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----------------------------Original message---------------------------- With apologies to those who've already seen this posting elsewhere: >>INTERFACE TO DEMONSTRATE RELEASED VERSION OF INTERNET ARCHIVIST AT ALA >>CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> >>POWERFUL TOOL SUITE CREATES AND MANAGES <EAD> FINDING AIDS >> >>WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Interface's dynamic finding aid tool suite has been >>released to manufacturing after a year of beta testing and continued >>development. Internet Archivist<EAD>TM is a suite of Windows programs >>designed to simplify and accelerate the process of creating digital >>finding aids for archival collections. Based upon the Encoded >>Archival Description - Document Type Definition (EAD-DTD) standard, >>the program uses a graphical interface to enter document information. >>All encoding is performed in plain English, thus the archivist needs >>no knowledge of the SGML language. Error checking within the program >>ensures compliance with the published standard. >> >>Another significant exclusive feature is the system's ability to >>learn. As the archivist tags information such as Atlantic Ocean as a >>geographic name (e.g. <geogname>Atlantic Ocean</geogname>), the system >>learns the tag and automatically applies it to future occurrences on a >>global basis or only within a specific finding aid. >> A feature to be released later this year will allow the user to >>automatically hide tagged items and display only information that >>needs to be reviewed for possible encoding. >> >>Archivists can create templates that utilize all of the elements that >>would be standard for a collection or for an institution. As each new >>document is encoded, the template will ensure that standard fields are >>presented for entry. >> >>The powerful on-line reference provides complete context-sensitive >>explanations of EAD tags. Additional features such as toolbars, user >>preferences, autosave, and intuitive right mouse menus, enhance the >>overall functionality of the system. >> >>The new text management system developed during 1998 enhances >>conversion of information from existing files to the new system. >> >>In addition to instantaneous creation of SGML files, the system >>generates HTML documents so that encoded finding aids may be easily >>published on the web. Since tagged documents are difficult to read, >>the text generation feature allows printing of a well-formatted ASCII >>text document with user preference control over margins and headings. >> >>As a teaching and management tool, the system displays an outline view >>of the finding aid that helps the archivist or student to visualize >>and manage the structure of the digital finding aid. Combined with >>the help system and the extensive documentation accompanying the >>product, the Campus Package of Internet Archivist will license an >>academic institution to distribute copies of the program to students >>as a learning tool. >> >>A web search engine specifically designed for Internet Archivist<EAD> >>allows searching of HTML documents with an approach similar to that >>offered in SGML. Searches may be performed by title, summary, and/or >>keywords. The user is offered a link to view a document in HTML or >>SGML (provided the user has the appropriate SGML ewer.) >> >> >>The server and campus versions of the program track check-out and >>check-in of a document along with a modification log. Security >>privileges may be set according to each user's permissions. The >>system administrator can review the amount of time spent by each user >>on each document file. >> >>The server and campus versions also feature an Internet Archivist >>Metabase that enables creation and management of multiple finding aids >>that are either local or remote. Using this feature, the search >>engine can locate finding aids that are local or contained on other >>systems around the globe. Consortiums can combine their EAD files >>into a commonly searchable central file. >> >>Additional modules to be released in the fall will allow for import of >>existing SGML files, MARC records, and the ability to Scan and OCR >>(Optical Character Recognition) text. The mapping option allows >>archivists to import data records from various other types of data >>structures. >> >>The single user license for Internet Archivist<EAD> sells for $ 595 >>and the network license (multi-user) is $2,995. An introductory/ALA >>special offer provides a 25% discount on either package for orders >>placed before July 31, 1998. >> >>Since 1986, Interface Electronics has been known as a global leader in >>library networking technology offering turnkey solutions to library >>networking needs. The company employs over fifty people in >>manufacturing, engineering, software development, and sales and >>support positions at its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. >> >>For more information, visit http://www.interface.com/ead >> >>Windows(R) is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, >>Internet Archivist<EAD> is a trademark of Interface Electronics Inc. >> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Karen McKenzie Chief Librarian E.P. Taylor Research Library & Archives Art Gallery of Ontario 317 Dundas Street West Toronto, ON M5T 1G4 CANADA Phone (416) 979-6660 Ext. 389 [log in to unmask] Fax (416) 979-6602 <http://www.ago.net>