See how to use the newest features in SciFinder (pdf)
The most recent release of SciFinder provides a pathway to finding additional patent information via Markush searching. Other search and usability enhancements include automatic removal of duplicate MEDLINE references via a one-time preference setting, the ability to set weekly or monthly KMP profiles, and search by digital object identifier (DOI).
The client version of SciFinder will be discontinued for U.S. and Canadian Academic Institutions on June 30, 2011
In response to the growing popularity of the web version of SciFinder and customer feedback, the cllient version of SciFinder will be discontinued for U.S. and Canadian academic institutions on June 30, 2011.
All U.S. and Canadian academic Key Contacts will receive a communication from CAS with additional details about the discontinuation of the client version.
Please note that any institution may choose to discontinue access to the client version at any time.
Whether youve already begun your transition or are just getting started, CAS wants to make sure you get the support you need. Contact your Academic Sales Specialist directly or CAS Customer Care at help@cas.org or call 800-753-4227.
New SciFinder features increase research productivity and expand access to substance-related patent information
New features will help SciFinder users
- Locate additional substance-related patent information easily
- Uncover additional disclosed chemistry in patents, previously unavailable to SciFinder users, with the new simple-to-use Markush search capability (available only to customers with the SciFinder Substructure Module (SSM))
- Find information more efficiently
- Search references by Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)
- Using the Get Similar Reactions feature, view transformation centers and adjacent bonds of reactants and products
- Prioritize answer sets in ascending and descending order
- Sort substance answer sets by molecular formula and molecular weight to explore related chemical and literature information
- Access information more conveniently
- Set a preference to automatically remove MEDLINE duplicates
- Stay current with a new monthly frequency Keep Me Posted alert
New Podcast: Absinthe is green with scientific curiosity
In the 1800s, rumors of Absinthes effect on the human spirit spread and the only way to quench the thirst was with mass production. It was in the early 1800's that distilleries were built to meet the high demands. It became so popular that by the 1860's cafes and bars around France designated 5 p.m. as la Fee Verte, or the green hour. Let's use SciFinder to explore absinthe and see why it is green.
View this podcast
CAS Chemistry Research Report: 40 Years of Biofuel Research Reveal China Now Atop U.S. in Patenting and Commercialization of Bioethanol.
The first in a series of reports delivering the latest trends in global chemistry research is now available:
To learn more, read our news release.
New Podcast Available: San Francisco - The City by the Bay
San Francisco is well known for its diverse culture, fine chocolates, being the epicenter of the green initiative, the bay, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. Using SciFinder, we'll explore some of the many attributes of the city by the bay.
View this podcast
New podcast available: The Bristlecone Pine
Bristlecone pine trees are thought to reach an age far greater than that of any other single living organism known. They are often seen as symbols of tolerance, resolve, and endurance. Using SciFinder, let's explore the topic bristlecone pine and see what research, if any, has been performed to understand why bristlecone pines live so long.
View the podcast
New SciFinder Enhancements Advance the Search Precision and Productivity of Chemical Researchers
SciFinder now includes more focused reaction searching, additional structure drawing capabilities, better access to chemical supplier information, more efficient answer set combination, and improved exporting and printing while performing faster.
The new features will help SciFinder users
- Draw structures more efficiently
- Create more precise reaction searches
- Access chemical supplier information more directly
- Work more easily with combined answer sets
- Perform better post-processing of results
See more about the new features and enhancements.
Three new podcasts available:
The soybean: A legendary legume
In this podcast, we'll explore soybeans and their nutritional value by utilizing the only single source for scientific information in journals and patent literature from around the world, SciFinder.
Expanding the limits of your synthetic chemistry research
SciFinder has tools and enhancements that help synthetic chemists and other scientists save time, increase productivity, and streamline their research process. In this podcast, we'll explore the topic SciFinder: Expanding the limits of your synthetic chemistry research.
Bombyx mori, the hardest working insect
The silkworm (Bombyx mori) has been used for more than 4,000 years to make silk. For much of those 4,000 years, very little was known about silk production. During the last 30 years, global silk production has nearly doubled. Let's explore the silkworm and silk production using SciFinder, an essential part of your research process.
Watch all the podcasts in the SciFinder series! Learn how you can explore a vast array of current interest topics and new discoveries in the 21st century, and how SciFinder can play a significant role in providing solutions for the advancement of science.
To view the complete series of podcasts, please visit the CAS Media Library. You can also view the podcasts on YouTube and iTunes. (To view the podcasts on iTunes... )
Convert your client saved .sfr files to .akx files using the new SciFinder file conversion tool
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A new file conversion tool is now available that allows you to convert SciFinder client saved answer set files (.sfr) to the new .akx web format for use with the web version of SciFinder.
For more information and to access the tool on the CAS web site, see the SciFinder file conversion tool.
CAS Databases Content Wrap-up -- 2009
Increased content and timeliness
Researchers using SciFinder have access to the highest quality and most timely scientific information from the world's most authoritative and comprehensive chemical databases, including CAS REGISTRY, the gold standard for substance information. CAS added substantial content to its databases in 2009:
- 20% increase in chemical substances: CAS REGISTRY now contains more than 51 million organic and inorganic substances (42 million organic and inorganic substances in 2008)
- 35% increase in proton NMR: A total of 32.2 million predicted proton NMR spectra are available for substances in CAS REGISTRY, in addition to the 2.6 billion predicted and experimental properties, spectra, and data tags already available (23.8 million predicted proton NMR in 2008)
- 31% increase in chemical reactions: CASREACT now includes more than 21 million single- and multi-step reactions (16 million single- and multi-step reactions in 2008)
- 42% increase in chemical catalog information: CHEMCATS now contains more than 37 million commercially available chemicals (26 million commercially available chemicals in 2008)
- 19% increase in citations: CAplus contains more than 250 million citations (210 million citations in 2008)
- Three additional patent authorities: Patents from 60 patent authorities, including utility models from China, Japan, and South Korea (57 patent authorites in 2008)
New performance and enhancements made to SciFinder
As of November 17, 2009, new SciFinder enhancements are available via your web browser. Reflecting CAS commitment to continuous improvement of SciFinder performance, this release includes several performance and usability enhancements, such as:
*Java versions prior to 1.6 are no longer supported by Sun Microsystems or CAS.
China leads all nations in publication of chemical patents
CAS, the global expert on chemical information, reports that China's patent office is now the world's leading producer of patent invention applications in chemistry. China trailed Japan's patent office, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for more than a decade, but passed the USPTO in 2005, WIPO in 2006, and exceeded Japan for the first time on a monthly basis in 2008. In 2009, China will record an entire year as the number one producer of chemical patents, and CAS projects that trend to continue.
Read the News Release
New, Interactive SciFinder Training CalendarA new, interactive, web-based
SciFinder calendar is now available. SciFinder customers can now quickly view, in one convenient location, all SciFinder instructor-led training, e-learning, and virtual lab opportunities.
The new calendar allows customers to:
- View upcoming training events for the entire year or on a monthly basis
- Discover what types of training opportunities are available
- See descriptions of topics
- Register for a single event or multiple training events
- Export training information to your calendar
Click on the following icon to launch the new SciFinder training calendar:
Increase Productivity and Promote Collaboration with the New SciFinder Enhancements
New enhancements to the web version of SciFinder include new search, analytical, and collaboration tools to help synthetic chemists and other scientists save time, increase productivity, and streamline their research process.
The new features included in this enhancement will help SciFinder users:
- Save time through more focused reaction searches
- Increase productivity by researching substance properties
- Streamline collaboration to improve workflow efficiency
For additional information, visit SciFinder Support & Training.
SciFinder: From 0 to 600 mph on the Wide-Track to Scientific Research (podcast)
With today's demand for new discoveries, researchers strive to create new materials that are more flexible and resistant to environmental elements. This is especially prevalent in the automobile industry, where designing cars to break land speed records or to take us back and forth to work has scientists looking for more durable, lighter-weight materials. Using SciFinder, discover how to find the information you need, such as substance or chemical synthesis information, for your materials science research.
Watch all the podcasts in the SciFinder series! Learn how you can explore a vast array of current interest topics and new discoveries in the 21st century, and how SciFinder can play a significant role in providing solutions for the advancement of science.
Previous podcasts:
To view the complete series of podcasts, please visit the CAS Media Library. You can also view the podcasts on YouTubeTM and iTunes.
To view the podcasts, you must have iTunes software installed on your computer.
Once iTunes software is installed, click this link to view the podcast.
Alternatively, you can subscribe to this podcast in iTunes:
Copy this URL (Right-click and select Copy.)
To launch iTunes:
- In the iTunes menu, select Advanced and Subscribe to Podcast...
- Paste the link into the box.
- Click OK.
Clear and Significant ROI for Organizations That Use SciFinder!
Health Industry Insights* (HII) has identified a clear and significant return on investment (ROI) for organizations in the pharmaceutical and related scientific area whose scientists use SciFinder.
Through several case study examples, HII was able to quantify specific financial benefits from using SciFinder, ranging from simple-process time savings to savings from complex project applications, and including intangible benefits such as risk management. Benefits vary depending on the type of SciFinder user, but significant benefits are possible at all levels of use.
HII determined that ROI benefits could be quantified, and could be grouped into four specific benefit areas:
- Increased efficiency in scientific research
- Savings from termination of unproductive efforts
- Improvement in the quality of research efforts
- Use of SciFinder to better leverage patent information
*Health Industry Insights (HII) is an advisory services and market research firm that closely follows the payer, provider, and life science segments of the healthcare industry, with special emphasis on developing and employing strategies that leverage IT investments to maximize organizational performance.
Tuning Preferences in SciFinder 2006 for Windows?
SciFinder performance is affected by many factors: your PC, your organization's network, the Internet connection between your organization and CAS, and the server computers at CAS. SciFinder includes tuning preferences that can improve the performance.
The effect of changing tuning preferences depends on your computer's processor, RAM (physical memory), hard drive space, operating system, and on the number and and memory usage of other programs that are running at the same time as SciFinder.
To adjust your tuning preferences, login to SciFinder.
Open the Preference Editor by clicking the Prefs button or select Edit Preferences from the Tools menu.
Select the Tuning tab.
Memory Limits
- Memory Ceiling sets the maximum amount of your computer's memory in kilobytes SciFinder will normally use. When SciFinder starts, it request a reservation for a memory block from the operating system. Better performance can be achieved with a larger memory allocation. The default value is 9216 KB (kilobytes). In general, if your computer has 384 MB or more of installed RAM (My Computer, View System Information will show installed RAM) increasing the Memory Ceiling will help SciFinder performance. The example shown, 20,224 (kilobytes), should provide plenty of "head-room". (As an aid to picking the best memory ceiling for your use, turn on the Statistics Monitor, by using Tools | Statistics Monitor).
- Memory Floor sets the initial minimum block of memory for SciFinder. Even if you do not raise the Memory Ceiling, raise the Memory Floor to 6144 or 8192 (the maximum) from the default value of 4096 KB. Using a larger initial block will improve SciFinder performance. SciFinder will add memory, as needed, to the Memory Floor amount up to the Memory Ceiling. If you have 256 MB or more of installed RAM, increase the Memory Floor to the maximum, 8192.
- Max Message Size refers to packet size that the SciFinder client (on your PC) and SciFinder Servers will use to exchange information. Imagine sending a three-page letter to a friend. Suppose you have envelopes that each hold one sheet of paper and envelopes that each hold three sheets of paper. You could send each page of the letter in a one-sheet envelope and thus send three separate "packets", or you could send all three pages in a three-page envelope and send only one "packet." Either way, the information gets there, but it's more efficient to send it in one envelope instead of three. Max Message Size is the size of the SciFinder's "envelope." Increasing the size beyond the default size of 64 KB, for example to 256 or 512, will improve SciFinder performance.
Sequence Explore
- Memory Ceiling indicates the maximum amount of memory in megabytes that SciFnder will use for BLAST searches.
Important Memory Usage Note: Memory Ceiling may be set as high as 1024 MB; however, increasing this setting to more than the amount of actual installed physical memory (RAM) may produce unpredictable Java errors when using the Explore by Sequence feature. If you have 384 MB of RAM, an increase to 192 can enhance BLAST, if you have 512 MB or more, 256 will improve performance.
- Max Open Results is the number of sequence explore result sets that can be open or displayed at the same time. The maximum setting is 4 results windows open concurrently. Increasing this limit is best performed in conjunction with increasing the Memory Ceiling.
Read-Ahead
- The Read-Ahead options say whether SciFinder should read answers from the server at the same time that it prints, saves, or displays answers. If you have increased the Memory Floor and Memory Ceiling, check the Enable Print Read-Ahead, Enable Save Read-Ahead, and Enable Viewer Read-Ahead boxes to reduce the amount of time required to print, save, or view answers. In general, check all three Read-Ahead options.
- Click OK to save your changes and exit the Preference Editor. It is best to exit SciFinder and restart since some changes do not take effect until the next SciFinder restart.
What if Printing, Saving, or Displaying Results Still Seems Slow?
SciFinder and SciFinder ScholarTM 2006 for Mac OS X is Now Available!
SciFinder and SciFinder Scholar 2006 for Macintosh OS X is now available and has the same new features available in the Windows version.
Powerful, new features include:
- Structure similarity searching
- New substructure drawing tools*
- Easy access and views of reaction information*
- Locate feature to look up specific references
- Duplication removal feature
*For customers with subscription pricing only
Take advantage of this latest version of SciFinder. Download SciFinder 2006 for Mac OS X at http://my.cas.org. To access the web site, type in your SciFinder login id. Please feel free to send your scientists the download site URL for easy access to the SciFinder 2006 software.
The new Locate button allows you to quickly look up bibliographic information, locate specific documents, or find a particular substance.
The Macintosh OS X operating system introduces many changes from the Classic Macintosh OS. To learn more, see Understanding the Changes in Site.prf Needed for the Macintosh OS X Operating System.
If you have questions about downloading SciFinder 2006:
- Call CAS Customer Care at 800-753-4227
- Click on your Send Message to CAS button in your current SciFinder installation
- Send electronic e-mail to help@cas.org
SciFinder 2006 Now Available for Windows!
A new release of SciFinderSciFinder 2006 is available for Microsoft Windows! This new release became available in August and can be downloaded at myCAS today.
The new release includes powerful features:
- Structure similarity searching (substructure module)
- New structure and reaction query tools (subscription only):
- Variable Attachment Position tool
- Repeating Group tool
- Easy access to additional reaction information
- Enhanced multi-step reaction display
- New quick look-up of research references
- Duplicate detection/removaland much more!
SciFinder for Mac OS X Coming Soon!
The much requested and anticipated version of SciFinder for Mac OS X operating system is due for release in late October 2005. This release of SciFinder is designed to run on the native OS X system and will include the standard OS X interactions Mac users expect. Scientists will no longer need to explore SciFinder in the Macintosh classic mode.
SciFinder for Mac OS X includes:
- Search options that allow you to limit structure searches by substance class or reactions by classifications and number of steps
- Refine capabilities that allow you to refine a set of substances based on:
- Presence or absence of isotopically labeled atoms
- Presence or absence of any metal
- Availability of specified properties
- Reference availability
- Reaction analysis options that allow review of:
- Catalyst
- Solvent
- Number of steps
- Yield
This release of SciFinder for Mac OS X also includes a refreshed look with new icons and improved navigation using your mouse wheel and scroll bar. This version provides you with:
- Direct integration with native OS X web browsers, including Safari (default), Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Better desktop performance
- Installation improvements with new bundled install
- Support for Tiger (10.4), Panther (10.3), Jaguar (10.2) versions of OS X
In 2006, another version of SciFinder for Mac OS X will be released and will include more features, such as:
- Structure similarity searching (SSM subscription only)
- New structure and reaction query tools:
- Variable Attachment Position tool
- Repeating Group tool
- Easy access to additional reaction information
- Enhanced multi-step reaction display
- New quick look-up of research references
- Duplicate detection/removaland much more!
For more information about SciFinder for Mac OS X, contact CAS Customer Care at 800-753-4227 (North America) or 614-447-3700 (worldwide) or send e-mail to help@cas.org.
New Access to SciFinder Administrative Information is Available on myCAS
SciFinder administrators can now access important site and user information on myCAS Now SciFinder Administrators can review their SciFinder user lists for all accounts at any time and update user lists for each site. Key contacts can view the entire list and add, change, remove, or reassign an individual login ID.
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The new forms provide SciFinder administrators access to review their SciFinder user lists for all accounts at any time. |
Add, change, remove, or reassign login IDs
Key contacts can reassign login IDs or add new users at any time. However, subscription login IDs cannot be removed until their existing contract renewal date. Task Package users can be deleted at any time.
Change your task package size
Key contacts can change a task package size, which will be effective at the exhaustion of their current task package.
You can download a user list for your records at anytime.
Visit my.cas.org to:
- Change your contact information
- Add, delete, or reassign login IDs
- Change your task package size
- View SciFinder reports
- Download software
- Download documentation
- Access resources
- Update user password
To login to myCAS, SciFinder administrators should use their key contact support login IDs. CAS web sites have security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse, and alteration of the information under our control.
If you have any questions about myCAS features, please contact help@cas.org or call CAS Customer Care at 1-800-753-4227 (North America) or 1-614-447-3700 (worldwide).
New Upgrade of SciFinder (2004.2) is Available!
In November, CAS announced a new Microsoft Windows upgrade of SciFinder (2004.2).
The new Microsoft Windows version of SciFinder (2004.2) provides improved scrolling capabilities, a toolbar for use with Microsoft Internet Explorer and other feature enhancements.
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The SciFinder Toolbar for use with Internet Explorer seamlessly integrates web searching with SciFinder. |
You can download the latest release of SciFinder (2004.2) at http://my.cas.org today. To access the web site, type in your SciFinder Administrators login id and password.
If you have questions about downloading the latest version of SciFinder (2004.2), please call CAS Customer Care at 800-848-6533, click on your Send Message to CAS button in your current SciFinder installation, or send electronic mail to help@cas.org.
Maximizing Relevant Retrieval
SciFinder allows your scientists to explore by exact structures and substructures and retrieve the maximum amount of relevant substances. This capability allows scientists to draw a chemical structure in the way that is most familiar to them without having to worry about missing important and interesting answers.
SciFinder allows for the maximum relevant retrieval of substances that match a drawing and automatically finds all substances that contain the same arrangement of atoms and bonds as the structure drawn. The retrievals may include:
- The structure exactly as you have drawn it
- Stereoisomers
- Tautomers (including keto-enol)
- Coordination compounds
- Charged compounds
- Radicals or radical ions
- Isotopes
- Polymers in which the structure is a monomer
Focus on Precision
Analyze by Precision groups answers into clusters based on how closely they match the drawn structure question. There are four groupings:
- Conventional substructures: Substances are grouped here that fit the conventional CAS algorithms for tautomers in the CAS Registry System. These algorithms consider different representations of certain functional groups as equivalent but do not consider some chemical tautomers such as ketones and their respective enols as equivalent.
- Closely associated tautomers and zwitterions: In this grouping double bonds and hydrogen atoms are allowed to migrate one bond from that drawn in a query. The traditional chemical keto-enol tautomers are generally grouped in this cluster. Alternate charged and neutral variations of the query as well as alternate forms of hemiacetals, fluorescein dyes, and different coordination and metal salt forms may also be grouped in this cluster.
- Loosely associated tautomers and zwitterions: Substances that have double bonds and hydrogen that migrate beyond a single atom are grouped here. Alternate coordination and metal salt forms may also be included in this cluster.
- Other: Other substances that are retrieved but are excluded in the groupings above.
Both exact structure searches and substructure searches [with the SciFinder Substructure Module] can be analyzed by precision. Link to an example of the Analyze by Precision tool to further explore and refine your answers.
Customize your CAS Full Text Options - Part I
myCAS allows you to tailor CAS Full Text Options to your researchers needs as well as your librarys capabilities, by customizing any one or all of the three paths that CAS Full Text Options offers. You can update your in-house options, update your web-based options, and/or update your fee-based options. There are other customizations available as well.
Site administrators have even more flexibility with regards to this feature. CAS Full Text Options can differentiate between those journals you may have available internally and those journals that you have electronic subscriptions. Via "Your Library Holdings", you can upload a list of ISSNs for those journal titles that exist internally.
Suppose you have electronic subscriptions at the publishers web site? You can upload a list of ISSNs via "Your Electronic Journal Subscriptions". This will tell CAS Full Text Options to display the blue checkmark next to the appropriate link in the "Web-based document resources" box on the CAS Full Text Options page.
A third option available on this page allows a site administrator to upload a list of ISSNs to turn on a green house icon next to a record. This alerts a user to which journal titles are available without having to leave SciFinder.
Finally, the ISSN lists can also contain the CODEN, the start year and end year of the available journal title. These lists can be made by using any spreadsheet program, delimiting the values using a semicolon. In the next issue of SciFinder Solutions, we will detail the different ways to customize your organization's CAS Full Text Options. If you have any questions about CAS Full Text Options, contact CAS Customer Care at 800.753.4227 or send email to help@cas.org. You can also visit the CAS Full Text Options Web site at www.chemport.org.
Customizing CAS Full Text Options - Part II
In the last issue of SciFinder Solutions, we highlighted how you can upload your journal lists and make them available via CAS Full Text Options. In this issue of SciFinder Solutions, we will detail some other ways to customize your organization's CAS Full Text Options.
Update Fee-based Options
The Update Fee-based Options page allows you or your scientists to refine additional options available on the CAS Full Text Options page. CAS Full Text Options provides two types of services: Download Document and Order Document. The Download Document option allows you to purchase an article in PDF format, using your SciFinder account. The purchase is immediate and will appear on your next SciFinder invoice. When the article cannot be purchased electronically, you can order the article via the Order Document link and access CAS Document Detective ServicesSM. As a Site Administrator, you can alter these options via myCAS (my.cas.org) at any time.
Customize Your CAS Full Text Options Page
It is easy to personalize your CAS Full Text Options page for your organization. Visit my.cas.org to change the title of the CAS Full Text Options page, as well as provide an additional Help link for internal use. Also, the e-mail citation feature, Send a colleague this reference can be refined by adding a default e-mail address or be disabled altogether.
Questions? Need Help?
Each CAS Full Text Options page in myCAS contains a link to help messages that are specific to the CAS Full Text Options page being viewed. In addition, the help messages contain links to more information at the newly designed CAS Full Text Options information site, www.chemport.org. ChemPort.org contains a variety of informational items for you, including visual examples of the customizations and the changes in appearance of the CAS Full Text Options page. A new feature at ChemPort.org is the ability to search the list of publishers and journal titles that are available via CAS Full Text Options. You can search by publisher name, journal title, or ISSN/ CODEN. If you need additional help with CAS Full Text Options, you can call CAS Customer Care: 800-753-4227.
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