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Inmagic db/Textworks



Here follow comments based on fifteen months of use of db/Textworks and the
information I've absorbed from the Inmagic discussion list and other sources.
Overall, I think Inmagic db/Textworks is a useful, fairly priced product for
library or archival settings. A functional demo version of db/Textworks, limited
to 50 records but not time limited, is available for download at
http://www.inmagic.com/downloads.htm.

(1) Inmagic's basic software is called db/Textworks and has reached version 4.1
Although I have purchased the current versions under maintenance agreement, I am
still running version 3.1 for an archives accession log, inventory of art, staff
bibliography, index to in-house publications, and inventory of microfilm
masters.

With version 4.0, Inmagic rewrote the db/Textworks product using the Microsoft
Foundation Classes. Some features were added, some lost. Some new features
require the presence of Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher on client
computers. I expect to implement version 4.1 upgrade in the new year.

(2)  Inmagic Corporation sells an inexpensive product called "The Inmagic
db/Textworks Library Guide: a Model for Automating Your Library" for use with
db/Textworks.  This module does include circulation functions.  This guide was
rewritten in light of the changes made with version 4.0 of db/textworks. I
bought this guide to look at database structure and report form examples,
despite the fact I use another program for a library OPAC.  Eighteen months ago
the list price for the Library Guide was US$225, $150 when purchased in
combination with a db/Textworks license. I think it is worth the price when
considered as a training expense.

(3) For those fond of the Canadian Rules for Archival Description, Andornot
Consulting sells an inexpensive product called "Archives Online." This is a set
of structures and report forms for an archives based on a db/Textworks
implementation some years back at the City of Richmond.  The manual is copyright
1995.  Despite its age, RAD, and lack of web orientation, I though the product a
bargain as a training expense for anyone using Inmagic for an archival
application. I paid US $235 earlier this year. For more information, see
www.andornot.com. Archives Online is not supported by the City of Richmond
Archives. Since Andornot is a reseller and consulting firm, I imagine their
support is limited to consulting customers or those who purchase db/Textworks
support through them.

(4) The basic db/Textworks program will write reports to file in HTML format, in
addition to text and Rich Text Format.  These HTML reports can be mounted as
static HTML pages.  Of course there are other ways to turn db/Textworks output
into HTML, using third party products or any text editor.

(5) If you want to make your live db/Textworks database available on a web
server, you should look at Inmagic's Webpublisher product, which works in
coordination with a web server to publish db/Textwork databases.

(6) Webpublisher is sufficiently expensive that a system including db/Textworks
and Webpublisher will be priced in the same ballpark as Cuadra's Star system.
Star is now available for Microsoft NT, in addition to many flavors of Unix, and
has integral support for web publishing. That is, web publishing does not cost
any more than the basic product. Cuadra has well developed, separately priced
modules for archival, museum, and library applications.

(7) Both Inmagic and Cuadra sell "Lite" versions of their web product which
reduce the cost of putting a single application on the web. If I starting over
on software purchases, including a library OPAC, I would look seriously at the
these "Lite" products.

Of course, Inmagic software is not endorsed by my employer.


Steve Johnson
Librarian and archivist
Wildlife Conservation Society
sjohnson@westnet.com
sjohnson@wcs.org


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