$Id: README,v 1.9 2008-05-02 15:31:01 mike Exp $ *** NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT FREE OR OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE *** Sorry about that. See DBIServer/LICENCE.pm for details. What are zSQLgate and Net::Z3950::DBIServer? -------------------------------------------- zSQLgate is a Z39.50 server which has an RDBMS at its back end -- that is, it's a gateway between Z39.50 and the relational database of your choice. The Perl module Net::Z3950::DBIServer provides guts of the gateway. Both the zSQLgate program and the Net::Z3950::DBIServer module are included in this distribution. The Z39.50 information retrieval protocol (now ratified as international standard ISO 23950) is a mature and powerful protocol used in application domains as diverse as bibliographic information, geo-spatial mapping, museums and other cultural heritage information, and structured vocabulary navigation. Relational databases are a revolting relic of the 1950s, but we do seem to be stuck with them :-) If you have a project built on Oracle, Sybase, PostgreSQL, MySQL or any of a seemingly infinite number of alternatives, then this module is probably the quickest and easiest way to build a Z39.50 interface to it. Building and Installation ------------------------- There are several prerequisites to building the Net::Z3950 module: some providing the Z39.50 front-end, and some the SQL back-end. * You'll need the Net::Z3950::SimpleServer module, version 0.04 or later. You can get it from http://indexdata.com/simpleserver/ * SimpleServer itself requires Index Data's YAZ toolkit, a set of C routines for manipulating, sending and receiving the Z39.50 data structures. I've been using version 1.8. You can find it at http://indexdata.com/yaz/ * You'll need the DBI module (the DataBase Independent layer) which is inexplicably not part of the standard Perl distribution, but is on CPAN. * And with that, you'll need the DBD module that provides the driver for the particular RDBMS you're using -- for example, DBD::Pg if you're using PostgreSQL. The driver modules are all on CPAN. * In order to generate MARC records in responses, you'll need the MARC::Record module. After installing any prerequisites, you know the drill: perl Makefile.PL make make test make install See examples/books/README for a small example application. Support ------- The first thing to do is join the zSQLgate mailing list at http://www.indexdata.com/mailman/listinfo/zsqlgate, and discuss in that forum any problems you may encounter. I read this list, so I will see your messages; but you may get better help from others who have run into similar difficulties. For those who require it, it's possible to buy professional, support for this module, with well-defined support levels and response times. See http://sql.z3950.org/zsqlgate/support/contract.html, or email me for details. Author ------ Mike Taylor http://www.miketaylor.org.uk/