h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am trying to set up an ILS (Integrated Library System) on my home computer which runs Windows 2000 Pro. The programme is called Koha http://www.koha.org . It requires a Databse and a Webserver, as well as some PERL. I already have Microsoft Access, which is, apparently, superior to the Database that they suggest, MySQL.

The site gives fairly detailed instructions on how to create the database and what not so that you can make an OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue (I. E.: You can find out whether or not a book is out of a library using one of these accross the Internet)). The problem is, I do not really know what I am doing and so I require instructions to implement the instructions, as it were.

Thus:

Can I use my Microsoft Access in lieu of MySQL?

They reccomens Apache Webserver. Are there better ones (all of the things that I download must be free.)?

Can some one help me to configure the things that I need to?

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

I have already made a New Conversatin on Ask H2G2, however, I was directed to this page, hoping that some one here would be able to render some assistane.

I thank you very kindly in advance.

P. S.: having some one else do this for me is not an option: A: I don't know any one who could and B: I like to do things myself, even if it means implementing another's suggestions.

Again, I thank you in advance.

Access superior to MySQL?

Please excuse me while I go and laugh my head off in this corner.



Seriously though, if they supply detailed instructions to set it up with MySQL, you're probably better off going with that if you're not entirely sure what you're doing.

And there are no better free web servers than Apache. None. That thing does run a very substantial proportion of the entire Internet, you know.

If you really, really want to use Microsoft Access, you might be able to, but only if the software can talk to ODBC, which is the usual method for getting a program that isn't Access to talk to an Access database. That's something you'll have to check up on in the documentation.

Alright. I've nixed Access. And, am definatly goign with Apache (wow! 2 things knocked off the list in seconds!)

The question is now: Where do I type the thigns they tell me to?

I supply you with the link to their Manual. http://koha.org/manual/book1.html The secion marked Book 1: For the Library IT Support Staff is what pertains to me. Franckly, I know about the amoutn of space between the letters n and o in the word nothing.

So, can you help me to type in this information in the proper place?

Thank you indeed.

Let me know if you require Perl help, I'm upto level 4 now and I just the amulate of the gods.

MySQL tho is far superor, I have Apache on both windows and Linux for developing my Perl engine and I see that it may be a pig to get perl working on windows but it works ok even with MySQL for windows. (although I had to lie to my boss and say that it wouldn't so I could get linux at work)

-- DoctorMO --

Is using their automated installer script not an option? It's listed on the page you linked to.

You'll have to change the file paths since you're running on Windows but as long as Perl and MySQL are configured correctly it looks like it should work.

Perl is easy to get running on Windows if you install ActivePerl (ActiveState's Windows version of Perl). The website is http://www.activestate.com. The URL might be deleted by the moderators since, although they're giving away ActivePerl for free, ActiveState is still a commercial company but you can just do a Google search for ActiveState.

it's not as easy as that, bash lines don't work in windows, and you need to tell Apache to use the registry and then I have to edit the registry because I use .cgi;.pm;.pl and .perl files.

-- DoctorMO --

Erm, you've just gone way above my head.

When I installed Koha (the link above is to the instruction manual for that programme), at one point, a I think it's called command screen? Any way, that poped up and I believe that it started to install certain things. Would this mean that it had already done the procecss of configuration and what not, that all I now need to do is create my database and put things into it?

And, what exactly is a webserver? I have a general idea that it is a programme which enables a computer to access the internet. If this is the case, what is the difference between this and my ISP? And, why woudl I have to configure it?

One of the things that Koha recommends downloading is Active State Perl for Windows. So, I did.

More information: http://www.saas.nsw.edu.au/wiki/index.php?page=KohaOnWindows
http://www.koha.org and subsequent pages, just to give you an idea of what it is I am tryign to do, if that will assist you.

O, and I thought PERL was a computer language? Why would it not work.... Ahhh. I think I understand that now. Ok. That three things I understand. I think.... Any way, it's a start.

"And, what exactly is a webserver?"

A webserver is the thing that hosts your free webspace at your isp.

Depending on how cooperative and friendly they are, you might have the situation be anything from html only (plus pictures) right the way through to being able to host your own scripts and full control of the webserver confiduration.

unless it's your own PC and you can do what you please, but please get a firewall. I recomend Sygate.

-- DoctorMO --

A webserver is a piece of software which is what lets a computer hand out web pages to other computers. You can run one on your own computer, which will then serve pages to your local computer, and to other computers who can talk to it through a network of some sort (including the Internet), although it's probably best to set it up to deny anything that's not from the same computer it's on (127.0.0.1).

127.0.0.1 is the loopback device thats used on all networking Operating computers, more secure is Linux, SuSE 8.2 kicks ass in this area for easy install and use when it comes to apache, MySQL, Perl and even Samba.

-- DoctorMO --

But why woudl I want to deny access to other computers if I have some thing to display? I already have access to the the content of web-page (or, in this case, a database webpage); I put it there. So, I should think that the point of a Webserver is to enable other computers to see the contents of my webpage.?.

Any way, any ideas as to where I should type in the things that they suggest?

Oh. While I remember, what is a Firewall? It stops people from being able to access your computer, right?

I've got Norton Internet Security. Is this a Firewall? If not, what is it?

Probably a tool for keeping you from accessing the net.

-- DoctorMO --

I think it is... wish they'd just call it 'Norton Internet Firewall'!

me too, sure be easyer to keep track of.

-- DoctorMO --

Well, you know those large companies: They must make every little thing — No matter how trivial — seem Important and Official.

MySQL comes with multiple Command Prompters (is that the term?). Is it in one of these that I should type in the things they suggest?

If the things they suggest are SQL statements, then yes.