SciFinder Scholar

About the service / Documentation and Training / Web version /Access Software/ Network Environment / Passwords / Endnote

About the service:

SciFinder Scholar is a research and searching interface to the Chemical Abstracts and Registry data provided by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), a division of the American Chemical Society.

The database may be searched by: Chemical Substance or Reaction, Research Topic, Author Name, Specific Reference (CA abstract number or patent number and other specific data elements. Chemical structures, formulas and CAS Registry numbers may also be searched. A Web page detailing the SciFinder Scholar 2007 Edition has been created by CAS.

Deakin University may have only four concurrent users of the SciFinder Scholar service. In the interests of all users, please ensure you log out at the end of a session, and keep connection time to a minimum.

Documentation and Training

CAS have produced a SciFinder Scholar Resources page that provides a range of help solutions on how to search and use the features of SciFinder Scholar. The resources page includes tutorials, recorded e-Seminars and user documentation on getting started with SciFinder Scholar.

CAS has information on importing data from SciFinder Scholar using EndNote reference manager.

Access - web version of SciFinder Scholar

The web search interface is flexible to use and not reliant on installing software on your computer. Unless there is a specific need to use SciFinder Scholar 2007 please consider using the web interface to SciFinder Scholar.

In order to acces the web version of SciFinder Scholar you will first need to set up a username and password. Click on the "Register" link below and follow the prompts to create a personal SciFinder Web account.

Register online with Scifinder Scholar
Create your Scifinder Scholar username and password
Complete the online form
Once the form has been completed you will receive an email asking you confirm your registration by clicking on the link provided in the email. The email link is valid for a short time so please ensure that you confirm your registration as soon as you receive the email.
You are now ready to use SciFinder Scholar web version.

Software provider Alert! "Internet Explorer 8 is currently incompatible with SciFinder; however, researchers can use a built-in compatibility setting that allows you to view SciFinder as displayed in Internet Explorer 7.

The Compatibility View Setting allows Internet Explorer 8 users to maintain a list of sites that can be displayed in Compatibility View. To learn more about how to use the feature, visit the CAS web page titled Using Internet Explorer 8 with SciFinder."

Access - client software SciFinder Scholar

Access to the service is only available using the SciFinder Scholar 2007 client server software. This must be installed on an individual PC or Mac.
(If you already have SciFinder 2006 installed you must upgrade to SciFinder 2007 to maintain access.)

Please note that SciFinder Scholar software must be used from within the SOCKS Cap application. Please see below for details.

The SciFinder Scholar 2007 Edition software is available for download from the University network via the Library Software link within the Deakin Software Library.

PC Instructions

Pages detailing instructions on how to download the SciFinder client and SOCKS Cap software is available for the PC.

Mac Instructions

Pages detailing instructions on how to download the SciFinder client and SOCKS Cap software is available for the Mac.

Please email Colin Bates on colinb@deakin.edu.au if further information is required.

Deakin University Network environment issues

For a successful installation of the SciFinder software on your PC, your access through the Deakin University Network firewall must be configured correctly. This is set at the sub network level by ITSD for each School, Faculty or budget centre. There are two ways of negotiating the firewall and allowing SciFinder Scholar to connect to the remote database:

1. The sub net you work on, or your individual PC, is configured for open access to z39.50 traffic on 'port 210'. This may be in place already, if so, a SciFinder connection should be able to be made. If not, please contact the IT technical person for your area for advice or to organise this level of access with ITS Division.

2. Another option for users working within the Deakin University Firewall who wish to access remote databases is to run SciFinder Scholar within a 'SOCKS Cap wrapper'. ITSD have provided details on obtaining and installing "Socks" for Windows operating systems. Follow the steps detailed to set up the software. You can then launch SciFinder from within 'Socks' to get through the firewall. Alternatively, follow the instructions on downloading the SciFinder client and SOCKS above.

Access to the SciFinder Scholar data is available to all authorised staff and students of Deakin University. Data should only be used for private research and review, and must not be passed to a third party. Please abide by the terms of the SciFinder Scholar License.

It may be possible to launch SciFinder Scholar from a web browser. Please see the information on "Launching SciFinder Scholar from a Web page" if you are interested in this (Windows only).

Password information

Students and staff using SciFinder Scholar on campus from the Deakin Network do not require a password as the client software is pre configured for authorized access.

Students and staff using SciFinder Scholar web version will need to register and create a username and password to access the online version.

EndNote
To import saved references from this database into your EndNote library, use the required filter from within EndNote. Further information on this process is available from the Library's EndNote support pages.

Restrictions: "All use of electronic resources subscribed to by Deakin University Library is to be for the purposes of educational, research or personal use. Any additional requirements are displayed on the catalogue record for the individual resource. Information must not be used for commercial purposes or re-sold in any way. Any copyright resides with the original author or publisher ".