SciFinder errors

From WolfWikis

This page discusses common errors encountered with SciFinder Scholar. If you're having trouble and don't see your error listed, contact the chemistry librarians.

Not authorized from this IP address

If you are using the web version of SciFinder and experience the "Access to SciFinder is not authorized from this IP address" error, be sure you are linking to the database from the 'Access SciFinder web version' link on the Libraries' website.

Even though you must complete an individual registration to access the web version of SciFinder Scholar, you still need to access the database via the Libraries' website so that you can be verified as an NCSU student, faculty, or staff member. (Seems superfluous, we know, but this is the requirement set forth by CAS...)

Your allocated system resources are currently unavailable...

Problem: You are unable to log in with the message: "Your allocated system resources are currently unavailable to access SciFinder. Please try again later."

Cause: Similar to the 'too many concurrent users' error, the Libraries are allowed only a limited number of simultaneous users (or "seats"). You will see this message when all available SciFinder web seats are taken. It most often occurs during times when many people are doing research, such as weekday afternoons.

Solution: To put it simply: wait for a seat to free up. Usually you will be able to log in within a few minutes. If you encounter the message several times, try again at a later time. Alternatively, if you're using the web version, try the client version, or vice versa. Seats are rarely entirely filled in mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Too many concurrent users

Problem: SciFinder Scholar fails to start, displaying the message: "Login failed. Too many concurrent sessions for this login id."

Cause: The Libraries are allowed only a limited number of simultaneous users (or "seats"). You will see this message when all available SciFinder client software seats are taken. It most often occurs during times when many people are doing research, such as weekday afternoons.

Solution: To put it simply: wait for a seat to free up. Usually you will be able to log in within a few minutes. If you encounter the message several times, try again at a later time. Alternatively, if you're using the web version, try the client version, or vice versa. Seats are rarely entirely filled in mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Unable to link to full text

When conducting a literature search, you can link to article text by clicking the 'paper' icon. This should send a browser to CAS' ChemPort site, which should link you on to full text through NCSU (another click or two through different screens), if we've got it available. (See Literature Searching in SciFinder Scholar.) If ChemPort doesn't launch correctly, this may be the result of the default browser in Windows not being set, or having been reset somehow.

To fix this in Internet Explorer, go to the View or Tools menu - Internet Options - Programs tab. Click the Make Default button (IE v.7) or Enable 'Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default web browser' (v.6).

In FireFox, Tools - Options - Check Now (under Advanced menu, General tab), and make sure it's set.

Cannot connect to database (client version)

This could be caused by several factors. To get SciFinder client software to run and connect to the CAS database, these things must be true:

1. You have downloaded and installed the software from the distribution page.
2. You have a current version of the software. Check the distribution page to be sure. CAS no longer supports many older versions.
3. You are *on campus*. SciFinder Scholar client software cannot be run from non-NCSU IP addresses.
4. You are meeting the system requirements defined by CAS.

Problems locating the site.prf file - "2413" errors

PC users:

1. Make sure you've got the site.prf file saved on your computer--this requires a separate download from the client software. Check the instructions on the distribution page and ensure you're putting site.prf into the right directory.

Mac users:

1. Try the manual installation instructions to ensure you're getting the package and site.prf file installed in the right directories.
2. Be sure there are no extra extensions on the site.prf file - this seems to happen frequently in more recent OSX versions. Right/ctrl click on the site.prf file and select Get Info. Remove any extensions beyond .prf (there may be an extra .txt extension here) and confirm your changes.

More help

If you're still having trouble, note any error messages you're receiving and contact the chemistry librarians. The CAS website has a good deal of error help as well; this is usually where we'll check.