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Table of Contents
The Template Toolkit OPAC Release Notes
The Template Toolkit OPAC (TPac) is a new Evergreen catalog built using a combination Perl's Template Toolkit and Apache/mod_perl. The primary design goals for the new catalog are speed and accessibility. This is accomplished by leveraging server-generated content in lieu of JavaScript rendering on the client. The project started as a clone of the custom King County OPAC skin. The new skin uses the same design elements, but essentially all JavaScript has been removed and replaced with Template Toolkit components for page rendering.
Initially, TPac will be merged into Evergreen 2.2 as a drop-in replacement for the HTML-only Slimpac. With minor configuration, it can also act as a drop-in replacement for the standard OPAC. In time, …
Design Benefits
- Speed (initial page loading and rendering)
- Cross-browser consistency
- Flexible template engine (overlays, etc.) improves skinning
- Accessibility
- gettext-based string translations
- Reduced per-feature speed cost
- Simplified error tracking. (Errors occur on the server).
- Reduced variability of code in the wild (JS caching)
- Reduced bandwidth requirements
- Reduced client resources (RAM/CPU) requirements
- JavaScript/AJAX is still an option when needed (e.g. added content, staff client integration)
Features
The long-term goal is implement all existing OPAC features in TPac. Not all features have yet been added. Some new features have been implemented along the way.
New Features
- Credit Card Payment
- Fines History with Receipt Email/Print Options
- Circulation History
- Holds History
- Action/Trigger Notification Preferences
- On-the-fly lists
- Batch holds from lists / bookbags
- Improved options for hold overrides
Features Not Yet Implemented
- Display MFHD-based serials holdings (2.0+ "new" serials do display, and users can place issue-level holds)
- Facets display
- Some added content components have not been re-integrated.
- Widget-based access to all search indexes (see "Advanced" button in current OPAC)