Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. Why does the text on this web-site look too small/big?
  2. Why am I having trouble with the molecular sketching applet (MSketch)?
  3. What should I do if I think I've found an error in the data?
  4. What should I do if I made a mistake in the data I was depositing?
  5. How does BindingDB handle the problem of data quality?
  6. Who is allowed to deposit data in the BindingDB?
  7. Do I have to pay anything to use the BindingDB?
  8. I have a suggestion for improving the BindingDB...
  9. How can I make a good printout of the results of my substructure search -- the page full of small molecules?
  10. May I use the BindingDB software for my own database?
  1. Why does the text on this web-site look too small/big?

    If you are using an IBM-compatible PC: your browser may be overriding the font settings specified by the web-site. Try the following (based upon Netscape Communicator 4.72 and Internet Explorer 5.00.2314.1003):

    • Netscape: Try using Increase Font or Decrease Font Under the View menu to improve the appearance. If this does not help, select Preferences... from the Edit menu. Open "Appearance" in the "Category" window on the left of the dialog box, and select "Fonts". If "Use document-specified fonts, including Dynamic Fonts" is not selected, select it and click "Okay" at the bottom of the dialog box.
    • Internet Explorer: Under the View menu, select Text Size --> "Medium". If this does not help, open Internet --> --Options... in the Tools menu. Choose "Accessibility" at the very bottom of the dialog box and make sure that none of the options are selected.

    If none of this helps, we will try to address your problem. Please make a screen-shot of the web-site that shows the problem and email it to us. The email should state the name of the browser you are using with its full version number; this information should be available in the About... option under the Help menu. To take a screen-shot in a Windows system, mouse-click on the window to be copied to select it, and then press Ctrl-Alt-PrintScreen. Create a new document in a word-processor application such as MSWord or WordPerfect, and paste the screen shot into the document with the Paste function (or Ctrl-V). (Sorry, we don't yet have instructions for taking a screen shot with a Mac.)

    If you are using an Apple computer: we are aware of some compatibility problems and will be working on these. Please send us email if this is an urgent problem for you and we will try to help.

  2. Why am I having trouble with the molecular sketching applet?

    Perhaps you are using an Apple computer; we are aware of problems running Java applets on some Apple operating systems and we know that the MSketch applet does not work properly in such cases. Our understanding is that newer Apple machines will handle Java better. If you are having this problem and you are not using an Apple, please end us email describing the problem.

  3. What should I do if I think I've found an error in the data?

    Go to the "Reaction Details" or other page that contains the error, and use the error-report link at the bottom of the page to email us a report. The email you send will automatically include information identifying the problem data to us. Thanks in advance for your help with this.

  4. What should I do if I made a mistake in the data I was depositing?

    If you have not yet submitted the data with Check & Submit, then select the Continue Deposition link, type in the appropriate session ID, and edit the data as needed. If you have already submitted the data, select the Revise Existing Entry and follow the instructions to retrieve and edit the data.

  5. How does BindingDB handle the problem of data quality?

    Our current policy is that any binding data generated by a method that has been published in a refereed journal is acceptable for deposition in the BindingDB. This allows deposition of otherwise unpublished data, so long as the methods have passed review in a journal.

  6. Who is allowed to deposit data in the BindingDB?

    There are currently no restrictions on who may deposit data.

  7. Do I have to pay anything to use the BindingDB?

    No, there are currently no fees for use of the BindingDB.

  8. I have a suggestion for improving the BindingDB...

    Great, send it along!

  9. How can I make a good printout of the results of my substructure search -- the page full of small molecules?

    In Windows, you can take a screen shot, paste it into Word (for example), and then print the document. To do this, select the window to be copied by clicking on it once, and then press Ctrl-Alt-PrintScreen. Create a new document in a word-processor application such as MSWord or WordPerfect, and paste the screen shot into the document with the Paste function (or Ctrl-V).

  10. May I use the BindingDB software for my own database?

    There is no standardized mechanism in place for sharing the software at this time, but we will be happy to discuss how this might be done.