[updated 2009.4.14]
So, you got an email with the article you requested from the Library’s ILL (InterLibrary Loan) department attached.
But when you try to open it, your browser refuses, or flips out, or whatever. And you can’t see it.
Why?
Some libraries we borrow from will send articles directly to you, saved in a graphics format called .tif — which is good if you need to enlarge it. However, that isn’t a format normally used by your web browser and it doesn’t know how to handle it.
Sorry about that, but sending directly to you means you get your request much faster. Besides, there is a way to handle it.
What do I do with it?
With the email visible on your screen, try a right-click on the attachment listed to get the little menu of things to do with it, and then click on Open with. If you can do this, you can select Windows Picture and Fax Viewer (if you have that) to open the file. Another program that you can install that will open all sorts of graphics files is a freeware program called IrfanView, and once that is installed you could Open with Irfanview.
You might have to Save the file to your own computer first, such as on your desktop, and then try the right-click / Open with method on it there.
If you absolutely cannot get it to open, send it to libloan@uafortsmith.edu and tell us you’re having trouble. We’ll reformat it in something you can open, or else print it out for you.
Sorry about the extra steps, but the idea is to get you faster service and have your request to you ASAP!
Additional tip from Joni Stine on navigation through the tif. Those little blue arrows appear near the bottom of the screen, and one can easily navigate through the article this way.
(Why .tif format? If it’s a picture or photo, the .tif format is better for enlarging than .jpg or .gif and doesn’t get pixelated (blocky looking) as quickly.)
