Understanding the Changes in Site.prf Needed for the Macintosh OS X Operating System

The Macintosh OS X operating system introduces many changes from the CLASSIC Macintosh OS.  Among the changes are security groups, group permissions, and changes to the way applications are installed.  All of those changes impact handling of Site Preferences (site.prf) in SciFinder and SciFinder Scholar for Mac OS X.

Overview of Site Preference functions:

In SciFinder , the site.prf file is optional.

• It allows individual SciFinder customers to save their Login ID and Password
• It redirects the SciFinder Client to a corporate proxy or firewall server

For SciFinder Scholar, the site.prf file is mandatory for each client installation. 

• The site.prf file is encrypted
• The site.prf file contains any redirection information needed to connect via a proxy or firewall

Site.prf files are created by the Key Contact at the company or university.

Site preference files in both SciFinder and SciFinder Scholar for Mac OS X may be located in one or more, of three locations:

Package Location:

• HD:Applications:SciFinder:Contents:MacOS:site.prf
• HD:Applications:SciFinder Scholar:Contents:MacOS:site.prf

Machine Location:

• HD:Library:Application Support:SciFinder:site.prf
• HD:Library:Application Support:SciFinder Scholar:site.prf

User Location:

• HD:Users:[LoginName]:Library:Application Support:SciFinder:site.prf
• HD:Users:[LoginName]:Library:Application Support:SciFinder Scholar:site.prf

If a site.prf file is found in location #1 or #2, then the site.prf file is copied into the User Location and these are for site.prf files ends. A site.prf found in the Package or Machine location will overwrite any site.prf file found in User Location.