Adding or Changing a Z39.50 Index

Before you can search a Z39.50 library, you must add to Information Portal the Z39.50 indexes for that library. Once you add an index, you can always change the settings as necessary.

Before You Begin

Gather the information you need on each index you want to search. (For more information, see Information You Need from the Z39.50 Library.) If you want more information about valid values for Z39.50 index attributes, access the Library of Congress web site for Z39.50 at this address:

http://lcweb.loc.gov/z3950/agency/defns/bib1.html

If you are changing an index, you may want to copy the Z39.50 index 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 in this task under step 6.)

To add or change a Z39.50 index

1 Open your Information Portal Administration tool web site.
2 Click the Customize tab.
3 Click the Z39.50 sub-tab.
4 Choose a Z39.50 library from the Indexes drop-down list.
5 Click the Indexes option.

The Administration tool displays the Indexes page. (The indexes listed are specific to the Z39.50 library that you chose. In addition, all the index templates are listed.)

6 Do one of these options:

To do this

Do this

To add a Z39.50 index from scratch

Click Add Z39.50 Index.

The Administration tool displays the Edit Index page.

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

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

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

To change a Z39.50 index

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

The Administration tool displays the Edit Index page.

Here is an example of the Edit Index page:

7 Complete or change these fields to add or change the Z39.50 index:

Field

Action

Library Name

Choose the name of the Z39.50 library that this index is for.

Index Description

Enter a description for the index that you want users to see.

(For example, enter “General Keyword”.)

Shortcut

Enter the corresponding Horizon index shortcut name (or primary universal ID) for this index.

(For example, enter “gw” for the General Keyword index.)

(For more information on universal IDs, see Universal IDs.)

Universal ID

Choose the corresponding universal ID for this index.

(For example, choose “GW”.)

Information Portal uses the universal ID to match a primary index for your local library with a Z39.50 index for broadcast searching. The universal ID is the only way that users can search on the Z39.50 library’s index. The Administration tool has default universal IDs. If the universal ID that you want is not in the list, you can add it. If you want to, you can change existing universal IDs. (For instructions, see Customizing a Z39.50 Universal ID. For more information on universal IDs, see Universal IDs.)

Result Type

Choose the result type that you want this index to use.

(For example, choose “21001-bib”.)

The Administration tool has default result types. If the result type that you want is not in the list, you can add it. If you want to, you can change existing result types. (For more information, see Customizing a Z39.50 Result Type.)

Phrase Search

If you want to make search terms concatenated (or linked together) into a search phrase, mark this box.

Is Scan

If this index is used for browse searches (as opposed to keyword searches), mark this box.

Attribute Set ID

Enter the name of the attribute set to which this index belongs.

(For example, enter the default “bib1”.)

Most indexes that you enter should be part of the “bib1” attribute set.

Use Attribute

The index that the Z39.50 library’s Z-server supports.

Relation Attribute

Do one of these options:

Enter the number that represents the symbol used for search limiting in a Z39.50 index (for example, the Z39.50-defined number for “greater than,” “less than,” or “equals”).
Leave the default of “-1”.
This means the value will be generated based upon the input from the user.
Delete the default value, and leave the field blank.

This means the attribute will not be sent to the Z-server.

This is used for search limiting.

Position Attribute

Do one of these options:

Enter the position attribute for the index, if any. (For example, enter “1” [first in field].)
Leave the default of “-1”.

This means the value will be generated based upon the input from the user.

Delete the default value, and leave the field blank.

This means the attribute will not be sent to the Z-server.

Most products do not support this attribute.

Structure Attribute

Do one of these options:

Enter the structure attribute for this index. (For example, enter “2”.)
Leave the default of “-1”.

This means the value will be generated based upon the input from the user.

Delete the default value, and leave the field blank.

This means the attribute will not be sent to the Z-server.

This determines whether or not the index is a phrase or word search index.

Truncation Attribute

Do one of these options:

Enter the truncation attribute for this index. (For example, enter “100”.)
Leave the default of “-1”.

This means the value will be generated based upon the input from the user.

Delete the default value, and leave the field blank.

This means the attribute will not be sent to the
Z-server.

This determines whether or not users can search by entering only a portion of a complete search term. Most Z-servers support the “100” value, which means no truncation is allowed, and the “1” value, which means users can right-truncate their search terms.

Completeness Attribute

Do one of these options:

Enter the completeness attribute for this index. (For example, enter “1” [incomplete subfield].)
Leave the default of “-1”.

This means the value will be generated based upon the input from the user.

Delete the default value, and leave the field blank.

This means the attribute will not be sent to the Z-server.

This determines whether or not the search term requires the entire field in the database to get the proper search results. (For example, if the attribute is “1” [incomplete subfield], and you search for “gone wind,” then the Z-server returns “gone with the wind”. However, if the attribute is “2” [complete subfield], then you must search for “gone with the wind” to get the proper results.)

8 Click OK.
9 If you want to add more indexes, repeat steps 4 through 8.
10 When you finish making changes in Information Portal, restart the Application Server process (JBoss).

 


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