Institute for Computer and Information Engineering

______________________________________________________________________________________

Instructions for Installing

WWW-ISIS based library system WEBLIS
In the Network Environment

Warsaw, August, 2007

 PREFACE

WebLIS is a web based integrated library information system. It is built on the WWW-ISIS platform.
Originally, the WEBLIS system has been developed by the initiative of FAO, IFAD and GTZ, futher
upgraded by the requests of many other institutions. Based on this contribution and thanks to the
UNESCO initiative this version has became a "freeware" since 2004, and is available from the
UNESCO ISIS site.
Recently IFRC (Geneva) has contributed in the development of the French and Spanish versions.
The IFRC WEBLIS version has the following new features:
• The OPAC part provides access to the information resources of the IFRC Library in three
languages: English French and Spanish. In each language the database can be searched in simple,
advanced and command mode. Also the thesaurus mode search can be used in the three languages.
• The thesaurus associated with this version is the OECD thesaurus (with the English, French
and Spanish parts).
• The version contains now also interfaces in the 3 languages for the data entry and LOAN
module.
• The Acquisition module is now available (in English only).
• This document provides "step-by-step" illustrated instructions for installing the WEBLIS
software system in a "Network Computer Environment". The WWW-ISIS licensed users may use this
software for using in their libraries and centers according to the License signed with WWW-ICIE.
Having gained an experience with WWW-ISIS-ASFA we have prepared the installation Manual in a
similar mode as for ASFA, hoping that the pain of installing the system will be as minimal as
possible.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Instructions for Installing

WWW-ISIS based library system WEBLIS
In the Network Environment.....................................................................................................i

1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................5
1.1 Contents of the WEBLIS installation pack.........................................................................................5
1.2 Information for system manager........................................................................................................5

2 INSTALLATION PROCEDURE...............................................................................................6
2.1 To install XITAMI ..............................................................................................................................6
2.2 To install WEBLIS...........................................................................................................................11

3 TO START the WEBLIS software system in the Network Environment ..........................14

4 TROUBLE SHOOTING.........................................................................................................16
4.1 Checking Xitami for correct installation ..........................................................................................16
4.2 Eventual Problems in starting/using of the WEBLIS system...........................................................18
4.2.1 Starting WEBLIS.......................................................................................................................18
4.2.2 Problems in the Data Entry subsystem.....................................................................................19

5 Description of the files comprising the WEBLIS software ...............................................21

Annex-1. INFORMATION FOR SYSTEM MANAGER............................................................23

A-1.1 Computer Requirements to run the WEBLIS System ................................................................23
A-1.2 How to load records created under the old DOS ISIS software into the new system..................23
A-1.3 System adjustment.....................................................................................................................24
A-1.3.1 Authorization rights adjustment (passwords).......................................................................24
A-1.3.2 Moving the databases to another location............................................................................25
A-1.4 Database management..............................................................................................................25

Annex-2 WHAT’S LIBCAT structure.....................................................................................27

6 Annex 3 Frequently Asked Questions................................................................................29

6.1 How to connect WEBLIS to IIS........................................................................................................29
6.2 Other questions...............................................................................................................................31
1
1 After typing the URL into the browser’s “Address” or "Location” bar, the browser
gives an error box: “The URL you asked for does not exist on this website”

This message means that the Web server works, but it does not see the location of the
HTMLs for the WEBLIS application. Possibly the LIBCAT folder is not located at the WEB
server root. In this case, uninstall the system (using the standard Windows ADD/Remove
programs procedure available from the Control Panel) and install it again, providing
proper parameters for the WEB server root.
Another possible solution in this case is to define the LIBCAT folder as the "virtual root
directory" of the WEB server; this however requires a good knowledge of the WEB
server you are using. .............................................................................................................31

2 After typing the URL into the browser’s “Address” or "Location” bar, the browser
provides the left frame, but the right frame does not appear.

This may happen in two cases:

(a) if the cgi directory is not the one you indicated during the installation procedure the
WEB server cannot find the program isis3w.exe. In this case, check out the proper name
of the cgi directory and copy there the program isis3w.exe, along with the files
isis3w.exe.cfg and Isis32.dll.
(b) it may also happen that your WEB server does not have switched "on" the execution
of the cgi programs. In this case, you have to open the WEB server control panel and
change the setting for cgi (if you use XITAMI this should never happen).
31

3 WEBLIS software is installed on the server. How can I run the old DOS ISIS from a
client machine, accessing the database located on the server?

You can map the shared folder (as e.g. X drive) on a client machine and then run
isis.exe. All the parameters (paths) required by isis.exe are defined relatively. If however,
you cannot access the server disk drive by maping, you should use a specialized
software, like PC-Anywhere or Netmeeting, that allows you to access the server
remotely. Once such a software is installed you can see from your client the desktop of
the server and from the desktop you can open the WebLIS folder, then activate the DOS
ISIS. ......................................................................................................................................32

4 During the installation of Xitami web server I have received the following error
message: "Could not open http Port 80. Port is already used by another server"

When installing Xitami web server it may happen that Port 80 (which is the default port
used by Xitami) is already dedicated to another web server installed on your PC. If this is
the case, Xitami will not open up correctly when typing the URL http://localhost. You
may or may not receive the following error message: "Could not open http Port 80. Port
is already used by another server".

You should then change the Port number assigned to Xitami, by editing the Xitami.cfg
file (using Notepad), located in the Main Xitami directory (C:\Xitami if you have not
changed the defaults during the installation process), and assigning to the parameter
portbase a number different than zero.
Remember that the Port number and the portbase value should be assigned in a way
that: Port no. = 80 + portbase. The 2 variables are dependent. Once you decide about the
port value, the portbase should be calculated according to the formula above
For example, if you decide to use Port no. 120, then you should type 40 as Portbase
value in the Xitami.cfg file. If you decide to assign 10 to the Portbase value, then your
Port number will be 90.

Note: If you are going to start WEBLIS on the server computer using the icons “Search”
and “Data Entry”, remember to add the same port number in the icons destination field.
32
2
5 How can I uninstall WEBLIS software?

To uninstall the system:

- use the icon Add/Remove Programs on the control panel
- find the system WWWIsis WEBLIS
- click on REMOVE button
32

6 I am not able to start the system when trying to launch the program on a client
computer.

We assume that the system works properly on the web server, but when you trying to
launch the program on a client computer by typing the URL address into your browser -
you are not able to start the system:
(a) Verify the URL, especially the "port" part. Please note that normally the port number
is omitted from the URL if its value is 80, otherwise it should be stated (if you have
changed the Port number to a value different than 80, then you should remember to
insert the new Port number in all the URL addresses).
(b) Check if other web resources on the server are available for the client, try for
example using the URL: http://server_url/ (if you use xitami web server try
http://server_url/admin). If the URLs don’t work you should verify the connectivity
between client and server computer
- in terms of hardware – check if the client is connected to the LAN,
- in term of software – check if the client has the TCP/IP connectivity installed.
32

7 I am not able to start the system when trying to launch the program on the server
computer from either the shortcut icon on my desktop (WebLis) or by typing the URL
address into the browser.

First, check if the connectivity between client program (browser) and web server (Xitami)
can be established:
To solve this problem, your browser (e.g. Netscape) and check if the following URL
works http://127.0.0.1
If for this URL you receive the welcome XITAMI page, it means that the WEB server
XITAMI is installed correctly.
If with URL http://127.0.0.1/libcat, you receive the WEBLIS search screen, but with
http://dns-of-the-server/libcat
you cannot get the connection, possibly two problems coincide:
(a) your server has no DNS
(b) the attempt to assign the name server DNS has failed;

Another reason might be that the server does not work - check it by indicating another
URL valid for this server (in the case of XITAMI, try for example the URL:
http:/localhost/admin. This should bring the Xitami administration panel. If nothing
happens, it means that the server does not work, so just restart the Xitami WEB server.

If you are sure that the web server works properly, and the TCP/IP connectivity is setup
properly, though you cannot manage with fixing the problems to run WEBLIS on the
server computer, try to uninstall the system. After removing WEBLIS reboot the
computer and repeat the installation procedure
33

8 The system accepts your LOGIN, but does not allow you to start entering data in a new
record.

This may be caused by the following reasons:

(a) “Cookies” option does not work in the browser. Check the setting of your Web
Browser's "cookies" option You can check this by going to the Netscape Tool Bar (click
3
on EDIT -> Preferences -> Advanced);
(b) Cookies are not working. Check in the file isis3w.exe.cfg the value of the parameter
CookieDomain and use this value as the DNS in calling WEBLis (this is actually full
name). If for example the value of the parameter is isis.icie.pl, use for the data entry the
url http://isis.icie.pl/libcat/de.html.
(c) The proxy server within the LAN filters out the “cookies”. This problem has to be
solved with the LAN manager who should disactivate a proxy server for addresses
beginning with the DNS of the server of your application. For example: In Internet
Explorer/Tools-Internet options-> Connections -> LAN Settings-> Proxy server-
>Advanced-> Do not use a proxy server for addresses...type the DNS for your
application. .............................................................................................................................33

9 When updating any of the WebLis databases I get the following message:
Error code: -101
Data Base access denied (data entry lock).
When I try to unlock the database (using the CDS/ISIS DOS-interface) nothing happens.

Please, run CDS/ISIS DOS-interface and do the following steps:

1) From the main menu select I (Inverted file services)
2) Select U (Update inverted file) as inverted file update can be pending
3) Go back to main menu and select M (Master file services)
4) Select C (Reorganize master file)
Note: Steps 1 and 2 are not always necessary but they are included in the procedure as
reorganization of master file cannot be done when inverted file is pending.
It is recommended to run Full Inverted File Generation (options I and then F) at the end.
33

10 How to install WEBLIS in a network computer environment with no DNS defined?

There are two solutions:

1) Use IP address of the server instead of http address. Remember that http address
must be consistent with CookieDomain specified in isis3w.exe.cfg, so in this case
CookieDomain must show IP address.
2) Add http address line to "hosts" file on all computers (e.g.
C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts)

More information you can find in this document section 3 and 4.2.
34

11 How to change width of the left panel of WEBLIS data entry window?

1) Find in the LIBCAT directory the file de.html

2) Open it with notepad
3) Change the size of the frame in the phrase:
...
<FRAMESET COLS="184,*" border="0" frameborder="0" framespacing="0">
<NOFRAMES>
<B>Sorry, wrong browser! - you must use Netscape 4.x or IE 4.x </B>
</NOFRAMES>
... 34

4
1 INTRODUCTION
This manual provides instructions on How to Install WEBLIS system in a Networked (intranet/internet)
computer environment (i.e. on the server computer and client computers). Additionally, the manual
presents how to install two other second party programs – the web server Xitami and the browser
Netscape 4.5, which may be needed for running WEBLIS in the network. The manual is intended for the
WEBLIS users.

The WEBLIS system is based on WEB technology. It uses WWW-ISIS software as a platform, and it can
be used as a tool for computerizing basic activities in the library and or information center. It can be used
for small to large libraries. It is especially strongly recommended (though not restricted to) to be applied
at the centers having experience with Micro-CDS/ISIS.

1.1 Contents of the WEBLIS installation pack

The downloaded installation pack is a zip file. In the first step it should be unzipped. After unzipping the
installation pack includes the following components:

1. The installation procedure for WEBLIS software - This component should be used for installing the WEBLIS
system containing OPAC (in 3 languages), cataloguing and LOAN sub-systems (also in 3 languages, fully
symmetric), Acquisition system (in English only). The WEBLIS system can be installed in the networked
environment or as a stand-alone application; if installed for the network, it must be installed on the server
computer only.
The installation of the WEBLIS software is described in Section-2.2.

2. The installation procedure for Xitami (Web server software); if no web server is installed on the server
computer, this is the recommended web server software for WEBLIS, and it should be installed on the server
computer to enable the client computers to connect with the server; if however there is a web server already
installed on the server computer, e.g. Microsoft IIS, or Netscape Fast Track, then Xitami does not need to
be installed.

Please note that XITAMI should not be installed on the client computers.
The installation of Xitami is described in Section-2.1.

In addition, the installation pack contains:

• This Installation Manual (in the folder called Installation documentation)
• WWW-ISIS manuals
• LOAN system manuals
• ACQUIB module manual

1.2 Information for system manager

Note, computer requirements to run system (RAM, hard disk memory etc.) are listed in Annex-1,
item-1.

See Annex-1 also for information on: 1) How to load your library database created under Micro-
CDS/ISIS software into the new system, 2) System Adjustment, 3) Authorization rights adjustments
(passwords), 4) Moving the database to anther location, 5) Database Management.

5
 2INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

Follow the instructions in this Section to install each of the software components required in a
Networked (intra/internet) computer environment* (i.e. on the Server and Client computers).

SERVER COMPUTER – it is required that before WEBLIS software be installed, a web server should
be working on the Server computer. In this documentation we presume that no other web server is
available on the server computer and before installing WEBLIS the XITAMI web server is installed**,
therefore the first step is to install the Xitami web server, then WEBLIS.

client

To install "Xitami" (web server software), See Section-2.1

client
server

To install "WEBLIS software", See Section-2.2

Install Netscape 4.5, if the Server will also be used as a workstation to access the
system To install "Netscape 4.5" (web browser software), See Section-2.3
client

CLIENT COMPUTERS - Client computers require only the installation of web browser software
(Netscape 4.5) in order to access the Server.

client

To install "Netscape 4.5", See Section-2.3

client

server

TO START SYSTEM, after the Installation is completed:

GO TO Section-3
For trouble shooting
Go to Section - 4

2.1 To install XITAMI

Follow the step-by-step " illustrated" instructions below:
1. login to the WEB server as administrator

*
In the context of this document, the term "Networked computer environment" means: 1) a server computer in which the two
WEBLIS software components are installed (WEBLIS, and Xitami), and 2) the client computers which are connected to the server
computer via intranet or internet, and in which the WEBLIS software component (Netscape 4.5) is installed. The computer requirements
to run the system are in Annex-1, item-1.
**
In addition to XITAMI, two other web servers have been tested for working with WEBLIS, namely Microsoft IIS and Netscape Fast
Track; if you are sure that one of the two web servers has been already installed and is working properly on the server computer, you
can skip the step for installing Xitami, but in this case check the location of the root and cgi directories of the web server, as those
parameters are important for installing WEBLIS.
6
2. Open the unzipped WEBLIS folder

3. A list of the folders/files contained in the weblis FOLDER should appear on your computer screen.

(note, in the examples below, the folders/files are displayed in a "List with details", but your computer may display the
same folders/files differently (i.e. as Icons or small pictures) depending on how your computer is set for "Viewing
files". How you set your computer to "view" the files does not affect installation)

To START the installation of the XITAMI software:

<double click>
on Xitami folder

<double click> on the

and then file bw3224d6.exe

4. The first screen is the "Welcome!"

<click> "Next"

(Help Note: you may ignore the list of operating systems, which appears on the left side of the screen, under
the word XITAMI (it's not complete). For example, XITAMI will also work with Windows 98, 2000, Millennium,
and XP).
5. The 2nd screen continues with the Welcome/Introduction to the software

<click> "Next"

(Help Note: as stated above, references to the operating systems may be ignored)

6. The 3rd screen is "Select Destination Directory"

7
 <click> "Next"

(Help Note: this step allows you to designate (or choose) on which drive you want the folder "Xitami" to be
created. By pressing "Next" the installation will, by default, create the Xitami folder on the C:\ drive. Do not
change this destination unless you have a problem of too little space on the C:\ drive). To change the destination
drive, <click> on Browse> and click on the desired drive.

7. The 4th screen is "Select Program Group"

<click> "Next"

(Help Note: this step allows you to designate in which Program Manager Group the Xitami ICON will appear).

8. The 5th screen is "Start Xitami automatically?"

<click> "Next"

(Help Note: we suggest you leave the default choice "checked" (i.e. "Yes, Start Xitami automatically"). If you
check "No", REMEMBER each time you turn on your computer you must start the XITAMI program manually by
going to the <Start> menu, <Programs>, <Internet Tools> <Xitami Web server -Windows>)

9. The 6th screen is "Choose Admin Password"

(Help Note: you may choose any words for User Id and Pasword). Note this password is used only to enter the
administrative pages of the Xitami software. You should remember the Id and password for administrative work
on the server

8
 10. The 7th screen is "Choose Server Profile"

(Help Note: we recommend you leave "checked" the default choice (i.e. "Normal").

<click> "Next"

11. The 8th screen is "Ready to Install!"

(Help Note: click "Next" to start the actual installation of the software)

! (NOTE, if necessary, this software can be Uninstalled using the Windows (Add/Remove programs) utility)

12. The 9th screen is "Installation Completed!"

<click> "Run"

(Help Note: we suggest you <select> "RUN". A small green "X" will appear in your Task Bar (indicating that the
XITAMI program is running). If you selected "Finish" the small green X will not appear, and XITAMI will not run
until you open it by <selecting> "XITAMI Web Server-Windows " in the Window that appears on the screen)

! GO TO ITEM-13, IF YOU SELECTED "RUN" (If you selected "Finish", skip item-13, and Go to item-14)

13. The 10th screen (if you selected "RUN" in the previous 9th screen)

9
 green x

• Note, a small green "x" (icon) will appear in the Task Bar if you selected "Run" in the
previous screen. This means that XITAMI is running.

• <close> the Window (C:\Windows\Start Menu\programs\Internet Tools) that appeared,

containing the Xitami program file

The installation of XITAMI is now completed:

• if you had problems installing Xitami - GO to section-4.1.1, if not

•Go to Section 2.2 TO CONTINUE with the installation of the WEBLIS software component

14. The 10th screen (if you selected "Finish" in the previous 9th screen)

if you selected "Finish" in the previous (9th screen) the small green "x" (icon) will not have
appeared in the Task Bar and that means XITAMI is not running.

<Click> on the
file-icon "XITAMI
Web Server-
Windows"

THEREFORE, to start Xitami, go to the Window appearing on the screen and <click> on the
file-icon "XITAMI Web Server-Windows".

green x

The green "X" should now appear in the Task Bar indicating that Xitami is running.

<close> the Window (Start Menu ...) that appeared containing Xitami program file icon.

10
 The installation of XITAMI is now completed:

• if you had problems installing Xitami - GO to section-4.1.1, if not

•Go to Section 2.2 TO CONTINUE with the installation of the WEBLIS software component

2.2 To install WEBLIS

We presume you are login to the WEB server as administrator. Follow step-by-step "illustrated"
instructions below:
1. Open the WEBLIS installation directory.
2. a list of the folders/files contained in Weblis should appear on the screen.

(note, in the examples below, the folders/files are displayed in a "List with details", but your computer may display the
same folders/files differently (i.e. as Icons or small pictures) depending on how your computer is set for "Viewing files" -
how you set your computer "to view" files does not affect the installation.

3. TO START the Installation of the WEBLIS software component.

<double click>
on the file
"Setup.exe"

click "next"

4. The first Screen is the "Welcome" Screen as seen on the figure above

5. The 2nd screen is "Choose Destination Location"

<click> "Browse"
to view "drive" and"
file" location

<click> "Next"

11
(Help note: this is the first screen in the procedure to create the" Path" of the web server document directory
(C:\xitami\webpages). In the screen that follows this one (the 3 rd screen), you will be guided through the 4-steps
required to create the above mentioned Path (note, in the examples below, we use C:\ as the destination drive, but if
you have problems with space on the C:\ drive, you may use another destination drive for the Path)

6. The 3rd screen is "Choose Folder" (the same screen remains for all 4 steps)

(Help note: the object of this screen (4 steps) is to create the PATH C:\xitami\webpages in the Path bar)

STEP-1 STEP-2 STEP-3 STEP-4

<double click> "webpages"

<double click> " C:\ "
in "Directories" window
and
the " C:\ " should
appear in the Path bar
<double click> "Xitami"
<double click> "OK"
in "Directories" window
in "Directories" window
to confirm the Path
and
and
C:\xitami\webpages
"Xitami" should appear
"webpages" should appear
in the Path bar
in the Path bar

7. The 4th screen is return to "Choose Destination Location" after the directory has been chosen

<click> "Next"

(Help note: this is the final screen or step in creating the Path C:\Xitami|web\pages )

8. The 5th screen is "Choose Destination Location" for the cgi-bin program

<click> "browse"
to view "drive" and
"file locations"

12
 (Help note: this is the first screen in the sequence for creating the Path of the web server cgi-bin directory
(C:\xitami\cgi-bin). In the screen that follows this one (the 8th screen), you will be guided through the 3-steps
required to create the above mentioned Path (note, in the examples below, we use C:\ as the destination drive, but
if you have problems with space on the C:\ drive, you may use another destination drive for the Path)

9. The 6th screen is "Choose folder" (the screen remains for all 3 steps)
(Help note: the object of this screen is to create the "Path" to the cgi-bin file (C:\Xitami\cgi-bin) in the Path bar.
Note, if you use another Web server (i.e. instead of Xitami ) insert its path to the cgi-bin file)

STEP-1 STEP-2 STEP-3

<double click> "cgi-bin"

<double click> "Xitami"
in "Directories" window
in "Directories" window <double click> "OK"
and
and to confirm the Path
"cgi-bin" should appear
"webpages" should C:\xitami\cgi-bin
in the Path bar
disappear from the Path
bar

10. The 7th Screen is "Choose Destination Location"

<click> "Next"

(Help note: this is the final screen or step in creating the Path C:\Xitami\cgi-bin)

11. The 8th Screen is "Select Program Folder"

<click> "Next"

<click> "Next"

(Help note: this screen creates and adds the program Icon (WEBLIS) to the Program folder)
13
 12. The 9th Screen is "Start Copying Files"

<click> "Next"

installing

(Help note: this is your last chance before the installation actually starts to go back and change any settings) .

! (NOTE, if necessary, this software can be uninstalled using the Windows (Add/Remove programs) utility in the Control
Panel)

13. The 10th Screen is "Setup Complete"

<click> on "Finish"

(Help note: your computer must be re-booted (i.e., shut your computer and then re-start it ) before the program will
work (that is why the "Yes, I want to restart my computer now" is the default setting"))

The Installation of the WEBLIS software component is now completed

• go to Section 2.3, To Install Netscape 4.5 on the CLIENT computer

• go to Section 5 for description/discussion of files comprising system
the WEBLIS component,

3TO START the WEBLIS software system in the Network Environment

Server computer

Remember: the Server computer must be turned on, in order for the Client computers to access
the Server (i.e. where the main WEBLIS software component is installed). Also the web server
software (Xitami) must be running1.

If you have an internet browser installed on the server computer you can first check if WEBLIS works on
the server:
1
If you have installed Xitami, and during the installation, you did not select the option to: "Start Xitami
automatically" you must now start Xitami manually by going to Windows <Start>menu, <Programs>,
<Internet Tools>, and <click> on the <Xitami Web Server-Windows> Icon
14
• Go to your computer's "desktop". The installation of the WEBLIS component will have created on
your desktop a shortcut (Icon) to the folder called (WEBLIS)).

<click> on
WEBLIS
shortcut

• A window with links to 4 files should appear:

Data Entry: links to the cataloguing sub-system

Search: links to search subsystem (OPAC)
ISIS: links to DOS ISIS, which is intended for the Database
Administrator, providing the functions for:
- inverted file update and generation
- master file reorganization
- export/import, etc. (Annex-_, section_

Authorization: for local needs (Annex- )

• To start WEBLIS Search click on the Search icon (it will provide you the English OPAC,
with the links to French and Spanish interfaces)
• To start Catalogue Data Entry click on the Entry icon. In the screen that appears (i.e. the
first screen of the Catalogue Data Entry sub-system) you must Login. From this screen
you can also switch to French or Spanish Data entry module
• To start the Loan module click on the LOAN icon
• To start the acquisition module (English version only)

You can login as dba with the password dba. There are other types of users. See Annex 1for other Ids
and passwords, as well as for how to change/add the access privileges to other users.

15
 ! Note: if the system does not run see Section 4.

Client computers

Please note there are no WEBLIS icons on the clients desktops. Therefore in order to start the system
perform the following:

• <start> the web browser software (Netscape 4.5 or IExplorer v. 5.x ), and
• <type> in the "Location" bar2 the "URL address of your Server computer followed by
/libcat/de.html (for the data entry sub-system), or
/libcat/ (for the search sub-system) and press <enter>

http://www.isis.org/asfa /de.html)
(to access the Data Entry sub-system)

For example: let us assume that the server DNS is www.isis.org and the port is setup to 80 (this is the
default URL if the or
installer has not detected any connection of the server computer to the network). In this
case, after all the necessary software components have been installed, you should be able to call the
Server computer from any Client computer having TCP/IP connection to your Server URL.

4TROUBLE SHOOTING

4.1 Checking Xitami for correct installation

You can check to see if the Xitami installation was successful by following the instructions in this
Section. In Section 2.1.2, you will find trouble shooting notes for any eventual problems (error
messages) you may have encountered during the installation (e.g. Port 80 occupied etc.).

• <Open> Netscape (either from the desktop icon or from: Start Menu/Programs/Netscape
Communicator/Netscape Navigator)

• In the URL location bar <type> the following address: http://localhost

(Note: If you installed Xitami web server in a Port different than 80 (80 is the default), e.g. 120, then your
URL address should read http://localhost:120 )

• The Xitami "welcome" page will appear. It contains information about the software, License
Agreement, etc.

From the "welcome" page, go to the administration page by <clicking> on the link "WEB-based
admin", or specifying the url: http://localhost/admin

• The system will ask you for (user id and password). Fill in the fields according to the
values you specified during the installation.

The system will display the screen as shown below.

2
This is for the Netscape browser. In the case of IExplorer type the URL into the Address bar
16
 <select> the option
"Configuration"

When you select the first option ("Configuration") the system shows you the screen below. Most of the fields
shown are self-explanatory. The first parameter shows the location of WEB root. From the WEB root one can
build directories that contain pages available at the server. In particular, one directory will be created for the
WEBLIS system of WWW-ISIS. In the LIBCAT directory, all necessary HTMLs of the WEBLIS application should
be located. The second field defines the cgi-bin directory. In particular it shows you where the WWW-ISIS
program should be located.

4.1.1 Problems you may have encountered during installation of Xitami (and the solutions)

During the installation of the Xitami web server it may happen that Port 80 (which is the default port
used by Xitami) is already dedicated to another web server installed on your PC. If this is the case,
Xitami will not open up correctly when typing the URL http://localhost. You may or may not receive the
following error message: "Could not open http Port 80. Port is already used by another server".

You should then change the Port number assigned to Xitami, by editing the Xitami.cfg file (using
Notepad), located in the Main Xitami directory (C:\Xitami if you have not changed the defaults during
the installation process), and assigning to the parameter portbase a number different than zero.

Remember that the Port number and the portbase value should be assigned in a way that: Port no.
= 80 + portbase. The 2 variables are dependent. Once you decide the value to be assigned to one of
the two, the other should be calculated according to the formula above

For example, if you decide to use Port no. 120, then you should type 40 as Portbase value in the
Xitami.cfg file.
If you decide to assign 10 to the Portbase value, then your Port number will be 90.

17
 Note: If you are going to start WEBLIS on the server computer using the icons WEBLIS Search and
WEBLIS Data Entry (see p. 14), remember to add the same port number in the icons destination field.

4.2 Eventual Problems in starting/using of the WEBLIS system

4.2.1 Starting WEBLIS

If after installing all the software components (Xitami, Netscape and WEBLIS), the www-ISIS-ISIS system
does not open or run correctly - see below for TESTS and possible SOLUTIONS.

1. When you try launching the program on the server computer from either the shortcut icon on your
desktop (Weblis) or by typing the URL address into your browser - you are not able to start the system.

First, check if the connectivity between client program (browser) and web server (Xitami) can be
established:

To solve this problem, <open> your browser (e.g. Netscape) and check if the following URL works

http://127.0.0.1

If for this URL you receive the welcome XITAMI page the test is correct, thus try with

http://127.0.0.1/LIBCAT

If with this URL you receive the WEBLIS search screen, possibly two problems coincident:

(a) your server has no DNS

(b)the attempt to assign locally the name www.isis.org failed

To solve this problem:

- <search> for the file host (in standard installations of Windows 95, and Windows 98 the file is
usually in the catalogue Win95, or Win98 respectively)

- <Open> the file using Notepad. You should see the following line:

127.0.0.1 local host

- Go to a new line and <type> the following:

127.0.0.1 www.isis.org

- reboot the server

Another reason might be that the server does not work - check it by indicating another URL valid for this
server (in the case of XITAMI, try for example the URL: http:/localhost/admin.
This should bring the Xitami administration panel. If nothing happens, it means that the server does not
work, so just restart the Xitami WEB server.

If you are sure that the web server works properly, and the TCP/IP connectivity is setup properly, though
you cannot manage with fixing the problems to run WEBLIS on the server computer, try to uninstall the
system and then install it again. To uninstall the system:
• use the icon Add/Remove Programs on the control panel
• find the system WEBLIS
18
 • <click> on REMOVE button
• after removing WEBLIS reboot the computer and repeat the installation procedure from
section 2.2

2. The system works properly on the web server, but when you try launching the program on the
client computer by typing the URL address into your browser - you are not able to start the system:

(a) Verify the URL, especially the "port" part. Please note that normally the port is omitted from the
URL if its value is 80, otherwise it should be stated. If you have changed the Port base number to a
value different than 80, then you should remember to insert the new Port number in all the URL
addresses.

(b) Check if other web resources on the server are available for the client, try for example using the
URL: http://server_url/ (if you use xitami web server try http://server_url/admin. If the URLs don’t work
you should verify the connectivity between client and server computer
- in terms of hardware – check if the client is connected to the LAN,
- in term of software check if the client has the TCP/IP connectivity installed.

3. After typing the URL into Netscape's "Go to:" location bar, the browser immediately gives an error
box saying: The URL you asked for does not exist on this website

This message means that the Web server works, but it does not see the location of the HTMLs for the
WEBLIS application. Possibly the LIBCAT folder is not located at the WEB server root. In this case,
uninstall the system (using the standard Windows ADD/Remove programs procedure available from the
Control Panel) and install it again, provide proper parameters for the WEB server root (see section 2.2).

Another possible solution in this case is to define the LIBCAT folder as the "virtual root directory" of the
WEB server; this however requires a good knowledge of the WEB server you are using.

4. After typing the URL into the browser's location window, the browser immediately provides the left
frame, but the right frame cannot be constructed. This may happen in two cases:

(a) if the cgi directory is not the one you indicated during the installation procedure the WEB server
cannot find the program isis3w.exe. In this case, check out the proper name of the cgi directory
and copy there the program isis3w.exe, along with the files isis3w.exe.cfg and Isis32.dll.

(b) it may also happen that your WEB server does not have switched "on" the execution of the cgi
programs. In this case, you have to open the WEB server control panel and change the setting for
cgi (if you use XITAMI this should never happen).

4.2.2 Problems in the Data Entry subsystem

1. The system accepts your LOGIN, but does not allow you to start entering data in a new record.

This may be caused by the following reasons

(a) “Cookies” option does not work in the browser. Check the setting of your Web Browser's "cookies"
option You can check this by going to the Netscape Tool Bar (click on EDIT → Preferences → Advanced);

(b) your URL address is not correct. Please note that locally (in intranet) for other applications often
it is enough to refer to the server by its name, e.g. if the computer server is defined as isis, one can refer
within LAN to weblis by http://isis/libcat/de.html. This is not correct for calling WEBLIS data entry
system. Check in the file isis3w.exe.cfg the value of the parameter CookieDomain and use this value as

19
the DNS in calling WEBLIS (this is actually full name). If for example the value of the parameter is
isis.icie.pl, use for the data entry the url http://isis.icie.pl/LIBCAT/de.html.

(c) within the LAN a proxy server filters out the “cookies”. This problem has to be solved with the
LAN manager.

20
5Description of the files comprising the WEBLIS software

While you have installed the WEBLIS software, the installation procedure performs the following steps:

1. the Libcat directory on the indicated web root of the server, where the HTML files (for English) are copied,
along with all the necessary definition files

2. The directories Libcat_fra and Libcat_spa where the HTMLs for French and Spanish interfaces (respectively)
are loaded;
3. the files isis3w.exe and isis32.dll are copied to the indicated cgi-bin directory
4. the installation procedure recognizes the DNS of your server (the DNS parameter is important for the created
configuration file (isis3w.cfg)).
5. a CDS/ISIS database called LIBCAT is copied to the hard disk. It contains some sample records, so that you
may start testing the system immediately. Additionally, all auxiliary ISIS databases are copied to the hard disk
(validation database, authority database, LIBCAT thesaurus, and a work database for storing session data)
6. the configuration files isis3w.cfg and dbn.def are generated and copied to the cgi-bin directory.
7. in addition, the installation procedure creates a shortcut to a special folder on the desktop of your server
computer. The folder contains:
• a link to data entry subsystem
• a link to search subsystem

• a link to the DOS ISIS, which is intended for the Database Administrator, providing the functions for
inverted file update and generation, export/import functions, etc.
• additionally you will find there a link to the authorization file, which you should adjust to your local
needs (see Section Annex A-1.3)

5.1 Directory Structure

21
 Below is a description of the directory structure as created in the Xitami folder during installation of the
WEBLIS software WEBLIS (in the event another other Web server software was used, the structure will
As shown below the
installation procedure
generates the directory
\Libcat with the
appropriate structure.
The \libcat catalogue
contains all necessary
HTML files and definition
files. In particular, there
are the following HTML
files:
Index.html - starting page for the search
subsystem;
Toc.html - left frame for the search subsystem.
For the search subsystem, the main (right)
frame is dynamically created by the system.
Kwocinlib.html - thesaurus based search frame
de.html - starting page for the data entry
subsystem;
tocde.html - left frame for the data entry
subsystem;
For the data entry subsystem, the right frame
frame is dynamically created by the system.
Loan.html – starting page for the loan system
Tocloan.html – the menu (left frame for the
Loan subsystem
In addition, the folder contains the definition files
defining the screens for search and browse
(database.def and browse.def respectively).
Help sub-catalogue - In the subdirectory
\HELP, all necessary help files for the search
subsystem are stored (English version).
HTP sub-catalogue - This folder contains htp
subfolders specific for particular languages. In
the present Weblis system only the English
subcatalogs have been provided. Hence, the
subcatalogue \eng contains English versions of
the HTP files. The HTP files provide all
necessary system messages, and they are
"repositories" of HTML constructs required by
program when creating dynamically some web
pages.

be similar up to the names of the WEB server folders).

Note*: if the Server is not connected to the network and no DNS is provided to it, the installation procedure
will assign to it the DNS: www.isis.org. If the system is not expected to run in the Internet, this DNS can be
used locally. If however, you would like to change the DNS, please remember to change the DNS in the
configuration File ISIS3w.exe.cfg, which you will find in the cgi-bin catalogue (first find there the key word
“CookieDomain", then replace the DNS).
Note: If you plan installing on Internet only search functionality, whereas the data entry you expect to run
locally, i.e. only for intranet (this is the recommended setup), you should install the system twice:
(a) on intranet server, and
(b) on the internet server,
As the Internet installation should not have the data entry facilities, after having performed (b) remove from
the Internet installation from the LIBCAT catalogue the files de.html and tocde.html.

IF FOR SOME USERS YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE DATA ENTRY FUNCTIONALITY ON INTERNET,
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT ACCESS TO THE LIBCAT DIRECTORY (IN THIS CASE IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT YOU PROVIDE A FIREWALL FOR ACCESSING THE WEBLIS DATA ENTRY
SYSTEM.

*
This note refers to the “standing alone” installations
22
 Annex-1. INFORMATION FOR SYSTEM MANAGER

A-1.1 Computer Requirements to run the WEBLIS System

For a successful installation of the WEBLIS system, the following minimum hardware configuration is
required in a networked (inter/intranet) environment regarding: the Server computer, and the Client
computer/s.

The SERVER computer

• Computer: IBM PC or compatible microcomputer Pentium II processor (or higher)

• Operating system: Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 2000 or XP. The TCP/IP connection must be installed (Control-
Panel/Network Component/Configuration)

• RAM: at least 256 MB of RAM memory,

• Hard Disk Memory: For a 100 MB ISIS database at least 1 GB of hard disk storage is recommended; For installation
50 MB of hard disk storage space is required to install WEBLIS, and additionally 7 MB for the Xitami web server
software
(Note: Xitami is not needed if another web server software is already installed )

The CLIENT computer/s

client Computer: IBM PC or compatible microcomputer Pentium II processor or higher

client Operating system: Microsoft Windows 95 / 98 / Millenium / NT / 2000 or XP. The TCP/IP
connection must be installed and the computer should be connected to the LAN
RAM: at least 64 MB of RAM
Hard Disk Memory: a total of 20 MB of hard disk storage space is required to install a
web browser component (Netscape 4.5 or IExplorer v. 5.x). HOWEVER you may
client not need to install this software if it is already installed in your computer.
sr server
A CD-ROM reader is required, if you want to install the software from the CDROM.
Note: Don’t install XITAMI or WEBLIS software.

client

client

A-1.2 How to load records created under the old DOS ISIS software into the new system.
If you would like to load the records created using the DOS/Win ISIS software into the new WEBLIS
system you should be aware of the following points:

(a) The structure of the records may be incompatible. Therefore after you should translate the old
records into the new system as close as possible, then possibly you will have to manually edit the

23
 records in order to transfer some data elements, which may not be in the appropriate new field.
See Annex 2 below for a description of the LIBCAT database.

(b) Note also that the records in the old database were not validated, or if so, not with the same
validation routines, as present in the new software; therefore if/when you update old records in
the new system, the new systems validation routines may signal inconsistencies, errors, etc. in
the records with respect to the new systems structure.

A-1.3 System adjustment

A number of adjustments can be done in order to customize the system to specific needs of the WEBLIS
user. Some possible adjustments are described below that could be useful for the proper use of the
system. If one would like to add more features to the system, it is recommended that the tutorials for
using WWW-ISIS be carefully studied (the HTML tutors can be downloaded from
http://www.icie.com.pl/www.htm)

A-1.3.1 Authorization rights adjustment (passwords)

As mentioned earlier, the folder WEBLIS on the server computer desktop contains a link to the
authorization file. You can open the file just by clicking on the icon “WEBLIS Authorizations”.

The file defines the following user groups: namely adm, admval, admloan and userloan. The first group of
users is authorized to enter/modify bibliographic records. The second group is authorized to update the
authority records, such as Corporate names, Serial Titles, Conference Names**. The admloan group has
possibilities to define documents and loan privileges, whereas the userloan group can process the loan
operations. For those groups of users the following users have been defined:
User ID Password Description
Dba dba The original file defines one user description – dba with the
password dba. This user is authorized to enter, modify and
delete all types of records. It is recommended to change the
password and the User Id. In addition, depending on the needs
one can define other users, assigning them User Id and
passwords.
cataloguer cataloguer Cataloguer can update all types of bibliographic records and
Authority records
Loan loan Loan user can use all the worksheets foreseen for running the
LOAN system

For each type of users one can also add more users just by copying to the authorization file the
sequence:

<isis_user>

name = user1; password = password; groups = <list of groups>;

</isis_user>

as many times as needed, adjusting the parameters (user1 and password) to the local needs. If for
organizational matters it is desirable that some of the users are restricted to entering only specific record
types, one can define another user group and add users attached to this group.

**
For the current installation there is no possibility to start entering/modifying from the menu any authority record.
24
 A-1.3.2 Moving the databases to another location
If for any reasons one would like to move the ISIS databases to another location, it is necessary to adjust
the file dbn.def* in the libcat directory:

LIBCAT; C:\Xitami\webpages\DB\weblis-db\libcat\
AUTH; C:\Xitami\webpages\DB\weblis-db\auth\
THES; C:\Xitami\webpages\DB\weblis-db\thes\
VALID; C:\Xitami\webpages\DB\weblis-db\valid\
CODES; C:\Xitami\webpages\DB\weblis-db\valid\
ITEM; C:\Xitami\webpages\DB\weblis-db\ITEM\
LOAN; C:\Xitami\webpages\DB\weblis-db\Loan\
PATRON; C:\Xitami\webpages\DB\weblis-db\Patron\

changing the paths to the new ones.

Additionally, one should adjust the files dbn.par for each database in the ISIS directory, so that it would
be possible to access the databases in the new locations with the DOS ISIS application.

A-1.4 Database management

In order to avoid any problems with loosing the ISIS database it is recommended that the ownership of all
ISIS files be set up in such a way that only authorized staff can access the corresponding directories on
the web server.

For running WWW-ISIS the ISIS databases should be in read-write mode at least for the administrator.
Additionally it is recommended that backup of the corresponding directories is taken at least once a day,
so that in the case of the hard disk corruption one can loose only one day work at last.

From the point of view of the system efficiency it is recommended that ISIS procedures for Master file
reorganization and full inverted file generation are run from time to time depending on the dynamics of the
changes. One should run those procedures regularly once per week for medium to heavy workload. For a
low workload the procedures can be run once a month.

As the new system provides only the interface to the end-users, we presume that the original ISIS
software performs all the administrative works (DOS version of ISIS or WinISIS). The WEBLIS installation
procedure guarantees that the DOS Micro/CDS-ISIS is properly installed. The DOS ISIS installation has
access to all necessary ISIS databases.

The DOS ISIS can be started by clicking on the ISIS icon in the WEBLIS window. It is foreseen that the
standard ISIS should be used for:

• Master file reorganization

• Inverted file generation
• Export and import procedures

*
The contents of the file dbn.def is automatically defined during the installation procedure, after having defined the web
server root (in the case of xitami it is “…\webpages\db\libcat”.
25
WWW-ISIS uses an ISIS database, named WORK, for storing session details. To this end it is
recommended that the WORK database be cleaned from time to time. The best way to clean it is to copy
an empty WORK database. The following procedure is recommended:

1.before starting a regular exploitation copy the catalogue …webpages\db\work to another directory;
2.once a week copy the contents of this directory to …webpages\db\work; to be sure that at the time
of copying nobody works with WWW-ISIS, program a batch task that copies the files in the night
time.

26
 Annex-2 WHAT’S LIBCAT structure
In this annex we provide a description of the LIBCAT database, hoping that experienced ISIS users will be
able to translate their old ISIS databases to the LIBCAT structure. We expect however that in general, there
might be a need to prepare a pascal program for better adjustment to the LIBCAT specific structure.

The distribution pack contains a non-empty database, so that the user can analyze under ISIS the details of
the structure. A general knowledge of bibliographic databases may be a real asset in this exercise.

LIBCAT field definition table

Field name Tag Attributes Remarks

R – repeatable
O – obligatory
Record Id 3 O Obligatory; Unique record identifier
automatically assigned by the system.
Examples: MON-000012,
ANA-000455
Bibliographic level 11 O M – Monographic;
MS – Monographic Serial
AM, AMS – Analytic from monograph
(from M or S respectively)
S – serial (not used in the SER records)
Report number - M lev. 18
Library call number 22 O
ISBN 26
ISSN 27
Personal Author - A lev. ^a^b 28 R For analytic level:
^a name ^b role
e.g. ^aSmith J.^b(ed)
Personal Author - M lev. ^a^b 29 R For monographic level:
^a name ^b role
e.g. ^aSmith J.^b(ed)
Corp. Author - A lev. 30 R For analytic level:
Taken from a lookup table (validated)
Corp. Author - M lev. 31 R For Monographic level

Title(s) - A lev. 330 O (for AS, Analytic title

AM AMS)
Title(s) - A lev. Transl 334 Translation to system
Language
Title(s) - M lev. 340 O Monographic title
(for M, MS)
Title(s) - M lev. transl 344 Translation to system
Language
Sec. title element(s) - A lev. 350
Sec. title element(s) - A lev.transl 354
Sec. title element(s) - M lev. 360
Sec. title element(s) - M lev.transl 364
Serial title(s) 410 O (for S)
Language full name A 430 R,O Language(s) of the paper
Language full name M 440 R,O Language(s) of the Monograph
Language full name S 450 R,O Language(s) of the Serial
Conference name(s) 460
Conference No. 465
Conference place 466
Conference date 467
Organizing body 468
Edition number 51
27
Place of publication 52
Publisher 53
Date of publication - M lev. 54 Date as on monographic document
(for searching purposes the field 64
is used)
Date of publication - S lev. 55 Date as on serial document
(for searching purposes the field 64
is used)
Collation - M lev. ^a^b 56 See help on the worksheets
Collation - S lev. 57 As above
Notes 58
Related Acc. Number of M - A lev. 61 Link from Analytic to Monographic
URL 63 Internet address of the document
Publication year 64 Year in the form of 4 digits
(for searching)
Form of document 72 Values as on worksheets
Sec. index terms 73 R Controlled by a thesaurus
(navigation provided )
1 descriptor=1 field occ
Main subject terms 74 R,O Controlled by a thesaurus
(navigation provided )
1 descriptor=1 field occ
No of copies 100
Geographic terms (not used) 75 Not provided on the worksheet
Abstract 79
Entered by 91 Automatically assigned
Date of input 200 Automatically assigned
Date of last update 210 Automatically assigned
Record status 220- T – temporary
I – to be indexed with descriptors
C – completed and validated

28
6 Annex 3 Frequently Asked Questions

6.1 How to connect WEBLIS to IIS

The installation procedure of WEBLIS for IIS should be performed in a similar way as for Xitami, except that
the directory libcat may be selected anywhere, and afterwards should be defined as a virtual directory of IIS.
In case of cgi-bin, one can find an existing directory that plays a tole of the cgi-bin directory. Very often such
directory already exists and is called scripts. In such a case if there is no contradiction with other systems
one can just rename sripts to cgi-bin, and provide this location while installing WEBLIS (see figure below).

Fig. 1 Renaming scripts to cgi-bin

Note: To rename scripts directory one should click on the directory and when it is possible to write, just
change the name to cgi-bin.
If however, the name scripts has to be reserved for other applications and for any reasons we don’t want to
store there executables for WEBLIS we should perform the following steps.
1. Under file manager define the directory (any name giving intuitive understanding, e.g. cgi-bin or cgi-
bin-lis). It can be stored e.g. under inetpub.
2. Then under file manager open the directory properties (Fig.2) and open the folder WEB sharing
(fig.3)
3. enter the alias name cgi-bin, check the box “execute” (fig. 4) and confirm by OK.

Now the system should work properly

29
1. Right-click

Open the web

share

Fig 2 Open the directory properties (right click)

Mark this button

Fig. 3 Mark share this folder

30
 It has to be cgi-bin (alias
name)

Must be checked on

Fig. 4 add the alias name and mark as Execute

6.2 Other questions

1 After typing the URL into the browser’s “Address” or "Location” bar, the browser gives an error box:
“The URL you asked for does not exist on this website”

This message means that the Web server works, but it does not see the location of the HTMLs for the
WEBLIS application. Possibly the LIBCAT folder is not located at the WEB server root. In this case,
uninstall the system (using the standard Windows ADD/Remove programs procedure available from the
Control Panel) and install it again, providing proper parameters for the WEB server root.
Another possible solution in this case is to define the LIBCAT folder as the "virtual root directory" of the
WEB server; this however requires a good knowledge of the WEB server you are using.

2 After typing the URL into the browser’s “Address” or "Location” bar, the browser provides the left frame,
but the right frame does not appear.

This may happen in two cases:

(a) if the cgi directory is not the one you indicated during the installation procedure the WEB server
cannot find the program isis3w.exe. In this case, check out the proper name of the cgi directory and
copy there the program isis3w.exe, along with the files isis3w.exe.cfg and Isis32.dll.
(b) it may also happen that your WEB server does not have switched "on" the execution of the cgi
programs. In this case, you have to open the WEB server control panel and change the setting for cgi (if
you use XITAMI this should never happen).

31
3 WEBLIS software is installed on the server. How can I run the old DOS ISIS from a client machine,
accessing the database located on the server?

You can map the shared folder (as e.g. X drive) on a client machine and then run isis.exe. All the
parameters (paths) required by isis.exe are defined relatively. If however, you cannot access the server
disk drive by maping, you should use a specialized software, like PC-Anywhere or Netmeeting, that
allows you to access the server remotely. Once such a software is installed you can see from your client
the desktop of the server and from the desktop you can open the WebLIS folder, then activate the DOS
ISIS.

4 During the installation of Xitami web server I have received the following error message: "Could not
open http Port 80. Port is already used by another server"

When installing Xitami web server it may happen that Port 80 (which is the default port used by Xitami)
is already dedicated to another web server installed on your PC. If this is the case, Xitami will not open
up correctly when typing the URL http://localhost. You may or may not receive the following error
message: "Could not open http Port 80. Port is already used by another server".

You should then change the Port number assigned to Xitami, by editing the Xitami.cfg file (using
Notepad), located in the Main Xitami directory (C:\Xitami if you have not changed the defaults during the
installation process), and assigning to the parameter portbase a number different than zero.
Remember that the Port number and the portbase value should be assigned in a way that: Port no. = 80
+ portbase. The 2 variables are dependent. Once you decide about the port value, the portbase should
be calculated according to the formula above
For example, if you decide to use Port no. 120, then you should type 40 as Portbase value in the
Xitami.cfg file. If you decide to assign 10 to the Portbase value, then your Port number will be 90.

Note: If you are going to start WEBLIS on the server computer using the icons “Search” and “Data
Entry”, remember to add the same port number in the icons destination field.

5 How can I uninstall WEBLIS software?

To uninstall the system:

- use the icon Add/Remove Programs on the control panel
- find the system WWWIsis WEBLIS
- click on REMOVE button

6 I am not able to start the system when trying to launch the program on a client computer.

We assume that the system works properly on the web server, but when you trying to launch the
program on a client computer by typing the URL address into your browser - you are not able to start the
system:
(a) Verify the URL, especially the "port" part. Please note that normally the port number is omitted from
the URL if its value is 80, otherwise it should be stated (if you have changed the Port number to a value
different than 80, then you should remember to insert the new Port number in all the URL addresses).
(b) Check if other web resources on the server are available for the client, try for example using the
URL: http://server_url/ (if you use xitami web server try http://server_url/admin). If the URLs don’t
work you should verify the connectivity between client and server computer
- in terms of hardware – check if the client is connected to the LAN,
- in term of software – check if the client has the TCP/IP connectivity installed.

32
7 I am not able to start the system when trying to launch the program on the server computer from either
the shortcut icon on my desktop (WebLis) or by typing the URL address into the browser.

First, check if the connectivity between client program (browser) and web server (Xitami) can be
established:
To solve this problem, your browser (e.g. Netscape) and check if the following URL works
http://127.0.0.1
If for this URL you receive the welcome XITAMI page, it means that the WEB server XITAMI is installed
correctly.
If with URL http://127.0.0.1/libcat, you receive the WEBLIS search screen, but with
http://dns-of-the-server/libcat
you cannot get the connection, possibly two problems coincide:
(a) your server has no DNS
(b) the attempt to assign the name server DNS has failed;

Another reason might be that the server does not work - check it by indicating another URL valid for this
server (in the case of XITAMI, try for example the URL: http:/localhost/admin. This should bring the
Xitami administration panel. If nothing happens, it means that the server does not work, so just restart
the Xitami WEB server.

If you are sure that the web server works properly, and the TCP/IP connectivity is setup properly, though
you cannot manage with fixing the problems to run WEBLIS on the server computer, try to uninstall the
system. After removing WEBLIS reboot the computer and repeat the installation procedure

8 The system accepts your LOGIN, but does not allow you to start entering data in a new record.

This may be caused by the following reasons:

(a) “Cookies” option does not work in the browser. Check the setting of your Web Browser's "cookies"
option You can check this by going to the Netscape Tool Bar (click on EDIT -> Preferences ->
Advanced);
(b) Cookies are not working. Check in the file isis3w.exe.cfg the value of the parameter CookieDomain
and use this value as the DNS in calling WEBLis (this is actually full name). If for example the value of
the parameter is isis.icie.pl, use for the data entry the url http://isis.icie.pl/libcat/de.html.
(c) The proxy server within the LAN filters out the “cookies”. This problem has to be solved with the LAN
manager who should disactivate a proxy server for addresses beginning with the DNS of the server of
your application. For example: In Internet Explorer/Tools-Internet options-> Connections -> LAN
Settings-> Proxy server->Advanced-> Do not use a proxy server for addresses...type the DNS for your
application.

9 When updating any of the WebLis databases I get the following message:
Error code: -101
Data Base access denied (data entry lock).
When I try to unlock the database (using the CDS/ISIS DOS-interface) nothing happens.

Please, run CDS/ISIS DOS-interface and do the following steps:

1) From the main menu select I (Inverted file services)
2) Select U (Update inverted file) as inverted file update can be pending
3) Go back to main menu and select M (Master file services)
4) Select C (Reorganize master file)
Note: Steps 1 and 2 are not always necessary but they are included in the procedure as reorganization
of master file cannot be done when inverted file is pending.
It is recommended to run Full Inverted File Generation (options I and then F) at the end.

33
10 How to install WEBLIS in a network computer environment with no DNS defined?
There are two solutions:
1) Use IP address of the server instead of http address. Remember that http address must be
consistent with CookieDomain specified in isis3w.exe.cfg, so in this case CookieDomain must show IP
address.
2) Add http address line to "hosts" file on all computers (e.g. C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts)

More information you can find in this document section 3 and 4.2.

11 How to change width of the left panel of WEBLIS data entry window?
1) Find in the LIBCAT directory the file de.html
2) Open it with notepad
3) Change the size of the frame in the phrase:
...
<FRAMESET COLS="184,*" border="0" frameborder="0" framespacing="0">
<NOFRAMES>
<B>Sorry, wrong browser! - you must use Netscape 4.x or IE 4.x </B>
</NOFRAMES>
...

1. After typing the URL into the browser’s “Address” or "Location” bar, the browser gives an error
box: “The URL you asked for does not exist on this website”

This message means that the Web server works, but it does not see the location of the HTMLs for
the ASFA application. Possibly the ASFA folder is not located at the WEB server root. In this case,
uninstall the system (using the standard Windows ADD/Remove programs procedure available
from the Control Panel) and install it again, providing proper parameters for the WEB server root.
Another possible solution in this case is to define the ASFA folder as the "virtual root directory" of
the WEB server; this however requires a good knowledge of the WEB server you are using.

2. After typing the URL into the browser’s “Address” or "Location” bar, the browser provides the left
frame, but the right frame does not appear.

This may happen in two cases:

(a) if the cgi directory is not the one you indicated during the installation procedure the WEB
server cannot find the program isis3w.exe. In this case, check out the proper name of the cgi
directory and copy there the program isis3w.exe, along with the files isis3w.exe.cfg and Isis32.dll.
(b) it may also happen that your WEB server does not have switched "on" the execution of the cgi
programs. In this case, you have to open the WEB server control panel and change the setting for
cgi (if you use XITAMI this should never happen).

34
3. ASFA software is installed on the server. How can I run the old DOS ASFISIS from a client
machine?

You can map the shared folder (as e.g. X drive) on a client machine and then run isis.exe. All the
parameters (paths) required by isis.exe are defined relatively.

4. During the installation of Xitami web server I have received the following error message: "Could
not open http Port 80. Port is already used by another server"

When installing Xitami web server it may happen that Port 80 (which is the default port used by
Xitami) is already dedicated to another web server installed on your PC. If this is the case, Xitami
will not open up correctly when typing the URL http://localhost. You may or may not receive the
following error message: "Could not open http Port 80. Port is already used by another server".

You should then change the Port number assigned to Xitami, by editing the Xitami.cfg file (using
Notepad), located in the Main Xitami directory (C:\Xitami if you have not changed the defaults
during the installation process), and assigning to the parameter portbase a number different than
zero.
Remember that the Port number and the portbase value should be assigned in a way that: Port
no. = 80 + portbase. The 2 variables are dependent. Once you decide the value to be assigned to
one of the two, the other should be calculated according to the formula above
For example, if you decide to use Port no. 120, then you should type 40 as Portbase value in the
Xitami.cfg file. If you decide to assign 10 to the Portbase value, then your Port number will be 90.

Note: If you are going to start ASFA on the server computer using the icons WWW-ISIS-ASFA
Search and WWW-ISIS-ASFA Data Entry, remember to add the same port number in the icons
destination field.

5. How can I uninstall ASFA software?

To uninstall the system:

- use the icon Add/Remove Programs on the control panel
- find the system WWWIsis ASFA
- click on REMOVE button

6. I am not able to start the system when trying to launch the program on a client computer.

We assume that the system works properly on the web server, but when you trying to launch the
program on a client computer by typing the URL address into your browser - you are not able to
start the system:
(a) Verify the URL, especially the "port" part. Please note that normally the port number is omitted
from the URL if its value is 80, otherwise it should be stated (if you have changed the Port number
to a value different than 80, then you should remember to insert the new Port number in all the
URL addresses).
(b) Check if other web resources on the server are available for the client, try for example using
the URL: http://server_url/ (if you use xitami web server try http://server_url/admin). If the URLs
don’t work you should verify the connectivity between client and server computer
- in terms of hardware – check if the client is connected to the LAN,
- in term of software – check if the client has the TCP/IP connectivity installed.

35
7. I am not able to start the system when trying to launch the program on the server computer from
either the shortcut icon on my desktop (wwwISISAsfa) or by typing the URL address into the
browser.

First, check if the connectivity between client program (browser) and web server (Xitami) can be
established:
To solve this problem, your browser (e.g. Netscape) and check if the following URL works
http://127.0.0.1
If for this URL you receive the welcome XITAMI page, it means that the WEB server XITAMI is
installed correctly.
If with URL http://127.0.0.1/asfa, you receive the ASFA search screen, but with
http://www.isis.org/asfa you cannot get the connection, possibly two problems coincide:
(a) your server has no DNS
(b) the attempt to assign locally the name www.isis.org failed

To solve this problem:

- search for the file host (in standard installations of Windows 95 and Windows 98 - the file is
usually in the catalogue Win95, or Win98 respectively)
- open the file using Notepad. You should see the following line:
127.0.0.1 local host
- Go to a new line and type the following:
127.0.0.1 www.isis.org
- reboot the server

Another reason might be that the server does not work - check it by indicating another URL valid
for this server (in the case of XITAMI, try for example the URL: http:/localhost/admin. This should
bring the Xitami administration panel. If nothing happens, it means that the server does not work,
so just restart the Xitami WEB server.

If you are sure that the web server works properly, and the TCP/IP connectivity is setup properly,
though you cannot manage with fixing the problems to run WWW-ISIS-ASFA on the server
computer, try to uninstall the system. After removing WWW-ISIS-ASFA reboot the computer and
repeat the installation procedure

8. The system accepts your LOGIN, but does not allow you to start entering data in a new record.

This may be caused by the following reasons:

(a) “Cookies” option does not work in the browser. Check the setting of your Web Browser's
"cookies" option You can check this by going to the Netscape Tool Bar (click on EDIT ->
Preferences -> Advanced);
(b) Cookies are still not working. Check in the file isis3w.exe.cfg the value of the parameter
CookieDomain and use this value as the DNS in calling WWW-ISIS-ASFA (this is actually full
name). If for example the value of the parameter is isis.icie.pl, use for the data entry the url
http://isis.icie.pl/asfa/de.html.
(c) The proxy server within the LAN filters out the “cookies”. This problem has to be solved with
the LAN manager who should disactivate a proxy server for addresses beginning with the DNS of
the server of your application. For example: In Internet Explorer/Tools-Internet options->
Connections -> LAN Settings-> Proxy server->Advanced-> Do not use a proxy server for
addresses...type the DNS for your application.

36
9. When updating I get following message:
Error code: -101
Data Base access denied (data entry lock).
When I try to unlock the database (using the CDS/ISIS DOS-interface) nothing happens.

Please, run CDS/ISIS DOS-interface and do the folollowing steps:

1) From the main menu select I (Inverted file services)
2) Select U (Update inverted file) as inverted file update can be pending
3) Go back to main menu and select M (Master file services)
4) Select C (Reorganize master file)
Note: Steps 1 and 2 are not always necessary but they are included in the procedure as
reorganization of master file cannot be done when inverted file is pending.
It is recommended to run Full Inverted File Generation (options I and then F) at the end.

10. The system works with IIS. In order to start make the system working under IIS you should:

1) Install WWWIsis ASFA with our installation procedure (I guess this you've done already

2) Define under IIS the directory ASFA as a virtual WEB directory.

3) Define the cgi-bin directory (under file explorer) as the virtual cgi-bin directory, with the rights to
execute scripts and programs (for more information see the winword document).

4) Test the system from the web server and/or connected clients

11. How to install ASFA in a network computer environment with no DNS defined?

There are two solutions:

1) Use IP address of the server instead of http address. Remember that http address must be
consistent with CookieDomain specified in isis3w.exe.cfg, so in this case CookieDomain must
show IP address.
2) Add http address line to "hosts" file on all computers (e.g.
C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts)

More information you can find in documentation "Network Computer Environment" for WWW-
ASFA-ISIS section 3 and 4.2.

12. How to change width of the left panel of ASFA data entry window?

1) Find in the ASFA directory the file de.html

2) Open it with notepad
3) Change the size of the frame in the phrase:
...
<FRAMESET COLS="184,*" border="0" frameborder="0" framespacing="0">
<NOFRAMES>
<B>Sorry, wrong browser! - you must use Netscape 4.x or IE 4.x </B>
</NOFRAMES>
...

37
38