Browser Requirements for OvidSP

To use OvidSP, your browser must support javascript, popups, image maps, graphics, forms, and tables. Use one of the following Web browsers:

In most cases , OvidSP provides documents which are downloadable in PDFAdobe's Portable Document Format format. If you do not have a PDF viewer, click here to download the Adobe Reader PDF viewer.

 Contact Ovid Customer Support for additional information on optimal browser settings for use with OvidSP.

 For additional information about online and personalized training sessions, see Ovid Training.

 Set your monitor's resolution from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 pixels for optimal display.

Welcome to OvidSP Page

When you link to OvidSP from your site's home page or visit the OvidSP URL provided by your site administrator, the Welcome to OvidSP Page displays.

To log in: Type your user ID. Type your password. For security purposes, OvidSP masks the characters of your password as you type. User ID and password fields are case sensitive. Click the Start OvidSP button. Depending on site configuration, OvidSP may display a news page, a resource selection page, or the main search page of your session.

Athens Authentication

OvidSP supports Eduserv's Athens Authentication System. Click the Athens Login link.
OvidSP redirects you to the Athens Authentication Point Page. If necessary, confirm site membership with Athens by clicking the alternative login link. From the Athens Authentication Point, follow these steps:

	Type your user name.
	Type your password. User name and password fields are case-sensitive.
	Click the Login link.

Athens authenticates your access and begins your OvidSP session.

 Only Athens authentication information works on this page.

 Contact your site administrator if you forgot your user name or your password.

  Whenever you finish using OvidSP, log off to free up a user license.

Shibboleth (Institution) Authentication

OvidSP supports the Shibboleth authentication system. Click the Institutional Login link.
OvidSP redirects you to an institutional login page for Shibboleth. From here, follow these steps: Select your region from the drop down menu. Choose your institution. Click the Login button.

OvidSP displays your site's specific authentication service login page.

This page varies from site to site. Complete the access requirements and Shibboleth authenticates your access information to begin your OvidSP session.

 Contact your site administrator if you forgot your user name or your password.

 Whenever you finish using OvidSP, log off to free up a user license.

OvidSP News Page

Depending on your site configuration, you may see the OvidSP News Page after you log in. OvidSP's news page provides the following information:

• Content changes (such as new database releases or database reloads)
• Software changes (such as new search features or enhancements to existing functions)
• Schedule of maintenance downtime for OvidSP

OvidSP News Page

To move from Ovid News Page to available resources for your search session,  click the Continue button.

Some news pages have been customized to site specifications. Instead of seeing an Ovid News Page, you may see a site-specific news page or no news page at all.

Select a database Page

OvidSP's Select a Database Page lists all the resources to which your site subscribes.

To search from a single resource, click the resource name. To search from multiple resources simultaneously, tick the corresponding  check box of the resources and click the Open Selected Resources button. OvidSP opens your session in multifile. To read about a resource before selecting it, click the Information icon. The database field guide opens on a separate window.

The OvidSP multifile limit is based on database segments rather than actual resources. It is set at 120 segments to avoid impacting your search session. An error occurs when you exceed this limit.

Once you have selected resources to search, OvidSP displays the Main Search Page.