Difference between revisions of "Configuration orientation"

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[[Category:Howto]]
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[[Category:Manual]]
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[[Category:Configuration]]
  
 
You've just installed EPrints 3 and created a repository, and now you're keen to get started on customising it. Before diving into the how-tos, take some time to read through this brief orientation guide and familiarise yourself with the EPrints configuration landscape.
 
You've just installed EPrints 3 and created a repository, and now you're keen to get started on customising it. Before diving into the how-tos, take some time to read through this brief orientation guide and familiarise yourself with the EPrints configuration landscape.
 
http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/o/or/orek/17862_landscape.jpg
 
  
 
__TOC__
 
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  /opt/eprints3/
 
  /opt/eprints3/
  
(you may have chosen a different installation directory when you installed EPrints).
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(You may have chosen a different installation directory when you installed EPrints.)
  
There are several sub-directories at this level, but from a configuration perspective we are interested only in the ''lib'' directory and the ''archives'' directories. Before looking at the contents of these directories, we need to understand the concepts of ''global'' and ''repository-specific'' (or sometimes ''local'') configuration.
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There are several sub-directories at this level, but this guide covers only those relevant to repository configuration - the ''lib'' and ''archives'' directories. Before looking at the contents of these directories, we need to understand the concepts of ''global'' and ''repository-specific'' (or ''local'') configuration. If several repositories running on your server are very similar you should consider a [[sitewide configuration]].
  
==Global vs Local configuration==
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'''What about everything else?''' The EPrints installation directory contains several other files and directories, which are described in the [[EPrints Directory Structure]] section.
  
A single installation of EPrints on a server can run multiple repositories, which may each be very different in style and functionality. Therefore, EPrints divides its many configuration files into two default sets: global configuration files and repository-specific configuration files. Multiple repositories under the same installation of EPrints share the global configuration files, but each repository has its own set of repository-specific configuration files.
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==Local vs global configuration==
  
EPrints strikes a sensible balance between the two. The default global set contains the configuration options that you are probably least likely to need to change (although this is by no means set in stone - you can override a global configuration setting for a specific repository if you need to), whereas the repository-specific sets, on the other hand, contain the most often tweaked configuration settings.
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A single installation of EPrints can run multiple repositories, each potentially very different in style and functionality. Therefore, EPrints configuration files are divided into two default sets: ''global configuration'' and ''repository-specific configuration''. Each repository shares the global configuration settings, whilst keeping its own set of local (private) configuration settings.
  
'''What about everything else?''' The EPrints installation directory contains several other files and directories, which are described in the [[EPrints Directory Structure]] section of the Technical Reference.
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EPrints tries to strike a sensible balance between the two sets. The global set contains the configuration options that you are probably least likely to need to change (although they are by no means unchangeable - you can override a global setting for a specific repository if you need to). On the other hand, the repository-specific set contains the most often tweaked settings.
  
 
===The ''lib'' directory===
 
===The ''lib'' directory===
  
[[Image:Orientation_browse_lib.png]]
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[[Image:Orientation_lib.png|right]]
  
The lib directory is where the global configuration files are kept.
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The lib directory is where the global configuration files are kept. '''This directory should be considered [[Read Only Directories|read only]]'''. Best practice when changing a global setting for a particular repository is to override the setting at the repository level rather than edit the global configuration files directly. The configuration files in ''lib'' are organised into subdirectories according to their function, which should help make locating a specific configuration setting intuitive.
  
The lib directory should be considered a [[Read Only Directories|read only directory]] - to make changes to a configuration setting you should override the setting in the repository-specific configuration rather than editing a configuration file in lib directly.
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[[EPrints_Directory_Structure/eprints3/lib|Explore the contents of the lib directory]].
  
The files in ''lib'' are organised into subdirectories according to their function, which should make finding a specific configuration file easier.
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Note that the ''defaultcfg'' subdirectory contains the default set of configuration files that are copied into each new repository's local configuration directory. These local configuration directories are covered in the next section.
  
[[EPrints_Directory_Structure/eprints3/lib|Explore the subdirectores]]
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<br clear="all" />
  
Take note of the ''defaultcfg'' subdirectory, which is the default set of configuration files that get copied into each new repository's local configuration directory, covered in the next section.
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===The ''archives'' directory===
  
===The ''archives'' directory===
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[[Image:Orientation_cfg.png|right]]
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Each repository has its own subdirectory (named according to the repository id) under the ''archives'' directory.
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Each repository directory contains several [[EPrints_Directory_Structure/eprints3/archives/ARCHIVEID|subdirectories]], including the ''cfg'' directory. This is where the repository-specific configuration files are kept.
  
Each repository under the same installation of EPrints has its own subdirectory (named after the repository ID specified when creating the repository) under the archives directory. Each of these subdirectories contain the repository-specific configuration files (amongst other files) for that particular repository.
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[[EPrints_Directory_Structure/eprints3/archives/ARCHIVEID/cfg|Explore the contents of the cfg directory]].

Latest revision as of 18:05, 21 February 2023


You've just installed EPrints 3 and created a repository, and now you're keen to get started on customising it. Before diving into the how-tos, take some time to read through this brief orientation guide and familiarise yourself with the EPrints configuration landscape.

Where are the configuration files?

The default installation directory for EPrints is:

/opt/eprints3/

(You may have chosen a different installation directory when you installed EPrints.)

There are several sub-directories at this level, but this guide covers only those relevant to repository configuration - the lib and archives directories. Before looking at the contents of these directories, we need to understand the concepts of global and repository-specific (or local) configuration. If several repositories running on your server are very similar you should consider a sitewide configuration.

What about everything else? The EPrints installation directory contains several other files and directories, which are described in the EPrints Directory Structure section.

Local vs global configuration

A single installation of EPrints can run multiple repositories, each potentially very different in style and functionality. Therefore, EPrints configuration files are divided into two default sets: global configuration and repository-specific configuration. Each repository shares the global configuration settings, whilst keeping its own set of local (private) configuration settings.

EPrints tries to strike a sensible balance between the two sets. The global set contains the configuration options that you are probably least likely to need to change (although they are by no means unchangeable - you can override a global setting for a specific repository if you need to). On the other hand, the repository-specific set contains the most often tweaked settings.

The lib directory

Orientation lib.png

The lib directory is where the global configuration files are kept. This directory should be considered read only. Best practice when changing a global setting for a particular repository is to override the setting at the repository level rather than edit the global configuration files directly. The configuration files in lib are organised into subdirectories according to their function, which should help make locating a specific configuration setting intuitive.

Explore the contents of the lib directory.

Note that the defaultcfg subdirectory contains the default set of configuration files that are copied into each new repository's local configuration directory. These local configuration directories are covered in the next section.


The archives directory

Orientation cfg.png

Each repository has its own subdirectory (named according to the repository id) under the archives directory.

Each repository directory contains several subdirectories, including the cfg directory. This is where the repository-specific configuration files are kept.

Explore the contents of the cfg directory.