Message Sent to NJIT users of Scifinder Scholar Today

Last Tuesday I posted a survey asking NJIT users of Scifinder Scholar on their preference for the client (old) version or web version of the database. 17 of 80 NJIT users answered the survey. No one has responded within the last three days. Here are the results:



4 – Strongly Prefer Web Version

3 – Prefer Web

1 – No preference

2 – Prefer Client

7 – Strongly prefer client.



As a result of this survey which indicates a slight preference for the client version. I am making the following change.



Effective immediately there will be one user for the client version and one for the web. I can keep this arrangement only if NJIT can keep two users to Scifinder Scholar. It is very possible that budgetary constraints may compel the library management to cut back to one user. If so, I will have to change this policy. Please keep the following thoughts in mind:



There are some enhancements that are not available in the client version:



Keep Me Posted

Session History Retention

Index Term linking



Please see this comparison of the two versions written by A. Ben Wagner of SUNY Buffalo. http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~abwagner/SFWebvsSFS-12-1.doc



If you want to access the client version off-campus, you must use the VPN. The web version can be used without the VPN.



If you still have the client software, you may still use it. If you need to reinstall the software, it may be downloaded at http://library1.njit.edu/njit-only/scifinder/sfs2007.exe



You will also need to download site.prf and place it in the C:\sfschlr folder that was created by the installation. You can get that file at http://library1.njit.edu/njit-only/scifinder/site.prf



It would be helpful to me and the staff at Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) if you provided specific examples of problems with the web version. I have found the people at CAS very responsive to concerns and suggestions of their customers.



If you can’t access one version, please try the other one. Please contact me if there are any questions or concerns.