> -----Original Message-----
> From: Z39.50 Next-Generation Initiative [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of
> Dr Robert Sanderson
> 
> > Even so, I suspect most servers will generate the Explain
information
> > automatically so there is no real duplication of configuration
> > information needed at the server end
> 
> Really? I very much doubt it.  Especially as the information changes
very
> very infrequently once the server is set up.  Automatically generating
it
> for Z39.50 was a significant pain, and I don't see why it would be
very
> much easier for SRW.

Sorry, but I automatically generate mine.

The problem is that I have a number of configuration files that I need
to run the service.  Mike CQL parser is expecting some stuff, my tools
are expecting physical locations of files and names of supporting Java
classes.  None of this stuff fits into an Explain record, but an Explain
record can be derived from this stuff.

I have two problems with Rob's static Explain records.  I agree that the
data isn't very dynamic, but I've had to debug problems generated from
configuration files differing in some minor detail and it's not fun.
The other problem arises from the hundreds of databases that we'll
eventually want to support.  I don't need hundreds of extra
configuration files.

So, I added contact information to my existing configuration files and
generate the Explain record from them.

Ralph