It all can be embraced in one name: CSD-Xpedite - our new bespoke software infrastructure, the accomplishment of a multi-year project by our Development Team. The previous software used for the deposition process, called Catdep (also created in-house), had been in use since 1998. The creation of CSD-Xpedite was necessary as the number of structures we have been adding each year has grown enormously. During 1998, 15,645 new entries were added to the CSD bringing the total to 195,798. Last year we have added 57,304 new entries bringing the total to well over 650,000! Our good, old, familiar “Catdep” was not designed for such big increases - even though it was coping with the workload till the very last day of its use.
CSD-Xpedite has a completely new look-and-feel and new features that are still causing excitement here. It also has brand new capabilities that we are just beginning to use; as this improved, modern software enables additional tasks that we, as Deposition Coordinators, can now take on-board. I have no doubt that we will enjoy this challenge.
I am sure the numbers I have used as examples above will increase even more in the next few years. This is the challenge we will have to face – but we know now that we are prepared, with the strong belief that we will provide a fast, up-to-date, good quality service to our users. The timescales will reduce even more and number of structures will continue to grow - as will CCDC’s contribution to the world’s science.
We are more efficient and we can prove it! No emails waiting to be dealt with from external users.
