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    Overlay/merge *sometimes* not working for oclc_server, p_file_99, etc.

    • Article Type: General
    • Product: Aleph
    • Product Version: 17.01

    Description:
    We have a few records (usually one or two each day) from OCLC Connexion which do not overlay properly.

    The oclc_server log says "Input docx merged into ABC01.000271652", but the new fields from the incoming record have not been included in the resulting record.

    Most records *do* merge properly.

    One reason that this occurs is when OCLC records have an ELvl (Encoding Level) field that is numeric.

    Resolution:
    Note 1: If the oclc server log does not have "Input docx merged into ...", but instead shows a *new* record being created, please consult SKB 8192-3513.

    Note 2: If you find that removing the preferred_doc_cdl (described below) doesn't help and if the merge almost *never* occurs, then please consult SKB 8192-3353.

    Changing the OCLC line in ./xxx01/tab/tab_preferred from:

    OCLC preferred_doc_cdl union_preferred

    to:

    OCLC

    corrected the problem.

    The preferred_doc_cdl is a program which decides (based on the presence or absence of certain values in certain fields) whether the incoming record should supercede the existing record.

    In the case of a union catalog, with records coming from a variety of sources, this is quite important and appropriate.

    In the case of OCLC Connexion, where one pretty much *always* wants the incoming record to take precedence, it is less appropriate. (And, in cases such as the above, has actually caused problems.)

    Note 3: As an alternative to eliminating preferred_doc_cdl entirely, you may want to try adjusting the values in the union_preferred, which is the table that preferred_doc_cdl uses in calculating which record is preferred.

    Additional Information

    faq


    • Article last edited: 10/8/2013