Science Library

There is an increasing trend among database vendors switching their databases from client-based to web-based. A recent article by Susan Harkins and Drew Wutka entitled “10 reasons to turn your access applications into web-based applications” highlights this trend. The 10 reasons listed by them are as follows:

1. Client versus server
2. No client installation
3. Easy cross-platform usage
4. Simplified security
5. Easy use of NT authentication
6. Goodbye to corruption!
7. No version problems
8. Live, behind-the-scenes interface updates
9. Portability
10. More users

Obviously there are many advantages for having web-based access to databases. This is also why NTU Library will be converting two of its Chemistry databases from client-based to solely web-based. The details of the conversion are as follows:

SciFinder
Currently of the 8 seats available, 5 are web-based and the remaining 3 are client-based.
However, the 3 client-based seats will also be converted to web-based seats by the end of the year.

Reaxys
Reaxys is the web version of the CrossFire Database Suite consisting of Beilstein, Gmelin and Patent Chemistry databases. Currently NTU Library subscribes to both Reaxys (web) and CrossFire (client).
However, the client version CrossFire will no longer be available by December 2010.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 26th, 2009 at 11:55 am and is filed under E-Resource Updates.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.