Understanding the Data Library

The Meridian Data Library is an optional component that can be installed with the Meridian server components. It provides a synchronized replica of the document metadata of one vault. The metadata can be stored in a SQL Server or Oracle database. The Data Library is a subset of the functionality that is provided by BlueCielo Publisher. Specifically, it is a publishing job template that omits the project folder and repository configuration features of the regular publishing job template.

The Data Library can be used in two scenarios:

• As a data source for your favorite reporting application or for more complex reports than can be configured in Meridian. You can configure reports against the Data Library using any application that supports SQL Server or Oracle as a data source, for example, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services or SAP Crystal Reports.
• For use with the Meridian Explorer client as a read-only alternative to Meridian Power. By installing Meridian Explorer client licenses, the Data Library can be accessed using all of the capabilities of Meridian Explorer from a web browser.

To add more flexibility to the configuration, you can install an Meridian Explorer Server license to unlock all of the potential of Meridian Explorer.

The primary differences between these three configurations are summarized in the following table.

Data Library feature comparison

	Data Library	Data Library + Explorer Client	Explorer Server + Explorer Client
Database server	Must be the Meridian application server	Must be the Meridian application server	Any SQL Server or Oracle server
Source systems	One Meridian vault	One Meridian vault	Multiple sources of different types can be consolidated into each repository
Repositories	One	One	One or more
Repository contents	All documents, all properties, not configurable	All documents, all properties, not configurable	Configurable documents and properties
Renditions	Not supported	Not supported	Supported by optional BlueCielo Publisher rendering modules
Client interface	None	All Explorer Client functionality	All Explorer Client functionality
Client Configuration	None	All Explorer Client options	All Explorer Client options
Document content access	Not supported	Read-only native document content accessible from vault only	Read-only native document and/or rendition content accessible from vault or Explorer repository
Project folders	Not supported	Not supported	Supported
Redlines and feedback properties	Not supported	Supported	Supported

The Data Library is an excellent introduction to other BlueCielo products:

• Meridian Explorer — The Data Library can be upgraded to all of the features and benefits of Meridian Explorer with the addition of Meridian Explorer server and client licenses. Meridian Explorer can provide engineering content to your entire enterprise. The Meridian Explorer client provides extensive search, viewing, and printing capabilities. For more information about the Meridian Explorer, see the BlueCielo Meridian Explorer Administrator's Guide and the BlueCielo Meridian Explorer User's Guide.
• Meridian Publisher— The Data Library uses a subset of the Meridian Publisher components to synchronize data between the Meridian vault and the Data Library. Installing the entire BlueCielo Publisher solution and licenses allows you to publish metadata and documents (optionally rendered to other formats) to and from other destinations, such as other Meridian Enterprise vaults, a Windows file system, SharePoint, or other document management systems.