OCLC Cataloging:
The Best Option for Your Library
By Linda Gonzalez
Never before in OCLC history have there been so many ways for members to contribute their holdings and bibliographic data: Passport, CatME, Connexion browser and client, Z39.50 via a local system vendor and that old die-hard, batchloading. Many catalogers and technical services managers are understandably confused by all of these options.
It's important to keep in mind that Passport is a dying interface for cataloging and will
not be an option much longer. OCLC ended its support for Passport for cataloging on
December 31, 2002, and had plans to disable access to the cataloging service via Passport
on December 31, 2003. That date has been delayed, as Passport's functionality is being
added gradually into the OCLC Connexion
client software.
OCLC will give users at least six months' notice of Passport's retirement. This does not impact interlibrary loan or union listing, both of which will also be moved to other interfaces but on different schedules than that for cataloging functionality.
The Cataloging Micro Enhancer (CatME) software will also be phased out, although not as soon as Passport. CatME's offline capabilities will be added into the Connexion client before CatME is discontinued.
CatExpress members who only copy catalog, will continue to use the Express option in
the
Connexion browser.
If you are not using your local system's Z39.50 interface to catalog on OCLC, and you are not batchloading your holdings (sending electronic files output from your local system to OCLC to set holdings), your options are to use either the Connexion browser or the Connexion client. Many Passport users will find the latest version of Connexion client (Version 1.10), with its increased functionality, more attractive than the previous release of the client.
Macro Recorder Valuable New Tool
Perhaps the most appealing feature of Connexion client 1.10 to Passport users is its new
macro recorder. For libraries that rely heavily on the efficiencies of Passport macros, the
client's macro recorder should significantly ease the work of creating macros in the
client, saving staff from rewriting macros manually in the new software.
New macro commands are available as well, including "copy," "cut" and "paste." Connexion client's Help feature contains further information.
Other enhancements of Connexion client 1.10 are:
You now have the option to define a default "My Status" to records added to the online bibliographic save file and to new constant data records. Constant data may now be applied by name, and you may specify whether you want the fixed field or variable fields, or both, applied to a bibliographic record.
Many errors in both bibliographic and authority records may be reported to OCLC using the Report Error function on the Action menu, while the offending record is displayed.
You may now customize which fields transfer when deriving new bibliographic records from existing ones (under Tools, Options, Derive Record).
Pausing your mouse pointer over an institution symbol in the 040 now displays a pop-up box with the institution name, bypassing a visit to the OCLC Participating Institutions Web site to search for it.
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MARC bibliographic record files from your local system or from OCLC services such as WorldCat Collection Sets or PromptCat, may now be imported into Connexion client for editing or updating.
The Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) in the 010 now displays without the hyphen to match how it is now printed in most publications. Inputting and editing the LCCN, searching by LCCN and the LCCN format when exported are not affected.
You can now unassign default keystrokes and reassign them as you like.
The inactivity timer can now be changed to any time between 5 and 39 minutes. Previously you were logged off by default after 39 minutes of inactivity. The timing of the warning message can also be changed to any time between 1 and 9 minutes.
You can now set options to log on via your proxy server (under Tools, Options, Access).
Many problems with roaming profiles should be resolved, as user options in 1.10 are now stored under \documents and settings\<your name>\ application data\OCLC\Connex. Settings of users upgrading from version 1.00 will automatically move to the new location.
The Dewey Cutter Macro will now copy the 082 subfield a into the 092 subfield a, as long as 092 subfield b exists.
There's now a Contact Support command from the Help menu, to allow you to send e-mail requests to OCLC or BCR.
For those who cannot imagine life without online System News, you can find it now from the View menu. A link to download the new Connexion client 1.10, which was made available in late March, may be found at www.oclc.org/connexion/interface/client/.
For help in planning to migrate from Passport or CatME, please see www.oclc.org/connexion/migrating/, or contact Linda Gonzalez (lgonzale@bcr.org) or Regan Harper (rharper@bcr.org) at BCR.
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February 27, 2008
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