ACU National logo

 

 Remote Access     -    [ FAQ ]      [ About ]      [ Browser Check ]      [ Cookie Check ]      [ Javascript Check ]      [ URL Builder ]      [ Feedback Form ]   

 

EZproxy FAQ - Accessing Electronic Resources

 

Problems with Article Links in Emails (From Off-Campus)

When off-campus, clicking on an article link in an e-mail that I sent to myself from an article citation database sends me to a page where they ask for username and password information? What do I need to do to get the article?

You are attempting to link to a paid database resource, but you are not going through our proxy server. Therefore, you are not being granted access to the requested resource. To add the EZproxy prefix to your links, please see the section: Required format for EZproxy prefixes.

 

Article Links in WebCT?

Links created under the WebCT course management system or on individual web pages prior to the rollout of EZproxy on December 15, 2004, will likely not work from off campus. Library staff members can provide support and assistance in identifying and converting ereserve readings, journal articles, and other information resources. For further information, please contact us via the feedback form.

Note to instructors who use WebCT: You can allow your students to have off campus access to articles by following the directions at: Required format for EZproxy prefixes when you compose links for your students. You may also create links within your WebCT course to the library's databases by copying and pasting the URL from the library's website.

 

Can't open Acrobat, Powerpoint, etc files

 

Adobe Acrobat pdf and PowerPoint files

In order to open Adobe Portable Document (.pdf) files you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded free of charge. In order to open PowerPoint files you will need to have Microsoft PowerPoint installed or PowerPoint Viewer installed. PowerPoint Viewer can be downloaded free of charge.

If you have these programs installed but still can't open files then the most reliable way to open or view PowerPoint (.ppt) or Acrobat (.pdf) files is to save them directly to your computer first, and then open them.

A problem can occur with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (or higher) interfacing with Adobe Acrobat 4. Please try the following:

  • Open Adobe Acrobat (from your Start --> Program menu)

  • Click on File --> Preferences --> General

  • Uncheck the box next to Web Browser Integration

 

Why do I get an error message "access forbidden" or "Authentication Method not supported" when trying to download files?

An "Access forbidden" or "Authentication method not supported" message is often displayed when trying to download a file using external download software, e.g. Real Download or Getright. In order to download files, you need to close off or uninstall these applications.

 

Netscape, Mozilla and Internet Explorer Service Pack 2 Users

You should be asked if you want to open a file or save it - choose Save. Then open the file using the correct software. If this option is not presenting itself, read on:

Internet Explorer (Service Pack 1) Users:

Internet Explorer may not ask you if you want to Save or Open a file. It might just try to open the file, and sometimes this may not work. If this happens, follow these steps:

Windows 98 Users:

  1. Open My Computer
  2. Click View > Folder Options > File Types tab
  3. Scroll down to Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe Acrobat Document & select it
  4. Click the Edit button
  5. At the bottom:
    1. make sure "Confirm open after download" is ticked
    2. make sure "Browse in same window" is not ticked

Windows XP Users:

  1. Open My Computer
  2. Click Tools > Folder Options > File Types tab
  3. Scroll down to Extension .PPT (Microsoft PowerPoint) or .PDF (Adobe Acrobat Document) (in left column)
  4. Select PPT Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
  5. Click the Advanced button
    1. make sure "Confirm open after download" is ticked
    2. make sure "Browse in same window" is not ticked

Then, in order to view files from a WebCT site:

  1. Click on the link to the file.
  2. Choose Save when prompted, and save the file to your computer.
  3. Go to the location where you saved the file using My Computer or Windows Explorer, and open it from there.

 

I don’t seem to get very complete results with my online database searches.

This is not an access problem. Please contact the Library.

 

I need help using an online resource.

For help using any of the subscription resources, please contact the Library

 

Why do links within email and TOC (table of content) alerts no longer work from off campus?

Links sent from databases like JSTOR, or from journal alerting services, do not include the necessary url information to pass through the Library proxy server. Be aware that those embedded links generally will work if accessed from on campus. When off campus, you can return to the database using a library link directly, or follow the instructions in the section: Required format for EZproxy prefixes.

 

Why is a link within a webpage that I've been using successfully for months or years now suddenly not working?

It likely doesn't contain the prefix that is needed by our new proxy server. To determine the new web address for a specific resource, see the section: Required format for EZproxy prefixes. We believe that we have updated all links on pages under our control, but need to rely on other page authors to update their own pages. If you are a page author who would like assistance making the necessary changes, please see contact the EZproxy Administrator via the feedback form.

 

Some of my bookmarks no longer work from off campus

Some bookmarks saved prior to the installation of the EZproxy server will not work from off campus. Because Ezproxy is a rewriting passthrough proxy server, all urls for licensed resources are prefaced by http://ezproxy.acu.edu.au/login?url= to force all requests to pass through the EZproxy server.

You can update your bookmark links by editing them to include the prefix above or you can delete the old bookmark, re-visit the link from off campus, and add a new bookmark, or see the section: Required format for EZproxy prefixes.

 

Required format for prefixes:

When linking to the databases that the Library subscribes to you need to add the EZproxy prefix to the beginning of the URL. The EZproxy prefix is:
http://ezproxy.acu.edu.au/login?url=

For more detailed instructions on how to link to articles in the resources please refer to the Linking to library resources section of the Library website