eHive by Vernon Systems - Profile

Product description

eHive is a web-based collection cataloguing system aimed at small museum and private collectors. It makes cataloguing and publishing of your collection easy and affordable. Content can be accessed via our APIs and WordPress plugins.

We take care of the hosting, server maintenance, software upgrades, and backups.

Disciplines supported

There are seven different Object Record types in eHive to accommodate different types of collections: archives, archaeology, art, history, library, natural science, and photography and multimedia.

Product launch date

November 2008. The product is regularly enhanced and releases are detailed on the site.

Product history

eHive is the product of extensive research and consultation with the culture and heritage sector. The system was originally designed to meet the collection management needs of smaller organisations and individuals, and to provide a viable avenue for online publishing. These days a growing number of larger institutions using other collection management systems have chosen to also use eHive as a platform for publishing their collections online.

Future development

• Provide multi-user, multi-level security.
• Add detailed person record cataloguing screens.

Demo version

Yes. A free account is available.

Support methods

eHive support is primarily provided via the ticketing system and forums on our Customer Support Portal. We offer online training and group workshops.

Support language(s)

English

Support availability and hours

9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. New Zealand time, Monday to Friday. Agents on call in UK and South African time zones.

Support fees

Support can be purchased at a per hour rate.

Client support network

Yes. The eHive Customer Support Portal.

Training

Yes. The minimum length online session is one hour.

System updates and maintenance

System updates and/or maintenance are applied automatically at no cost as part of the annual subscription.

Pricing

eHive accounts are available on an annual subscription basis covering use of the software, storage and ongoing development. The amount of storage you use determines the level you need to purchase. Additional storage is available beyond Level 4.

Pricing options can be viewed on the eHive website.

Maintenance costs

Software upgrades are applied automatically at no additional cost.

Operating systems supported

eHive is Software as a Service (SaaS). It can be accessed by any computer or device able to connect to the internet via any modern web browser.

Underlying database

Relational database. MySQL.

Platform(s)

eHive is Software as a Service (SaaS). It can be accessed by any computer or device able to connect to the internet.

Hardware requirements

eHive is Software as a Service (SaaS). It can be accessed by any computer or device able to connect to the internet.

Staff requirements

eHive can be maintained by existing museum employees. The system is maintained by Vernon CMS.

Plug-ins and/or modules available

No. All eHive functionality is included in the yearly subscription.

Third-party requirements

No. There are no third-party requirements.

Interoperability

eHive includes a public API for bespoke integration with other products. WordPress plugins are provided for building public online collection sites.

Accessibility

eHive meets WCAG 1.0 Level-AA accessibility standards.

Customization

Custom public websites can be developed using eHive's WordPress plugins or API.

Cloud functionality

eHive is entirely cloud-based.

Server location

eHive is hosted through Amazon Web Services in the Virginia availability zone.

Security protocols

No response.

Typical or average uptime

99.9%

Back-end maintenance procedures and downtime

Zero downtime for backups and upgrades.

Browsers supported

• Internet Explorer 10.0 and above
• Firefox: latest version
• Chrome: latest version
• Safari 7.0 and above
• Edge 38.14393 and above

Web-based access for data entry

Yes. Data can be entered through a web browser with no restrictions.

Web publishing platform

eHive does publish collection data to ehive.com website. Collection data can also be accessed through the API and WordPress plugins. The API is not open source.

Linked open data functionality

No

User profiles

eHive has just one login per account. Multiple users can use this one login to access the database and simultaneously edit records. They cannot be modifying the same objects simultaneously.

User groups

No. eHive has just one master login with no restrictions. Development to support multi-user accounts is almost complete and is due for release in January 2021.

Visitor profiles

No. eHive has just one master login with no restrictions, although public users have read-only access to any published records.

Installations

There is no practical limit to the number of computers that can access eHive simultaneously.

Audit trails and/or edit history

No. eHive does not have an audit log.

Offline access

No. eHive is a cloud-based service and requires an internet connection.

Privacy features

Yes. Objects can be made private so that they can only be accessed with the administration password.

Import formats

Yes. eHive can import via XML or Excel formats. Bulk imports are run by Vernon Systems staff against a test server first.

Export formats

Users can export to XML, comma separated text files (CSV), Excel, and PDF formats.

Backups

eHive is a web-based system. Daily backups are run on the system, with separate copies kept in the data centre and remotely.

Metadata schemas

• Dublin Core
• CIDOC CRM Core
• CDWA Lite

The Object fields are based on the Spectrum standard.

Data content standards (cataloguing rules)

• CCO
• Spectrum object fields

Vocabulary standards

Taonga Māori Thesaurus, plus other vocabulary lists imported on request.

Local terminology lists

eHive has dedicated Pick List fields (authority controlled fields) for which clients can create their own terms. The terminology lists are not multi-lingual.

Accreditation

• CIDOC CRM Core
• CDWA Lite

Object fields are based on the Spectrum standard.

Media upload/linking

You can drag and drop multiple images on the object image upload page.

Media formats supported

You can upload images in JPEG, TIFF or BMP formats, or non-transparent GIF or PNG formats. Each image should be less than 20 MB.

eHive provides access to high resolution images using the IIIF image standard.

Data entry features

Copy and paste

Yes, including copying the current record to a new record.

Search and replace

No. Bulk deletion or addition of tags only.

Spellcheck

Uses the spellcheck built into your web browser. Most common browsers support spellcheck in the selected default language for the browser.

Bulk cataloguing

No

Batch edit

No

Batch location change

No

Duplicate record search

No

Template record

Yes. Copy current record option.

Date selection and formats

No date selection option. Dates can be entered in any format.

Mandatory fields

No

Others

No response.

Spreadsheet editing view

No

Geographic mapping

Google Maps pin for the organisation's location, but not for individual object records.

Multilingual fields

No. eHive supports Unicode but is not multi-lingual.

Barcoding

Barcodes can be printed by exporting to Excel and printing via Word mail merge. A barcode reader can be used anywhere in the system where object records are selected.

Labelling

Data can be exported to Excel, from which labels can be printed using Word mail merge.

Types of search supported

Boolean queries

Yes

Query any field

Yes

Sort query results

Single level

Saving search results

Saving search query only (a browser bookmark).

Filter search results

Yes

SQL-based search

No

Export search results

Yes. Users can export search results to XML, comma separated text files, Excel, and PDF formats.

Free-text (Google) searches

Yes

Search result views

Record summary and lightbox (thumbnail images) modes.

Multilingual searching

Yes

Report styles included

Multiple PDF formats, Comma Separated Values, raw data exports.

Report customization

No, but data can be exported to Excel to use with Word mail merge.

Report program

eHive has built-in reporting.

Collections management function overview

eHive manages collection cataloguing and conservation activities in detail. The system includes tracking of current and historic locations. Summaries of other processes such as loans and exhibitions can be recorded. Common image file formats are supported. Web and PDF file links can also be added to catalogue records for other related digital data.

Registration

Accession number duplicate checking. Dozens of registration specific fields including tables for registrarial comments and other identifiers for the objects.

Acquisitions

Record individual acquisitions or acquisition lots with details about the acquisition (source, method, date, notes etc.).

Inventory management

Note completeness of an object. Update current location.

Internal tracking

Record current location and retain location history.

External shipments

Catalogue non-accessioned objects (loans, considered items). Text field for recording loan details.

Cataloguing

Dedicated screens for archaeology, archives, art, history, library, natural science, and photography objects. Create pick lists to standardise terminology. Link PDF documents.

Conservation

Record detailed condition, completeness and treatment detail at object level. Link PDF condition reports.

Curatorial research

Retain histories of curatorial comments and research notes.

Publications and printed material

Simple bibliography history on each object record.

Rights management and reproduction

Record current and historic rights information on each object record. Assign standard licences to the whole collection and override at object level. Override public access settings for images and documents at the image/document file level.

Risk management and valuation

Record valuation histories. Record risk details and significance information.

Exhibitions

Record exhibition histories at object level.

Loan management

Record simple loan summaries at object level.

Deaccessions

Plan deaccessions of individual objects. Record details of approved deaccessions.

Digital asset management

Link image files. eHive generates standard derivative sizes. Panning and zooming of high resolution images using the IIIF image standard.

Additional features and functions

Features

• Create communities to connect objects from different museums based on a common theme.
• Use our WordPress plugins to build your own website.
• Share your records and images with third-party systems with the eHive API.
• Share your data with cultural hubs using the Open Archives Initiative standard.