I'm looking to switch from Archive Manager to Archive Virtual. I'm interested to hear from anyone who has done the same, are currently using Archive Virtual, or have trialled it.
1. Is the interface user friendly?
2. Is SDS offering reliable technical support?
3. My IT manager has asked about their security and confidentiality - any feedback on that?
4. Lastly - any other comments and/or considerations?
Thank you,
Kate Riseley Milroy
Shore School (Sydney) and Central Coast Grammar School
Replies
That is wonderful to know, thanks Kylie. To tell you the truth I didn't even realise the reports were limited to 100 pages in Archive Manager! So there's a plus with Virtual that I didn't even know could exist.
Hi Kate,
We have been using Archive Virtual on several of our client sites [4 schools, 1 club and 1 religious order] and we have found that SDS have always been very helpful in fixing any issues we have found.
Whilst it does take some getting used to after using Archive Manager for so long, the main advantage we have found is the reporting capability - you can run reports on your entire collection [not just limited to 100 pages as in A/M], and you can export your reports to Excel as a csv file.
Most of our clients have gone with the Australian server option instead of the UK host so as to avoid exterior jurisdictional laws re privacy etc.
Regards
Kylie
Thank you Jess. I appreciate your useful feedback.
Hi Yasmin,
You will need to be set-up with a temporary account in order to access it. I emailed Mark Coombes at SDS and he emailed me back a link. His email: mcoombes@sds-group.co.uk
regards,
Kate
Cheers. Much appreciate it. Not a huge range of programs to choose from.
Hi Kate,
I use Archive Server at one of my roles, and bought Archive Virtual for my other role, but I haven't used Archive Manager.
AV is very user friendly, but it is more limited in features. One feature I sorely miss is the advanced search ie two concurrent search terms. Although it is a web app, I feel it is limited in design to an older era. It doesn't make the most of space in a widescreen monitor, or expand lists more than 5 or 10 at a time. Nevertheless, it still looks much better than Archive Server.
SDS has been very reliable and helpful, quickly assisting despite the time difference and rolling out patches for the few bugs I've found (mostly around item date ordering). They've invited my feedback and suggestions, saying they'll consider them for future updates.
AV does have granular user security, which you can see if you open up the demo platform on the SDS website. As for SDS itself, all I know is the servers are located in Aus.
I went with AV because of how easy it is for non-archivists, and how simple it is to have it hosted by SDS.
Jess McDonald-Norman
St John's College, within the University of Sydney
Hi Kate
Could you provide the Archive Virtual website please. I was very disappointed with Archive Manager when I was using it.
Thankyou.
Yasmin