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Library Technology Support: Current known problems and issues

To keep clients up-to-date concerning developments related to library e-resources, systems, databases and applications.

Ebscohost password reset problem

When attempting to reset EBSCOHost personal login passwords, the Browser fails to display the secret validation question. This problem has persisted over the last few weeks and EBSCOHost has a service issue in place to resolve the problem. In the interim phase, try to create a new account if possible. We will let you know as soon as the problem is resolved.

                                                                                                                          

                                                     

Problem accessing Taylor & Francis (T&F) e-books

Currently, we are not able to access e-books in the Taylor & Francis database both on and off campus. Regardless of the Browser used, none of the e-book titles will open, and you will see that the page keeps loading without displaying the content. The issue has been reported to Innovative Interfaces and to Taylor & Francis for resolution, and we will inform you as soon as access is restored.  

 

                                                                                                               

                                                     

Discovery Tool display issues

The library discovery tool (Encore Duet) is currently experiencing display issues. The problem has been reported to the service provider. 

Correct display

 

Current display 

Please contact lib-help@unisa.ac.za for further assistance, and we will let you know as soon as the problem is resolved. 

Encore Duet is a platform that integrates e-resources’ results with the library catalogue results in one platform

                                                                                                                    

                                                     

Inaccessible e-resources on the Library webpage

The e-Resources accessed through ‘Find e-resources under Search the Library’ on the library webpage are currently inaccessible due to the technical changes done by Unisa ICT. This has resulted in the tabs giving an error message (Error: Yikes!). 

Please use the other links on the library web page as they are still accessible or alternatively use this link to access e-journals and e-books: https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library

There is an error message displaying when accessing e-resources off-campus. The problem has been reported to the service provider and it is receiving attention.

Please note that as from July 2018 all of the Unisa Library’s electronic resources on the various EBSCO platforms – EBSCOHost, EBSCO Discovery Service, EBSCONet, EBSCO Business Interface, etc. will be migrated from http to https.

Https ensures that data exchanged between end-users and database producers/publishers is secure and the privacy of end users and patrons are protected. The purpose of this migration is to meet the requirements of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

For further inquiries please contact lib-help@unisa.ac.za

Users who try to access ebooks in the Ebooks on EBSCOHost database via the Download option will encounter an error message. However, you can view ebooks online by using the PDF Full Text and EPUB Full-Text links. The EBSCO team is working urgently to resolve the issue, and we will inform you as soon as the link is restored

 

Certificate error when accessing electronic resources

When accessing the Unisa Library’s e-resources or e-reserves & recommended books, you will be stopped by different error messages, such as: your connection is not secure; your connection is not private; problems associated with the website's security certificate; or untrusted connection. See screen captures below.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

This is due to the fact that our current electronic resources security certificate has expired. We are awaiting the purchase and upgrade of a new certificate.

For the time being, please proceed as follows, depending on the browser you are using:

 

  • For Internet Explorer: 

            Click on "Continue to this website (not recommended)”.

 

            

 

  • For Google Chrome: 

Click on “Advanced”,

then click on “Proceed to ___”.

For example,

“Proceed to oasis.unisa.ac.za (unsafe)” for e-reserves & recommended books;

or

"Proceed to 0-www.mylexisnexis.co.za.oasis.unisa.ac.za (unsafe)” for other e-resources. 

 

            

 

 

           

 

  • For Firefox: 

Click on "Advanced",

then click on "Add Exception...",

and then click on "Confirm Security Exception".

 

            

 

 

           

 

 

                           

 

Although the messages do not recommend this action, there is no danger in continuing to the website since these are trusted sources.                                                      

403-Forbidden - access denied error (INET BFA Research)

We are currently experiencing problems when accessing INET BFA Research; when one clicks on the link from the e-resources page an error message is displayed. This message is a result of  a URL/webpage address that has expired, and will be updated as soon as possible. in the interim the new addresses that should be used are these ones:

Currently both pages will give certificate errors. Please see below on the possible errors and how to bypass them, depending on the web browser you are using.

 

  • For Internet Explorer: 

                     

                    Click on "Continue to this website (not recommended)”.

 

  • For Google Chrome: 

                       Click on “Advanced”, then click on: 

“Proceed to 0-researchdomain.iress.co.za.oasis.unisa.ac.za (unsafe)”  

                                           or

“Proceed to researchdomain.iress.co.za (unsafe)”

       

  • For Firefox: 

Click on "Advanced",

then click on "Add Exception...",

and then click on "Confirm Security Exception".

           

 

Although these messages do not recommend this action, there is no danger in continuing to the website since this is a trusted resource.                       

        

 

 

Proquest connection problem

When using the ProQuest platform,  at times you may encompass disconnection problems when you refine your searches.

The issue has been reported to the relevant service provider and we await its resolution.

As a temporary solution please make changes to your web browser's settings by clearing your browser  ‘cache’ and ‘cookies’.

Each browser has unique instructions for clearing the cache and cookies. Instructions for current versions of commonly used browsers are listed below.

Restart ProQuest after clearing your  ‘Cache’ and ‘Cookies’.

 

Subject RSS Feeds

If you have created a subject-related RSS Feed for the newest books added to our collection (at http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/feeds), you will only be able to do so If you are using Internet Explorer.

The other browsers provide an erroneous XML language display as shown below: 

 

                                                                                                           

 

The Library Technology Services (LTS) Team is working on resolving this problem. ​

[Note: RSS Feeds enable clients to receive timely updates from their favourite websites whenever there are changes or updates made to their preferred content. Subscribing to a website RSS removes the need for you to manually, and constantly, check a website for new content. Instead, your browser will constantly monitor the site and inform you of any updates.]