MetaOPAC

The MetaVista MetaOPAC solution is based on the AccessServer component, that operates as an access server towards a set of Z39.50 standard servers.
MetaVista Access Server offers a web interface to the functions of cross search on distributed data bases and takes care of discordances in the search profiles.
MetaVista AccessServer is the ideal implementation of MetaOPAC because allows to hide the location of the data servers to the end user, meaning that those servers can reside on private networks and known only via the nicknames. Access Server implements the control policies, allowing the requests to be performed only by authorized clients and towards specified data bases.
AccessServer can manage the complexity of multi-target, multi-profile and multi-database searches.
AccessServer presents a standard Z39.50 Interface and behaves as a DataServer for all the remote catalogues it presents.

The platform has the following characteristics:

• allows the MetaOPAC to query any OPAC that is compliant to the Z39.50 standard.
• receives queries from the Internet user, sent via a WWW browser, converts them from HTTP to Z39.50 and forwards them towards the required data bases.
• allows a high degree of customization of the HTML user interface; it is possible to build search forms with ease and expert users can build more complex form generating dinamically the search access points.
• allows the user different querying modalities:
  • Single Database Query:
    selection and querying of a single database with the profile specified.
  • Multi Database Query:
    selection and parallel querying of more databases of the same type (BIB or CIMI or GILS....)
  • Multi Database, Multi Profile Query:
    selection and parallel querying of more data bases of diferent types. Usage of the DC profile mapped automatically towards each queried data base, according to the specific profile.
• supports the main transfer and presentation syntaxes: SUTRS, UNIMARC, USMARC, GRS1 (Images) and allows:
  • limitation of the number of objects to return
  • keeping of the searches for the duration of the session or of a given timeout.
• offers its client Z39.50 services of: Init, Search, Present, Sort, ACS (Access Control Services), Scan (index scanning): the same services can be required for search performing.
• MetaVista AccessServer is completely integrated with MetaVista DataServer, exchanging control information.