June 2002 - Zope - Zope lists

RE: [Zope] REQUEST problem
by Chris Beaven 13 Jun '02

13 Jun '02

If you're redirecting, the redirected page will have it's own REQUEST - not the one you are currently dealing with. If you wanted to pass it you could try: <dtml-call "RESPONSE.redirect('another_form_doc?my_test=test_val')"> -----Original Message----- From: Aseem Mohanty [mailto:aseem@neurobehavioralsystems.com] Sent: Thursday, 13 June 2002 1:44 a.m. To: zope(a)zope.org Subject: [Zope] REQUEST problem Hi, if I have the following two DTML statements: <dtml-call "REQUEST.set('my_test','test_val')"> <dtml-call "RESPONSE.redirect('another_form_doc')"> Shouldn't the REQUEST header in the another_form_doc have the attribute 'my_test'?? Or am I missing something big-time here?? TIA AM _______________________________________________ Zope maillist - Zope(a)zope.org http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope ** No cross posts or HTML encoding! ** (Related lists - http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-announce http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-dev )

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RE: [Zope] FCGI like functionality inside Zope.
by Graham King 13 Jun '02

13 Jun '02

Hi Daniel, since Zope has FCGI built-in, and if you wanted to use that, then your 3PP applications would have to incorporate FastCGI client software. The FastCGI site has detailed doco on how to write this, and implies serious programming to develop it, but it can be done. Otherwise, you could look at source of the FastCGI python functions in Zope and emulate that to interface with your 3PP's interfaces. Graham -----Original Message----- From: Daniel Mahler [mailto:mahler@cyc.com] Sent: Thursday, 13 June 2002 8:58 To: zope(a)zope.org Subject: [Zope] FCGI like functionality inside Zope. Hi, Looking at the docs it lookes like Zope can be made to play nice with FCGI scripts if it is running behind Apache. However, I have am using Zope without Apache and using extension methods and products to build my application. Now I need to incorporate some 3rd party apps, which have a long startup (setf vm-auto-get-new-mail 600) time. So I am looking for a way of doing something like fcgi from inside Zope itself. Any suggestions? Thanks Daniel _______________________________________________ Zope maillist - Zope(a)zope.org http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope ** No cross posts or HTML encoding! ** (Related lists - http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-announce http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-dev )

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slightly OT - Apache configs
by Graham King 13 Jun '02

13 Jun '02

Hi all, Just a note of warning... We had switched a particular Zope application from using PCGI to ProxyPass/VirtualHost yesterday. Prior to switching on the ProxyPass, it was normal Apache stuff pointing to the cgi-bin, and so on. We had also used ReWrite to redirect customer webpages with tilda (~) to another server, eg: RewriteRule /~(.+) http://otherserver/~$1 to user's private webpage ProxyPass / http://localhost...../VHM etc **This no longer works for the RewriteRule.** The Rewrite Rule was overridden by the ProxyPass, and we were getting Zope errors for ../~abc not found (of course). So I used a 2nd RewriteRule instead of ProxyPass and, Lo! all is well. RewriteRule /(.*) http://localhost..../VHM cheers Graham

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FCGI like functionality inside Zope.
by Daniel Mahler 12 Jun '02

12 Jun '02

Hi, Looking at the docs it lookes like Zope can be made to play nice with FCGI scripts if it is running behind Apache. However, I have am using Zope without Apache and using extension methods and products to build my application. Now I need to incorporate some 3rd party apps, which have a long startup (setf vm-auto-get-new-mail 600) time. So I am looking for a way of doing something like fcgi from inside Zope itself. Any suggestions? Thanks Daniel

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Zope Integrated Library System
by Tim Chase 12 Jun '02

12 Jun '02

This post is a long introduction to the concept of an Integrated Library System (ILS). I will gloss over many historical points. Feel free to correct or supplement any of the information below. Some major components of an ILS are (1) a catalog system with an online public access interface (OPAC) and a cataloging interface for adding and changing bibliographic records; can import and export MARC records; Z39.50 interface; authority control (see below) (2) a patron (or member) system, which holds information about patrons, their level of access, current materials borrowed, etc. (3) a circulation system, which tracks the location and status of items as they are borrowed, returned, sent for repair, etc. Historical data, such as total circulation and circulation by period is important. Should also include a reserve and request system (see below) (4) serials control. Serials are a different beast from monographs (books). A library may have subscriptions to thousands of serials titles, each with a different rate of issue, claiming procedure, binding needs, etc. (5) Acquisitions system. Libraries use vendors or jobbers to buy dozens (hundreds) of copies of books in bulk, possibly before the items are released for sale. A good acquisitions system automates various steps in the process of selecting materials, paying for them, tracking them prior to cataloging, etc. That said, a useful first step would be a system that has (1) a basic idea of a class of items (a catalog record, also referred to as a "title") with searchable metadata for that class. The metadata could possibly be based on the output from the MARC to Dublin Core translator from OCLC (http://alcme.oclc.org/marc2dc/) (2) an OPAC with a pretty interface (see http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Libweb/ for every web interface known to mankind) that can search the catalog records with some indication of item availability. (3) inventory tracking for individual items. The ability to assign an item to a specific user (ckeck it out) for a specified period (loan period). The availability of items for circulation should be reflected in the OPAC. (4) a patron system so that items can be checked out to a specific user. Of course, ZOPE and CMF already have powerful user mechanisms available. I will finally get to Joachim Schmitz's last question: how is an ILS related to ISIS? In 1967, the United States Library of Congress (LC), with the help of industry experts developed the MARC format for machine readable bibliographic data. I was trained as a librarian in the United States and have not had much exposure to ISIS, so see http://www.unesco.org/webworld/isis/art1999_unimarc.htm for an article on MARC and ISIS. But, it appears that the MARC format is essentially a standardized ISIS Field Definition Table (FDT). Here is some more information on some ILS components (long). MARC format (bibliographic). Today MARC is used as a data exchange format. Official formats are still promulgated by LC (see MARC Lite at http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/lite/) Most, if not all, ILS break the MARC elements into their constituent components and map them onto a relational database. If they need to send a record to OCLC (http:www.oclc.org), they put all the pieces into a MARC record and send it off. MARC also provides the structure upon which we hang an elaborate set of cataloging rules, the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, 2nd ed. (AACR2). The AACR2 is a multi-volume set that sets out what information goes into a MARC field (tag) and subfield. Here is an example from http://130.15.161.74/techserv/cat/Sect02/c02a2.html Tag 245 -- Title of the Work "Transcribe the title proper exactly as to wording, order, and spelling, but not necessarily as to punctuation and capitalization"--1.1B1. "If the title proper is not taken from the chief source of information, give the source of the title in a note"--1.1B1. Parallel titles Parallel titles are titles in other languages "Transcribe parallel titles in the order indicated by their sequence on, or by the layout of, the chief source of information."--1.1D1. For example: 245:10: |a Wood Cree = |b Les cris des forets You can even go one step further with the rules with The Library of Congress Rule Interpretations, which give examples and descriptions of how LC interpret the rules. All of this is to get consistent information in a catalog system. There are also MARC formats for holdings (used in a circulation system) and other types of information. Circulation System: At heart, a circulation system is an inventory tracking system. Reports and statistics are very important. Libraries generally do not generate revenue. They must justify their existence by their service to the community. We generally do this by showing tons of statistics related to the amount of circulation, circulation per item, circulation per capita, etc. Circulation is the capital by which libraries measure themselves. (I'll now start using the abbreviation "circ" in library jargon as both a noun and a verb to describe various aspects of circulation systems) Most circ systems allow for renewals (counted as more circ) with a limit of 2 or 3 renewals. Libraries do not charge fines to make money. They charge fines to get the materials back so they can continue to circ. So, a good circulation system includes automated letters and reports alerting patrons of overdue materials and fines. Since some people eventually pay fines, there should be some cash drawer capability (hopefully with some type of interface to the back-end accounting system) Reserve/Request None of the Open Source library projects (see http://www.oss4lib.org) have a request/reserve system (also known as booking or hold systems). I work for several years at a large metropolitan library system with a locally developed library. Development ended about 5 years ago, but the system is still in use, while the library chooses a commercial ILS. The local system has no web interface and was a bear to tweak (coded in RPG on an IBM AS/400). However, not even the commercial vendors have shown as an efficient and flexible reserve/request system. A reserve is a patron order for a title with no copies (items) currently available for circulation. From the OPAC, the patron places the order. When a copy of the title is discharged (checked in) at any of the 40+ library branches, a routing slip is generated and the items is shipped to the patron's "pick-up location". When the item arrives at the pick-up location, it is scanned and made available to the patron (on the "reserve shelf"). A post card is generated overnight alerting the patron that the item is waiting at the pick-up location. A request is more proactive than a reserve. The patron searches the OPAC and discovers that some copies of the desired title are available, but not at the location in which the search was performed (requests are also available for internet and dial-in patrons). Based on the patron's pick-up location and on item availabilty, the system places the order on a branch's "request list". The determination of the branch is based on the branch's location in the library's truck routes. It is possible that a request will be filled at one branch and the pick-up location is only 1, 2, or 3 stops away on the truck route. Requests can be filled in as little as half a day and at most two days (if no items are available in the preceding route segment, the items is shipped from any available branch to the central library and then back out to the pick-up location). Twice a day, staff print out their request list, pull the items, and ship them to the pick-up location. Notification is then the same as for reserves. Authority Control Authority Control is another advanced feature only available in the very expensive ILS. This is a completely inadequate explanation, but here goes. Unfortunately, all of the people in the history of the world who have produced intellectual output worthy of cataloging have not made things as tidy as librarians would like. For example, a woman writes several books prior to her marriage. She changes her name and writes several more books. We want a search for either of her names to return ALL of the books written by her, regardless of what her name was at the time or what it is now. This is where name authority comes in. There is a MARC standard for authority records. Through some type of magic (I am not a cataloger and I don't understand well how authority control works), the bibliographic MARC records are related to the authority MARC records and the OPAC gives the proper list of items. (Of course there are more exotic examples of pseudonyms and name changes brought on by gender changes, but you get the idea). There is also the idea of subject authority control. For example, the preferred subject heading (in the Library of Congress Subject Headings) for "Areoplane" became "Airplane". We want to return all records for the proper subject heading regardless of what term was used at the time the item was originally cataloged. This is subject authority control. Because authority information is constantly changing, big libraries subscribe to a service, which sends them authority records (via tape or Internet) that must be overlaid onto the running system. There are many other aspects of library automation that have not generally been "integrated" into the commercial ILS. These include patron portals, inter-library loan, reader services, and automatic login and interface to online resources. These features have been left to the resources of in-house programmers and staff. Of course, Zope is perfect for many of these functions and is probably used at some libraries already. Thanks for listening, --Tim Chase Other resources: University cataloging department manual - http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/tsproced/cat/CatMan/Default.htm Big name ILS vendors - http://www.sdln.net/about/ils-vendors.html Library Automation vendors (including smaller libraries) - http://libinfo.com/vendors-systems.html

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RE: [Zope] sessions and dtml problem
by Ben Avery 12 Jun '02

12 Jun '02

The form validator script just puts the whole form as a value: req.SESSION.set(ss_formname, req.form) where ss_formname is a name passed in, and req is context.REQUEST -----Original Message----- From: Chris McDonough [mailto:chrism@zope.com] Sent: 12 June 2002 21:35 To: Ben Avery Cc: 'zope(a)zope.org' Subject: Re: [Zope] sessions and dtml problem On Wed, 2002-06-12 at 15:22, Ben Avery wrote: > I have a form which gets submitted to a python script which first pushes the > form object into the session, does some form validation, and if any fields > don't match the validation criteria, then the form is revisited until > correct. When you say "a python script pushes the form object into the session", what exactly does this code look like?

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sessions and dtml problem
by Ben Avery 12 Jun '02

12 Jun '02

Hi, I'm a bit of a newbie, but using Zope for a big project, and getting there, but struggling with some of the details, in this case the session object and the dtml namespace. I have a form which gets submitted to a python script which first pushes the form object into the session, does some form validation, and if any fields don't match the validation criteria, then the form is revisited until correct. I want to reuse the same DTML method to display and populate the form, so the first time, I use a <dtml-in [ZSQL method]> [form] </dtml-in> construct to give access to the fields. Now when I revisit the form, I want to use the form I previously put into the session to populate the fields. I've tried using things like <dtml-with expr="SESSION.get('co_reg_form')"> [form] </dtml-with> and what must be a million permutations with all the dtml constructs! all to no avail. I really want to put some construct around the form, and just access <dtml-var first_name> etc inside, the same as with the <dmtl-in [zsql method]>. could someone be kind enough highlight the point(s) at which I'm being stupid? =) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ben Avery YouthNet UK

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Image Caching
by Smith, Neil 12 Jun '02

12 Jun '02

I seem to remember having read something in the list before about problems with caching of images, but I can't find it again. Is there anything that would cause an image used multiple times on the page not to be read from the cache? I have a form that uses JavaScript to display itself, such that it can do a sort of tabbed interface and add new lines to the form without going back to the server. This contains a number of very small images that are frequently repeated to build up the borders of the tabs etc. This works well when used on the LAN, but I've now found that when used across the internet, when the form redisplays itself, it takes forever to build up the graphics, and you can see each individual image being slowly loaded. I'd thought it would have got the images from the cache. It's Zope 2.4.3 running on NT4, just ZServer, no apache or anything, and the browser is IE 5. Any ideas? -- Neil ********************************************************************** The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and intended only for the use of the addressee. If the reader of this message is not the addressee, you are hereby notified that you have received this e-mail in error and you must not copy, disseminate, distribute, use or take any action as a result of the information contained in it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify postmaster(a)npower.com (UK 01384 275454) and delete it immediately from your system. Neither Npower nor any of the other companies in the Innogy group from whom this e-mail originates accept any responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses. Npower Limited Registered office: Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon SN5 6PB. Registered in England and Wales: number 3653277 This e-mail may be sent on behalf of a member of the Innogy plc group of companies. **********************************************************************

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Backup & restore zope
by Jim Kutter 12 Jun '02

12 Jun '02

Hi folks - how does one go about backing up and restoring a production Zope server? -jim

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investigating an object
by Kevin Lewandowski 12 Jun '02

12 Jun '02

Is there a way to get a list of all methods and properties of an object? In normal python you can do "dir (object)" and see its methods and properties. But that doesn't work in zope. thanks -Kevin

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