Accessing CDs from Outside a Library Building

Our Objective

Northwestern University Library now provides Northwestern faculty, students, and staff access to networked CD titles from campus offices, university housing and from off campus.

How it Works

Use your web browser to select a database from the list of available databases, or search the Library's Electronic Resources and select a networked CD database from your search results. Either of these methods will launch the Citrix Java Client. This client allows users to connect to the Library’s MetaFrame Server. The Java Client requires no local client installation. Users need only a Java-compatible Web-browser. Setup is transparent and automatic. The applet is of minimal download size, around 350 KB in size, providing a fast download. It is platform-independent. It can run on any client device running a Web browser either with the Microsoft JVM or J2SE environment 1.3 or greater.

In addition to having a Java Compatible Web-browser, you must be connected to NUnet -- Northwestern University's Campus network. The CD database appears to be running on your local workstation, but it is actually running on the Library's server. Search requests and results are sent back and forth between your local workstation and server quickly, even over a slow modem connection.

List of Networked CDs

 

Printing and Saving Database Search Results

Success with printing and saving search results may vary from one database to another. In many cases you will be able to print or save without problems. When running the Citrix Java client you should have the same access to your printer(s) as you do when you run other software locally. The Java client will automatically detect any available installed printer(s). There may be exceptions when printing does not work. We are unable to provide support for the printing of search results due to the multitude of printer models, operating systems, web browsers, and hardware in use.

Your default folder for saving documents (for example your "My Documents" folder), is automatically changed to drive letter H: at the start of a Citrix session. We recommend saving files and search results to H: or to the diskette drive.

Connecting to NUnet

To run the networked CD's remotely via the Library's CD Service, you must be authenticated onto NUnet, Northwestern's campus network. This authentication happens automatically when you are connected to a campus hard wired Ethernet connection, the campus wireless network, or dial into the NU modem pool. If you use an outside internet service provider, perhaps because you have a DSL line or a cable modem, you must be authenticated via the University's Virtual Private Network (VPN) service before running a networked CD resource.

Support

For suppport in accessing and using CDs from outside a library building contact:


Library's Networked CD Service Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

System Messages

Error Messages