Accompanying Document to Patch 500

500.14.2.5

This document contains important information on 500.14.2.5, and should be read by all those involved in upgrading, or wishing to implement the patch, both supporting agent staff and client staff.

Introduction

The patch 14.2.5 has been closed on the 12th June 2002. The patch has been based of course on 14.2.4. 14.2.5 includes some features, which have been developed for new customers who are in the process of going into production with Aleph 500.14.2. Special care has been taken in the implementation of these features within 14.2 to preserve the integrity of existing functionality, creating parallel or alternative architecture rather than modifying existing program architecture. A summary of the important new features is found below.

Upgrading

Track 1 The special patch upgrade kit, used for upgrading from 14.2.3 and lower, to 14.2.4, has been extended, so that you can upgrade directly from 14.2.3 and lower, to 14.2.5. This direct upgrade will be available from July 1st. Clients using this track should read the general documentation provided for the 14.2.4 upgrade, and use the latest package of the upgrade kit. A new version of the document of changes includes the increment between 14.2.4 and 14.2.5; i.e. all the changes between 14.2.1 and 14.2.5.

Track 2 For clients already running 14.2.4, a compact incremental upgrade kit is provided. The number of incremental changes in Aleph tables and web pages between 14.2.4 and 14.2.5 is low. Running the kit produces a list of relevant manual changes to be made by the client; logistically the upgrade is simple compared to that described in track 1, and will not require such special planning.

Clients upgrading, or planning upgrading, from versions 500.12, 500.11, or Aleph 300 will of course typically plan to upgrade to this new patch.

New Features

1) Frame-less Web 2) Two-task 3) SQL loader 4) Directional support for right-to-left languages 5) Union view/catalog 6) Chinese support for China 7) Stocktaking 8) NCIP

1) Frame-less web

A frame-less web option is included in 500.14.2.5. The existing web functionality (which uses frames) continues to operate exactly as before. From version 500.15 and higher, there will only be a frame-less web, and therefore 500.14.2.5 (and higher patches which will be created in the future for 500.14.2) will be the only version having this parallel functionality. The new frame-less web page set is found in the ../alephe/www_f_lng path (as opposed to ../alephe/www_a_lng for the current set). Whereas the new frame-less web aims to include the same functionality as the web with frames, there is no commitment to adhere to the same workflow. It is a distinct product. We suggest that clients who wish to plan the implementation of the frame-less web in 500.14.2 consult with their supporting agent.

2) Two-task

This is now implemented as a standard option in 14.2.5. Simply described, it means you can have Aleph software installed on one server, and the Oracle database, which serves it, installed on another server in the same environment. This will be typically used for dealing with security issues. Implementation and management is straightforward. It is advisable to use similar versions of Oracle, similar operating systems etc., when using two-task. Note that the local network performance will have some influence on throughput.

3) SQL loader

All SQL loading, generated by Aleph procedures and batch jobs is now performed using “DLM” files rather than “FIX”. This change solves a problem previously encountered in loading UTF-8 data to Oracle. The “p_manage_02_cnv” and p_manage_01_cnv” routines used as a workaround for this problem, in earlier patches have been removed as redundant.

4) Directional support for right-to-left languages

Functionality addressing special problems encountered when using languages written from right to left, has been included in OPAC (frame-less only) and cataloging.

5) Union view/catalog New Union catalog functionality has been added; this is an add-on to the system; please contact your supporting agent, if you are interested in implementation. Note that this functionality works with the frame-less web only.

6) Chinese support for China

This is functionality for working in a full Chinese environment, and not the limited Chinese support required for catalogs, which happen to include some Chinese data.

7) Stocktaking

The p_item_04 inventory control function has been overhauled

8) NCIP

A new server implements NCIP protocol. Consult your supporting agent if you are interested in this functionality.

The following documents are available from the Documentation Centre:

ALEPH 500 Documentation\14.2\List of Web OPAC HTML Files - 14.2 - No Frames.pdf

ALEPH 500 Documentation\How To\Indexing and OPAC\How to Customize Web OPAC Screens 14.2 No Frames.pdf

Other documents on new functionality in 14.2.5 will be available in the near future.