Select from the following:
Ways of accessing CIOS services
Considerations for WWW browser performance
About passwords: WWW access for associate members of the CIOS
Recognition problems: Those from CIOS affiliate institutions
Problems displaying graphics
CIOS/Comserve services are available through two interfaces: this WWW interface, and through commands sent in email. Depending on how you access the services, the speed of your internet connection, what functions you wish to execute, and the quirks of your WWW browser program, you may find the email interface preferable. In addition, you must use the email interface if you wish to join CIOS hotlines or create a WWW password.
The email interface can be accessed by sending commands in the
body of email (a good initial command is HELP TOPICS) to:
Comserve@cios.org
Graphical vs. nongraphical browsers. The CIOS
WWW interface is designed to accommodate both graphical and
non-graphical browsers. The CIOS WWW server can automatically sense
many non-graphical browsers and when it does it will adjust certain
presentations to suit. However, it is possible that the system may not
recognize your non-graphical browser. If you suspect this is the case,
please correspond with the CIOS staff who will help to resolve the
problem: We have attempted to achieve a balance with the WWW system's
graphics so that the interface is attractive without placing heavy
demands on transmission. Nevertheless, those with slow internet
connections may prefer to access the system using a non-graphical
browser (e.g., LYNX), which will greatly improve speed of performance.
Alternatively, your browser may allow you to turn off display of
graphics.
Storing CIOS web pages locally. In some cases,
users with graphical browsers may find it useful to retrieve CIOS web
pages once and save them to disk. If your browser permits it, these
local copies can be used in the future rather than taking the time to
retransmit them in a subsequent session with the CIOS server. However,
users should also be aware that many CIOS web pages are rebuilt
dynamically every day or every week since the CIOS web site is
continually receiving new information that is automatically
incorporated. Thus, it may be a good idea to refresh stored pages
regularly. In addition, those who access and subsequently save a local
copy of a password protected page, will be prompted for a password again
when accessing the local copy of the page on a later occasion.
Please note that a password is not required for those accessing
CIOS services from affiliate institutions: institutional affiliate
status is recognized automatically. Passwords are required only for
individuals who have joined the CIOS as individuals.
Upon initiation of membership, individuals who become members of
the CIOS (through the associates
program) receive instructions for establishing a WWW password using
the Comserve email interface. If you need to receive the
instructions again, contact the staff by writing to:
Once you've received confirmation that your password has been
accepted, you should be able to log in to the WWW interface. Your
browser will prompt you for two pieces of information. Respond to the
first prompt with the USERID portion of your email address. For
example, if your email address is SMITH@ABC.DEF.GHI.EDU, your USERID
would be SMITH. It is a common mistake to attempt to enter your entire
email or your actual name in response to this prompt. Enter only the
first portion or your email address, the USERID.
Respond to the second prompt with your personal WWW password, the
one that you established through the Comserve email interface.
The password procedure is not case sensitive. Enter your USERID
and password in any combination of lower and uppercase text.
If you are accessing the CIOS email or WWW system from an
institution that is a member of the CIOS institutional
affiliates program and the system does not seem to be according you
appropriate access privileges, check the list
of current affiliate institutions to be sure that your institutional
affiliation has not expired. If your institution is listed and your
connection to CIOS systems originates from a machine that is connected
to your institution's own internal computing network, it is possible
that your host address should be added to those identifying machines at
your site. Please write to the CIOS staff for assistance: Some of the graphical elements in the CIOS WWW interface may
appear distorted, fuzzy, speckled, or washed out if displayed on a
computer without high resolution graphics capabilities. If the images
are sufficiently displeasing, you may wish to upgrade the monitor and
graphics adaptor in your computer or to access the CIOS WWW service with
a nongraphical browser (e.g., Lynx).
Some browsers are faster at displaying graphics than others and
their speed of display may be influenced by machine specific
configuration. For example, our copy of Netscape displays some CIOS
graphic elements as much as thirty percent faster than other browsers to
which we have access. On the other hand, we have seen Netscape take
several hundred percent longer to display images when running on other
machines configured differently from the CIOS systems.
Those from CIOS Affiliate Institutions
CIOS Support Staff
support@cios.org
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