Adding or Changing a Z39.50 Library Connection

If you want to let users search other libraries’ databases, you must add a Z39.50 library connection for each Z39.50 library that you want to connect to. Once you add a connection, you can always change the settings as necessary.

Information Portal delivers generic Z39.50 library connections for several different types of library systems (DRA, SirsiDynix, Geac, Horizon, Innovative, Sirsi, and Voyager). Use these defaults wherever possible to maintain accurate information.

Before You Begin

Gather the information you need on the Z-server and connection information. (For more information, see Information You Need from the Z39.50 Library.)
If you are changing a connection, you may want to copy the Z39.50 library connection you want to change. This way, you have a backup copy in case you need to start over. (For instructions on copying, see the table under step 5.)

To add or change a Z39.50 library connection

1 Open your Information Portal Administration tool web site.
2 Click the Customize tab.
3 Click the Z39.50 sub-tab.
4 Click the Libraries option.

The Administration tool displays the Library pages.

5 Do one of these options:

To do this

Do this

To add a Z39.50 connection from scratch

Click Add Z39.50 Library.

The Administration tool displays the Edit Z39.50 Library page.

To add a Z39.50 connection by copying an existing one

1 Find the Z39.50 library connection that you want to copy.
2 Click Copy next to the Z39.50 connection you want.

The Administration tool displays the Edit Z39.50 Library page, showing the same information as the Z39.50 library that you copied.

To change a Z39.50 connection

1 Find the Z39.50 library connection that you want to change.
2 Click on the name of the Z39.50 library connection that you want to change.

The Administration tool displays the Edit Z39.50 Library page.

Here is an example of the Edit Z39.50 Library page:

6 Complete or change these fields to add or change a connection to a Z39.50 library:

Field

Action

Library Name

Enter the name of the Z39.50 library that you want your users to see.

(For example, enter “Aspen Public Library”.)

Library Code

Enter a unique code to represent the library, using no spaces and all lower case letters.

(For example, enter “apl”.)

IP Address or Domain Name

Enter the IP address of the Z-server for the remote Z39.50 library.

(For example, enter “205.10.10.10”.)

Port

Enter the port number that the Z-server listens on for search requests.

(For example, enter “210”.)

Group ID

If the Z-server requires one, enter the group ID to access the Z-server.

(For example, enter “aspengroup”.)

User ID

If the Z-server requires one, enter the user ID to access the Z-server.

(For example, enter “aspenz3950”.)

Password

If the Z-server requires one, enter the password to access the Z-server.

(For example, enter “123456”.)

ZDatabase

Enter the name of the database to which Information Portal would send search requests.

(For example, enter “snoopy”.)

Timeout

Enter the number of seconds that Information Portal will wait for a response from the Z-server. If this time passes, then Information Portal returns an error message saying that the Z-server did not respond in the allotted amount of time.

(For example, if you want Information Portal to wait two minutes, enter “120”.)

Pref Message Size

Enter the size (in bytes) of a response message that the Z-server can usually handle.

(For example, enter the default “65536”.)

If the data size is larger than this amount, then the Z-server either returns a subset of the data or returns an error message.

Except Record Size

Enter the maximum size (in bytes) of a response message that the Z-server can handle.

(For example, enter the default “65536”.)

If the data size is larger than this amount, then the Z-server either returns a subset of the data or returns an error message.

Brief Record Syntax

Enter one of these record syntax standards that the Z39.50 library uses for brief bib display:

UNIMARC (default)
MARC21
UKMARC
OPAC
SUTRS
GRS-1
XML
draHoldings

Full Record Syntax

Enter one of these record syntax standards that the Z39.50 library uses for full bib display:

UNIMARC
MARC21
UKMARC
OPAC (default)
SUTRS
GRS-1
XML
draHoldings

Holdings Record Syntax

Enter one of these record syntax standards that the Z39.50 library uses for holdings retrieval:

UNIMARC
MARC21
UKMARC
OPAC (default)
SUTRS
GRS-1
XML/Holdings Schema
draHoldings

Note: Be sure to add the element for the holdings field on the display that you want. (For more information, see Adding or Changing an Element in a Z39.50 Search Result Display.)

Brief Element Set Name

Enter the element set name you want used for the brief bib display.

(For example, enter the default set “B” for “Brief.”)

If the Z39.50 library always uses the full bib display, then the library may have you enter “F” for the “Full” bib display.

Full Element Set Name

Enter the element set name you want used for the full bib display.

(For example, enter the default set “F” for “Full.”)

If the Z39.50 library always uses the brief bib display, then the library may have you enter “B” for the “Brief” bib display.

Holdings Element Set Name

Enter the element set name you want used for holdings display.

(For example, enter the default set “F” for “Full.”)

If the Z39.50 library always uses the brief holdings display, then the library may have you enter “B” for the “Brief” holdings display.

Request Type

If you are using this library for interlibrary loan searching, choose Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

Is UNIMARC

Mark this box if the records from this Z39.50 library are in UNIMARC format.

This lets you choose the proper MARC codepage lookups to use with the UNIMARC format.

Default Group 0 Character Set

Choose the type of graphic set (G0) that you want to use for the first set of 128 characters of the MARC codepage.

If your MARC format is UNIMARC, then the default “ASCII” (English) character set applies to most libraries.

(For example, if some of the MARC records that are sent to you are in Greek, you can choose “Greek”.)

Default Group 1 Character Set

Choose the type of graphic set (G1) that you want to use for the second set of 128 characters of the MARC codepage.

The default character set of “ANSEL” (Latin 1 -Western European) applies to most libraries.

(For example, if some of the MARC records that are sent to you are in Hebrew, you can choose “Hebrew”.)

Non-Marc Data Encoding

Choose the encoding that you want to use when this Z39.50 library returns non-MARC data to Information Portal.

By default, Information Portal receives and displays data using the ANSI format; however, the ANSI format does not display some characters correctly, such as Greek and Arabic characters.

OCLC Marc Map

Choose the MARC map that you want to use for OCLC control numbers.

The default setting is “N/A = Not Applicable”.

You can use OCLC control numbers as a match point for the deduping process. (For more information, see Using OCLC Control Numbers for Deduping.)

7 Click OK.

The Administration tool displays the Library page again with your new Z39.50 library connection added to the list.

8 Assign this Z39.50 library to the library profiles for those Information Portal libraries that you want to let search this Z39.50 library, if it is not already assigned.

(For instructions, see Changing Broadcast Searching.)

9 Add all of the indexes that you want to make available for searching for this Z39.50 library, if they are not already added. (For instructions, see Adding a Z39.50 Index.)
10 When you finish making changes in Information Portal, restart the Application Server process (JBoss).

 


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