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Dialog DataStar™ Enhanced With New Tools & Improvements to Better Focus Search Process, Alert Users & Integrate Research

CARY, N.C., USA (October 28, 2004) — Dialog, a Thomson (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) business and a leading worldwide provider of online-based information services and integrated information solutions, today said that it has completed a series of enhancements to its family of Dialog DataStar™ services that help users better focus the search process, be alerted to relevant new content and integrate research into their work flow.

Dialog DataStar services are used primarily for in-depth scientific and technical research, with deep reservoirs of research, news, competitive intelligence and other content covering such industries as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Dialog offers varying versions of Dialog DataStar geared to different types of researchers and the online environments in which they work.

"Our users around the world rely on Dialog DataStar for critical research across a spectrum of business functions, from product development to regulatory compliance," said Cynthia Murphy, Dialog senior vice president of strategic marketing. "We are committed to a program of continuous improvement to the services."

Dialog said that its enhancements to Dialog DataStar include:

• New Post-Processing Tools, available on Dialog DataStarWeb™ and Dialog DataStarClassic™. Users now have more flexibility to integrate retrieved information into text and data documents, such as in-house management reports or tables in research studies. Some of the most widely used databases available through Dialog DataStar ─ including EMBASE®, MEDLINE® and BIOSIS Previews® ─ are now equipped with improved data exporting capabilities. Among other options, the new post-processing tools can funnel search results into ISI ResearchSoft applications, such as EndNote, ProCite and Reference Manager.

• Thesaurus Upgrade on Dialog DataStarWeb. Dialog has improved search navigation for all biomedical databases that offer an online thesaurus, including EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cinahl®. New graphics and links have been added. Users can access the thesaurus by checking the Thesaurus Mapping Box, entering a term or using the browsing function. An online thesaurus is useful because it allows searchers to quickly research related topics based on linked keywords and terms.

• New Alert Delivery Tracker, available on all versions of Dialog DataStar. Alerts enable users to better manage their automatically sent notification e-mails, generated when new content is added to a Dialog DataStar database that matches a user’s customized profile. Improvements include verification if Alerts or document deliveries have been completed successfully, along with tools to correct errors. The Alert Delivery Tracker is unique to the Dialog DataStar family of services.

• Multiple File Alerting, available on the Dialog DataStarWeb service. Users now have improved ability to set up and edit multiple alerts spanning different databases available through the service.

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About Dialog and The Thomson Corporation
Dialog, a pioneer in developing the technology behind electronic information retrieval, is the world leader in providing online-based information services to organizations seeking competitive advantages in such fields as business, science, engineering, finance and law.

Today, the online services provided by Dialog — offered through the Dialog®, Dialog Profound®, Dialog DataStar™, Dialog NewsEdge® and Dialog Intelliscope^SM brands — give users the ability to precisely retrieve data from more than 1.4 billion unique records, accessible via the Internet or through delivery to enterprise intranets. Searchable content includes articles and reports from thousands of real-time news feeds, newspapers, broadcast transcripts and trade publications, plus research reports and analyst notes providing support for financial decision-making, as well as in-depth repositories of scientific and technical data, patents, trademarks and other intellectual property data. Information professionals and end-users at business, professional and government organizations in more than 100 countries prize Dialog services for their depth and breadth of content, precision searching and speed.

Based in Cary, N.C., USA, Dialog has operations in 27 countries. Dialog (www.dialog.com) is a business of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). With 2003 revenues of US$7.6 billion, Thomson (www.thomson.com) is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers.

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All designated trademarks used herein are the property of The Dialog Corporation or its subsidiaries. Registered marks are registered by The Dialog Corporation or its subsidiaries with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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