SciFinder Scholar is a comprehensive database of chemical journal literature and patents which includes CAplus ( Chemical Abstracts ), the CAS Registry, and other chemical files. SciFinder Scholar can be searched by author, research topic, chemical substance or reaction, CA abstract number, patent number, or by structure drawing. Updated daily.

Searching the database requires downloading client-based software, which is installed on PCs in Swarthmore's libraries. We will be adding access to SFS on public Macs over Winter Break. Instructions for downloading the software to your office computer are given below.

There are excellent search instructions including e-resources and interactive tutorials on the SciFinder Scholar Web site.

Note: Swarthmore is sharing TWO SciFinder seats with TWO other schools . Please be sure to logoff SciFinder when you are finished searching so that others can use it! Occasionally you may not be able to access SciFinder because the two seats are in use. Try again later. The software is programmed to disconnect if left idle for 20 minutes.

SciFinder Scholar 2006 is now available for Windows & Mac OS X.

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/removal…and much more!



To Download:

• Contact the science librarian for the username and password for the download site and to get a copy of the site.prf file. You'll need this file to connect to SciFinder Scholar once the software is installed.

• Go to: https://my.cas.org (Meg's name will come up on the Welcome screen - that's ok).

• Select 'download software' from the left column. Follow the instructions for downloading and installing the program according to your platform.

• Copy the site.prf file to the SciFinder Scholar folder.

To Upgrade:

• Do not delete the old version of SciFinder Scholar! You will be installing the new version in the folder of the old version, which will then be overridden.

• Contact the science librarian for the username and password for the download site.

• Go to: https://my.cas.org and login using the username & password you have been provided with (Meg's name will come up on the Welcome screen - that's ok).

• Follow the instructions for downloading and installing the program according to your platform. All upgraded files will be copied over the older version files.

• If you encounter any problems connecting to SciFinder Scholar you may need to get another copy of the site.prf file. The science librarian can e-mail you a copy.