Training Video:Technical Orientation

Introduction

This video will explain what EPrints configuration files are and where to find them. It explains some of the most commonly changed files, and is an ideal start for working with EPrints at the back end.

What You Will Learn

• Where to find the main configuration files in EPrints using the command line
• How EPrints configuration files are structured
• How to make local changes safely

What You Should Already Know

• Basic Linux command line interface
• EPrints as a user and admin

Resources

Video

The Video can be found at http://youtu.be/-D4hEsRB0g4.

Index

• 0:00 Introduction to the topics in the video
• 0:25 Where is EPrints installed? (Ubuntu / Debian style)
• 0:36 Using the Apache configuration file to find EPrints
• 2:05 What is EPrints? (as a system)
• 2:17 Finding the database (default file)
• 2:40 Checking for overrides to the default file
• 3:40 Looking at the database
• 3:57 Listing tables in the database
• 4:05 The EPrint table (non-multiple fields)
• 4:21 Finding tables holding multiple fields
• 6:06 The cfg.d directory
• 6:25 Simple and complex configurations
• 7:13 eprint_render.pl - changing abstract pages
• 7:35 views.pl - changing browse views
• 7:45 Best practice for customising configuration settings
• 8:20 Adding a new field in a new configuration file
• 9:15 Using diff to check local configuration files against default configuration files
• 10:00 Benefits of using separate files when upgrading
• 10:21 The /bin directory
• 10:35 epadmin - some common functions
• 11:25 Default configuration files for a new archive
• 11:53 Global (all archives) settings in the /lib directory
• 12:37 Overriding global configurations for an archive (Templates example)
• 14:51 Reloading the repository to show changes
• 15:28 Making changes to phrases (displayed text)
• 17:35 The /archives directory
• 17:53 Inside an archive directory
• 18:03 The archive /documents directory
• 24:01 Finding the documents for a specific EPrint
• 26:00 System generated documents (previews)
• 26:23 History of an EPrint - Revision files in the /revisions directory
• 27:04 Static files in /html
• 28:41 Static files in /cfg/lang/[en/static and cfg/static]
• 31:12 Running generate_static to refresh html pages (and --prune option to remove)
• 31:57 Citations - where to find them
• 32:30 Plugins - where to find them
• 34:06 Plugins - where to create a directory for Archive-specific plugins

Notes, Errata and Additional Information

Any notes, version information, errata, etc concerned with this video

• EPrints 3.3.14
• Ubuntu 15.04

Test Yourself

Exercises as appropriate to allow the learner to practice the subject of the page.

• Locate the home directory of your EPrints installation using Apache configuration files.

• Find the name of the database in the default file. Check it hasn't been overridden by another configuration file.

• Find the cfg.d folder for an archive. Compare it to the defaultcfg/cfg.d folder

• Create a static page in the /lang/en/static folder (or whichever language your archive is in)

• Change a phrase by adding a copy to the local.xml file.

More Reading

• For more details on specific configuration tasks, see the Training Course sections on Configuring EPrints and Maintaining and Developing EPrints.