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CDS/ISIS database software

UNESCO and Information processing tools
CDS/ISIS for Windows

The development of the Windows version was the result of strategic devolpment policy decision aiming at maintening the leading role CDS/ISIS has played and is still playing on the internationale scene.
  • Introduction
  • Compatibility and troubleshooting
  • User manual and documentation
  • Arabic version
  • How to get CDS/ISIS
  • National distributors list
  • Questions Frequentes

    Latest official versions are:
    Winisis 1.5 build 3 (Standard)
    Winisis 1.5 build 7 (Arabic enabled)


    Introduction
    The major features of the CDS/ISIS software are:

  • the handling of variable length records, fields and sub fields, thus saving disk space and making it possible to store greater amounts of information;

  • the handling of repeatable fields;

  • a data base definition component allowing the user to define the data to be processed for a particular application;

  • a data entry component for entering and modifying data through user-created data base specific worksheets;

  • an information retrieval component using a powerful search language providing for field-level and proximity search operators, in addition to the traditional and/or/not operators, as well as free-text searching;

  • a powerful sort and report generation facility allowing the user to easily create any desired printed products, such as catalogues, indexes, directories, etc.;

  • a data interchange function based on the ISO 2709 international standard used by leading data base producers;

  • an integrated application programming language (CDS/ISIS Pascal and the ISIS_DLL), allowing the user to tailor the software to specific needs;

  • functions allowing the user to build relational data bases, though CDS/ISIS is not based over a relational model;

  • powerful hypertext functions allow to design complex user interfaces.

    A Windows interface between CDS/ISIS and IDAMS, the UNESCO software for statistical analysis, has also been developed.

    From the outset, CDS/ISIS was created as a multi-lingual software, providing integrated facilities for the development of local linguistic versions. Thus, although UNESCO distributes only the English, French and Spanish versions of the package, user-developed versions exist in virtually all languages, including special versions which UNESCO helped in developing, for Arabic, Chinese and Korean.



  • Compatibility between the DOS and Windows versions
    No conversion is needed when moving from CDS/ISIS DOS to CDS/ISIS for Windows. However, formatting language functions are just 95% compatible. In some cases you may find some syntax errors appearing: you may have to adapt your display format to the new one. In terms of search engine, the two versions are totally compatible: both can use the same I/F (inverted file). The data entry worksheet are also compatible but the screens will appear different.

  • Compatibility with different Windows versions
    CDS/ISIS for Windows (Winisis) is 100% compatible with all Windows Operating Systems. However Windows NT/2000/XP users should read the troubleshooting section of the "readme" file installed by the Winisis installation program. In case you get a message similar to:
      "a device can attached to system is not functionning"
      "cannot run 16 bit programs"

    please download the file CTL3D.DLL and copy it into the directory:
      \windows\system (for Win3.1, 95, 98, Me, XP)
      \winnt\system (for Windows NT4, 2000)

    Important: replace the existing file, if necessary!

    For more information, please consult our Frequently Asked Questions section on the main CDS/ISIS page.




  • Arabic version

    UNESCO and the League of the Arab States (Department of Information and library) developed an Arabic enabled version of CDS/ISIS for Windows.
    The latest version 1.5 runs on Win95, Win98, WinMe, 2000 and XP operating systems.

    The software comes in three languages: English, Arabic (Egypt) and French. It contains as well an example database in Arabic and English.
    The whole user interface is reversed Right to Left when the software starts in Arabic language. A special feature allows the switch from RTL to LTR.

    Caution: the Arabic version uses the Windows ANSI character set, thus, your (non-english) databases may require a conversion before you are able to use them with that version.

    Part of this work is based on the Reference implementation for Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm.
    http://www.unicode.org/copyright.html
    http://www.unicode.org/reports/tr9/BidiReferenceCpp/

    For more information on the Arabic version of CDS/ISIS please contact Mr. Sherif Hassen Fouad (ALDOC).




    User manuals and documentation

    A number of manuals are available for this software, including the official reference manual, recently updated and the CDS/ISIS Handbook. Other manuals contributed by independent authors are also available for downloading.

    Winisis 1.5 Reference Manual 2nd rev. (2 May 2008) (English-DOC, English-PDF)

    Get the updated CDS/ISIS 1.5 for Windows Reference Manual (rev) (English-PDF, Spanish-DOC)

    Get the CDS/ISIS for Windows Handbook now! (English,Spanish,Russian)

    How to use Winisis in a network

    Access all documentation (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese)




    How to get CDS/ISIS

    The latest version of Winisis is available free of charge through our Network of National Distributors or can be requested by filling the appropriate online request form:

    Version standard INDIVIDUALS
    INSTITUTIONS
    Arabic VersionINDIVIDUALS
    INSTITUTIONS

    It can also be requested by:
  • Fax: +33 1 45 68 55 82




    National distributors list

    CDS/ISIS takes advantage from a worldwide network of national distributors that very often provide not only copies of the software, but also a great number of services from training workshops to localized documentation, etc.

    Access the list of agreed CDS/ISIS national distributors now!