Hi,
We have experienced this problem with a range of journal sites, including
IDEAL and the American Society of Civil Engineers etc - the problem seems to
be restricted to IE5.0 and Acrobat Version 3.0 or 4.0. I've seen the problem
only with these versions. Fortunately I have IE5.5 and I don't seem to have
a problem opening up the PDF files within the browser window. On the other
hand that potentially means I am not as aware as I should be about all the
other services affected by this problem. I certainly hadn't been aware that
OUP and CUP were also affected. Where does this problem end? Also many
ejournals sites don't even mention the problem on the help pages e.g. if you
look at the help on IDEAL at:
http://www.idealibrary.com/help/acrobat.jsp
it doesn't even mention this blank screen syndrome!
Unfortunately for our users our public workstations have IE5.0 on them and
we are not yet in a position to upgrade the browser. Do our users now have
to be advised about which browser versions they need to have in order to
access full text electronic journals. Already this week I have had several
queries from users about why they get a blank screen, what about all the
users who just think that these services aren't working!!!!!
I was given the following information by the ASCE:
The scenario you described is known to occur using the MSIE browser
versions 5.0+ with Acrobat version 4.0
Please select any of the following options to resolve this situation:
1. Use the Netscape browser. You can download the lastest version free
at the following URL:
http://home.netscape.com/download/index.html?cp=djuc1
FOR MSIE USERS:
2. At the PDF link, right-mouse click and SAVE to the hard drive or floppy
(Remember to save the file with a .pdf extension). You will then be able to
view the file directly through Acrobat.
OR
3. Modify Acrobat to function as a Helper application
(launching it's own window to display the PDF), rather than a Plug-in
(launching directly into the browser window).
To modify Acrobat: File/Preferences/General, the Web Browser Integration
must be unchecked.
Cheers
Lesley
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Lesley Crawshaw, Faculty Information Consultant, LIS,
University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB UK
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e-mail: [log in to unmask]
phone: 01707 284662 fax: 01707 284666
web: http://www.herts.ac.uk/lis/subjects/natsci/ejournals/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list, set up under the auspices of the United
Kingdom Seri [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Welding,
J.D.
Sent: 22 February 2001 13:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Blank screen syndrome
Dear All,
I wonder whether any other institutions have experienced what we know as
"blank screen syndrome" when using an affregator's site. That is that when
you click on the desired article reference Adobe Acrobat opens, but instead
of delivering the full text article it presents a blank screen.
If this is the case could you please let me know;
On which aggregator's service has this been experienced?
What has been/is the extent of the problem?
Which web browser were/are you using?
Which version of Acrobat were/are you using?
Have you discovered any explanation of or solution to this phenomemon?
It would help us a great deal to have any reports on this problem. If
anything emerges that is generally applicable I will report back to the
list.
Best wishes
David Welding
Technical Services Librarian
University of Leicester
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