Cumulus is designed as a client/server solution where the Cumulus Server runs on a computer somewhere on the network and is accessed by the Cumulus Desktop Clients through standard TCP/IP connections, or by a Cumulus Web Client via a standard Internet connection. What a user of a Cumulus Client – i.e. you – can see and do, depends on settings managed by the Cumulus Administrator. So if you can’t use or even see some of the features described in this guide, it may be on purpose. If in doubt, ask your Cumulus Administrator!
Canto provides a Cumulus Sample Catalog which we use to illustrate the following explanations. If for any reason this Sample Catalog is not at your disposal, any other catalog you can access will work as well.
Opening a Cumulus catalog:
1. Start the Cumulus Client, e.g. by double clicking the Cumulus icon on your desktop. The Cumulus window appears.
2. Select File > Open Catalog, or click the Open Catalog button (). The Connect to Cumulus Server window appears,
3. Select a server, if necessary, then enter your user name and password and click OK. If in doubt, ask your Cumulus Administrator! The Catalog Access window appears.
4. From the Catalog Access window, select the Sample Catalog (or any other catalog) and click Open.
The Cumulus main window is displayed, showing the records of the assets in the catalog with thumbnails and selected information.
Menu Bar
The menu bar provides the Cumulus functions arranged in clearly named menus. For example you’ll find catalog related functions in the Edit menu, or functions to control the visual representation of the records on the screen in the View menu. The Metadata menu hosts the functions related to the metadata of the assets, and the Asset menu functions to handle the assets themselves.
Main Toolbar
The main toolbar provides buttons for some of the most popular of these functions. When hovering with the pointer over a button, a tip appears revealing details on the respective function.
Category Pane
The Category pane displays categories belonging to the catalog. The bar at the top of the Category pane indicates the total number of categories in all open catalogs, the number of currently visible categories and the number of selected ones (if any).
Record Pane
The Record pane displays the records of cataloged assets. The bar at the top of the Record pane indicates the total number of records in all open catalogs, the number of currently visible records and the number of selected ones (if any).
Cumulus offers several ways, or views, to display the records in a catalog. e.g. the Thumbnail View as shown in the picture above.
Status Bar
With the buttons contained in the status bar, you can toggle on and off additional panes, change their order, and manage your workspace.
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