Hi Laura,

I don't have any problem opening Ovid PDFs here using either Firefox or
IE6 and Adobe Reader 7.0 under Win XP. Have you looked into using a
different browser to see if the problem is replicated? 

If you use Firefox, you may also want to try out the Foxit Reader
extension which speeds up PDF loading times (blog report, including link
to the extension at: 
http://ffextensionguru.wordpress.com/2006/09/12/adobe-acrobat-vs-foxit-r
eader/)

This may not be relevant, but we did have some problems opening PDFs
(not Ovid's but another vendor's) with version 4.0 of the Adobe Acrobat
reader under Win 2K last year. I found that the fix was to close the
blank reader and open a new reader from the Start button. This loaded
the previously blank PDF successfully into a new reader without my
having to search for the document again.

Warmest regards,

Dom
--
[log in to unmask]
Electronic Resources Librarian, Brunel University Library, Uxbridge,
Middlesex, UK, UB8 3PH
Tel: +44(0)1895 266143; fax: +44(0)1895 269742


-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by the UK Serials Group
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Laura Galloway
Sent: 03 January 2007 13:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Problems with PDF files on Ovid

Hi

We've been experiencing problems opening PDF files on the Ovid platform
for some months now; the PDF file appears to have opened (reads Done at
bottom of page) but the page remains blank until the session times out.
An error message box then appears stating that the file is damaged and
could not be repaired.

It would seem that the problem only occurs when accessing via Athens
e.g.
http://gateway.ovid.com/athens/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=toc&D=ovft&MODE=ovi
d&NEWS=N&AN=00002090-000000000-00000, but not when accessing directly at
http://gateway.ovid.com/autologin.cgi.

We've also noticed that we can open the PDF successfully from the Athens
url if we've previously opened the file from the non-Athens route.
However, if the cache is cleared after opening the file from the
non-Athens route, the Athens route is yet again unsuccessful.

Neither Ovid nor EduServ have been able to help out with this problem.
Ovid have been unable to replicate the error and have bounced it back,
stating that the problem appears to be at our end and is probably
related to our firewall or proxy settings. Our Computing Services staff
are currently looking into it, but have so far been unable to isolate
the problem.

Have others experienced similar problems or can anyone offer any
suggestions as to the cause of the problem?

Appreciate any thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Laura

===========================================
Laura Galloway
Serials/Document Delivery
Glasgow University Library, Hillhead Street Glasgow G12 8QE, Scotland,
UK

Email: [log in to unmask]
or [log in to unmask]
Tel: 0141 330 6707
Fax: 0141 330 4952