December 1999 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Release Notes for MacSPIRS 4.0 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ========================= About these Release Notes ========================= These Release Notes should be read together with the MacSPIRS 4.0 Manual, which is available in PDF format on the ftp site: ftp.silverplatter.com/software/erl-clients/mac/macman40.pdf. The MacSPIRS 4.0 Manual contains full details of how to install and configure MacSPIRS 4.0. These Release Notes contain the following additional information (along with other items listed in the Contents): * Any other, late-breaking information about MacSPIRS 4.0 that has not yet been included in the MacSPIRS 4.0 Manual. * Details of features that are new or are changed in this release. * Details of known issues in this release. =-=-=-=- Contents =-=-=-=- 1. Downloading the software and the MacSPIRS 4.0 Manual 2. Installing and Running MacSPIRS 4.0 3. Late Breaking Information 4. New Features and Changes in this release 5. Known Issues in this release 6. Contacting SilverPlatter =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1. Downloading the software and the MacSPIRS 4.0 Manual =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= If you have not yet got a copy of the MacSPIRS 4.0 software,and MacSPIRS 4.0 Manual, this is how you download them: Downloading with a web browser: ------------------------------- 1. Access the SilverPlatter web site; ftp://ftp.silverplatter.com 2. Access the /software/macspirs4.0 directory. 4. Double-click on each file to download it. The files are: The BinHex-ed software (macspirs 40.sea.hqx) The release notes (readme.txt) (this document) The MacSPIRS User's Manual (macman40.pdf) The MacSPIRS Quick Reference Card (qrcmac40.pdf) Downloading with ftp: --------------------- 1. Use Fetch, or a comparable FTP utility, to access SilverPlatter's ftp site: ftp.silverplatter.com 2. If necessary, login with user-id anonymous and enter your email address as a password. 3. Change to the /software/macspirs4.0 directory. 4. Download and un-BinHex macspirs 40.sea.hqx. 5. Download all the other files in the directory. The files are: The release notes (readme.txt) (this document) The MacSPIRS User's Manual (macman40.pdf) The MacSPIRS Quick Reference Card (qrcmac40.pdf) The user documentation is also available from the SilverPlatter web site: http://www.silverplatter.com/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 2. Installing and Running MacSPIRS 4.0 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Hardware and Software Requirements ---------------------------------- The hardware and software requirements for installing and running MacSPIRS 4.0 are as follows. ------ Memory ------ Minimum: 4MB Recommended: 8MB --------------------- Operating Environment --------------------- Minimum: System 7.0 Recommended: System 7.5 Note: MacSPIRS 4.0 does not run on systems earlier than System 7.0. --------------- Hard Disk Space --------------- Minimum: 10MB Recommended: 30MB This information is also given on the the SilverPlatter web site: http://www.silverplatter.com/erl/erlclientreq.htm Installation ------------ For full installation instructions see the MacSPIRS 4.0 User's Manual. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 3. Late-breaking information about MacSPIRS 4.0 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= MacSPIRS Users Manual --------------------- Please note that the statements at pages 2-18 and 4-26 of the Manual, about users' ability to specify the times at which SDIs are run are now incorrect. System Administrators specify when to run any SDIs. This is explained in the WebSPIRS Administrator's Guide, in the chapter "Configuring WebSPIRS". Additional information for the Section "Creating an SDI from MacSPIRS" at page 4.-27: To create an SDI from the current search, go to the File menu and choose SDIs -> Save as SDI. To create an SDI from a previous search in the search history, use the up and down arrows to select the search, then go to the File menu and choose SDIs -> Save as SDI. Note: You cannot create an SDI from a previous search in the search history by clicking on the search, and then going to the File menu and choosing SDIs -> Save as SDI. The search string is not entered in the SDI creation screen and the SDI is not set up. Additional information about SDIs: ---------------------------------- Your MacSPIRS users should also be aware that the number of SDIs they can create in a session is limited to the maximum number of users who can logon with that account name. Each time MacSPIRS saves a search as an SDI, a connection is made to WebSPIRS and the dbserver. The connection holds for approximately 10 minutes, so if an account has a limit of five users, for example, once four SDIs have been created a user will have to wait for the first connection to drop before they can create a fifth SDI. If they attempt to create a fifth SDI, they see the message: "Maximum number of users reached." MacSPIRS users cannot set up or edit their SDI email addresses by using the SDI Settings option in WebSPIRS. They must enter the email address each time they create an SDI. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 4. New Features and Changes in this release =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= MacSPIRS 4.0 contains the following new features: 1. Support for library holdings for all databases supported by the Holdings Conversion Utility, including holdings messages with embedded URLs. (Support for embedded URLs requires ERL Server 4.0 or later.) 2. SilverLinker links to electronic journals. 3. Support for Selective Dissemination of Information (SDIs) (saving and re-running searches set up by users) and Alerts (searches prepared by the librarian or administrator to which users can subscribe). =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 5. Known Issues in this release =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Installer folder hangs off the corner of the Desktop ---------------------------------------------------- When you install MacSPIRS, you may find that the Installer folder hangs off the corner of the desktop. In this case you may need to scroll through the folder to display all the files. (7841) Problem when scrolling back up from the bottom of a list of records ------------------------------------------------------------------- Going to the bottom of a list of records, and then scrolling upwards, can cause a fatal error. (9845) Intermittent problem when selecting databases --------------------------------------------- Some users have found that if they are unsuccessful in selecting a database because it is already being used by the maximum number of users, and then select a different database, MacSPIRS suffers a fatal error. (8626) Problem with Suggest feature and ERL v2.x Servers ------------------------------------------------- Users running MacSPIRS with an ERL v2.x Server have reported seeing invalid entries in the list of suggested terms when using certain databases that do not support the Suggest feature. This has been reported on IDIS, MLA, and BA on CD, where selecting some suggested terms has returned no hits. These databases, and certain other ones, do not have the controlled vocabulary structure required for the Suggest feature. Upgrading to ERL Server 4.0 or later will address this problem because the Suggest feature will not appear as an option for these and other databases that do not support Suggest. Diagnostic and Default Holdings Messages can mean Hits are no longer -------------------------------------------------------------------- Highlighted ----------- If you are using MacSPIRS with an ERL Server, and if you use the default diagnostics messages for holdings, which display when there is an error in showing holdings messages, or if you use the default message that displays when there are no holdings details to show, (as set out at section 1.4.1.2 of the Holdings Guide) hits may no longer appear highlighted. If you are no longer using the Holdings utility, you can turn off the diagnostics messages, or remove the *LHM and *LHC fields from the fields to display, and highlighting of hits will be restored If you are using Holdings messages, but no longer need to use the diagnostic messages, you can turn off those messages. In that case highlighting of hits may still cease, if the default "No Holdings" message displays. This problem does not occur with MacSPIRS in stand-alone mode. Problem using autologin with SDIs enabled ----------------------------------------- We are aware of a problem that has occurred on some machines, if MacSPIRS is installed with SDIs enabled, and autologin is used. In these circumstances, a user may see a "Login Unsuccessful" error when using autologin. SOLUTION: -------- Open the MacSPIRS installer again, and choose "Reconfigure installed application". Choose the MacSPIRS program, and continue to the page where you set username and password for autologin. Clear the password, and enter it again. Complete the installation, and the autologin will now function correctly. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 6. Contacting SilverPlatter Technical Support =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= If you need further assistance with the MacSPIRS 4.0 software, please send an email to support@silverplatter.com or contact one of SilverPlatter's regional offices: UNITED STATES: SilverPlatter Information, Inc. 100 River Ridge Drive Norwood, MA 02062 Tel: 800-343-0064 781-769-2599 Fax: 781-769-8763 ---------------------------------- LONDON: SilverPlatter Information Ltd Merlin House, 20 Belmont Terrace Chiswick, London W4 5UG England Tel: +44 (0) 181 585 6400 Fax: +44 (0) 181 585 6640 ---------------------------------- AMSTERDAM: SilverPlatter Information BV Nieuwe Herengracht 49 1011 RN Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31 (0)20-625 96 50 Fax: +31 (0)20-623 74 08 ---------------------------------- BERLIN: SilverPlatter Information GmbH Guentzelstrasse 63 D-10717 Berlin Germany Tel: +49 (0)30-857799-0 Fax: +49 (0)30-857799-99 ----------------------------------