Documents, images, and data files of all types work seamlessly with CERF

Cross-Platform

Because CERF is built on Java, it provides the same experience no matter what platform your users prefer for their client machines. The CERF server can also be installed and run on your choice of Windows or Macintosh hardware and operating systems, or even on Linux. To achieve the goal of platform independence, CERF uses a combination of XML technologies, SQL representations, and Java language bindings. Most system communication uses XML messages sent via HTTP(S) on top of network communication using the TCP/IP protocol.

Microsoft Integration

You can launch Microsoft Office applications directly from within the Notebook Viewer and create a document that is immediately stored on the CERF server. By accessing these files directly inside CERF, you are taking advantage of CERF’s version control, audit trails, and secure collaboration features. Microsoft Office documents are displayed inline as PDF previews in the Notebook Viewer and are automatically printed to PDF in their entirety for recordkeeping.

Optional viewers and editors for your data

CERF is compatible with many Java-based viewers and applications for proprietary data types. Once integrated, the data are visible inside the notebook right next to a scientist’s notes. There is no need to open a separate program, export the data, or tab back and forth between windows. CERF includes tools for creating and viewing drawings (SVG) and mindmaps, plus optional tools for chemistry, and other applications, CERF also offers its Structured Data Information Management System (SDIMS) to enable use of fully integrated forms to support entry of structured data in accordance with desired layouts and workflows; these data are stored semantically (as RDF) to support queries, retrieval, and reporting.

Choice of database back-end

CERF tracks data using the proven and reliable MySQL back-end by default. If your organization prefers to work with commercial DB technology such as MS SQL Server or Oracle, no problem – CERF is equally happy using either of those back-ends. CERF can also be configured to distribute the DB and application on different machines if this is what your IT practices dictate.

Cross-linking

CERF supports several types of links, both internally (to other CERF resources) and externally (to resources outside of CERF). In general, documents and other resources may be linked through simple drag-and-drop mechanisms (e.g., from the CERF Document Tree to a notebook page). Both the content and metadata of linked resources are available from references to them, and relevant services (e.g., views, queries, and analyses) may be launched from the cross-reference link to an object.

Metadata and Full-Text Index and Search

The CERF metadata management system enables indexing and searching by metadata properties. Certain core metadata are defined for all resources, including title, author, and submission date. When documents enter CERF, all relevant metadata are automatically extracted based upon ontological features of the document (e.g., an XML document based on a particular schema or an Excel spreadsheet with instrument data located in specific rows and columns). Searching is available on all metadata fields as well as ontologically specific fields such as molecule type. Metadata are automatically extracted from the properties of many common file types. CERF hierarchical controlled vocabularies are also indexed for semantic searching.