Public Betatest (version 1.1)

BETA SOFTWARE WARNING

This release is offered as beta software only. We recommend that you back up your existing database before installing and using this or any Beta version software. ALWAYS BACK UP!

This Beta software is for evaluation purposes during the beta trial process only and should not be installed to support production services.

Every effort has been made to test and ensure the stability and reliability of this Beta software. Nevertheless, AT will accept no responsibility for inconvenience, loss or damage to data resulting from the use of this Beta software. Nor do we guarantee backward compatibility of files or resources.

It's your responsibility to maintain backups of your data.

General information about participating in Beta software testing is available at: http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/2006/12/02/how-to-become-a-beta-tester/

The Archivists’ Toolkit team is pleased to announce the availability of the beta version 1.1 of the Archivists’ Toolkit application.

The AT 1.1 beta is being made available for testing by members of the Archivists’ Toolkit User Group and any other interested persons. The 1.1 beta will be available for testing until at least Monday, June 18.

The AT client for the version 1.1 beta can be acquired at http://archiviststoolkit.org/support/downloads/publicBeta/downloads/install.htm

New Features

  • Batch import of EADs: target a directory containing the EADs to be imported and import all EADs in the directory.
  • Batch export of EAD and MARCXML records: from the resource browse screen select two or more resources that you want to export either EADs or MARCXML records for.
  • Import of XML encoded accession data: Import of multiple names using the XML import method.  Use the accessionsImport.xsd file to map your accession data and to create an accessions import file.
  • EAD schema: replaces the EAD DTD for importing / exporting EADs.
  • Extended accession record: includes new fields, many user definable.
  • Extended repository record: includes new fields for recording repository statistics, per recommendations of Archival Metrics Project

And more:

  • Locations and containers now sort numerically when the indicators are numbers only
  • Progress messages when the system is working for more than a couple of seconds including long searches, loading large resource records, import and export routines
  • The ability to link multiple subjects or names at once.
  • White space stripping for import of EAD and MARCXML records
  • General improvements and feedback to import and export routines
  • Separate Maintenance program for initializing new databases, upgrading existing database (e.g., upgrading a 1.0 instance to the 1.1 beta instance), and running repair fuctions.

Bug reports can be transmitted using the bug report function in the application; otherwise they should be sent to the AT project at info@archiviststoolkit.org. Other comments or questions should also be sent to info@archiviststoolkit.org.

As with version 1.0, a sandbox, with some data, will be provided for users who have not installed a local instance of the database. The connection settings for the beta 1.1 sandbox are as follows:

  • Connection URL: jdbc:mysql://dev.archiviststoolkit.org:3306/AT_BETATEST1_1
  • User Name: atuser
  • Password: cr4ckA1t

Logon names and passwords are the same as they are for the version 1.0 sandbox (see http://www.archiviststoolkit.org/sandbox1.0.shtml). The Usernames are “superuser,” repmanager,” “projmanager,” “advdataentry,” and “begdataentry.”  In all cases, “at” is the password.  Please remember that each of the five user names enables a different set of access permissions, with superuser allowing the greatest access and begdataentry the least.

For users who have created a local instance, they can either create a new database instance to run with beta 1.1 or upgrade their current instance.  To do either, they will need to use the Maintenance Program located in the main folder where the AT application is located on the user’s computer. 


Test Protocol
Unlike the test of 1.0 beta, there is no protocol prescribed for testing the 1.1 beta. We do not expect any user to test the application comprehensively. But we would appreciate it if users could concentrate on testing some of the following areas, where significant changes have occurred. 

  • Repository records
    • Repository statistics

  • Accession records
    • User defined fields

  • Customization
    • Default values (repository record)
    • Application configuration
    • Note labels
    • Look up lists

  • Importing
    • XML encoded accession records
    • EADs, including batch importing
    • MARCXMLs

  • Exporting
    • EADs, including batch exporting
    • MARCXML, including batch exporting
    • METS

  • Maintenance program, including initializing blank databases and upgrading existing instances 

For those who want to do comprehensive testing
If some users do want to test the application or parts of it comprehensively, we are providing the instrument the project team uses for testing the application. Simply follow the directions at the top of each tab in the instrument, which represent main areas of the application, and then transmit the instrument with your additions to info@archiviststoolkit.org. Send any questions about completing the instrument to the same email address.

Requesting support: Please send all inquiries, reports, and requests for support concerning the application to the Archivists Toolkit User Group (ATUG-l can be subscribed to at http:// mailman.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/ atug-l) and / or to info@archiviststoolkit.org. Please do not contact project staff directly via their email addresses or telephone numbers. Sending messages to ATUG-l or to info@archiviststoolkit.org will ensure that your question or report is responded to in a more timely manner.