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 4

New OCLC Connexion Client 1.2
Relevant to CatME Users

By Linda Gonzalez
Version 1.20 of the OCLC Connexion client became available for download from the OCLC Web site in November, and among the enhancements are functionalities of particular interest to OCLC Cataloging Micro Enhancer (CatME) users.

Among the features in this release:

NACO functionality — Create and add new authority records, lock and replace existing records and submit records for review by Library of Congress staff or peer reviewers. Perform actions immediately or mark records to send via batch processing. This includes adding new records, which could not be done via batch mode in CatME.

Authority File searching enhancements — Optionally display see and see also references in the list of matches for retrieved records; search by numeric and derived indexes; and browse using root and expanded scan.

Local constant data — Set up individual or shared local constant data files, for use when logged on or working offline. You can move groups of records between the local and online constant data files.

Local constant data in Connexion client has been enhanced beyond local constant data used for CatME. You can now apply constant data from a list of constant data records or apply constant data by entering the name of the constant data record. In addition, when applying fixed field constant data, you can specify elements you do not want to apply, so you no longer have to apply all or none of the fixed field elements.

Actions on multiple records from a list — Take actions on multiple records at one time by high- lighting records on a list. From WorldCat lists, you can select and save multiple records to the online or local bibliographic save file. From online and local bibliographic save file lists, you can select multiple records and apply constant data to every one, take actions such as validate, export, update holdings, replace and more.

Text strings — Define strings of text and assign them to single keystrokes to add frequently used text to records wherever the cursor is located. Text strings can include text that you use within a field, a complete field or multiple fields.

Offline options — Cataloging Micro Enhancer users will find version 1.20's options for offline cataloging, batch processing and the use of local save files welcome additions to the client. In the client, you may work offline to do most of your cataloging and log on to OCLC Connexion only when records are ready for online processing. Batch processing enables you to enter search keys offline and then process in batch mode to Connexion online to increase efficiency.

Actions such as update holdings, export and label print may also be taken in batch by marking actions on multiple records and processing all at once. Or continue to process actions on single records one-by-one.

View reports detailing batch processing, including reports for searching, record actions, exporting and label print (export and label print reports are a new feature in the client that were not available in CatME). Display and/or print reports automatically after a batch completes. Use new report tools, such as a tool for exporting data to various file formats (for example, Excel).

Individual or shared local save files may be set up to be used when logged on or working offline. You can move groups of records between the local and online save files. Local save files in the Connexion client have been enhanced beyond those used for CatME. You can now:

Change local files from the search dialog, instead of having to go to the local file manager.
Delete files from within the client.
Search files using full keyword searching, truncation and character masking.

In CatME, you can include only a single local file in an immediate batch; however, in Connexion client 1.20 you can include multiple local files in one immediate batch. Also in CatME, you perform online and local batch transactions separately; in the Connexion client, you can perform batch searching, record actions, exporting and label print at the same time.

For more enhancements and details on those listed above (and to download the software), see the client recent enhancements page at www.oclc.org/connexion/interface/client/enhancements/recent.htm or log on to Connexion (connexion.oclc.org/) and search Connexion News (a link to News appears on the Welcome screen in the browser). To list enhancements, choose the category System Updates on the News search screen. In the client, after logging on live, select View > News or <Ctrl>F5 and chose the entry for 2004-11 Connexion Client Version 1.20 Release.

OCLC will discontinue Connexion client version 1.10 on March 1, 2005, so plan your move to the new version accordingly. Remember, OCLC Passport is retiring on May 1, 2005, and CatME (both the English and Spanish interfaces), CJK and Arabic Cataloging will retire July 1, 2005. For information on switching to one of the Connexion interfaces, see www.oclc.org/connexion/migrating/.

Please contact Linda Gonzalez (lgonzale@bcr.org) or Regan Harper (rharper@bcr.org) at BCR with any questions or concerns.

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New OCLC Connexion Client 1.2 Relevant to CatME Users

New OCLC Connexion Client 1.2
Relevant to CatME Users