Having technical problems accessing an online article in a database or e-journal? Try these tips and tricks.

Try a different browser

Internet Explore works best for MOST databases, while it won't work properly in others. The same is true with Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari. Also, make sure you have an up-to-date browser. Often databases don't support older versions of browsers. If you are using a Mac, try using Safari. Try accessing the resource with a different browser and see if you get the same error. Some popular browsers are: Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Chrome, or Safari. **Please do not uninstall your original browser after downloading an alternate browser.**

Clear your cache

Try clearing your cache and re-starting your browser this solves many problems.

Clearing Cache Instructions

Cache is a local storage area in your browser in which previously viewed web pages and images are stored. If a previously viewed web page is accessed again, the copy is loaded from the cache. To ensure that the current copy is loaded from the server and not from the cache, clear the cache in your browser and load the page again. Clearing your cache can also improve the speed and performance of your browser.

Firefox

1. Select Tools and select Options.
2. Click the Advanced icon and click the Network tab.
3. Click Clear Now under the Cache section.
4. Click OK.
5. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Internet Explorer

1. Select Tools from the top menu
2. Choose Internet Options
3. Click the General tab.
4. Click Delete under the Browsing History section.
5. Click Delete Files in the Delete Browsing History dialog box.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Close.
8. Close and re-launch your browser.

Safari 

1. Click the Safari menu and select Empty Cache.
2. Click Empty on the Are you sure message box.
3. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Firefox

1. Click the Firefox menu and select Preferences.
2. Click the Advanced icon and click the Network tab.
3. Click Clear Now under the Cache section.
4. Click the X in the top left corner to close the Advanced window.
5. Exit and re-launch the browser.

Allow cookies

Check to be sure your browser is set to accept cookies. Many databases require the use of cookies and won't work if they are blocked.

A cookie is a file created by a web site that stores information on your computer, such as site-specific preferences when visiting that site. Some sites may not work properly when cookies are disabled.

Firefox

1. Select Tools from the top menu.
2. Select Options.
3. Click the Privacy icon at the top.
4. In the Cookies section, check the box corresponding to "Accept cookies from sites ".
5. Click "OK" to save changes.

Internet Explorer

1. Select Tools from the top menu
2. Choose Internet Options
3. Click on the Privacy tab
4. Click the ‘Default' button
5. Click ‘Apply' and "OK".

Safari 

1. Click the Safari menu item, and click Properties. A new window will pop-up.
2. Click the Security icon in the menu bar of the pop-up window.
3. Make sure that Accept Cookies is set to either ‘Always', or 'Only from sites you navigate to'.

Firefox

1. Click the Firefox menu, then click Preferences.
2. In the left-hand column, click the icon labeled Privacy.
3. Click Cookies, then click the option labeled "Allow sites to set cookies.
4. Click OK to save changes and close the dialog box.

Deleting Cookies

Firefox

1. Click Tools and select Options.
2. Click the Privacy Icon.
3. Click Show Cookies under the Cookies section.
4. Click Remove All Cookies and click Close.
5. Click OK.
6. Close and re-launch your browser.

Internet Explorer

1. Select Tools from the top menu
2. Choose Internet Options
3. On the General tab, click Delete under Browsing History in the Internet Properties dialog box.
4. In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click Delete Cookies.
5. In the Delete Cookies dialog box, click Yes.

Safari

1. Click the Safari menu and select Preferences.
2. Click the Security icon and click Show Cookies.
3. Click Remove All.
4. Click Remove All on the Are you sure message box.
5. Click Done.
6. Click the X in the top left corner to close the Security window.
7. Close and re-launch your browser.

Firefox

1. Click the Firefox menu and select Preferences.
2. Click the Privacy icon.
3. Click Show Cookies under the Cookies section.
4. Click Remove All Cookies.
5. Click the X in the top left corner to close the Cookies window.
6. Click the X in the top left corner to close the Privacy window.
7. Close and re-launch your browser.

Adjust pop-up blocker settings

A few databases require the use of pop-ups to deliver some of their content. If you have pop-up blocker enabled on your web browser, you may need to disable it.

Firefox

1. Click Tools in the Menu Bar
2. Select Options
3. Click the Content tab
4. Check the box associated with Block pop-up windows.
5. Click OK to save your changes

Internet Explorer

1. Click the Tools menu item.
2. Click the Pop-up Blocker option.
3. Click Turn Off Pop-up Blocker

Safari

1. Click Safari menu
2. Uncheck Block Pop-Up windows

Firefox

1. Click Firefox menu, select Preferences
2. When the Preferences open, select the Content icon.
3. Uncheck the Block Pop-ups windows.
4. Reload the current page

Enable Javascript

JavaScript is a scripting language commonly used to make web pages interactive. Disabling JavaScript may cause some sites to not work properly.

Firefox

1. Select Tools from the top menu
2. Choose Options
3. Click the Content icon at the top
4. Select the checkbox next to Enable JavaScript and click OK

Internet Explorer

1. Select Tools from the top menu
2. Choose Internet Options
3. Click on the Security tab
4. Click on Custom Level
5. Scroll down until you see section labeled Scripting
6. Under Active Scripting select Enable and click OK
7. Click the OK button to close the Internet Options window

Safari

1. Click the Safari menu item, and click Properties. A new window will pop-up.
2. Click the Security icon in the menu bar of the pop-up window.
3. Make sure the boxes next to Enable JavaScript and are checked.

Firefox 

1. Click on the Firefox menu, and select Preferences
2. Click on Content icon
3. Make sure that Enable JavaScript is selected

Enable Java

Java is a popular programming language for the Web used to create interactive or animated web content. Disabling Java may cause some sites to not work properly.

Firefox

1. Choose Tools from the Menu bar, then Options.
2. In the Options dialogue, select the Content icon and make sure both the Enable JavaScript and Enable Java check boxes are selected.
3. Click the OK button.

Internet Explorer

1. Click Tools select Internet Options
2. Select the Advanced Tab, and scroll down to "Java (Sun)"
3. Check the box under Java (Sun)
4. Next, select the Security Tab, and select the "Custom Level" button
5. Scroll down to "Scripting of Java applets"
6. Make sure the "Enable" radio button is checked.
7. Click OK to save your preference.
8. Close and re-open your web browser.

Safari

1. From the Safari menu, select Preferences
2. When the Preferences open select the Security icon.
3. Check the Enable plug-ins, Enable Java and Enable JavaScript checkboxes.
4. Reload the current page

Firefox

1. Click on the Firefox menu, and select Preferences
2. Click on Content icon
3. Make sure that Enable Java is select

Allow images

Firefox

Firefox should display images in web pages by default. To check your settings

1. Click Tools in the Menu Bar
2. Select Options
3. Click the Content tab
4. Check the box Load Images Automatically.
5. Click OK to save your changes

Internet Explorer

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. Click the Advanced tab, and then verify that the Show Pictures check box is selected under Multimedia.
3. Click OK.

Safari

1. From the Safari menu, select Preferences
2. When the Preferences open select the Appearance icon.
3. Check the Display images when the page opens.
4. Reload the current page

Firefox 3.x and Up for Mac

1. From the Firefox menu, select Preferences
2. In the left-hand pane, click Web Features
3. Check the box Load Images Automatically.
4. Click OK to save your changes

Firewall

 Remote access to databases from work or anywhere behind a firewall may not work. Sometimes the security settings on firewalls are such that authentication via proxy server is not possible.