Technical Q&A

Q: What back-end database does Centriva use?

A: Centriva uses Centriva Server, a database server designed specifically for the unique needs of library automation – especially as it relates to MARC records. It does not require a general-purpose third-party database such as MSSQL or Oracle. All database maintenance functions are built into Surpass and can be scheduled to run automatically or on-demand by authorized library staff members. No special technical expertise or training of support staff is needed with Centriva Server as is common with other general-purpose database systems such as MSSQL or Oracle. Even if your organization has already standardized on a general-purpose database, Centriva Server will still be a perfect fit because it will not add any additional workload to your already busy schedule, nor will it consume additional database licenses.

Q: Why is Centriva Server better than systems that use SQL or Oracle?

A: Centriva Server provides unique benefits over generic, third-party off-the-shelf databases such as MSSQL and Oracle including lower price, lower server requirements and performance enhancements that come from a system designed specifically for MARC records.

Library material records are stored in MARC format, the worldwide standard for storing and exchanging bibliographic records. MARC is quite different from traditional relational database records in many ways. The number of fields and the length of those fields are different in each record and some fields (e.g. those containing subject headings) can appear an unlimited number of times in each record. Rather than force MARC records into a general-purpose relational database (as with other systems), Centriva Server is designed specifically for MARC and other library standards.

Don’t believe that just because a library automation system is built on a general-purpose backend database that you’ll be able to perform ad-hoc queries on it. Unless the database is designed specifically for MARC, you will not be able to query or retrieve individual fields from MARC records.

Centriva Server has a small footprint and is generally much less demanding on system resources and general-purpose database systems. And, since Centriva Server was designed specifically for Surpass, it is fully supported by Surpass Support – one support contact for both backend and client software and no finger-pointing.

Q: Will Surpass run on a Linux server?

A: We are currently evaluating the demand for a Linux version of Centriva Server.  If you are interested in a Linux version, please let us know.

Q: Does Surpass require 3rd party reporting tools in order to generate custom reports?

A: No. Centriva includes a very powerful and flexible custom report generator built right into our software.  There's nothing extra to buy, install, or support, and there's no need for end-users to have to learn to tap into complex back-end databases like SQL as with competing automation system.  And because our custom report generator is integrated, all librarians and their staff will be trained on how to use it since our training is provided to all users, not just district-level personnel.  And because our telephone support is also offered to all users at all libraries, there will be no additional burden on technical staff and technicians to assist with custom reporting tools.

Q: What is required for libraries to be able to send notices via e-mail?  Can it work through web-based e-mail systems?

A: Surpass Central includes its own SMTP delivery agent.  It only needs the IP address of your internal SMTP server through which it can relay mail.  No e-mail client software is necessary on either the client workstation or the server, unlike our competitors that use MAPI to send mail requiring an e-mail client to be installed and operational at the client workstation (which is often not desired on a circulation computer) or worse, at the server.  Because our e-mail delivery agent is built-in, it doesn't matter if your system utilizes a web-based e-mail system or not, as long as you have an SMTP server that we can pass the mail to.

Q: Will Centriva work on a Novell network?

A: Your Surpass database can be stored on a Novell fileserver, however, you will need at least one Windows-based server on the network to run Centriva Server and to host Web Safari.  If a pure Novell environment is necessary, it's actually possible to run all Surpass applications directly from the workstation without Centriva Server as long as all workstations have a LAN speed (100 mbps) connection and login to the server so that the applications and files can be opened directly.  However, this type of installation is not recommended because you would have to use Safari (our Windows-based) catalog rather than Web Safari (web-based catalog) which would require that a Safari shortcut be installed on all catalog stations and it would eliminate web-based access.  It's probably worth the investment in a single Windows-based server to gain the added benefits of our recommended Centriva solution.

Q: How can I backup Centriva?

A: You can use any standard tape backup solution.  We also provide an automated on-line backup solution to safely store your Centriva data files off-site in a secure, encrypted state.  With our online backup solution, only you have access to your encrypted data.

Q: Can we automate the process of transferring patron data into Centriva?

A: Yes.  You can schedule automated patron import to run as often as you wish.  Monthly, weekly, or even daily.

Q: Is Surpass SIF (School Interoperability Framework) compliant?

A: Surpass it not currently SIF compliant, although we are watching the standard as it develops.  The promise of SIF was to provide a standard for exchanging school data.  In theory, a school should be able to choose SIF compliant applications for various areas of the school to avoid any duplicate data entry between applications (such as student management, lunchroom management, and library automation applications).  The promise was that schools would be able to choose "best of breed" software for each application type.  However, a "standard" is only a standard if it's accepted industry-wide and if all "compliant" applications can truly work together "out of the box." 

If SIF ever achieves it's goal of becoming an industry recognized standard by more that the few major players who are working to develop SIF into a system that best suits their own needs and gives their own systems an advantage, we plan to incorporate SIF compatibility into our products. However, after years of slow development (the specification was in beta for years and still only at version 1.1), it seems that SIF is just not achieving its goal of allowing a customer to select from "Best of Breed" software that will exchange information with other apps "out of the box."  In fact, the SIF web site still lists fewer than 15 successful installations in the U.S., some of which are test sites for development. Even supposedly "SIF Compliant" applications require much customization by each participating vendor at each installation to really allow easy exchange of data. It also seems that there is still not enough compatibility to use different vendor's "Zone Integration Servers" (the middle-man server for the data exchange) interchangeably. So it appears that SIF still has a way to go before it reaches its promise and we're not sure that it will ever be more than a method for a few of the controlling parties who are setting the specifications to allow their software products to work with each other.

Surpass already has automated import procedures available for updating the Surpass patron database from any student management system.  The process can be completely automated and scheduled to run daily, weekly, or at any other interval.  And with the capability for Surpass to easily generate custom reports that can be sent via e-mail, it's also easy to send data (such as a list of students who still owe fines) back to the school office staff when needed. These processes are simple, efficient, and work quite well, achieving much of what SIF seeks to accomplish but with much less effort and expense.