A prototype OAI metadata analysis tool – producing statistics and visualisations of repository metadata – is now online.

Usage notes:

• when clicking on the links of the left of the visualisation
  you may need to configure your browser to allow popups from nzdl.org
• producing the analysis report does take some time (e.g. the whole of IDEALS at Illinois takes about 20-25 minutes) – so, initially, we suggest using the max records option to limit the number of items processed

There also is a short feedback survey where you can add comments and suggestions for new features.

Greenstone3 v3.03 has been released for Windows, GNU/Linux and in Source form (it runs on the Mac no problem; just recompile from source). This release finally contains all the features in Greenstone2, including OAI-PMH and Remote Building support (which are new to this version). It is now very easy to install — just as easy as Greenstone2! This release has been extensively tested.

The principal difference between Greenstone2 and Greenstone3 is the format language. Greenstone3 supports more sophisticated XSLT format statements. Right now they are more complex to use, but developments in the pipeline will make it far easier than Greenstone2 in future. (The only other differences are that Greenstone3 still lacks collaging, and collection/document-level authentication.)

There is one known issue. We forgot to ensure that collections built with Greenstone2 are automatically converted when loaded into GLI under Greenstone3. We will add this facility, but for now a manual conversion program is available here; instructions for its use appear in Greenstone3 for Greenstone2 Users.

Greenstone2 will continue to be supported for a long time yet (years), but ultimately we see Greenstone3 replacing it. See the Greenstone3 home page and the Wiki for more details.

As part of the work on Greenstone 3 we are running a survey on users’ experiences with customizing pages in Greenstone 2 – format statements, macros etc.

We welcome your comments on how we can make collection customization easier in Greenstone 3; the brief anonymous survey is here:

http://chnm.gmu.edu/tools/surveys/2333/

See the Greenstone3 home page. Greenstone2 will continue to be supported for a long time yet (years), but ultimately we see Greenstone3 replacing it. This is a beta release: it contains (virtually) all the features needed for Greenstone2 compatibility, and has been extensively tested. We have added a new section to the Wiki on Greenstone3, and in particular a new page entitled Greenstone3 for Greenstone2 users about how to set it up and migrate your collections (with a list of possible problem areas). Greenstone2 is certainly not yet in the past, but Greenstone3 is definitely the future!