Edit Database

The Edit Database page lets you set up how a custom database will be listed on the Gale Databases menu (common menu). You can view and/or modify the custom database name and description. You'll also be able to download a spreadsheet containing the list of titles in the custom database.

At the Institution Level, you also use this page to assign the custom database to one or more locations.

  1. Navigate to the Institution Summary or the Location Summary page of the account for which you wish to view or edit custom database information.
  2. From the Summary page, click Custom Databases in the left-hand sidebar menu. Then select Custom Databases Summary from the submenu.
  3. The Custom Databases Summary page is displayed for the corresponding account level.
  4. Click the View/Edit link at the far right.
  5. The Edit Database (Edit Custom Database) page is displayed for the corresponding account level.
  6. Users with "Admin" privilege may edit the settings, as described in the table below. Click the Save button when you have finished making changes.
Setting Description
Database Name Accept the default name or enter your own name for the custom database. This will appear to patrons on the Gale Databases menu (common menu). A maximum of 128 characters is allowed. This is a required field.
Database Description Accept the default description or enter your own text. This will appear to patrons on the Gale Databases page (common menu) below the database name. A maximum of 255 characters is allowed. This is a required field.
Type of Database A read-only field that indicates if the database contains "General Periodicals" or "Newspapers." A custom database may contain only one kind of content.
Number of Journals in the Database A read-only field showing the total number of titles purchased. Note that not all titles may be available to patrons since the list of titles in use is customizable. Refer to the "Upload/Download DB Contents" Help topic for more information.

NOTE: If you change the database name or description at the Institution level, those changes will appear at the Location level and vice versa.

NOTE: Changes made to Gale Admin regarding your custom databases are implemented once per day. If you make database changes twice in a single day, those changes will be implemented in sequence over two days.

Location Assignment (Institution Level Only)

When you are at the blue Institution level you will be able to assign the custom database to one or more locations.

The list of all locations within this institution is displayed. You may sort the list by column heading. Place a check mark in the Add Database To Account box for the location, thus enabling patrons that access Gale products via that location to search and use the custom database. The Select All button assigns the custom database to all locations shown. The Reset button removes all check marks. Clicking Cancel undoes any changes you've made since the last save.

Be sure to Save your changes when you have finished.

To add another custom database to a location, return to the Custom Database Summary page by selecting Custom Databases Summary from the left-hand menu. Then click the View/Edit link for the next custom database you wish to assign.

Modifying the List of Available Titles

From the Edit Database page you can download a spreadsheet containing the titles of the single custom database you are currently viewing. You may then modify the spreadsheet by adding "X" next the titles you want included and removing the "X" for titles you no longer want included. When you have finished making changes to the spreadsheet, you can upload it back into Gale Admin.

The downloaded spreadsheet will contain either magazine/journal titles or newspaper titles, depending on what is shown in the Type of Database field above. Here is a partial view of a sample spreadsheet:

Your Custom DB 1 (for ex., focus on agriculture) Selectable Journal Name ISSN Audience Issues Per Year Full Text Start Date Index Start Date Backfile Full Text Start Date Backfile Index Start Date
  ABA Journal   Professional          
  African Arts   Academic          
X Agricultural Outlook   Trade          

To add a journal to the custom database, place an "X" in the column to the left of the database name. In the above example, only Agricultural Outlook will appear in the Your Custom DB 1 database.

At a later time if you wish to remove a title from a database, simply delete the corresponding "X".

[Click here if want to see all your periodical or all your newspaper custom databases listed in the same spreadsheet]

When you're finished, be sure to save the spreadsheet in Comma-Separated Values (CSV) format. You can upload the file back into Gale Admin using the Browse and Upload buttons provided. Click the Browse button to find the file on your PC. Clicking the Upload button transfers the file to the Gale server and your changes will be recorded.

Deactivating a Custom Database

Contact your Cengage Learning Representative if you wish to deactivate a custom database.