Lesson 7 - How do you Publish a WinISIS Database on the Web ...

Module 4 

Creation and Management 

of <strong>Database</strong>s using 

CDS/ISIS 

<strong>Lesson</strong> 7 

<strong>How</strong> <strong>do</strong> <strong>you</strong> <strong>Publish</strong> a <strong>WinISIS</strong> 

<strong>Database</strong> on the Web Using 

GenISIS 

UNESCO EIPICT Module 4. <strong>Lesson</strong> 7 1

Rationale 

Searching on databases has changed 

radically with the advent of the Internet. 

Organizations which have created <strong>do</strong>cument 

databases are publishing them on the Web. 

Users only need a browser to be able to 

access up-to-date records 

Library OPACs have become very popular 

and useful. They allow remote access to 

library catalogs and databases. This 

enables users to search for bibliographic 

information and access full text resources. 

Web OPACs enhance the services of any 

library 


Scope 

<strong>Lesson</strong> 7 will explain: 

What is GenISIS 

<strong>How</strong> to install GenISIS 

<strong>How</strong> to create a web OPAC using 

GenISIS 

<strong>How</strong> to publish <strong>you</strong>r databases on 

the Web 


Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the lesson <strong>you</strong> will be 

able to: 

Download GenISIS and install it 

Create a web OPAC using 

GenISIS 

<strong>Publish</strong> any part of <strong>you</strong>r 

database on the Web 


What is GenISIS 

GenISIS is an authoring software (for 

Win32) for visually producing web 

forms to query CDS/ISIS databases 

Two versions are available 

o GenISIS Web for web publishing 

o GenISIS CD for developing CD-ROM 

interfaces 


<strong>How</strong> to Install GenISIS 

Download GenISIS Web/ CD from the 

UNESCO site www.unesco.org/isis 

GenISIS 

GenISIS also comes with the CDS/ISIS, 

CD 

If <strong>do</strong>wnloaded from the UNESCO site 

the file has to be decompressed 

When the file is decompressed three 

files will be extracted (available on the 

CD) 

Now <strong>you</strong> can install the program 


<strong>How</strong> to Create a Web OPAC 

Using GenISIS (1) 

GenISIS has three elements for 

creating a web OPAC 

Query form (fields, indexes and 

page la<strong>you</strong>t) 

List format - internal default 

available 

Detailed format - internal default 

available 




Exporting or saving application at 

the web server 

o Testing on ‘localhost’ or ‘127.0.0.1’ 

with numbered folders in 

‘wwwroot\wwwisis’ -folder for each 

application 

o e.g. http://127.0.0.1/wwwisis/appli.htm 

for a list of <strong>you</strong>r applications 

Make sure a web server is running 

while creating and testing, e.g. 

Apache/ IIS 


<strong>How</strong> to Create a Web 

OPAC Using GenISIS (3) 

Starting GenISIS 




Starting GenISIS 

When <strong>you</strong> open 

GenISIS for the 

first time <strong>you</strong> have 

to set up the 

configuration file 




In the configuration file: 

You can change the language 

Give the paths for the CGI and 

Document Root 

Once <strong>you</strong> finish configuration <strong>you</strong> can 

open GenISIS 




GenISIS opening win<strong>do</strong>w: 




To start creating the query form and 

formats: 

Click on 

“APPLICATION” 

and then on “NEW” 

Then <strong>you</strong> have to 

select a database 




Once <strong>you</strong> select the database and give it 

a name <strong>you</strong> will get the forms to be 

designed 




You have to design the query form and 

then test it: 

Click on “APPLICATION” on the menu 

bar and click on “SAVE” on the 

drop<strong>do</strong>wn menu 

Again click on “APPLICATION” on the 

menu bar and click on “CREATE 

APPLICATION” on the drop<strong>do</strong>wn menu 




When <strong>you</strong> create an application <strong>you</strong> 

can test <strong>you</strong>r query form 

You can use the default display 

formats at this stage 




If <strong>you</strong> are satisfied with <strong>you</strong>r query form 

<strong>you</strong> can design <strong>you</strong>r own formats using 

the two forms: 

Format: “Listing” 

Format: “Detailed” 

After creating the formats <strong>you</strong> have to 

save and create the application to test 

these 


<strong>How</strong> to <strong>Publish</strong> <strong>you</strong>r 

<strong>Database</strong>s on the Web(1) 

To publish <strong>you</strong>r database <strong>you</strong> have 

to export it to a web server: 

Click on “APPLICATION” and then 

Click on “EXPORT TO WEB 

SERVER” 



<strong>Database</strong>s on the Web (2) 

You have to define the paths for the 

application folder & application URL 

in here 



<strong>Database</strong>s on the Web (3) 

Then <strong>you</strong> will get instructions to 

copy folders to <strong>you</strong>r server 


At this point <strong>you</strong> should be 

able to: 

 

 

Use GenISIS and 

<strong>Publish</strong> <strong>you</strong>r databases on the 

Internet/ Intranet

Lesson 7 - How do you Publish a WinISIS Database on the Web ...

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