RE : ICDD: PDF access

Lachlan Cranswick ( lachlan@dmp.csiro.au )
Tue, 28 Nov 95 8:57:30 EST

>
> For those who wish to access ICDD/JCPDS data without
> payment, please note that
> this is COPYRIGHTed material. For those of us who have
> been paying for it for
> many years, we should not violate copyright laws by giving it away. I
> suggest contacting ICDD for legally acquiring access to the database.
>
>>
>> is there any crystallography mailing list or newsgroup on internet?
>> is there any site offers jcp-ds data thru file or something?
>> I know a few univ. offer jcp-ds data, but it takes a few days.
>> and I tried to purchase it, but failed.
>> if such site exist, it would be a good help to me.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.

Queries about whether the JCPDS/ICDD is on-line are pseudo common -
and present the answer seems to be "no".

One problem I have encountered with the JCPDS database
(beside the accuracy of some of the data)
is that the initial cost of the database (US$5,000)
locks many laboratories (especially university departments) out
of this very important resource for powder diffracton.
(Some labs seem to view the "MINERAL" database
(from Aleph enterprises) as a cost effective "alternative"
database for mineralogical use)

-------------

I think there could be solutions to this (if it is considered
a problem by the powers that be) :-

Two possibly flawed suggestions :-

Special pricing on "perceived" capacity to pay?
(thorny issue but possible)

Not only distributing the entire ICDD database on CD-ROM -
but using new secure protocols on the internet to have on-line
access from the ICDD with "pay per use".

-------------

One query is whether the ICDD gives special discounts to
getting the database into third world countries?
(If university departments in Western laboratories have
problems affording the database?)

From the perspective of a lab that pays full cost
for the ICDD CD-ROM - I personally wouldn't be upset to
hear of the ICDD selling the CD-ROM for a nominal
cost (i.e., US$1 ?) (or giving it away)
to other labs that wouldn't normally have the
capacity to pay. Quite the opposite!

What does the ICDD do with its out of date stock? Shredd it when
they could be given away to labs without the capacity to pay?

------------

In summary (which could have saved many electrons), is the ICDD/JCPDS
a scientific database"." - or a scientific database for the
financially well off?

Cheers,

Lachlan.

-- Lachlan M.D. Cranswick          _--_|\  Lachlan.Cranswick@minerals.CSIRO.AUCSIRO - Division of Minerals   /CSIRO \ tel +61 3 9647 0367339 Williamstown Rd,           \_.--.*/ fax +61 3 9646 3223Port Melbourne, Australia, 3207      v   (http://www.dmp.csiro.au/tour/lachlan.htm - Still under construction)