Technical overview.

WWWISIS is a Web front to ISIS database. The interface lets you: make simple and compound queries, record and edit query history, access inverted file contents (keyword list), there is also a data-entry function.
The interface main features are:

• Multiple search fields - a query form is composed from multiple fields. Basic field types are:
• compound - on-line keyword list, AND/OR conditions between terms
• simple - no keyword list, no AND/OR between terms
• static - static select list, used when a short and static list of terms is available
• Compund queries - the WWW/ISIS interface allows to construct compound AND/OR queries within one field. The query permits multiple search terms in one search field. Multiple search terms are separated by the "+" sign. The logical OR/AND operator is used between search terms of the same type depending on state of the OR/AND radio button
• An on-line, scrollable list of database search terms is available, eg.: enter 'Afr' to obtain a full list of database search-terms for a given field, which begin with 'Afr'. If the number of database search terms is larger than default  list size "More" and "Back" buttons are provided to retrieve the next/previous part of the search term index.

Thesaurus

Thesaurus consists of descriptors and non-descriptors. It is a kind of dictionary for the description of information sources. Its main role is to standardize the indexing process in order to make simpler and more adequate searching and provide you with the most relevant records. If we want to find  some sources from the database we should consult the thesaurus in order to be  sure that we use the same language as was used for indexing the records.

Thesaurus function include:

• browsing the alphabetic list of descriptors
• browsing the Keywords Out of Context list (KWOC)
• navigation between descriptors (using links among the terms)

Other advanced features include

• Query history - previous queries may be edited and combined
• ISIS QL support - a query constructed by an on-line form may be decoded to native ISIS Query Language and edited

Configuration

The database schemata, work and program directories and result formats are available as plain text files. Hence, the system is easily configurable and extendable.

Platform support and implementation:

There are two disctinct versions of WWWISIS - the older one - 3.x and 4.x uses Micro CDS ISIS v. 3.0 as a database backend, the newer version - 5.x - is based on ISISDLL from Bireme.

The CDS version supports Linux, Solaris/x86 and Windows 95/98/NT. The ISISDLL version currently supports Windows NT only. See Versions for a discussion of features and availability.

Web servers supported

 The Unix interface can work with virtually every WWW server available (either free or commercial). We have tested Apache and NCSA 1.5 WWW servers.

The Windows NT version works with our own small-footprint Web server, Netscape Fasttrack and Enterprise servers (NT versions). We are support Microsoft IIS webserver in ISISDLL version only.