A c t i o n f o r L i b r a r i e s — A p r i l 2 0 0 4

OCLC Update

By Regan W. Harper

New OCLC Digital Archive Tutorial Available
Using the OCLC Digital Archive: An OCLC Tutorial is now available. The tutorial provides step-by-step instructions for integrating archive activities into your work flow in Connexion using the OCLC Digital Archive Web tools and managing your content with the Digital Archive Administration Module.

Topics the tutorial covers include:

Adding a Digital Archive link to a bibliographic record.
Creating a Digital Archive record.
Harvesting and ingesting.
Disseminating for use in a local archive.
Using the Digital Archive Administration Module.

The tutorial is available at www.oclc.org/support/training/digitalarchive/tutorial/. It is also linked from the OCLC Tutorials page at www.oclc.org/education/tutorials/.

PromptCat Enhanced Record Matching
PromptCat was enhanced to always provide the DLC record when more than one WorldCat record was found in matching. OCLC staff have now rewritten the PromptCat matching process to increase the number of records matched. The old matching process had three steps: ISBN matching, extended batchload matching and duplicate detection and resolution. The new matching process uses ISBN or Publisher Number (from the 028). The ISBNs go through a check process to avoid mismatches.

This new matching allows PromptCat to deliver more records. Since its installation, the overall match rate for PromptCat has gone from 95 percent to 98 percent. Using the Publisher Number allows PromptCat to match non-book titles that do not carry ISBNs.

IP Address Added for Connexion Browser TCP/IP Export OCLC has added another IP address for TCP/IP export with the Connexion browser: 132.174.2.73. If your site uses a firewall, it must be configured to recognize and accept export data from the following IP addresses: 132.174.2.67, 132.174.2.5, 132.174.2.21, 132.174.2.73 (new).

The port range for these IP addresses remains 30000-30499. Please make any necessary changes to your firewall to ensure that TCP/IP export continues to work properly.

Connexion Browser Tutorial Revised
OCLC Training Development staff have completed revisions to Using OCLC Connexion Browser: An OCLC Tutorial. The tutorial is available from the OCLC Training page: www.oclc.org/support/training/ and from the Connexion browser documentation page: www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/browser/default.htm.

The revisions to the tutorial incorporate these recent enhancements:

Improvements to deriving new records.
Changes to merging repeatable fields from Constant Data in bibliographic and authority records.
Lock and Display buttons on brief lists for bibliographic and authority records are now hidden by default.
Enhancements to the Active Records screen.

Connexion Browser Quarterly Enhancement Installed
The latest OCLC Connexion quarterly enhancement was installed in February. Enhancements include both user requested changes and problem fixes. Among the improvements you will find:

Easier entry of Library of Congress Control Number: Enter or edit LCCN.
The ability to choose which groups of variable fields to transfer when deriving new bibliographic records.
The ability to restore the now hidden Lock and Display buttons on brief lists for bibliographic and authority records.
Active Records screen enhancements.
Cataloging Agent authorizations (which allow you to catalog for other libraries for which you are profiled) are now valid in Connexion.
Authorities save file aging changes from 180 to 90 days, while 5xx cross references in authority records should now all be available and linked to appropriate 1xx headings if available.

For a complete list of the enhancements, log on to Connexion (connexion.oclc.org), which requires an OCLC cataloging authorization and password. A link to Connexion News appears on the Welcome screen. To list enhancements, choose System Updates category on the News search screen.

CONTENTdm Version 3.6 Now Available
OCLC and DiMeMa, Inc., have released the newest version of CONTENTdm, version 3.6. Users running their own CONTENTdm server can download the version 3.6 update software from the User Support Center (www.contentdm.com/USC) at any time. Hosted users will be notified separately about the update schedule for their CONTENTdm installation.

Version 3.6 includes major enhancements in collection building, delivery and administration. A full list of the new features included in the updated software is posted on the User Support Center, along with a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating the features.

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