odaba Files

About ODABA
-----------

0. Thank you for installing ODABA. This is ODABA version 11, the latest 
   release of ODABA-NG, the new generation of terminology-oriented database 
   system. Compared with previous ODABA releases, version 11 provides a number 
   of new essential features:
    - powerful utilities
    - GUI Framework based on Active Data Link (ADL)
    - Data version features
	- semi-structured data
	- text encoding suppport
    - .NET support
    - OSI script language (JAVA/C++ like)
   More information you will find in ODABA and in the ODABAInvitation_EN.pdf
   or ODABAInvitation_GE.pdf and in ODABA release notes 
   (http://www.odaba.com/content/products/announcements/annodaba11.1.0).

1. Essential extensions have been made to the ODABA system model in order to 
   improve data version and history support. ODABA supports semi-structured 
   data models now and different text encodings are supported for text fields 
   (UTF formats and several 8 bit encodings).
   
2. With this version, the ODABA GUI framework and ODABA Development Environment 
   (ODE) will be released. The GUI framework provides an application program 
   interface (API) supporting ODABA Script Interface (OSI), C++ and .NET 
   programming languages.
   
3. The .NET interface for the ODABA API and GUI Framework has been released. 
   In order to provide necessary text encoding support for new text data types, 
   the odaba::String class in the ODABA API has been redesigned.
   
4. Data exchange has been improved and ODABA supports now file access, import 
   and export with comma separated files (CSV), extended self delimiter files 
   (ESDF), object interchange format (OIF) and XML.

5. With the ODABA Media Player and the Message Browser, two examples for OSI 
   script applications and use of user controls have been provided. Another 
   example for using user controls is the graphical presentation of class 
   diagrams in the Class Editor (ODE).
   

Release notes
-------------

1. Update information are provided on three levels. General release notes you will 
   find on the WEB site. In the logs folder of the installation folder, there are 
   detailed release notes (ReleaseLog_xxx.txt) and change logs (Changes_xxx.txt) 
   for all ODABA subprojects. 'xxx' stands for

   sos - common service functions
   opa - Database kernel
   gui - GUI frame work
   ode - ODE tools 

   Release logs contain information about detailed relevent (conceptual) changes. 
   Change logs contain a list of cheges per source file.

2. In addition, we provide test logs for ODABA interface classes, which include a 
   difference protocol which shows changes to the prevoius release.

3. In order to get information about new releases, you should register at 
   run Software by sending a mail to 
     support@odaba.com


Licenses
--------
1. You may use the GPL in order to develop other software licensed under GPL.
   In order to develop commercial software not licensed as GPL product, you
   may get a commercial development license. 
   
2. Note, the the GPL allows you creating any sort of GPL projects, i.e. 
   projects for your own purpose as well as commercial products (as long 
   as those are published under GPL, again). In order to develop non-GPL 
   products, you need a commercial development licence, which can be ordered
   at RUN Software.
   
3. You may also join the ODABA Software Development Foundation, which 
   supports the further ODABA development and which gives you a chance 
   to participate in strategic and short term decisions.
   

Installation
------------
1. ODABA does not require specific registration procedures and you may copy 
   the odaba folder to any location in your system. 

2. Installation and build procedures are described for different platforms 
   and build environments at:
   http://www.odaba.com/content/documentation/odaba/opa/HierarchyTopics/ONLG_10_Install.html
   
3. Supported platforms

   win32-gcc       
   win32-msvc2003
   win32-msvc2005
   win32-msvc2008
   win32-msvc2010
   linux-gcc

   for all platforms 32- and 64-bit modes are supported. In order to compile 
   ODABA on other platforms or with other compilers, you might have to insert 
   a few platform specific extensions. In general, it should not be a big problem.
   
   
Getting started
---------------

0. When running ODABA 10 resource databases, those have to be upgraded. In order to 
   upgrade the resource database, appropriate upgrade procedures are described in the 
   online documentation. Moreover, you may have to upgrade application databases, 
   when those refer to system data type (e.g. DSC_Topic or __OBJECT). How to upgrade 
   a database is described at:
   http://www.odaba.com/content/documentation/odaba/opa/HierarchyTopics/ONLG_VersionUpgrade.html
1. A Quick Starter Guide is availale for new odaba users at
     http://www.odaba.com/content/documentation/odaba/opa/HierarchyTopics/ONLG_10_Steps.html
     or in the ODABA-Base online documentation ("Quick Starter Guide"). 
   and for the GUI framework at 
     http://www.odaba.com/content/documentation/odabagui/ode/HierarchyTopics/ONLG_10_steps.html
     or in the ODABA-GUI online documentation ("Quick Starter Guide"). 


Documentation
-------------
1. There is a separate documentation package, which you may download and 
   which contains the complete ODABA documentation. An documentation overview 
   is given in the DocumentationOverview document. Part of the documentation 
   has already been converted to .pdf and will be provided in an additional 
   PDFDoc folder. But there are still documents, which are available in 
   MS Office format, only.
   
2. There is also a HTML version, which can be started from the documentation 
   package downloded, but also from our WEB site 
       http://www.odaba.com/content/documentation/odaba
       and
       http://www.odaba.com/content/documentation/odabagui
   Online documentation will be updated frequently and we suggest using the 
   online documentation, which is more uptodate. 

Forum and bug report
--------------------
1. If you find problems or if you have any questions, please visit the 
   ODABA forum http://sourceforge.net/p/odaba/discussion and post your 
   problem or question or contact RUN Software directly via
     support@odaba.com
   
2. If you think you have found a bug in ODABA, it would be nice if you 
   report it to us, so that we can fix it. Before reporting a bug, please 
   check reported bugs for similar problems. 
      http://sourceforge.net/userapps/trac/odaba-support

   Always include the following information in your bug report: 
     - name and version number of your compiler
     - name and version number of your operating system
     - the version of ODABA you are using
     - compile options used for compiling or build number for the binaries
   If possible, add an example, the dictionary database and a database, as 
   well as the configuration or ini-file used for running the application. 
   
3. In order to put your questions directly, you may contact support@odaba.com.