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SciFinder Scholar - Access & Support Guide

Welcome to the UB Libraries SciFinder Scholar page for downloading and installing the software required to access this resource from your computer. This product is provided for academic research to current authorized University at Buffalo faculty, students and staff only. SciFinder Scholar provides access to five major databases from Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) and MEDLINE. You can also access SciFinder Scholar at any Cybrary computer station or at the two librarian-assisted patron stations at the UGL/SEL reference desk (1st Floor, Capen Hall).

Windows Installation
SciFinder Scholar 2007

Step 1- Download and Install Program (Windows)

  • Download the SciFinder Scholar program (SFS2007.zip) to a temporary directory such as C:\download using the Save this file to disk option. To download SciFinder Scholar, you must be a current authorized University at Buffalo faculty, student or staff member and have a UBITName and password.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When prompted, in the "User Name:" field enter AD\ and your UBITname. ( You must include AD\ or it will not let you proceeed). In the "Password:" field enter your UBIT password.

See example below:

  • Unsip the newly downloaded SFS2007.zip file and click on SFS2007.exe to start the install process.
  • Click on the Setup button. Then click on the Next button in the welcome window.
  • Click on the Next button to accept the default directory.
  • If you already have a previous version, a window will pop up asking if you wish to overwrite the old version. Click on the Yes button.
  • Choose the Typical setup option (should already be marked) and click on the Next button.
  • Answer No to the question "Do you have a disk labeled Custom Site Files?"
  • Click on the Next button to create a SciFinder Program Folder.
  • If you wish SciFinder to install a toolbar inside your Internet browser to access SciFinder Scholar from the browser, click the Yes button when asked "Do you want to install the SciFinder Scholar Toolbar now?". If you don't want the toolbar inside your Internet browser, click the No button.
  • C lick the Finish button.

Step 2 - Do ONLY IF a previous version of SciFinder was not on PC - Download configuration file

If this is the first time you have installed a version of SciFinder on your PC, then: Download the configuration file (site.prf) to SciFinder program directory (\sfschlr) you created in Step 1 using the Save this file to disk option. Make certain the site.prf file is placed in the \sfschlr directory.

Before attempting to connect to SciFinder Scholar, be certain that the site.prf configuration file is in the \sfschlr directory along with the program files.

Note: If you are going to use the software from an off-campus computer using a cable modem, DSL, or other non-UB internet service provider, you will need to install a special authentication/connection program called VPN for Windows.

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Macintosh OS X Installations

IMPORTANT: SciFinder Scholar on Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) - SciFinder Scholar 2007 for Mac OS X, released in June 2007 was found to be incompatible with Apple Intel powered computers using Mac OS X Leopard (10.5), released in October 2007. A workaround is now available.

New Install/Upgrading from any 2006 version

Step 1 - Download and Install Program (Macintosh OS X)

  • Save SciFinder Scholar 2007 SFS2007.dmg (a Macintosh Disk Image File) to your desktop or a download folder on your OS X drive by "control" clicking on the link and choosing "Save Link As..." If you have problems with the .dmg file, try downloading the SFS2007.zip file. To download SciFinder Scholar, you must be a current authorized University at Buffalo faculty, student or staff member and have a UBITName and password.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When prompted, in the "User Name:" field enter AD\ and your UBITname. (You must include AD\ or it will not let you proceeed). In the "Password:" field enter your UBIT password.

See example below:

  • On some systems, Macintosh Disk Image Files (*.dmg) will automatically mount. If not, double-click sfs2007.dmg to mount the disk image. (Macintosh Disk Image Files behave like a CR-ROM; they open an icon on your desktop.)
  • Double-click on the desktop icon SciFinder Scholar.
  • Drag and drop the SciFinder Scholar Application Package (the SciFinder Scholar icon on the white "button") into your Applications folder.
  • Double-click the HardDrive/Applications/SciFinder Scholar icon to launch SciFinder Scholar.
  • (Optional) Create an alias for your Desktop or Dock.

Step 2 - Do ONLY IF a previous version of SciFinder was not on Mac - Download configuration file

If this is the first time you have installed any version of SciFinder on your Mac, then:

  • Download the compressed configuration folder (site.zip ).
  • Uncompress site.zip and drag the created folder ( SciFinder Scholar ) to :Users:[User Name]:Library:Application Support:
  • Note: The file site.prf must be in the folder :Users:[User Name]:Library:Application Support:SciFinder Scholar: for the SciFinder program to work.

Note: If you are going to use the software from an off-campus computer using a cable modem, DSL, or other non-UB internet service provider, you will need to install a special authentication/connection program, VPN for Mac.

Macintosh OS X (Upgrading from SciFinder Scholar 2004)

Step 1 - Download and Install Program (Macintosh OS X)

  • Save the SciFinder Scholar OSX.dmg Installer Program (a MAC Disk Image File) to your Desktop or a download folder on your OS X drive by "control" clicking on the link and choosing "Save Link As..." If you have problems with the .dmg file, try downloading the SFS2007.zip file.
  • If automount does not occur, double click SciFinder Scholar OSX.dmg to mount SciFinder Scholar Desktop Volume.
  • If the SciFinder Scholar Volume does not auto-open, open the Volume.
  • Drag and Drop the SciFinder Scholar Application Package to your Applications folder.
  • Delete (Unmount) the Desktop SciFinder Scholar Volume.
  • If a previous version of SciFinder was already installed, copy over your existing site.prf configuration file using the following steps:
    • Enter the Applications folder and select the SciFinder Scholar icon.
    • Click the Actions drop-down menu (starburst icon at the top of the Finder window) and select Show Package Contents.
    • Click Contents and MacOS.
    • Drag and Drop your existing (previous version) site.prf file to the MacOS folder.
    • Launch SciFinder Scholar. This will install a copy of the site.prf at :Users:[User Name]:Library:Application Support:SciFinder Scholar:site.prf .
    • If this procedure fails, manually create the folder: :Users:[User Name]:Library:Application Support:SciFinder Scholar: and copy your existing site.prf file into this folder.
    • Note: The file site.prf must be in the folder :Users:[User Name]:Library:Application Support:SciFinder Scholar: for the SciFinder program to work.

Step 2 - Do ONLY IF a previous version of SciFinder was not on Mac - Download configuration file

If this is the first time you have installed any version of SciFinder on your Mac, then:

  • Download the compressed configuration folder (site.zip ).
  • Uncompress site.zip and drag the created folder ( SciFinder Scholar ) to :Users:[User Name]:Library:Application Support:
  • Note: The file site.prf must be in the folder :Users:[User Name]:Library:Application Support:SciFinder Scholar: for the SciFinder program to work.

Note: If you are going to use the software from an off-campus computer using a cable modem, DSL, or other non-UB internet service provider, you will need to install a special authentication/connection program, VPN for Mac.

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3D Structure Viewer (Windows Only)

SciFinder Scholar does not include a 3D viewer with the Windows version and refers users to viewers by Accelrys. No MAC versions are available. You may freely download ViewerLite, but this free version is no longer supported by Accelrys. ViewerLite is provided "AS IS", without warranties of any kind.

After downloading (save to temporary folder) to your hard drive, open the .zip file to extract the executable install program file ViewerLite50_4cas.exe). Then run the .exe file to install the program. NOTE: After installation of ViewerPro or ViewerLite, run the program once before using SciFinder Scholar to ensure that it creates Windows Registry entries that will be used by SciFinder scholar to display 3D models.

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