Library Home   |   Library Catalog

 

Frequently Asked Questions about SFX

 
What does SFX do?
SFX provides direct links from database citations to related content that is available from the Kresge Library. From any record of interest, click on the SFX button to:

  • connect to the full text, if it's available online
  • search the ELLeN catalog to see if it's at the Library
  • request the item through ILLiad, if it's not available at the Library
  • retrieve articles that cite a given article
  • export a citation to citation management software such as EndNote or Reference Manager
  • purchase an article from the British Library document delivery service
  • search the Web using the key words from the citation title
  • get assistance from a librarian by email

Back to Top

Which databases have SFX buttons in them?
Agricola (OVID)
Biological Abstracts (OVID)
Current Contents (OVID)
Faculty of 1000
Medline (OVID)
PsycINFO (OVID)
PubMed (TSRI customized version)
SciFinder Scholar
Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science)

Back to Top

Who can use SFX?
Current TSRI faculty, staff, and students.

Back to Top

Can I use SFX from off campus?
TSRI VPN and PPP account holders can use the SFX-enabled databases when off-campus.

Back to Top

Why don't I see any SFX buttons?
Sometimes you need to click on the actual database record in order to see the SFX button. You will not see SFX buttons if:
  • You are off-campus and not using a VPN or PPP account.
  • JavaScript is not enabled in your browser. Check your browser settings. In Internet Explorer, choose Internet Options from the Tools menu. Click on the Advanced tab and check the box next to "Use Java." In Netscape, choose Preferences from the Edit menu. Select the Advanced category and check the box next to "Enable Java."
  • You are in Web of Science and you did not let the first page fully load in your browser. After clicking on "ISI Web of Science" from the "ISI Web of Knowledge" page, wait an extra couple of seconds before clicking on the "Full Search" button. If this does not solve the problem, also try cleaning out your browser's cache.
  • You connected to PubMed without using the link in the Databases list for the TSRI customized version.

    • Back to Top

    Why are there multiple windows when I'm using SFX?
    When you click on the SFX button, it opens a browser window that displays the menu of services. Selecting a service from the menu then opens a third window. Generally, you will not have more than three or four windows open at a time. Remember that you can resize the windows to suit your viewing preferences. Sometimes windows are hidden behind other windows. Use Alt-Tab to easily navigate among windows.

    Back to Top

    When I go back to make a second selection from the SFX window, nothing seems to happen. What gives?
    This problem is limited to Internet Explorer. When you first click on an option in the SFX window, IE opens a secondary browser window on top of your open windows. However, when you make another selection, that secondary browser window does not get promoted to the top again.

    One solution is to drag the secondary browser window to another portion of your screen so it's not blocked by the SFX window. However, it could still be blocked by any other window (including the original search window, if you've moved it to the top), so you may occasionally have to go looking for it.

    Another solution, of course, is to use Netscape or some other browser.

    Back to Top

    What does the address "about:blank" mean?
    This is another Internet Explorer quirk. When you select a service that requires SFX to re-search the Web of Science database, that address is displayed while the search is taking place. Once the results are displayed, the address (which is meaningless) goes away.

    Back to Top

    When I click to get full text, sometimes I end up on the journal's home page or table of contents. Can't I go directly to the article?
    The journal publisher controls where SFX is able to link--journal home page, volume, table of contents, or article. In some cases, you may need to navigate through the publisher's web site to get to the article you're looking for. Because the database record is still visible in its own window, it is easy to see what volume and issue is needed.

    Back to Top

    When I click to get the full text, my article isn't there ("bad URL" or "Error 404" or some other "not found" message).
    Possible reasons why the article may be missing:
    • The database record about the article may appear before the publisher has made the full text available online. Use the "contact" link on the SFX menu to have us confirm this.
    • The publisher or author may have withheld permission to put this article online. Search ELLeN from the SFX menu to see if the Library has the paper version.
    • Links may be out-of-date because a publisher has made changes to its site. Please let us know about any problems that you encounter so that we can correct them. Contact us at (858) 784-8705 or using the Ask a Scripps Librarian Form.

    Back to Top

    Why didn't I get a full-text link for my article?
    This is probably because there is no full-text version available or the Kresge Library does not have a license for full-text access. However, there is a chance that SFX is not aware that the full text is available online. Search "Kresge Library's ELLeN catalog" from the SFX menu to see if there is a link to full text. Please let us know if you discover that there is full text access but it does not show up in SFX.

    Back to Top

    The ELLeN search didn't find anything. What should I do next?
    A second search in the ELLeN catalog for the title of the journal or book might find it. For example, if SFX searched ELLeN using the ISSN for a journal, try searching ELLeN again by the journal title. If you find that we don't have the title you want, go back to the SFX window and request the item through interlibrary loan by clicking on "Request this item via ILLiad."

    Back to Top

    Why does the number of options in the SFX window vary?
    When you click  , the system runs through the Kresge Library's SFX database to see what services are available for the volume of the journal in which you found the article. What displays, then, are only those services that are available for that volume of that title. We try not to offer you service options that are not available for the article in question.

    Back to Top

    Why are there two options for full-text for some journals?
    Normally, we subscribe to full-text access from the publisher, and that’s the only link you’ll find. However, some publishers have signed contracts with intermediary full-text providers, and that’s the access we offer. When both cases apply, you’ll find that you have both options for access. If one of these services happens to be down when you’re working, the other service is likely to be available.

    Back to Top

    Can I request several items at once via ILLiad when I'm using the SFX window?
    No. SFX works on one record at a time. To request several items at once, log in to ILLiad directly.

    Back to Top

    How long will it take to get an answer if I use the "contact" link?
    We try to respond within 24 hours for questions sent Monday through Friday. For questions sent Saturday or Sunday, we try to respond by Monday.

    Back to Top

    Why do I have to log out of Web of Science, Ovid, and SciFinder Scholar when I'm done?
    Our subscriptions to these and other databases allow only a limited number of simultaneous users. If you forget to log out, one spot is tied up until the system eventually resets it, even though no one is actively searching the database. Logging out of a database makes it available immediately to other users.

    Back to Top

    Tell me more about SFX.
    SFX stands for "special effects." SFX is a link server that the Kresge Library has licensed from Ex Libris (USA) Inc. There's more information about SFX on their web site: http://www.sfxit.com/.

    Back to Top

    I need help using SFX.
    Call the Kresge Library at (858) 784-8705 or send us a message using the Ask a Scripps Librarian Form.

    Back to Top

    I would like to comment on SFX.
    Submit your comments using the Ask a Scripps Librarian Form or call the Kresge Library at (858) 784-8705.

    Back to Top