Versioning in Eprints:
"EPrints open source software is a flexible platform for building high quality, high value repositories" (http://www.eprints.org/software/)(accessed 03/03/08).
The most recent release, EPrints 3, has some interesting developments in version identification. Here are some examples of how Eprints can be used to organise versions:
http://files.eprints.org/319/ - This example shows multiple versions, all identified alongside each other, all as the most recent version of the 'eprint'. At the bottom of the page, all related versions can be seen. Apart from one, the repository record describes each one as the most recent version, and they are listed directly underneath each other. Only one is offset, denoting that it is defined as a prior version with the prominent text:
"There is a more recent version of this eprint available. Click here to view it."
A second example, http://files.eprints.org/118/, shows how many items can be layered as versions of each other. In this case, there are many records that say ''There is a more recent version of this eprint available', and they all point to the single most recently deposited file.
http://eprints.ecs.soton.ac.uk/10688/ is a rich example of versioning complexity. There is a newer version available, as a work in progress, but restricted, leaving no doubt about which is the version to be used. However, there are several other digital objects, in a variety of formats, attached to this record. These items are apparently not described by the metadata, and only referenced by their url.
http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/665/ is another good example. There are three linked records, of three ostensibly identical eprints, with no useful disambiguation taking place. The dates of deposit are in this case confusing when compared to the hierarchy of which is most recent.
EPrints Records and Metadata:
EPrints retains a complete history of changes to that are made to a record, so that repository managers and administrators can recreate the state of any eprint at any time. this is designed for internal editorial, administrative and preservation purposes. This will also register changes made to a record when a version is added or amended.
EPrints V3 now supports the Scholarly Works Application Profile (external link) for exporting metadata, though at an experimental stage. To find out more about application profiles, please click here.
Future Developments:
EPrints 3.1 (due in 2008) will contain at document-level a "version" metadata field that contains values from a recommended vocabulary. Note: in EPrints each record can have multiple documents, and each document has its own independent metadata.
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