results :
- Wait until the "Search history" window appears listing the number of
results.
- Click on the underlined number of results - or - "Read the total."
- Click on page numbers at bottom of display to reach the other pages of
results.
- Click on the open book icon to the right of the brief entry in the list to
reach the full 
citation; click on "Results" from the outline of the process on the left to
return to the list.
- To identify abbreviations used in the citations, select "Periodical" from
the             
     "Other Criteria" heading at the top, type in the abbreviation and click
on "Search."
 
To refine the search by limiting by date or language, or title word, etc.
- If necessary, click on "History" in the left menu to return to the "Search
history"     
window.
- Click on the appropriate heading at the top to add the additional search
criteria, type in
      the information and click on "Search."  You can add several criteria.
- Your total hits that meet all criteria are viewable by clicking on "Read
the total" button.
- You may inactivate any criterion by unclicking the box to the left and
selecting the 
     "Recalculate button."

To begin an entirely new search:
-       Click on "New Search" in the left menu.

Print or email results: (1 page of results at a time)
Use the file menu on your browser's menu bar from the results page.
JSW 4-16-03

-----Original Message-----
From: Ruth Thomas [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 11:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARLIS-L] L'annee Philologique


By coincidence the same day Peggy inquired about L'annee, a Classics
professor here requested an online subscription.  The DCB was having
problems and I'm wondering if some of you who are using it over the web
could evaluate its quality and reliability.  Thanks, Ruth.


Ruth S. Thomas
Archaeology, Art, Art History, Classics Bibliographer
Mugar Memorial Library
Boston University
771 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
(617)353-3714

__________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________
Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]
For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
        http://www.arlisna.org//membership.html
Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc)
        to [log in to unmask]
ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance:
       http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html
Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]