Online abstracts have detailed indexing when added to database. For 1350 core journals in Caplus, bibliographic citation and abstract appear in one week. Index entries added later. Cross-references used when abstract could appear in more than one section Subject sections change with time to reflect current research. Subject coverage manual gives detailed definition of each section and a table of changes over time.
First sentence highlights findings and conclusions reported.
Prior to 1972 reactants and intermediates were NOT indexed. Only first version of patent indexed. First authors get both abstract number and title listed under names Others get cross-referenced Author name may be standardized Alphabetized by last name and initials even where full name is spelled out Names with Mc or umlauted letters or transliteration can be tricky General Subject Index Relates index entries that do not define chemical substances to their CA abstracts. Major changes done at beginning of collective index period. Prior to 1997 headings chosen to draw like articles into physical proximity in printed volumes.