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OCLC Update

By Regan W. Harper

Connexion Browser Interface Updated
The OCLC Connexion quarterly enhancement installed in May was successful. You will see the following changes:

  • Searching Enhancements     The Command Line Search has been added to Authorities and Path- finders. Quick Tips were added for each of the new command lines. In Cataloging, Authorities and Pathfinders, the cursor initially will default to the command line, then after that it defaults to the last search in the current session. The Command Line Search in Authorities and Pathfinders supports the search types currently available in Connexion. This does not include derived searching for Authorities.

    You now have an option — Retain Search — to retain your most recent search in several search dialogs throughout Connexion. The setting defaults to off. If unselected, only the selections in the index lists and Boolean operators are retained. Command line, numeric and browse search boxes automatically retain your last search, which is highlighted so that it can easily be revised or keyed over. (The Retain Search option will be added to Dewey Services at a later time.)

    The Internet qualifier has been added as a new qualifier list in the WorldCat Keyword Search area. Use the list to select the qualifier value: Internet or Non-Internet. "Any" indicates that no limit has been chosen.

    The Reset button is replaced with "Clear Search" on several search screens. If selected, all data typed in the boxes will be deleted. However, the selections in the index lists and the Boolean operators will be retained. (The Reset button in Dewey Services will be changed at a later time.)

    To maintain consistency throughout databases, minor changes to wording and formatting have been made on various search screens.

    The browse results screen in Cataloging, Authorities and Pathfinders now shows two separate columns. One column contains the results list and the other column contains the number of records. The entry that is the closest match is highlighted.

  • OCLC-MARC Format Update 2003     Changes announced in Technical Bulletin 249 (OCLC- MARC Format Update 2003) at www.oclc.org/technicalbulletins/249/ were also installed in May. A few affect Connexion users. You can now input URL's in subfield $u in four additional specialized notes fields (fields 506, 538, 540 and the new field 563 Binding Information). These URLs are indexed in the URL Word and URL Phrase indexes for the Resource Catalog. Also, these URLs are treated the same as other URLs in Resource Catalog records. They are highlighted on display and are subject to URL verification and notification, like any other URL.

  • New Servers Added for Connexion Export     OCLC has added more servers to handle the increased volume of exports from OCLC Connexion. If you export from Connexion using TCP/IP Export, please adjust your firewall settings so that the following IP addresses have permission to connect to your local system.

      132.174.2.5
      132.174.2.21
      132.174.2.67
      The port ranges for all three addresses are 30000-30499.

For more information, contact Regan Harper (rharper@bcr) at BCR.

WebDewey Enhanced
OCLC made the following enhancements to WebDewey in June:

  • Introduction: The DDC Introduction is easier to find. Under the Show Options dropdown list, select Introduction to the DDC (or Introduction to the Abr. DDC depending on your authorization).
  • Relocations, Discontinuations and Reused Numbers: These are now available in WebDewey's Help as a downloadable Excel file. (This file will also be available as a PDF file on the Dewey Web site.)
  • New Terminology: A small number of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) have been intellectually mapped to Dewey numbers. More MeSH terminology will be added to later WebDewey releases.
  • Flow Charts: All flow charts and one optional schedule have been added to WebDewey as PDF files. (Flow charts to aid number building occur in the Manual records at T3A, T3B, 782, 913-919 and 930- 990. An optional schedule at M221 is also now available.)
  • Quick Search/Browse: The popular quick search/ browse function has been added to Search results and Browse results screens. (Previously, the quick search feature was only available in record displays.)
  • Navigating to DDC Record from User Note: You can now quickly navigate from a User Note to its associated Dewey record. (The feature does not apply to General User Notes as General Notes don't associate to Dewey records.)
  • Action Bar Added to User Note: User Notes power users can now quickly save User Notes with the keyboard after they finish inputting a new User Note.
  • Edition 22 Available: Edition 22 numbers are available in WebDewey with the June install. (Also note that Table 7 has been removed and integrated into the schedule.)

For more information contact Rosario Garza (rgarza@bcr.org) at BCR.

Order System Usage Statistics Via the Web
OCLC has implemented an order form for ordering and canceling OCLC System Usage Statistics (formerly known as PRISM Usage Stats). Previously, you had to order or cancel your subscription via your organization record in the Name-Address Directory. You can continue to do this in the NAD, or you can complete the Web-based order form.

For more information about OCLC System Usage Statistics, including a link to the order form, please see www2.oclc.org/forms/forms_index.asp.

End of Support for Netscape 6.1
OCLC plans to end OCLC Connexion browser support for Netscape 6.1 on July 20. At that time Connexion users, including CatExpress and WebDewey users, will no longer be able to log on using Netscape 6.1. If you are accessing Connexion via this browser version, please upgrade to a higher version of Netscape as soon as possible. Ending support of Netscape 6.1 will enable quicker development of enhancements to the Connexion service because additional programming has often been necessary to support older versions of Netscape. Since special coding to accommodate for Netscape 6.1 will no longer be needed, OCLC will be able to add new and better features to the system. In addition, ending support of Netscape 6.1 will eliminate the system problems that users often experience when using older versions of Netscape.

Please see the Connexion System Requirements link for additional information about browser support: connexion.oclc.org/html/corc/help/en/gs_login_sysreq_hardware_software.html.

For more information, contact Regan Harper (rharper@bcr) at BCR.


Comments to: shoffhin@bcr.org
February 27, 2008
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