CatalogIt Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
What is CatalogIt?
CatalogIt is a powerful, intuitive and scalable application for cataloging, managing and working with your collections, and selectively publishing them to the Web.
How does CatalogIt ensure that my data is secure?
It is our top priority to make the CatalogIt system secure and trusted. Our infrastructure runs in a VPN (virtual private network) behind a firewall fronted by load balancers that restrict traffic to a single port only. CatalogIt infrastructure runs on AWS (Amazon Web Services) and takes advantage of their monitoring tools (CloudWatch) to notify us of issues and keep tabs of memory, load, disc usage, etc. Traffic to our database servers, search engine, and worker processes can only originate from within the VPN (i.e. our database servers cannot be accessed outside the VPN -- e.g. from the public internet). All communication between client and server happens over secure HTTPS/TLS connections. We do not use cookies or store any personally identifiable information on your computer or mobile device. Authentication utilizes the oAuth2 protocol (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OAuth) which is used by Apple, Google, and other top-tier technology-dependent businesses to secure their data and transactions. CatalogIt stores the oAuth2 refresh and access tokens on the client’s devices; the client token expires every few minutes; the refresh-token can be revoked at any time. For added security, CatalogIt supports multi-factor authentication which adds an additional layer of security to your account by requiring an additional code to log in that is either sent to your mobile device via text message or generated by a third-party authenticator app such as Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, etc.
What browsers does CatalogIt support?
CatalogIt supports newer versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari on both desktop and mobile. If you are using Microsoft Edge please make sure you're using the latest version (44.18362.267.0) to avoid issues with date formatting. CatalogIt also has mobile native apps for iOS and Android- just download the CatalogIt App from the Apple App Store or from the Google Play Store and log in with your email and password.
Can CatalogIt be used offline?
As a cloud-based software, you do need to have internet access to use the program. You can access your data and work in your records from anywhere that you do have internet access.
Is there a limit to the number or size of images that can be added to an Entry?
There is no limit- CatalogIt recognizes that there are many cases where multiple images can be particularly valuable for documenting an Entry.
What types of images or documents can CatalogIt handle?
Account users can currently attach JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, RAW, Excel, Microsoft Word and PDF files to CatalogIt Entries and Profiles. Soon, CatalogIt will be able to accept attachments of audio, and video files as well.
Can I migrate my existing collections data to CatalogIt?
Yes- we’ve successfully migrated accounts from the following collections management systems/inventory databases:
- PastPerfect
- Eloquent
- EmbARK
- FileMaker Pro
- Koha
- Spreadsheet Software (Excel, Numbers)
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Word
Can I import my images to CatalogIt?
Data migrations of image files can be accomplished. We may be able to import your images as well, depending on how they are stored in your system. As mentioned above, numerous images can be uploaded to each Entry record.
How much does CatalogIt cost?
Users can set up a free Museum, Personal, Organization, or Conservator Account with full functionality (with the exception of Web publishing) for up to 50 Entries. When your Account exceeds 50 Entries, you can subscribe and continue using the same account. Annual subscription prices can be found here on our website.
Accounts can have as many users as they need to manage their collection. Every Museum, Organization, and Conservator Account includes eight users; every Personal Account includes three users. Additional users can be added to any account for $6/month or $60/year to accommodate interns, volunteers, increased staffing or more family members.
Can users create custom fields?
A large part of the value CatalogIt brings to any collection is a rich set of accepted and authoritative classifications and structured, common field names which gives museums and collectors a universal language for identifying objects and recording their condition, characteristics, and value. Therefore, adding customized or differentiated data fields adds confusion and detracts from the value that CatalogIt offers. That said, the CatalogIt team is happy to take suggestions for new CatalogIt classifications and to enhance existing product features.
Does CatalogIt compress or otherwise alter the images I upload?
CatalogIt stores all original images in their original sizes and formats, with their original file names, making them available to you whenever and wherever you might need them. We like to think of CatalogIt as a mini/lightweight DAMs (Digital Asset Management system). CatalogIt enables you to aggregate all of the digital assets related to your collections in a single repository, safely and confidently.
Do images taken with the CatalogIt app take up space on my mobile device?
CatalogIt doesn't store images taken in the app on your mobile device. This is on purpose so we don't consume your memory. The downside of not storing the photos on you device is in the event the upload fails or you forget to click Save then you have to retake the photos; but the upside is we don't contribute a bunch of images to your camera roll.
How does CatalogIt Web publishing work?
Included with every CatalogIt Subscription is the ability to publish (selectively or comprehensively) to the Web via the CatalogIt HUB. Users set up their publishing profile with their logo, photo or avatar, and a background image, as well as a description of their institution or collection, then select which CatalogIt Folders they’d like to publish, and which data fields they’d like to share with the public. With a few clicks of the mouse, hundreds or even thousands of Entries can be published and made available, and searchable, to the world. For an additional subscription, CatalogIt can provide Accounts with our API and iFrame integration or our WordPress plugin to publish their collection with the same controls, directly to their own public Website, seamlessly and attractively.
If you are a CatalogIt subscriber and would like to utilize the HUB please contact us at support@catalogit.app and we will enable it for your account and send you the HUB User Guide.
Who has access to my data? How does CatalogIt ensure that my data is private?
You have full and absolute control over your data. Only you and those you’ve authorized in your CatalogIt Account can view or edit your Account’s data. CatalogIt staff does not view or access any User or Account data without your express permission.
Can I export my data from CatalogIt?
Yes- you can easily export at any time using the Export function in the Actions Menu.
What kind of permission settings does CatalogIt have? Can users set their own permissions?
CatalogIt currently has three permission levels: Owner, Read-Write and Read Only. When a user is added to an account, the Account Owner assigns the new user one of those three permission levels.
At present, Account Owners cannot modify permissions or create new roles. This DIY feature is coming soon, however. The Owner will be able to create new roles that control what kinds of information (entries, profiles, folders, images, etc.) a user can access, and the kind of tasks that each User can do with that information (i.e. view, create, edit, delete, etc.). The Account Owner will be able to define as many roles as they need and will be able to delete Users or reassign permissions as needs evolve.
For readonly logins it's fine for multiple users to share a single login, although it is best not to be using it concurrently. However, if the users are going to be making changes it's best if each user has their own login. First, you maintain a strict and unambiguous audit log of who made what changes and when. Secondly, when users change certain preference settings that can create conflicts with other users who are utilizing the same login credentials.
Where can I find the End User License Agreement?
At the time you create an account, you must agree to the terms of the End User Licence Agreement. You can find a copy of it here on our website.
Some of my images appear "fuzzy"
CatalogIt uses a few different image sizes in the app: 1) a very small and low-quality thumbnail, 2) a "small," medium-quality image used in the Entry view and edit screens, and 3) a "full" sized high-quality image for viewing (and zooming into) a single image. CatalogIt uses these different images to minimize network bandwidth and to keep the app performant. The small, medium-quality images may suffer from "fuzziness" produced as a result of resizing the image. When viewing an Entry, however, if you click on a single image to view it in the image viewer, it will appear clear. Rest assured that your original image is safe and the full, high-res version appears clean and crisp. This fuzziness only appears in Entry view and edit derivative image "previews."
I can only see the first page of the pdf I uploaded
When you upload a multi-page pdf CatalogIt uses the first page as a preview or placeholder for the file. To view the entire file you simply need to download it to your computer or mobile device. To do this click on the preview image in the entry and then the "cloud" download icon that will appear in the top left corner.
Is it possible for users to host their own version of CatalogIt?
The CatalogIt platform is shared across all users (to clarify, NOT the data, just the platform), utilizing Amazon Web Services for our hosting and other cloud services, and there is currently no ability for users to host their own instance. This allows us to make updates, bug fixes, etc., that are immediately available to all users and importantly, allows us to keep the costs low by sharing this infrastructure. At some point in our future development, perhaps a few years down the road, we may be at a stage where we can enable users to run their own instances of CatalogIt.
Does CatalogIt support multiple languages?
In CatalogIt you able to enter text in any language you have installed on your computer- and a single field can contain multiple languages. CatalogIt does not currently store values for multiple languages separately or allow you to change the language for the field labels or hint text, we do plan to support both of those features in the future.