Introduction
The Open Source Component Framework is offered as a template for use by
organizations wishing to develop Statewide Web Sites under the
LSC Technology Initiative Grants (TIG).
The components for this template have been developed by Kaivo under
the auspices of projects sponsored by
PineTree Legal Assistance in Maine, Ohio State Legal Services Association,
and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA.)
General Description
The Open Source Template is based on the Open Source Software
Development methodology - an informal set of guidelines and practices by
which experts worldwide contribute collaboratively to the creation of
technology products that are then shared freely with others.
Open Source software is available for use at no cost, and it is not
owned by any individual or corporate entity.
The core web development platform upon which the template is based, called
Zope, is an Open Source tool providing highly-extensible content management,
personalization, and security features.
The projects conducted for organizations in Maine, Ohio, and Washington, DC
involve the creation of individualized web sites built atop the core Zope system.
While each of these sites have their own particular requirements – including
a wide variety of distinct web content, and distinct navigational designs and
organizational identities - many of the database-driven, programmatic features
of the sites are common to them all. Consequently, those features were
developed to be highly modular and easily re-usable so they may be
recombined and configured for use by other organizations with similar needs
at minimal cost.
The Open Source Component Framework is most applicable for organizations
with particular needs in terms of layout, design or functionality that may
not be directly satisfied by a more highly-templetized system, and/or who value the
cost and control advantages afforded by the Open Source software methodology.
Core Features
The Components of the Template include:
Client Legal Library
The Legal Library is an easily-browsable directory for clients to locate links to on-line resources. The administrator is allowed full control over the categories (“library shelves”), their descriptions, and the content contained within each topic area.
Document Management System
The core functionality provided by this component is the ability for users, typically advocates, to upload documents (of varying formats - .wpd, .doc, .pdf, etc.) into a central repository, and for those documents to be searched and downloaded based on “metadata” elements such as topic, author, legal category, date of submission, etc. The document repository may also be browsed by drilling down through a directory hierarchy modeled after common “file folder” metaphors such as Windows File Manager. Full text search of documents is also planned.
Training & Events Calendar
The Calendar is designed to support submission of Event information by all users, and to display the listings in multiple formats and in multiple locations on the site. Users will be able to browse listings in monthly, weekly, and daily views, and will be able to search the Calendar database to display all listings in tabular form that that meet search criteria.
SmartSearch
This component provides an easy-to-use, intelligent search engine by which clients may locate helpful resources and organizations. The site administrator may identify individual pages, domains, or sub-domains to be included in the search. In order to maximize the relevance of search returns, the administrator is provided great flexibility in categorizing the on-line content (including the use of synonyms and keywords) and determining direct and indirect relationships to other content.
Note: If you are considering hosting the website (as opposed to hosting it at Kaivo), please note that Smart Search does not port to the Windows version of Zope.
Membership and Security System
The core web platform includes a full, robust, and flexible security system by which content and features may be access-restricted to specific “roles” which are established at the time the site is created. Password-protected login is used to authenticate users for access to those portions of the site.
Job Database
This module provides the ability for users to submit job openings (specifying all important data elements such as description, salary range, contact info, etc.) and for those openings to be searched based on a variety of criteria.
Discussion Groups
This module allows users to participate in on-line, threaded discussions around a variety of topics, definable by the site administrator.
Link Library
This module allows individual users to submit URLs for display on a “Links” page on the site. Administrators are notified when new links are submitted and have the ability to remove them from the system if they are inappropriate or broken.
Legal Services Directory
This Component includes a searchable directory of local or statewide Legal Services organizations.
News from the Field
This Component allows authorized remote users to submit short digests of local information for posting on a public area of the site.
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