A c t i o n f o r L i b r a r i e s — J u n e 2 0 0 4

Ariel 3.4 Upgrade Now Available

By Laura Chittivej

Infotrieve has made available the newest release of Ariel document transmission software, version 3.4, and Ariel 3.01 and 3.3 users can upgrade for free. The software is available from BCR. To download the 3.4 upgrade, go to BCR's Web site (www.bcr.org/software/ArielFAQ1.html) and follow the links.

Enhancements in Ariel 3.4 include:

Users can organize their patron lists into user-defined categories, making ILL processes faster and more efficient.
Users have the option to track document transmission activity in their send and receive queues with a password-protected reset option.
The firewall setting defaults to Ariel's own registered port 422 for FTP document transmission, increasing the usage of this port, which translates into better firewall protection for all Ariel users.

Future Compatibility a Consideration
As Ariel technology is enhanced in the future (including a possible networked version of Ariel 4.0), new versions of the software may not remain technically compatible with older versions. Ariel 3.4 is anticipated to be the cut-off version for future compatibility, and BCR and Infotrieve are encouraging all Ariel users to upgrade to version 3.4 now to be prepared for future changes.

Current Ariel 3.x users can upgrade to version 3.4 now at no cost. For those who use a version of Ariel software below 3.01, the upgrade is available through BCR at a discount. See www.bcr.org/software/ArielFAQ1.html for pricing.

Infotrieve will keep Ariel users informed about this important issue so they can plan and budget accordingly. With the release of the next version of Ariel, Infotrieve plans to provide Ariel 3.4 users with a patch (a small, free download) that will ensure compatibility with the next version, Ariel 4.0. It is important to take advantage of the release of version 3.4 now.

If you have questions, please contact BCR's Laura Chittivej at lchittiv@bcr.org. For general Ariel help, visit the Ariel home page at www4.infotrieve.com/ariel/index.html.

Important
While Infotrieve has done extensive testing of Ariel 3.4, the software has not been tested for interaction with any third-party ILL software, such as OCLC ILLiad. Users who rely on third-party software programs that interact with Ariel are strongly encouraged to perform a complete back-up of their existing Ariel installation prior to upgrading to version 3.4. Users will also need to have the original Ariel installation CD (e.g. Ariel 3.3) ready in case a rollback to the previous version of the software becomes necessary.

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