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May 2001

xdirectory: ESP’s first native product

ESP have become a force in the UK via their portfolio approach to assembling a product suite.  xdirectory is their first in-house built system designed to enable non-programmers to build their own database driven web applications for structured directory style data.

Main Sections

[Biblio Tech Review]
[Archive Issues]
[Technical Briefings]
[Supplier Directory]
[Exhibitions]
[Archive Reviews]
[About BTR]

Contents

Introduction, System components, security, Searching, object support, data entry, The Future, Conclusions, Who should use it. users.

Introduction

The requirement to manage information, has for most organisations with formal libraries, been focussed around the main task of cataloguing traditional material and integrating the newer electronic resources - usually within a Library Management System of some sort.  There remain however a number of other types of information, maybe on legacy systems, which don't sit happily in an LMS' OPAC or require regular updating by a number of people with limited IT skills.  xdirectory is a product from ESP (Esprit Soutron Partnership) designed to provide a packaged solution enabling users to build their own tailored solutions with a minimum of IT/programming experience. It can be thought of as a Content Management system for structured data sets.

xdirectory is based on server side Java technology with a choice of database back ends.  It provides a toolkit for building database driven systems for a variety of information types and comes with the sort of features list expected for any catalogue and search tool.

This Month’s Stories

[2001]
[LIS 2001]
[VTLS_2001_05]
[Inno_2001_05]
[End_2001_05]
[SF-Systems]
[Sirsi Sales]
[XDirectory]
[Talis Unity WebCT]

System Components

As a system building product, the finished products that can be produced using xdirectory are many and varied. The best applications are those where there is a directory style to the data i.e. many entries that follow the same data structure and where the ability to sort or filter by categories is needed.

A competent role-based user security system controls log-ons and presents functions to the user as required. At the top level an administrator can create new record types or complete new directories. Other users will be limited to data entry or just OPAC style searching and viewing.

The system administrator builds an application by first defining a set of "categories" - top level divisions that define the main sections of the directory structure.  Then types of record are defined -  required fields can be selected from a basic list of pre-defined standard Dublin Core fields or user defined fields created as required for the particular type of record being created. Fields may be defined as repeatable, filled from a pick list etc. Their position in the edit screen, search results screen and OPAC full record screen can be changed by simply clicking on up/down arrows - there is no need to get into coding of any kind.

The administration of records has been carefully designed with some thoughtful features for directory style information - e.g. you can have time driven display of records so that they only appear when required.  Publishing of records can be monitored by the administrator so that authorisation can take place after a record is created by data input staff and before it is released to public gaze.

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Security

There is a good set of user security control features with "role" control to allow some users edit access and others view only search functions.  Records can be set to be visible only to certain types of user thus allowing previewing and approval functions.

Searching

The searching is a capable mixture of text search with configurable "and/or" options as default between terms and a selection of additional filters to refine the results set - enough for most directory style information applications.

Summary result style is configurable and can include any fields from the record - including thumbnails for images. Final detailed display is again configurable by the administrator. Default styles for these levels of output are provided but creative designers can build their own.

The data is clearly displayed but currently is limited to the data in the retrieved record.  Onward navigation - apart from Web links or file downloads is not yet possible. For example you can find a record for a club or a person and display it but you cannot set the system to present the user with hyperlinks to retrieve all other clubs in that geographic area or in that area of activity as you might expect.  Such "associative links" are planned for the next release and will add considerably to the power and navigability of the system.

Object support

Object files for images, pdf files and hyperlinks may be included in the records so that images can be both catalogued and displayed in the results section of the system. Any browser supported object type can be integrated in this way, including networked CD-ROM.

Data entry

Data entry is simple form filling with pick lists to assist consistency. The forms are clearly laid out and can be adjusted by the administrator in terms of length, position etc. as needs demand.

The Future

Associative links and Thesaurus support are planned for future releases but it will still manage many requirements as it comes now.

Conclusions

xdirectory is an impressive first in-house product from ESP. It has been carefully designed to meet a specific need for a simple, easy to use, content management system at a reasonable price. It looks to be well engineered and, with multiple database support should fit comfortably into most corporate IT departments without making waves. It should prove a boon to anyone needing to organise the plethora of non-bibliographic information and present it on the web for users and creators.

Who should use it

Librarians, busy administrators responsible for organising web information and thinking about database + web solutions.  Currently NOT for those with more ambitious demands such as automatic mail -outs, extensive complex database structures and e-commerce functions.  But have a look at it anyway because some of these things are planned for future releases.

Who is using it

Version 1 of xdirectory was released at the LIS on June 5th, but the software has already been selected by a number of organisations, including:

• World Energy Council
• De Montfort University
• Conwy council
• Leeds Public Libraries

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