Cambridge Structural Database

Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) is a database of crystallographic, chemical and bibliographic information for organic molecules and metal-organic compounds.

CSD is a package of several software programs, including search/information retrieval and structure visualization.

Access to CSD

CSD is not on online database, but a software package of 2-4 CDs that you install on your computer. After installation, you go online to register when you run it the first time, and to download periodic updates from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC).

CSD is available to UCSD faculty, staff and students only. It is not installed on the Libraries' public infostations.

Creating the Installation CDs

Because of the sheer size of the CSD files, downloading it is different from CrossFire or SciFinder Scholar. Instead of downloading an installation file to your computer and running it, you create your own installation CDs based on the ISO files at the UC Cambridge Structural Database site.

You will need:

• A CD-writing/recording program on your computer with a "Burn Image" option. If you don't have Sonic, Roxio or something equivalent, you can use a freeware program like ImgBurn.
  
  
• WINDOWS USERS will need 2 recordable CDs (700MB should be sufficient). You will also need 3GB of disk space on the computer where you'll eventually install and run CSD.
  
  
• MAC OSX and LINUX/UNIX USERS will need 1-2 additional CDs and more disk space on their computer. This is the first time CSD has been available to Mac users and should be considered a beta version.
  
  
• Some time. Each disk can take 20-30 minutes to create, possibly longer.

To create your installation CDs, START HERE.
Linux/UNIX/OSX users will have 3 or 4 ISO files and CDs instead of 2.

1. Click the Disk 1 ISO link to save the file to your computer (or right-click and select Save Link As...). Once the file is saved, repeat with the Disk 2 ISO link. Note where the files win1.iso and win2.iso are saved on the computer if you're not saving them to the desktop.
   
   
2. Insert the first CD. Open your CD-recording software and select the "Burn Image" option. If you're using something like ImgBurn, just select File → Open from the menu.
   
   
3. Locate and select win1.iso. Click the command that will start the burn/write process.
   
   
4. Once the first CD is completed, your computer might start to run it and launch the CSD installation menu. Cancel this and take out the CD.
   
   
5. Insert the second CD and repeat these steps with the win2.iso file.

Installing and Running CSD

• If you have a previous version of CSD installed, you must uninstall of those components first.
  
  
• Load the first CD and start the installation process. Install the components in the order listed.
  
  
• The first time you run ConQuest or the other installed CSD components, you will be asked to enter the site and confirmation codes.
  
  ♦ This is a restricted page; proxy or VPN required for off-campus access.
  
  ♦ If you had an older version of CSD installed on your computer, site and confirmation codes may already be listed when you register. Replace these with the current codes.

CSD Updates

CCDC releases 3-4 updates of new CSD entries every year. You will need the site and confirmation code to download the files. CCDC also has a mailing list to alert users when updates are available.

Tutorials, Guides and Other Training Materials

All of the guides and tutorials (including worked examples) for CSD, ConQuest, Mercury, Vista, Mogul, IsoStar and PreQuest are available from the CCDC website.

More questions about Cambridge Structural Database?
Contact Teri Vogel.

Friendly URL: http://scilib.ucsd.edu/howto/guides/csd.html
Page last updated: March 30, 2008