What is SFX?

Ack. The coffee shop isn't open. Amazing how integral caffiene is to the thought process. I also can't think if my glasses aren't on so I'm only half crippled today.

What is SFX? It is linking software (and a server) that links bibliographic citations in indexes to full-text articles in databases (very simple explanation). It also links citations or references found in articles to those actual articles. All of this assumes you've paid an exorbitant amount of money to be able to access these indexes and full-text databases - not to mention the cost of SFX.

SFX breaks down the silos of information. An index is a silo (independent construct containing information) as is a full-text (FT) database. You search the index or FT database (not usually both at the same time) to find relevant information. If you find this information in the index (in the form of a citation) you then go to a likely looking FT database to see if it contains the full-text article, and the next, etc.

If you search the FT database first and find an article or chapter, but the best looking information is a reference or citation in the article, you re-search to locate this. SFX creates links between indexes and FT databases, between FT databases, between indexes and within an FT database so you're not constantly going in and out of resources, constantly rerunning searches.