CrossFire: a structural revolution for chemists

When the CrossFire databases were released in 1994, chemical information be came available in electronic form of a quality and quantity never before ac cessible to end-users. Describes the information sources used by chemists b efore CrossFire and the origins of the CrossFire database. Discusses the co ntent and functionality of CrossFire, and provides examples to illustrate i ts capabilities. The database allows chemists to search in their own langua ge of structures, reactions and properties, and this has had an impact on t he type of chemical information searching possible. Makes particular refere nce to the CrossFire service provided by MIMAS to the UK and Scandinavian a cademic communities. Also mentions the position of CrossFire in the chemica l information landscape, along with news of expected developments.