A c t i o n f o r L i b r a r i e s — D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3

OCLC Update

By Regan W. Harper

Converting Constant Data to Browser Interface OCLC Passport constant data records allow you to store the information that is common to items you catalog using OCLC cataloging service. Constant data records created using Passport software can be converted to OCLC Connexion using a new Passport macro. The macro will convert the variable fields to an OCLC Connexion constant data record. In OCLC Connexion, when applying variable field constant data, you can apply one constant data record to any record format. If you currently have multiple copies of a constant data record in Passport for each format, you need only convert one copy to Connexion if you only apply variable field constant data. Just download the cdconbrw.mbk macro book from the Passport Macros page for use with Passport for Windows software. Save it to your \oclcapps\passport folder.

To convert your Passport constant data record:

Display the constant data record with Passport.
Run the cdconbrw macro from the cdconbrw.mbk macro book. This macro reformats the variable fields to the format that is required by OCLC Connexion and copies the data to the Windows clipboard.
Switch to Connexion and display a constant data work form in the MARC Text Area display.
Paste the data from the clipboard into the constant data work form using the keyboard shortcut <Ctrl><V>. Then save the work form.

Note: This macro works on the first screen of a constant data record only. If you have a multiple screen constant data record, you cannot use it to capture the data after the first screen. You can use the tag command with the first variable tag to remove the fixed field and move more of your variable fields to the first screen (i.e. tag 010 <f11>) however, your display must begin with the first variable field from the record. Also, this macro copies variable fields only. You cannot convert fixed field constant data from the Passport record for use with OCLC Connexion.

Passport End-of-life for Cataloging
OCLC continues to add functionality to Connexion, which will eventually replace all current cataloging interfaces. Initially, OCLC is focusing on adding Passport functionality to Connexion, since Passport for cataloging use will be discontinued in the future. Previously, the end-of-life for Passport for cataloging was announced as December 31, 2003. This has now been extended, and OCLC will provide six months' advance notice of the new date. Although the new end-of-life date has not been set, OCLC has determined that it will not be before September 2004.

End-of-life for OCLC CatME
Eventually, the OCLC Connexion service will replace the Cataloging Micro Enhancer (CatME) and all other cataloging interfaces. Support will end for CatME after OCLC has added all CatME functions to the Connexion service, and CatME users have had time to migrate. OCLC will provide six months' advance notice of the discontinuation of Cataloging Micro Enhancer.

Connexion Setup Worksheets Available
To help you migrate from OCLC Passport or OCLC Cataloging Micro Enhancer to the browser or client interface of Connexion, OCLC has developed a Setup Worksheet, which contains a list of basic settings to check, select or enter before using the Connexion browser or client for cataloging. Required settings are noted. To printout your own copy of this worksheet, see the OCLC Connexion documentation at: www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/browser/gettingstarted/setupbrowser.pdf for the browser worksheet and www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/client/gettingstarted/setup.pdf for the client worksheet.

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