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Creating a Custom SciFinder Scholar Distribution File

The installation package for SciFinder Scholar 2007 for Microsoft WindowsTM, sfs2007.exe, is a self-extracting archive. When you run (double-click) that file, it unzips and automatically launches the SciFinder Scholar 2007 installer (an Install Shield application). A Site Preferences file (site.prf) must be added to the SciFinder Scholar installation folder to make the installation complete. The Site Preference file is normally created and it is unique to each subscribing institution.   

There are at least three ways to distribute the SciFinder Scholar 2007 installation file and your Site Preferences file:

1. Make sfs2007.exe and your site.prf available for download on a local web site or server. After SciFinder Scholar has been installed, patrons download site.prf and copy it into the SciFinder Scholar installation folder. [C:\sfschlr\ if the default installation was accepted]
2. Make a special Custom Site Files floppy disk that can be used during SciFinder Scholar installation. Refer to SciFinder Scholar Site Administrator Guide for details. (Note: download of the SciFinder Scholar installation file, sfs2007.exe, is still necessary)
3. Create a custom distribution package that includes the SciFinder Scholar installer and the site.prf file.

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How to Create a Custom Distribution Package

The instructions that follow use WinZip 9 to create a new self-extracting archive that includes both the installer and the Site Preferences file. WinZip is one example of programs that can create .zip files and self-extracting archives.

It is not essential that a self-extracting archive (.exe) be created. A .zip file can be created instead, but patrons must then have software that is capable of unzipping (extracting) your compressed file. The advantage of the self-extracting zip file is that patrons do not need to have an "unzip" program on their computers.

Step A: Create a zip file (archive)

 

1. Create a new zip archive. In this example, we used the name sfs2007_custom.zip. The name is up to you.
2. Add sfs2007.exe to the sfs2007.zip archive. [This is the SciFinder Scholar 2007 installation file]
3. Add your site.prf to the archive.
4. Save the sfs2007_custom.zip archive.

Your sfs2007_custom.zip file now contains the SciFinder Scholar 2007 installer and your institution's site.prf.

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Step B: Create a Self-Extracting Archive from the zip file

 

1. With sfs2007_custom.zip still active, go to the Actions menu.
2. Select Make .Exe File. (Remember, this example uses WinZip 9. Your 'zip' software may work differently, or your version of WinZip might not have this feature.)
   
   
   
   
3. Make sure the Default "Unzip To" folder is C:\Sfschlr.
4. Click OK to create sfs2007_custom.exe.

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Step C: Make the Self-Extracting Archive available for download

1. Place sfs2007_custom.exe on your network or web site to make it available for patrons to download.
2. Patrons will download and then run sfs2007_custom.exe to create the C:\Sfschlr\ folder that will contain sfs2007.exe and site.prf.
3. Next, run C:\Sfschlr\sfs2007.exe to install SciFinder Scholar into the C:\Sfschlr folder.
4. After confirming that SciFinder Scholar is working, they may delete sfs2007.exe and sfs2007_custom.exe if desired.

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