SciFinder Scholar provides online access to Chemical Abstracts (1907 to present) along with the CAS Registry file and links to chemical manufacturers, patents, journal articles and information on chemical substances and reactions.

Scientific and chemical information can be searched by chemical substructure, reaction, polymer, biosequence as well as author, topic, or company name.  Journal articles and patents are combined in one source.  

SciFinder is a client-based product that requires downloading and installing proprietary CAS software onto the user’s computer. You will need to log onto a PSU secure webpage using your PSU Access Account. Download the files for the desired version  (from off campus VPN must be used):

If you possess a Penn State Access Account, you can download the software from "Technical Applications" option from:

https://downloads.its.psu.edu

If you are not affiliated with Penn State, you can go to the Chemical Abstracts Service homepage at http://www.cas.org and obtain information on how to subscribe to SciFinder.

Mac OS9: Click on Macintosh, Click on Scholar Installer/ , First click on site.prf -install in C:/SFSCHLR, then click on sfs2007.hqx and also install in C:/SFSCHLR. Open folder and follow instructions for complete installation.
It appears OS X is now compatible but Harrell Library has not tested this option yet

Windows: From the downloads site and using Microsoft Explorer. Click on Windows, Click on site.prf  save to local disc (C:), Right Click-create a new folder named SFSCHLR.  After site.prf download is complete-close the dialog box.  Click on Version 2007 edition.  Click on sfs2007.exe and also save in C:/SFSCHLR.  When download is complete, Run, Run then "Setup" and follow instructions for installation accepting all defaults (no disk labeled custom site files).