WinWillow Frequently Asked Questions

WinWillow is a fairly new program and there isn't really a list of frequently asked questions yet. However there are a few situations which could use further explanation.

What is this about database connections going through the UW driver-server?

WinWillow should work fine for you as downloaded. However, by default all of your database interactions are going to travel from your computer, to a UW server, and then to the target database. If you are not very close to the UW on the Internet you may want to set up your own server. There is detailed information about the Willow architecture available if you are curious, but what you really need to know is as follows -- WinWillow is just a user-interface program -- it does not know how to talk to any particular database (i.e. Z39.50). It relies on a "database driver" program to translate. These driver programs do not run on Windows, only on Unix. If you have a Unix computer available, you can set up your own "driver-server" on it. To do so, you will need to download a Willow for Unix package (though you can ignore the Unix Willow interface, and just use the drivers), and read about Socketed Drivers in the Willow Administration guide.

I get a limited set of databases when I connect from outside the University of Washington, or use a dialup other than the University's modem pool.

When you use the default URL in WinWillow, your access privileges are determined by the IP address from which you are accessing the WWW server. If you have an account on a University of Washington Uniform Access computer, the URL, "http://www.washington.edu/willow-config/db-config.win.uw/db.conf" which will allow you access to the full set of UW databases. There are two ways to use this URL in WinWillow. The easiest way is to use the menu "Files/Open Remote" and enter the URL in the edit field. If you will be using this URL on a regular basis, you will want the menu "Options/Preferences/Default Configuration URL". This will also present a dialog where you can enter the URL. When you use this URL, you will be asked to enter your Uniform Access userid and password. These are verified and you are then connected to your requested database.
Please note that this URL will only work if you have a University of Washington Uniform Access account, and you are using WinWillow outside the UW network. If you are connected to the UW network, you should use the default URL, "http://www.washington.edu/willow-config/db-config.win/db.conf"

I can't mail the WinWillow Results or Summary!

WinWillow uses SMTP to deliver mail and requires the name of a mail host to send the mail. The mail host is a machine which runs the SMTP service. Many sites name their mail host simply "mailhost", so I've provided that as the default. If you cannot send mail using mailhost, contact your internet provider for the name of the mailhost in your domain.

WinWillow crashes.

This happens most often on machines running Windows 3.1. As a general rule, if you can run Netscape 2.0, WinWillow will run successfully. WinWillow uses Microsoft's OLE libraries. There are several versions of these libraries, many of which will not work with WinWillow. There easiest way to get the latest versions of the OLE libraries is to install win32s.
The prefered platform for WinWillow is Windows for Workgroups 3.11 with the Microsoft "wolverine" winsock. WinWillow is very stable on this platform. WinWillow32, the 32 bit version of WinWillow, runs equally well on either NT or Windows 95. There have been no problems reported using any of the prefered platforms.

WinWillow can't find the winsock.dll.

This tends to happen most with the Trumpet winsock. The solution is to start Tcpman before starting WinWillow.

Where do WinWillow's database configuration files come from?

WinWillow it is not stand-alone software. It requires a winsock connection to a Willow driver (server). WinWillow uses HTTP to retrieve a configuration file from a WWW server. It uses the configuration file to tell it where the server is, which databases are available and how to converse with them. The configuration file for databases available via the University of Washington is at http://www.washington.edu/willow-config/db-config.win/db.conf.

WinWillow hangs when sending mail with the Trumpet winsock.

This was a bug in version 1.01. It has been fixed for later versions,which are now available via the WinWillow Web page.

WinWillow doesn't print the results or summary when I use the print button

This situation has been corrected with version 1.2.

The printer uses a different font than my screen!

Alas, another bug in version 1.01. This has been addressed in later versions, which will now print using the same font style and size as was selected for display.

Questions and comments about Willow to: willow@cac.washington.edu