Off Campus Access FAQ

GETTING STARTED 

   Login now Off Campus Access (OCA)     
  1. What is Off-Campus Access (OCA)
  2. What do I need to use OCA?
  3. How do I sign in to OCA?
  4. Can I use OCA to access SciFinder Scholar from off-campus?
  5. Can I use OCA from behind a corporate firewall
  1. What is the Off-Campus Access (OCA) service?
    Contracts with the library's database and journal vendors require us to restrict access to faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students of the University of California, Santa Cruz. On-campus connections to subscription resources are automatic. When users are off campus, they need to prove to the database publishers that they are authorized users of the resource. By using Off-Campus Access, your browser becomes part of the UCSC network, regardless of your location. When you attempt to access a library resource, you will be prompted to log in with your library card number (without spaces or dashes). This information is matched against the library patron database and those in authorized patron groups will be connected. You will then be automatically admitted into additional restricted resources for the duration of your online session.

    Off-campus refers to locations that are not physically on the UCSC campus or in UCSC buildings. Dorms and apartments on Resnet are considered on campus. Classrooms and offices (including those at UBP and ITS Delaware) and are also considered on campus. Homes and businesses in the Santa Cruz area and around the world are "off campus."
  2. What do I need to use OCA?
    OCA is browser-independent, i.e., any browser should work with the service. A current browser should be more reliable.

    No special configuration is need. You only need an activated UCSC Library card. (If you've ever checked out a book or video, you're activated.) When you click on a link to an online library resource, OCA checks whether your computer is on campus or off.
    * If you are on campus, you will bypass OCA and be sent directly to the resource.
    * If you are off campus, you will be required to login with your UCSC Library barcode number, then be sent to the resource.
  3. How do I sign in to Off-Campus Access?
    If you are not using an on-campus computer, then you will be prompted to sign in to OCA the first time you try to access a restricted resource. Or you can go directly and login now. Once logged in, you will remain logged in until you close your browser. Once signed in to OCA, it won't prompt you again. Look at the URL shown in the Location or Address bar at the top of your browser. Does it include the words "oca.ucsc.edu"? If so, then you are already signed in and won't be prompted again.
  4. Can I use OCA to access SciFinder Scholar from off-campus?
    A new web version of SciFinder Scholar that does not use OCA was released to the UC campuses in August 2008. Access requires registration first using a current UCSC campus email address. Links to a campus registration page as well as a new SciFinder Scholar video and other information can be found on this UC SciFinder Scholar Welcome page.
  5. My computer is behind a corporate firewall. Can I still use OCA?
    If you are behind a firewall and require access to UCSC Library resources, your network administrator will need to create a firewall rule that specifies the UCSC Library's proxy server as a Trusted site. The address to use is: oca.ucsc.edu. Network administrators should be able to allow access to our entire proxy server via this address. Network administrators requiring further information can contact the OCA administrators at help@ucsc.edu. 

 

Problems logging in?
After entering my library barcode, I get a message that says:
  1. "UNRECOGNIZED CARD."
    Try it again, to rule out typos. Make sure you are entering all 14 digits of your library card number. If you are still having problems, contact the McHenry Library or the Science & Engineering Library Circulation Desk at (831) 459-5185 or (831) 459-5300 to verify that your barcode number is in the system. If you prefer, feel free to email them at circulation@library.ucsc.edu.
  2. "INELIGIBLE."
    Contracts with the library's database and journal vendors require us to restrict access to faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students of the University of California, Santa Cruz. If you think there is an error and you should have access, please contact the McHenry Library or the Science & Engineering Library
    Circulation Desk at (831) 459-5185 or (831) 459-5300. You can also send an email to circulation@library.ucsc.edu.
Problems accessing a journal or database?
While trying to access a database or journal, I get a message:

 
 1.  Login/password prompt

The problem is probably one of three things:

  • You've found an online journal (or issue of a journal) to which the UCSC Library does NOT subscribe. It is often difficult to discern which journal issues are in the UCSC Library's holdings once you're on the publisher's site.
  • The Library may need to adjust our configuration of Off-Campus Access for the particular database or journal site.
  • You've gone straight to the journal's Web site from off-campus without going through the UCSC Library's Web site. If you think this is the case, try using the OCA Bookmarklet. This will reload the journal page through the OCA server. If that doesn't work:

Contact the library Reference Desk to confirm the root of the problem. The librarians may be able to suggest an alternative e-journal site and they'll follow up with appropriate staff if we need to adjust our OCA configuration. Call the McHenry Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2711 or the Science & Engineering Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2886, or submit the problematic site to Ask a Librarian.

  2.  "404 Page Not Found" or "File Not Found" message.
This usually means there is a problem on the vendor's end. Please report the problem to Ask a Librarian or call the McHenry Library or the Science & Engineering Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2711 or (831) 459-2886. Include the title and URL of the resource if you report the problem using the Web form.

  3.  CONFIGURATION ERROR from the OCA server.
The site has not been properly configured by the library's Off-Campus Access administrator. Please report the problem to help@ucsc.edu. Include the name of the resource and the URL in the e-mail. We'll work to resolve it as quickly as possible. In the meantime, you may want to contact the library Reference staff using the Ask a Librarian form or call the McHenry Library or the Science & Engineering Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2711 or (831) 459-2886. We often have subscriptions to one journal from multiple sources and the library staff may be able to offer some alternatives.

  4.  I'm out of the country and getting an error message about blocked access.
Because of a large amount of attempted unlicensed use in those countries, we've blocked them from using the OCA server. We DO want to enable valid UCSC users to use the OCA server from inside China, Russia, and Iran though. Just email help@ucsc.edu with your name and ucsc email address and we'll enable your individual library barcode on the OCA server.

  5.  I'm able to access the resources, but pop-up windows are blocked. What should I do?
Please disable pop-up blockers while you are using our licensed databases and journals. You can always go back and enable this again later.

  • In Firefox for Windows, go to the Tools menu > Options > Web Features > uncheck "Block Popup Windows."
  • In Firefox for Mac, go to the Firefox menu > Preferences > Content > uncheck "Block Popup Windows."
  • In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu > Pop-up Blocker > "Turn Off Pop-up Blocker."
  • In Safari, go to the Safari menu > choose "Block Pop-Up Windows" to uncheck it.
  • In Netscape 7 for Windows, go to the Edit menu > Preferences > Privacy and Security > uncheck "Block Unrequested Popup Windows."
  • In Netscape 7 for Mac, go to the Netscape menu > Preferences > Content > uncheck "Block Unrequested Popup Windows."
  • In Opera for Windows, go to Tools > Quick preferences > check "Open all pop-ups."
  • In Opera for Mac go to Opera > Quick preferences > check "Open all pop-ups."

For more help, contact the ITS Help Desk at (831) 459-HELP or help@ucsc.edu.

  6.  I'm receiving a cookie error.
Off-Campus Access and some licensed databases send "cookies" when you connect to them to verify that you are an authorized user. Ad-blocking software may have settings that block cookies; set the program not to block cookies. If your browser reports an error receiving a "cookie," you must enable cookies in your browser.

  • In Firefox for Windows, go to Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies> check box to "Allow sites to Set Cookies."
  • In Firefox for Mac, go to Firefox > Preferences > Privacy > Cookies> check box to "Allow sites to Set Cookies."
  • In Internet Explorer 6, go to Tools > Internet Options > Privacy > then set the privacy slider to Medium or lower, or select Advanced for additional cookie control.
  • In Internet Explorer 5, go to Tools > Internet Options > Security > Internet > Custom Level > Cookies > Enable.
  • In Netscape 7 or Mozilla, go to Edit > Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies > Enable all cookies.
  • In Netscape 8, go to Edit > Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies > Allow cookies.
  • In Netscape 7 for Mac, go to the Netscape menu > Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies > Allow cookies.
  • In Opera for Windows, go to Tools > Quick preferences > check "Enable Javascript" and "Enable cookies."
  • In Opera for Mac, go to Opera > Quick preferences > check "Enable Javascript" and "Enable cookies."
  • In Safari, go to Preferences > Security and make sure "Accept Cookies: Never" isn't chosen.

For more help, contact the ITS Help Desk at (831) 459-HELP or help@ucsc.edu.

  7.  Why don't certain features or links in the database seem to respond when I'm using OCA?
If certain links or other aspects of the site aren't functioning, there are a few primary possibilities:

  • Pop Up Blockers: If you get past the OCA login page, but when nothing seems to happen when you click on a link this is probably due to pop-up blockers set up on the computer you are using. See above for more info.
  • The database vendor or e-journal publisher is having a technical problem.
  • We may not have a subscription to the particular issue or volume of the journal you're trying to access. It is often difficult to discern which journal issues are in the UCSC Library's holdings once you're on the publisher's site.
  • The Library may need to adjust our configuration of Off-Campus Access for the particular database or journal site.

Contact the library Reference Desk to confirm the root of the problem. The librarians may be able to suggest an alternative e-journal site and they'll follow up with appropriate staff for a long-term solution. Call the McHenry Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2711 or the Science & Engineering Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2886, or submit the problematic site to Ask a librarian.

 

 

 

TIPS AND SHORTCUTS

  1. OCA bookmarklet: connect to databases and journals as a UCSC subscriber without going through the library Website.
  2. Maintain your own Web page links or bookmarks of library e-resources
  3. Use Google Scholar and have UC-eLinks show on the results page
  1. OCA bookmarklet: an easier way to connect to databases and journals without going through the library Website.
    The UCSC OCA Bookmarklet allows you to go to restricted access pages without going through the library website.

    For example, you may receive links to ejournal articles through email alerts, or through RSS feeds, or links in online papers. Instead of going to the library's homepage and logging in, then searching for the journal just to return to the page in question, try this bookmarklet and save all of those steps. The bookmarkelt will redirect you through the OCA server for the page you are currently viewing. In some cases you may need to use the browser's "Back" button to return to the resource URL, not the vendor's login/error page.

    To download the bookmarklet, right-click on the UCSC OCA Bookmarklet link above and choose "Bookmark this link..." or "Add to Favorites".  When you are on a Web page you'd like to run through the OCA server, simply choose that bookmark from your Favorites or Bookmarks menu. This even works with Google Scholar search results page.

  2. Maintain your own Web page links or bookmarks of library e-resources.

    You'll need to change the links to your licensed resources to invoke the OCA server. Do this by prefixing your URL with the OCA server URL,
    http://oca.ucsc.edu/login?url=
    Note: the link to the restricted resource must be absolute (starting http://); it cannot be a relative URL.

    So, if you have a link in your page to:
           http://a.library.licensed.product
    You must change it to:
            http://oca.ucsc.edu/login?url=http://a.library.licensed.product

    Alternatively, you can download the UCSC LibX Firefox extension. This extension allows you to right-click on any link and load the page through the OCA server.

     
  3. How to make Google Scholar display UC-eLinks on the results page, like it works on-campus.

    You'll need to run your Google Scholar search through the OCA server. Use the following link to connect to Google Scholar:
    http://oca.ucsc.edu/login?url=http://scholar.google.com.

    You can bookmark that site or search for it in the library electronic resources database.

 

MORE HELP

Whom do I contact if I am still having problems searching?
Call the McHenry Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2711 or the Science & Engineering Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2886, or use the Ask a librarian site to submit an online question.

For more help, contact the ITS Help Desk at (831) 459-HELP or help@ucsc.edu.

Contact the library Reference Desk to confirm the root of the problem. The librarians may be able to suggest an alternative e-journal site and they'll follow up with appropriate staff for a long-term solution. Call the McHenry Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2711 or the Science & Engineering Library Reference Desk at (831) 459-2886, or submit the problematic site to Ask a librarian.