To ensure the best SciFinder experience, use the latest recommended Web browser technology. (Updated  August 30, 2013)

OS/Browser Recommendations

• Windows XP Professional, Vista: Firefox 19 and higher, Firefox 17 (ESR); Internet Explorer 7 and 8; Internet Explorer v9.0 (Vista); Chrome 26 and higher
• Windows 7: Firefox 19 and higher, Firefox 17 (ESR); Internet Explorer v8 and higher; Chrome 26 and higher
• Windows 8: Firefox 19 and higher, Firefox 17 (ESR); Internet Explorer 10; Chrome 26 and higher
• Mac OS 10.6: Firefox 19 and higher, Firefox 17 (ESR); Safari 5.0 and 5.1; Chrome 26 and higher
• Mac OS 10.7: Firefox 19 and higher, Firefox 17 (ESR); Safari 5.1 and  Safari 6; Chrome 26 and higher
• Mac OS 10.8: Safari 6: Firefox 19 and higher, Firefox 17 (ESR); Chrome 26 and higher

Internet Explorer 6 is not supported.

Java (JRE) Plug-In Requirements

• Using the Java based structure editor  requires a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and the associated Java plug-in to link the JRE to browsers. A 64-bit version of Java is required for 64-bit browsers.

• For all supported Windows operating systems and browsers use Java version 1.6.0_32 or later, or 1.7 and later. For Mac OS X, please see the Special Notes section. Newer browsers may require the most recent versions of Java for security purposes.

• Visit Javatester.org or the Oracle Java site to see if Java is installed and working on your computer.

• Information about downloading and installing Java is available at the www.java.com download page.

Special Notes for customers using SciFinder with Mac OS X:

• 8/30/13 - Apple has instituted OS X level blocking for older Java versions. Only Java 6 Update 51 or Java 7 Update 25 are allowed to run as of this date.
• 6/18/13 - Mac OS X 10.6 Update 16 is released. Mac OS X 10.6 up to and including 10.7.3 will be updated to Java version 1.6.0_51 via Apple's Software Update.
• 4/16/13 - For Mac OS X 10.7.5 or newer, Apple recommends downloading and installing Java 1.7.0_25 from java.com
• 2/02/13 – Apple releases Update 12 for Java 6 restoring CASDraw functionality for 10.6 customers. It can be downloaded from Apple’s website: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1573
• 2/01/13 – Oracle releases Update 13 for Java 7 restoring CASDraw functionality for 10.7 and 10.8 customers.  The update can be downloaded from Oracle’s Java website: http://java.com
• 1/31/13 – Apple blocks Java via their XProtect list for Mac 10.6 (Snow Leopard), 10.7 (Lion) and 10.8 (Mountain Lion) customers
• 1/15/13 - A recent Java vulnerability known as the Zero day threat caused Apple to disable Java over the weekend of 01/12/13. After this action by Apple, Mozilla also decided to disable Java plug-ins within the latest versions of the Firefox browser.  As a result of these two actions, SciFinder customers with Safari and/or Firefox were blocked from using structure drawing.  Customers would have seen “A Java Plug-in is required” and/or a time-out when trying to launch structure drawing.
  
  Oracle has released a security update, Java 7 Update 11, which addresses the problem. The update can be downloaded from Oracle’s Java website: http://java.com.
   
  After the installation is complete you can use the same website to verify the installation by clicking the link, “Do I have Java?” and then clicking the button, “Verify Java version”.
  
  Once the update is installed the SciFinder Structure Drawing applet will work as expected. If you have any questions, please contact the CAS Customer Center.
  
  
• Re-enabling Structure Drawing after Apple Java Update 2012-006 1.0 (10/12) - This is primarily for users of Mac OS X 10.7 and 10.8. An October 2012 Apple update removed Java from those systems. If you installed that update or have a Mac manufactured after October 2012 please refer to this document.
•  Installing Java and Enabling Java Applets in Mac OS X (8/12) - This document is primarily for users of Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) who were affected by Apple's April 2012 update where Java applets could be disabled if the Java Web plug-in detected that applets had not been run for an extended period.

Standalone CAS Structure Editor 

Although installing and using the latest version of Java usually resolves issues affecting the Java based structure editor in SciFinder, customers can download a standalone structure editor that can be used in conjunction with SciFinder. 

Internet Connection Requirements

Check with your organization's Site Administrator, Key Contact or help desk before changing any settings to conform to these requirements.

• SSL (https) connection on port 443 to scifinder.cas.org.

• http connection on port 80 to chemport.cas.org for full-text linking

• JavaScript and cookies must be enabled.
  
  
• Add https://scifinder.cas.org to your browser’s "Trusted Sites" and Pop-up blocker Exceptions lists.
  
  
• A PDF reader is required for printing SciFinder answers and other information. Adobe Reader can be used with Mac or Windows computers. Preview is a free viewer provided with Mac OS X.
  
  
• Appropriate ActiveX and plug-in permissions are required for Internet Explorer. 


• Newer Versions of Firefox and Chrome may block the use of older Oracle Java plug-in versions.