Gold Rush V4 Release Notes August 25th, 2005 =========================================================================== Version 4 of Gold Rush introduces a new database structure and new features in the area of Target Management, as well as a new file management methodology, some fixes in the Vendor Contact area, a new Gold Rush Linker, and of course, new documentation. A New Database Structure ------------------------- The new database structure will not affect end users and library staff, but will greatly improve the way our loader application updates title lists and will make Gold Rush a more scalable system. We will be converting/moving all of your current data to the new database. This includes your holdings information, your configuration information, and your users and user settings. So be sure to check things after the rollout to make sure we didn't miss anything for you. One effect of the new database structure is that you will be able to add libraries from other groups to your "default libraries." So, for example, the RM Bird Library at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center can add the Denison Memorial Library at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center to their list of tabs in Gold Rush public. You may not be interested in this feature, but be prepared for a much longer list of libraries on the "Default Libraries" tab in Manage Preferences under the Gold Rush Staff Toolbox. New Gold Rush Institution Codes -------------------------------- We have changed the way we handle Gold Rush institution codes, combining the Gold Rush group code and institution codes. So, the Auraria library had an institution code of 'AUR', and they are in group 001, so their new institution code is '001_AUR'. If you have links to Gold Rush in other systems that utilize the inst_code parameter, you will need to change the value of that parameter to the new institution code. If you don't know what I'm talking about, see the document Creating Links into Gold Rush. New Target Management Features ------------------------------- The new Target Management features actually give you control over your locally defined targets. We've done away with the concept of specifying your local catalog and your union catalog, and replaced it with the ability to define any targets you think will benefit your patrons. You can add any number of library catalogs or union catalogs, as well as any other web services or search engines that you can search using a URL. You can also add a description to each target, that the end user can see by clicking the new "?" icon beside targets on the "Go To..." page in GR Public. You can also rank your locally defined targets so that they show up in the order you want them to on the "Go To..." page. The targets you define in the new Target Management area can also be used in Gold Rush Linker. Because of this, we had to make some changes to the Manage Gold Rush Linker -> Link Selection form. A New Gold Rush Linker ----------------------- A new version of Gold Rush Linker has also been released, which will be compatable with the new database structure. It will also produce links for articles in publications which have been post-dated by the publisher. That is, those publications which are already in print, but have an advertised publication date of three months from now. New File Management Methodology -------------------------------- We've also changed the way we handle your library's files on the Gold Rush server. Each library has the option of having a banner file, a welcome message file, a css (stylesheet) file, and image files. We used to keep all files for a Gold Rush group in the same directory, which caused some confusion as to which files were for which libraries. In V4, each library has its own directory for its files. One effect of this change is that your image files will have a new path. You will need to use this new path in your banner file, welcome message file, or css file. In the rollout process, we've already changed the paths in your current banner, welcome message, and css files. So, you don't need to worry about this on the day of the rollout, but if you're working on a new banner or welcome message, you will want to use the new paths. New Vendor Contact Functionality in Subscriptions -------------------------------------------------- Vendor contacts have been split up so that you should only see vendor contacts for your library, and not those for your entire Gold Rush group. However, in the conversion process, there are some vendor contacts that are somewhat ambiguous. In those cases, we added that vendor contact to everyone's list. So, you may initially see some contacts that are not yours. Feel free to delete them and get them out of your way. The library they do belong to will still have that vendor in their list. New Documentation ------------------ Of course, there are also new versions of our documentation that describe the new Target Management functions, and they include details about how to use all the new features. You can find Gold Rush documentation at: http://grweb.coalliance.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=downloads