Common Technical Problems
with Connecting and Using Library Databases

If you run into problems not covered here, please contact us or UITS at 855-6789, or ucshelp@indiana.edu. Please include as much information as possible, such as what kind of error message you got, what kind of operating system your computer uses, what did you try to do at the time the problem occurred. We will try our best to help you resolve the problem.

If you need further assistance or would like to attend our library instructional sessions/workshops, or would like to arrange an individual training session, please contact us using our Ask a Librarian service.


I got the error message: "Unable to find application"
This is perhaps the most common problem. Please read this for more information and a solution.

I tried to access Lexis-Nexis, it asked for a username and password
Most of our databases accessible via the web do not require you to login with a username or password (Medline from Ovid does ask for your IU ID number or your library barcode number). Access to those databses is controlled by IP numbers. In other words, your machine has to be either on campus or connected to the internet via IU PPP modem pool. If a database asks for a username or password, it probably indicates that your machine is not authorized to access the database. Your machine may be connected to the internet via a commerical ISP, such as AOL, for example. Or you tried to access our databases from a remote out-of-town location.

If this is your case, you will not be able to access our databases, due to license restrictions. At least not for now. We are working hard to find ways to providing access to remote users, but we don't have a solution yet.

It says to press F4, but when I press it, nothing happens
Many databases on Infogate, specifically those that use the SilverPlatter interface, including ERIC, MLA, PsycInfo, etc, make use of functions keys to accomplish certain tasks, and F4 is the most commonly used, to display search results.

This problem is related to the kind of terminal/telnet program you use to access infogate.

In Commnucations Software distributed on the IUWare CD-ROM, and in Macintosh NCSA telnet program, the four keys of first/top row on the keypad (the numeric keyboard on the right side of your keyboard) are equivalent to F1, F2, F3 and F4, i.e.

  • Clear for F1
  • = for F2
  • / for F3
  • * for F4

In Procomm, F1 and F2 work. For F3, it is <Shift>+F1 (hold down the <Shift> key and press <F1>. For F4, it is <Shift>+F2 (hold down the <Shift> key and press <F2>.

If all fail, press the <ESC>, and the menu options will appear on the bottom of the screen. You can then press the highlighted letters to achieve what you want to do, e.g. S for show records.

My cursor keys (the down arrow key) won't move
Some of the databases on Infogate, MLA, ERIC, PsycInfo, for example, have more than one part (each covering a different time period). You are supposed to press the down arrow key and the spacebar to make a selection, but the down arrow key has no effect.

This again is related to the kind of telnet program you use, most commonly the telnet program that comes with your windows 95 or windows NT operating system.

If this is your case, there is a simple solution. After launching the telnet program, click on "Terminal" from the top menu bar (where it says: Connect, Edit, Terminal, Help), and select the first option: Preferences. A window should come up. Put a check mark to the left of the VT100 Arrows in the Terminal Options side of the window.

I can't login with my IU ID, or I don't see the full menu list
If you cannot login to Infogate with your valid IU ID number or library barcode number, or when you login but could only see two or three menu options, not the full Infogate menu list, it is very probable that your record in our database does not list you as a Bloomington faculty, student or staff. Please contact the IUB Libraries Customer and Facilities Services Department, 812-855-4673, for assistance in correcting this problem.

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