Software Overview

The software used for the ADT is basically as supplied by Virginia Tech (VT) with some modifications and extensions.

1. Software basics : is standard perl scripts extended by the library cgi.pm, which uses objects to create web forms on the fly and parse their content. It also facilitates file uploading and form handling by generation of html via function call and passing of the form state.
2. Changes to software for ADT project include :

• form appearance and function
• modified document flow. Particularly the backroom administration part of the software which when triggered will do different things than the VT model.
• extensions to logging; eg - logging IPs accessing theses.
• generation of metadata from deposited information
• extension of variable use to make scripts more generic to facilitate local institutional setup and style.
• developed a standard for generation of unique addresses (URLs) for deposited documents
• the original VT software help file has been modified to include substantive notes on installation.

ADT software : the distribution software package will require modification of a list of variables and some webserver-dependent adjustments so it runs in a standard way for each of the local institutions. Local search software, which may be institution -mandated, is not included in the package. Security is rudimentary because the way it is handled from site to site is likely to vary greatly. It is therefore expected that each institution will use their own security accordingly.