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Moving to the Web Version of SciFinder

What is the difference between the web and client versions of SciFinder (or SciFinder Scholar^TM), and what are the advantages of the web version?

Product Differences

The new web version of SciFinder has a majority of features found in today's SciFinder Scholar product plus several brand new capabilities never before available to the academic community, such as the Keep Me Posted alert service. 

This initial feature set was selected on the basis of extensive input from customers in the academic community.  Based on this qualitative data combined with quantitative data (use frequency), CAS feels that the appropriate functions needed to meet the day-to-day needs of the average researcher are there. 

We are already at work developing remaining key functionality for release in the near future.  It is interesting to note that, when surveyed, a majority of beta testers felt that the web version actually contained more functionality than the previous desktop version.  We believe that this is due to the new interface that makes important linking and analysis tools more readily available for use. 

Based on comments by testers and pilot users, CAS feels that new interface design will increase productivity and provide an overall more positive research experience for its users.

Registration

With the web version, CAS is now providing the same SciFinder product to all government, commercial, and academic customers.  However, we need to identify individual users, as we always have with the commercial product.  This will provide extra benefit to universities through the researcher's ability to personalize features (such as Keep Me Posted) as well as to provide additional security, which further protects the university's account from unauthorized access by individuals outside of the university population.

CAS has employed a very easy to use registration system.  It allows individual users to construct their own IDs (usernames) and passwords, as well as define security questions to allow for self-retrieval of forgotten IDs or password reset.  This allows individuals to administer their own passwords, and we have not heard from our early adopters that this is a support issue for them.

Please note that this new system will provide you, as a Key Contact, much better information about who is using SciFinder at your university, facilitating better ways to reach them with your communications, training, etc.

Administrative Issues

Please note that academic customers who have been using the new web version of SciFinder have been delighted with the experience.  While there are a few administrative tasks that are required, the overall cost in time and trouble has been vastly reduced. 

• There is no need to distribute software (or site.prf files) to users.  The new version uses standard web network protocols that should not require changes to network firewalls.  The only software items required are a web browser and industry-standard Java^TM software.  Most early adopters have already found that the Java software was in place and ready to go.  For those that require it, it is available for download free of charge from Sun Microsystem (PC), Apple (Macintosh), or CAS (both).  There are no plans from CAS to require additional upgrades of Java as new SciFinder functionality is rolled out in the future.
• Setup of remote use through VPN or proxy access essentially remains unchanged.  There should not be any added complexity due to the web version.
• Key Contact support tools are conveniently bundled and accessible through myCAS: 
  • Simple, easy-to-use setting of system timeout values is done at one time and in one place (again, no more site.prf).
  • Registration set-up tools are available for use in setting up and enabling registration at your university.  This is designed to be a one time task.
  • A concurrency control tool is provided to allow you full control of managing the move to the web version.  Please note that daily access reports are also available to support this, providing you with improved information on system utilization in general that you might find useful as a Key Contact.

Like any product, the web version and its support tools and infrastructure will improve in response to users' feedback.  We encourage you to use it, and let CAS know - directly - any comments or suggestions.  The best way to do this is via Scholartalk or direct calls or e-mail to CAS Customer Care.