xLibrary 2.0.0 is a fast, simple to use, library orientated comms. package for the Macintosh.
The package has been designed specifically with librarians in mind to provide a simple and secure way of connecting to a variety of remote ‘services’. A ‘service’ is defined as any process running on a local or remote computer, e.g. an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). The product utilises Apple's Communications Toolbox technology, consequently connectivity is only limited by the range of Connection and Terminal Emulation tools that are available for your machine.
[N.B. Apple currently supply a range of free connecton and terminal emulation tools that include the following; Serial, Modem, VT102, TTY. There is a public domain tcp/ip/telnet tool included with the xLibrary 2.0.0 package.]
xLibrary 2.0.0 can be used for other purposes such as production control, development and administration.
xLibrary 2.0.0 allows for multiple, simultaneous services to be active at any one time. A typical session might therefore include a serial connection to your local OPAC in one window, whilst another window displays information from a Campus-Wide Information System (CWIS), and a third displays a remote tcp/ip network connection to a second OPAC. In addition, fully editable text windows may be activated that enable the easy accumulation of selections from any of the other windows. For instance, using the above example, a text window could be used to accumulate the results from a comparative search of the two (local and remote) OPACs. The resulting text may then be printed, saved to a file for later use or copied and pasted to your favourite word processor.
The package consists of two HyperCard™ stacks, xLibrary 2.0.0 and xLibrary Installer 2.0.0.
The installer stack allows the definition, testing, storage, installation and removal of service definitions. A service definition is a set of parameters that together define the external parameters of a ‘service’. Each service is defined by 14 parameters all of which are held on a single HyperCard™ card. Typical parameters are :
a. the connection method (communication settings) required to
attach to the computer upon which the service is available.
b. the terminal emulation (configuration settings) to use to
display the service output.
c. the login and logout scripts required to activate/close the
service once connection has been achieved with the host.
etc, etc.....
Once the service definition has been created and tested in the Installer stack it may then be installed into the xLibrary stack. Once installed the name of the service becomes another menu option in the 'Go' menu. The service may then be invoked simply by selecting its name from the menu. In this fashion an individualised xLibrary 2.0.0 stack can be created for each environment.
Where You Can Find It.
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xLibrary 2.0.0 is a shareware product and is currently being beta tested by a select group of user sites. When the testing has been completed, (we expect this to be March '93) it will be available to be downloaded from the following anonymous ftp sites :
ftp.ucsc.edu
mac.archive.umich.edu
sumex-aim.stanford.edu
archie.au
If you wish to be advised of the release then please mail a contact address to either francis.sainsbury@lib.utas.edu.au or to the contact address below.
What Is Supplied.
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xLibrary Contains 10 example services.
Installer Contains several example service definitions..
User Manual Complements the extensive online help facilities.
TGE TCP Tool Written by Tim Endress, this public domain Comms.
tool provides fast and reliable tcp/ip/telnet
Cost.
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The two stacks are distributed with a limited number of free activations after which they will cease to initialise correctly. Upon activation of either stack the operator is invited to enter a code that will neutralise this mechanism. The code may be purchased from the contact address below for $25.00 per copy or a $300 per site licence (this price includes both stacks).
