Accessing Internet Resources from Off-Campus
(For off-campus access to other campus resources, see below. )
Note: Off-campus access to Buswell Library internet resources is only available to Wheaton College staff, faculty, and students, and requires a valid, active [1] network account.
Off-campus access to Buswell Library resources will no longer require you to change your browser's proxy settings. However, you will need to remove previous proxy settings and ensure that cookies and javascript are enabled.
In the top right hand corner of all pages on the library web site there is an button. Clicking the button will direct you to a login page. Use your network login and password, the login and password you use to login to the network from your office (staff or faculty) or lab (student) computer, to login.
After you login, you will notice that the button has changed, . This lets you know that you are logged in and that you will authenticate to resources. If you happen to get logged out, which can happen if you leave the library web site, the button will change back. However, all you need to do is click the button and you will be able to login again.
- Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Browser Setup
- 2.1. Internet Explorer
- 2.2. Mozilla Firefox
- 2.3. Netscape
- 2.4. Safari
- 2.5. America Online (AOL)
- 2.6. Other
- 3. Logging In
- 4. Troubleshooting
- 5. For Further Assistance
1. Introduction
Off-campus access for campus internet resources is only available to Wheaton College staff, faculty, and students, and requires a valid, active [1] network account.
Please contact us if you have any difficulties setting up your browser to use the proxy server or accessing any of the resources.
2. Browser Setup
We have not tested all versions of all the browsers listed below. If any information we provide seems to you to be incorrect, please contact us and let us know.
2.1. Internet Explorer
Version/platform information. Internet Explorer 4.x and higher should work for the PC. If you are using a version of Internet Explorer that has been provided by AOL, please follow the directions for AOL. Unfortunately, Internet Explorer for the Mac does not provide the functionality needed to setup the proxy server automatically. If you're using a Macintosh, you will need to use another browser.
 | Occasionally, even if you follow the instructions for setting up the proxy server for Internet Explorer, you will not be prompted to login at the Wheaton College login screen. If this happens to you, please consider downloading and installing Mozilla Firefox. It is a much more fail-safe way to access our resources. |
Setting the proxy server: PC
Open Internet Explorer.
Select -> -> .
If you have any connections listed in the Dial-Up Settings (or Dial-Up and Vitual Network Settings) box, repeat the following steps for each connection.
Click on a connection name in the Dial-Up Settings box.
Click .
Uncheck the checkbox next to 'Automatically detect settings'.
Click the checkbox next to 'Use automatic configuration script'.
Input the following text into the 'Address' box: http://proxy.wheaton.edu/proxy.pac
Click to exit this window.
Click .
Uncheck the checkbox next to 'Automatically detect settings'.
Click the checkbox next to 'Use automatic configuration script'.
Input the following text into the 'Address' box: http://proxy.wheaton.edu/proxy.pac
Click to exit this window.
Click the tab at the top.
Scroll down to the `Security` section.
Uncheck the checkbox next to .
Click to exit the Internet Options window.
Proceed now to the login instructions.
2.2. Mozilla Firefox/Firebird
Version/platform information. Mozilla Firefox (previously named Firebird) 0.7 and up should work on a PC and a Mac.
Setting the proxy server (version 2.0 and above): PC and Mac
Open Firefox.
If you are using a PC, select -> . If you are using a Mac, select -> .
Select the section on the right.
Select the subsection.
Click on the right.
Click the button next to 'Automatic proxy configuration URL'.
Enter the following text into the box: http://proxy.wheaton.edu/proxy.pac
Click .
Click to exit the Connection Settings window.
Select the subsection.
Uncheck the button next to .
Click to exit the Options window.
Setting the proxy server (prior to version 2.0): PC and Mac
Open Firefox.
If you are using a PC, select -> . If you are using a Mac, select -> .
Select the section on the left.
Click on the right.
Click the button next to 'Automatic proxy configuration URL'.
Enter the following text into the box: http://proxy.wheaton.edu/proxy.pac
Click .
Click to exit the Connection Settings window.
Select the section on the right.
In the 'Security' subsection on the right, uncheck the button next to .
Click to exit the Options window.
Proceed now to the login instructions.
2.3. Netscape
Version/platform information. Netscape 4.x and up (with the exception of any 6.0x versions) should work on PC and Mac.
Setting the proxy server: PC and Mac
Open Netscape.
If you are using a PC, select -> . If you are using a Mac, select -> .
Under the 'Category' section on the left, click .
Click .
Click the button next to 'Automatic proxy configuration URL'.
Enter the following text into the box: http://proxy.wheaton.edu/proxy.pac
Click .
Under the 'Privacy and Security' section on the left, click .
Uncheck the button next to .
Click to exit the Preferences window.
Proceed now to the login instructions.
2.4. Safari
Version/platform information. Safari on Mac.
Setting the proxy server: Mac
Open Safari.
Select -> .
Under the 'Advanced' section, click next to ( window should open).
Under 'Select a proxy server to configure:', check the box next to 'Automatic Proxy Configuration'.
Under 'Proxy Configuration File', enter the following URL: http://proxy.wheaton.edu/proxy.pac
Click .
Close the and the windows to complete the setup.
Proceed now to the login instructions.
2.5. America Online (AOL)
AOL's supplied browser cannot be used from an off-campus connection to access Electronic Reserves or any of the library's paid databases. We recommend that AOL users connect to AOL in the normal manner, but use Mozilla Firefox to access the library resources. Firefox should be setup with the Firefox instructions.
Using Firefox in conjunction with AOL
Connect to AOL.
Start Firefox.
Proceed now to the login instructions.
2.6. Other
Most versions of Opera and Mozilla-based browsers, such as Galeon (for linux) and K-Meleon (for Windows), will have some sort of automatic proxy configuration setting that may be set in a preferences area. If so, following the Netscape instructions should work.
3. Logging In
When you browse to Electronic Reserves or select a library-paid resource from the library webpage, http://library.wheaton.edu, you will be prompted with a number of questions regarding a security certificate. Respond to these with 'Next' or 'OK'.
You will then be brought to a login page.
You should then be allowed access to your chosen resource.
4. Troubleshooting
4.1. Cable/DSL
Some cable and dsl providers provide their own proxy settings, which may overwrite any changes you make. If so, you may need to reset your proxy settings every time you access library resources. Alternatively, you may try a different browser--an ISP that overwrites your Internet Explorer proxy settings will most likely not alter any Netscape settings.
4.2. Connecting from a computer at your school or office
If you have followed these instructions, haven't been successful accessing our resources, and the computer you are trying to use to access our resources belongs to a school or company, it may be that your school or company requires its own proxy settings on the computer. If that's the case, you won't be able to access our resources from that computer, as a web browser may only use one proxy server at a time.
4.3. Browser supplied by an ISP (Internet Service Provider)
Some Internet Service Providers provide a customized browser, a modified Internet Explorer or Netscape, which you install when you sign up for the ISP. Most often this is denoted by a change in the applications title bar. For instance, if you look at the title bar, you may see "Internet Explorer provided by AOL," or something similar, instead of just, "Internet Explorer." Such modified browsers typically don't use our proxy script correctly. If you find that your main browser is one of these, we recommend that you download Firefox and set it up according to our instructions.
4.4. Interference from a firewall or filtering software
Some firewalls or internet filtering software may prohibit your use of this solution to access our resources. If you had previously been able to access our resources, but now can't, and installed such software on your computer in the meantime, that software may be causing a problem. You can most likely verify this by temporarily disabling your firewall or filtering software and trying again. We don't, however, recommend permanently disabling firewalls, as this would open your computer up to all sorts of malicious internet traffic. You may be able to configure your firewall or filtering software to allow "http redirects", which is how our solution works. Configuration of particular types of such software is out of our area of expertise; the producer of the product may be able to help you work things out.
There may even be instances in which your ISP implements a firewall or, at your discretion, filtering software which may interfere with our solution. If you haven't installed either of these on your personal computer, but what once worked does not now work, you might contact your ISP and inquire further.
5. For Further Assistance
Buswell Memorial Library Reference Desk
phone: 630-752-5169
email: <reference@wheaton.edu>
or
Buswell Memorial Library Information Desk
phone: 630-752-5214