Troubleshooting Problems with Proxy/VPN Access to Library EResources

In general:

• Disable popup blocking!

• Try another browser (esp. if you generally use IE on the Mac)

• Confirm what you are trying to access is available via the proxy! Only items indicated as or may be accessed through the Rice Proxy.

(Note: the icon will be listed on the weblisting of indexes/databases, reference sources, news, or electronic texts; to determine the proxy status of a journal, check the Ejournal Portal and look for the "ON PROXY" designation.)

Difficulty accessing the list of Indexes & Databases

Some people are having difficulty accessing the list of Indexes & Databases, or the list of Electronic Texts. (The resource lists are generated from a Rice database not residing on the main Rice web computer. Users get either a blank page or a message about access being forbidden):

Proposed "work around solutions":

• • Use the keyword search box on the the Indexes page. This seems to work for people when the "Indexes by Subject Category" and "Indexes listed Alphabetically" do not.
• • Search a known item in the library's online catalog, Webcat. Click on the URL link in the catalog record and you will be queried to log on (proxy activates) and then connect to the desired site.

Difficulty accessing fulltext journals from the Ejourna Portal listing.

Some people are having difficulty accessing fulltext journals from the Ejournal Portal listing. (The journals lists are maintained on this commercial service's computer; users are being referred, via a new browser window, to the publisher's computer for the actual journal. Users get a blank page when they click on the journal title and try to connect to the publisher's site.)

Proposed "work around solutions"

• • if using the Google tool bar or other tool to eliminate popups from the browser, this feature must be disabled to use the Ejournal Portal. In fact, since a number of library resources (e.g. several indices on the Silverplatter interface) generate new browser windows, we strongly recommend disabling popup controls when you are prompted for proxy login.
• • Search a known item in the library's online catalog, Webcat. Click on the URL link in the catalog record and you will be queried to log on (proxy activates) and then connect to the desired site.

Problems displaying the PDF images on EbscoHost databases

Some people are having problems on EbscoHost databases displaying the PDF images

- especially if using Explorer on the Macintosh. (Users see a blank Adobe window.)

Proposed "work around solutions":

• • Try the "other" browser - e.g. Netscape

• • Download the PDF to your hard drive (if you click AND HOLD on the PDF link, a dialog menu offers the option to download). Then double-click on the PDF icon on your desktop, opening Adobe and the PDF directly (without involvement of the browser). This usually works

The Library Staff continue to work with Educational Technology and information vendor staff to resolve problems with proxy access to licensed library resources. We thank you for your patience and ask you to continue to report access problems, with as much detail as possible, via Help Desk.