Skip to main content
Version: 3.1.X

Advanced Creation Methods

If the standard models do not fit your needs, ABCD allows for complete customization.

Option 2: Create from Scratch​

This method is for Information Professionals who need to design a custom metadata structure (e.g., for a Museum, an Art Gallery, or a specific Archive).

To create a database from scratch, you will use the Database Wizard, which guides you through defining the four pillars of an ISIS database:

  1. FDT (Field Definition Table): You define every field (Tag, Name, Type).
  2. FST (Field Selection Table): You define how the search engine indexes the data.
  3. FMT (Worksheet): You design the input forms for data entry.
  4. PFT (Print Format): You code how the data is displayed on the screen.
info

This is an advanced topic. Detailed instructions on defining FDTs and FSTs can be found in the Cataloging Module documentation.

Option 3: Import from WinISIS​

If you have legacy data from CDS/ISIS (DOS) or WinISIS, ABCD can import it directly, preserving your data structure.

Prerequisites​

You need the .mst (Master File) and .xrf (Cross Reference) files from your old system.

Steps​

  1. Go to Administration > Create new database.
  2. Enter the name and description.
  3. In "Create from", select WinISIS.
  4. Upload: You will be prompted to upload your .mst and .xrf files (and optionally .fdt and .fst if you have them).

ABCD will attempt to convert the Windows-1252 (ANSI) encoding to UTF-8 automatically during this process.