Second European Central Crop Databases (ECDDB)
On-line Databases Training Workshop
18-21 February 1998, Alnarp, Sweden

 

Summary of the Internet Advisory Group meeting

Lorenzo Maggioni, IPGRI

The ECPGR Internet Advisory Group met on 17 February 1998 at the Nordic Gene Bank, Alnarp, Sweden at the second session of the "On-line Central Crop Databases Training Workshop". The Group members, P. Campo (GEVES), D. Jiménez Krause (ZADI), Th. van Hintum (CGN), M. Hulden (NGB), K. Painting (IPGRI) and L. Maggioni (ECPGR Coordinator), were all present. The meeting was also attended by two observers, H. Nijland (webmaster at CGN) and S. Liljas (webmaster at NGB).

The Advisory Group analyzed the progress made in the implementation of tasks defined during the previous meeting in Bonn (June 1997). While noting that the tasks had been generally fulfilled, the following specific comments were made:

Task 1. Development of the European Information Platform Home Page (task for IPGRI).

The reduction of the button bar and the change of icons were considered a good improvement which fulfilled this task. Also the elimination of the button bar when leaving the platform was approved. Task 2. Establishment of uniform Entry Pages for each ECCDB (task for IPGRI). Several Entry Pages were prepared in a uniform style, including the date of last update. The indication of the kb size of downloadable files is still missing and will have to be added when applicable. Task 3. Prepare Central Crop Databases downloadable zip files and upload them at a Documentation Support Centre (task for all). Although very few zipped files were prepared for downloading, several databases were made accessible on-line as searchable. There is some hesitation in making downloadable files available for databases still under development, since these require continuous replacement with more updated versions. Task 4. Uploading on-line searchable databases (task for all). The ECPGR databases of Agrostis, Avena, Barley, Brassica, Bromus, Dactylis, Festuca, Glycine, Lathyrus, Lolium, Phalaris, Phleum, Poa, Trifolium pratense and T. repens are currently searchable on-line. Possible improvements of the European Information Platform were discussed and the Advisory Group set the following new tasks:
 
  • Home page of the European Information Platform (task for IPGRI). Correct the titles of links and make them more precise (i.e. "Newsletters" should change to "IPGRI Newsletter for Europe", as long as this is the only newsletter available from that link; "Employment opportunities" should change to "IPGRI employment opportunities", etc.)

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  • Entry pages (task for IPGRI, in collaboration with all partners). Encourage the preparation of Entry Pages for all the ECPGR databases, independently of their degree of advancement. The existence of the Entry Pages is acknowledged as valuable to providing an abstract of information on the DBs' contents and the details of the managing institution.

    • Background comments to this task: The preferred location of the Entry pages was discussed. When the pages are kept on the local server, where the database is also managed, updating can be immediate while, if the pages sit on the IPGRI server, updating is limited to the IPGRI monthly updating interval. On the other hand, management of the entry pages made by different institutes is likely, in time, to lead to a divergence in style.

    It was agreed in principle that IPGRI would continue to set up Entry Pages and to host them, but these would be released to the database managing institutes upon request. The Entry Pages of the Databases managed by NGB will be taken care of by NGB in the near future. The Entry Pages of the databases hosted by ZADI will be maintained for the time being on the IPGRI server. To reduce the need for frequent updating, the description paragraphs do not need to contain too detailed information. The presence on the net of ECPGR logos as pdf files of different sizes and styles was noticed and it was recommended that an official version in three different sizes be made available by IPGRI on the platform services for the use of the ECPGR partners.
     

  • Links from the Platform Services (task for IPGRI, in collaboration with the other Documentation Support Centres).

    • a) Include links to lists of PGR-related links. These should be accessed from the Platform "Services" through an intermediary page, explaining the content of these lists. Such examples include Taxonomic directories, Molecular information, SINGER, WIEWS, GENRES (ZADI). With regard to the latter, a modification of this page may be desirable, to include the German links within the list of the European lists rather than as a separate item.

    b) Enhance visibility of the Internet Advisory Group. Its composition and mandate should be outlined in an appropriate page linked to the Platform.
     

  • PGR mailing listserver (task for NGB). NGB will explore the feasibility of setting up a listserver for ECPGR. This would allow rapid and informal exchange of information (such as announcements of meeting dates and publications of reports, etc.), as well as discussion on PGR databases and collections management. The latest discussion and announcements should be archived and made available from the Platform. Should the listserver become ineffective owing to excessive Email traffic, NGB will advise on the feasibility of setting up a Newsgroup, the maintenance of which is, however, expected to require more effort.

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  • Assistance in the preparation of downloadable zip files and of on-line searchable databases (task for all) . The Advisory Group and the DSCs remain available to help and facilitate further progress in this direction. The ECPGR Working Groups should be the appropriate fora where database managers are encouraged to offer on-line access to their databases.

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  • Mirroring (task for IPGRI and NGB) . Mirroring of ECPGR pages at the NGB server is underway and it should be completed in the near future.

    • Additional considerations regarding Documentation activities in Europe that were made during the Internet Advisory Group meeting are summarized below:
     
  • The need to coordinate the request of seed and propagating material throughout the European collections, and possibly through the Platform, is considered an issue to be dealt with in the future. At present it seems premature to start discussion on this subject, the reason being mainly the still limited nature of the information currently offered on-line. An informed request of genetic material is not yet considered possible or recommendable without additional advice from the collections curators.

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  • The Advisory Group, as the most official body acting within the ECPGR Documentation Network, intends to propose to the attention of the ECPGR Steering Committee the planning of a European Documentation meeting during Phase VI of ECPGR, as a follow-up to the Budapest meeting (October 1996). This meeting is considered important as a forum for interaction between the European database managers. CGN, in collaboration with the Advisory Group, will draft this recommendation. The analysis of the adoption of the IPGRI/FAO Multicrop passport descriptors and their impact is one of the possible specific topics of such a meeting.

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  • A request to receive support for the current second session of the Training Workshop was sent to Richard Hardwick (EC) by the director of NGB. However a reply was not received. Therefore the cost of this second session will have to be entirely covered by ECPGR funds, as an ad hoc activity.

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  • A third session of the Training Workshop on on-line databases is not considered urgent. However, a number of DB managers could benefit from it if it were held in 1999. CGN confirms its availability to host this meeting in Wageningen. Funding will have to be allocated during Phase VI of ECPGR or found from other sources.

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  • A resubmission of the EUGENET project to the EC is planned, in the event that there is a reasonable probability of obtatining funds in the upcoming third call for proposals (EC 1467/94). This project would request funds for the creation of a fully operating Documentation Network in Europe.

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  • ISO codes. The ongoing negotiation between IPGRI and ISO has not yet offered a satisfactory solution for database managers. There is a pressing need to display on Internet the decoding file with the list of codes used in the databases. Although it is understood that it is against ISO's interest to allow the publication of this list, a strong request is renewed that IPGRI, with the help of its legal experts, endeavours to find a legal solution to satisfactorily overcome the ISO copyright problem.