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1    Getting Started



What you need to get started:


    ¶  A computer running Windows or Linux. At minimum you will need a computer with a 300 MHz Pentium II processor or higher with at least 64MB of memory and a hard drive with at least 100MB of free space.

    ¶  Java. Your computer may already have the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed. If not, you can get Sun Microsystems' JRE at http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp.

    ¶  If you are planning to make your catalog searchable over the Internet, the server computer will need to run a web server.


Installing the Server Software.

To install the server:

1.   Unpack the tar or zip archive. This will create a folder called microlcs-1.0.1. The contents of this folder are shown below.



2.  Open the microlcs-1.0.1 folder. Start the setup program (setup.bat on Windows; setup on Linux.) This starts the server setup utility.



The setup utility provides an easy way to configure some of the main settings for the server. Other parameters can be changed by editing the server configuration file directly. For now, just leave the parameters alone and click the Exit button. This will create the server startup script.

3.   Start the server by running the program called microlcs. You will see the server command prompt appear: 


Avanti MicroLCS Version 1.0.1  Build 2006.9.23  Serial No.: 000000
MicroLCS Server>


To set up the MicroLCS databases and prepare them for use type init at the server command prompt. You will get a warning messages that all databases will be wiped clean. When prompted, type yes then begin to set up the databases. This may take several minutes. The command prompt will appear again when the process is complete. 


  Avanti MicroLCS Version 1.0.1  Build 2006.9.23  Serial No.: 000000  
  MicroLCS Server> init
  MicroLCS is building and loading indexes.
  This may take several minutes.
  Warning!! You are initializing or restoring MicroLCS.
  This will wipe out everything in all databases!
  Are you sure you want to do this? (yes , no): yes
  Type 'begin' to continue, anything else to abort: begin


Type quit at the server command line prompt to exit the server.

 


 
Installing the Client Software

The client software is found in the folder named client. If you are setting up the client on the same computer you installed the server software, open the folder and continue. Otherwise, copy the client folder onto computer you want to run as client.





1. In the client folder start the setup program.





2. Set the IP address or network name of the computer running the server.

3. Set the User type. If you want this client to be able to add and edit catalog records choose cataloging. If you want this to be a search only client, choose search.

4. Set the fields you want the client to search on. Type the search field labels separated by spaces. NOTE: These MUST be indexed fields on the server. They must also appear exactly as they appear in the database.

6. Click Save and Exit.

MicroLCS is now set up and ready for use.

 
 

Starting MicroLCS

To start the server, start the microlcs program as you did when initializing the databases This time at the command prompt type start and press enter. This will build indexes and start the server for use.

On the client computer run the program called start. The client should contact the server and after a moment the Avanti logo should appear and the system will be ready for use.






Entering Your First Title Records into MicroLCS.

To enter a new title click the New button on the control panel along the bottom of the screen. A blank title record will appear.





Fill in the desired fields with data. Fields labeled in blue are indexed fields. There are no required fields, however. If you want to add holdings click Add Holdings, A blank holdings record will appear along the bottom of the title record. To add multiple holdings repeatedly click Add Holdings for more blank holdings records. When you are finished, click Save. The screen will refresh and will be ready to accept the next title record. When you are all finished adding records click Quit and the Avanti logo will appear.



A Simple Keyword Search.

Now try doing a simple keyword search for a record you have just added. Select the index that you want to search on (Subject, Author, Title, etc.) and type in a keyword and click Find.

If a single title is the result, the full title record will appear. Multiple results are shown as a brief summary listing. Each item in that list is a clickable link to the full title record. The full title record displays any holdings that are associated with that title. In doing a search you can enter multiple keywords separated by spaces. Multiple keywords are automatically AND-ed so the more keywords you enter the smaller and more refined the search results will be. MicroLCS has powerful built-in boolean search features which are discussed in detail in Part 3 of this manual.



Using Online Help.

To get help about the current function click the Help button on the control panel and help for what is currently on the screen will appear in a separate window. The Help feature also provides a listing of topics that you can browse as desired.

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