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    Problems with check_val_runtime

     

    • Product: Aleph
    • Product Version: 20, 21, 22, 23
    • Relevant for Installation Type: Dedicated-Direct, Direct, Local, Total Care

     

    Problem Symptoms:
    When the check_val_runtime routine is added to the check_doc table to validate the running time in positions 18-20 of the 008 field of Visual Materials, the value '---', which is valid and indicates 'Unknown' is not permitted. When attempting to save the record to the server, the following error appears: "008/18/20: Value " " is not a running time.

    Cause:
    The check_val_runtime routine is not the cause of this problem. All valid codings of the 008/18-20 are permitted by this check routine, including "---" (3 hyphens). This problem is caused by the presence of this line in tab_fix:
    INS fix_doc_fixed_fields
    This fix routine converts all hyphens in all fixed fields to spaces when the record is being saved to the server, and 3 spaces is not a valid coding for the 008/18-20 position.

    Resolution:
    Either remove the fix_doc_fixed_fields routine from tab_fix, or use '|||' instead of '---' to code the 008/18-20 fixed field. Note that there is a slight difference in meaning between '|||' and '---'. The MARC21 standard says this:

    18-20 - Running time for motion pictures and videorecordings (006/01-03) 
    000 - Running time exceeds three characters 
    001-999 - Running time 
    nnn - Not applicable 
    --- - Unknown 
    ||| - No attempt to code

     

     

     


    • Article last edited: 02-Mar-2016
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