Internet accessed databases: Crossfire and SciFinder

[Rzepa, Henry]

The academics amongst you may be familiar with the 6 month trial of
Beilstein Crossfire,
starting at Daresbury.  This involves getting the Crossfire software and
an account from Daresbury, and gives access to 5-6 million compounds.
Instructions are on http://www.dl.ac.uk/CDS/Beilstein/quick_guide.html

This trial should spark off perhaps a broader discussion on how the
chemistry community should lobby/organise/fund access to databases.
Curiously, there is no single mechanism for soliciting such
discussion. Thus with some universities, it goes through the librarians,
with others the academics.  It seems worthwhile posting it here.

Whilst Beilstein is of interest in providing access to molecular properties,
another product that has attracted attention is SciFinder from CAS. This
in effect goes down the route of extreme user friendliness.  My understanding
is that CHEST have got involved in discussions with both Beilstein and
CAS about such products, although the community at large has yet to
get involved. Perhaps people might wish to post to this forum
experiences of either/comments on areas of applicability/Web interfaces/ etc

In particular, it would be nice to use this 6 month trial of Crossfire
to help CHEST and others know how the chemistry community feels
about this area, and even perhaps help define some priorities.

Dr Henry Rzepa,  Dept. Chemistry,  Imperial College,  LONDON SW7 2AY;
rzepa at ic.ac.uk; Tel  (44) 171 594 5774; Fax: (44) 171 594 5804.
URL: http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/rzepa/  


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