Beilstein and Gmelin Databases

Valid Users

Any valid UW-Madison campus user may access Beilstein and Gmelin from a personal computer. This includes campus sites with Internet connections and off-campus users.

DSL and Cable Modem

DSL and cable modem users must install WiscVPN to connect to Beilstein, and Gmelin. An active UW NetID is required to use WiscVPN. To access these databases remotely, launch WiscVPN, than launch the database.

To learn more about WiscVPN, go to:
http://www.doit.wisc.edu/network/vpn/

To activate your UW NetID, go to:
https://www.mynetid.wisc.edu/accounts.pl?type=activate

CrossFire Installation

DiscoveryGate

The Library no longer subscribes to DiscoveryGate.

CrossFire

  • CrossFire Commander 7.1 is the most current version for Windows. Macintosh users may wish to investigate running the Windows version on Parallels Desktop for Mac.
  • CrossFire Commander 6 is the most current version for the Macintosh platform.
  1. Obtain User ID, Password, and Group Name from campus Beilstein contact (Emily Wixson, 262-4423) or by contacting General Library System/Library Technology Group. If you are upgrading from Commander 4, the installer will automatically pick up the Group Name from the previous installation.
  2. Open Beilstein Client Distribution Page and read the instructions.
  3. Read the Installation Notes Windows (v. 7.1) or Macintosh installation notes.
  4. Download the appropriate Windows.exe or Macintosh .hqx self-extracting archive files. Follow the instructions in the installation notes.
  5. (Optional - v. 7.1) Change the resolver filter setting (the link that takes you to full-text versions) in the XF.INI file from the default 1920 to 1870. This will retrieve pre-1900 ACS and RSC journals. The XF.INI file is located in C:\Program Files\Crossfire Commander 7.1 directory.
    xf.ini Resolver filter setting

Crossfire Login

  1. Launch CrossFire and begin a session by clicking on the red crossed arrows icon button.
  2. Refer to the installation notes to set Host address, Station ID, and License Group Name.
  3. Enter User ID and Password (can set to remember).
  4. Click OK.

Note: When CrossFire is installed, the default Structure Editor is set to MDL ISISDraw. However MDL ISISDraw is not part of the client. Change the Structure Editor to MDL CrossFire Structure Editor:

  1. OPTIONS > STRUCTURE EDITORS...
  2. Select MDL CrossFire Structure Editor. If you want to use ISISDraw, see the ISISDraw link on the CrossFire Distribution Page.
Congratulations! You are ready to access Beilstein and Gmelin from your desktop. Each time you connect you will get a login and password dialog box unless you checked the "remember" box. If after following these procedures you are unable to access Beilstein/Gmelin, refer to the Trouble Shooting Notes or contact Emily Wixson (262-4423) or General Library System/Library Technology Group (262-8880).