Question

Looking at URLs created for various buttons, they often contain the string "&icon_path". What is it, and where does it point to?

Answer

&icon_path is a sort of "redirect variable". These special variables are handled directly by the Aleph system, so they are not specifically defined anywhere. The &icon_path one generally refers to the "icon" subdirectory of the applicable html files directory (e.g. www_f_eng/icon for the OPAC), but can be redirected to alternate directories by defining the "www_icon_directory" variable in www_server.conf.

The factors that go into the calculation of the value of the &icon_path "variable" are:
The HTTP server string (also known as &server_httpd or &server_httpsd)
The "source" of the request (as in "F" for OPAC, "X" for X-services, etc.)
The language code (e.g. "eng")
The value of the "www_icon_directory", if defined
The active library (e.g. xxx01)
The effect of path-convert, if used

The value of &icon_path is set from the following elements by www_com/www_correct_line.cbl:

HTTPD gets value of server_httpd (or httpsd) variable from www_server.conf
ICON-DIR gets value of $www_icon_directory variable (if defined), e.g. "/aleph/images"
LIB-DIR gets e.g. "/aleph/unn_n/xxx01/"
WWW-DIR gets "www" + SOURCE + LANGCODE, e.g. "www_f_eng" or "www_c_eng", etc.
PATH gets:
if ICON-DIR is not empty:
ICON-DIR + WWW-DIR + "/icon", e.g. "/aleph/images/www_f_eng/icon"
or if ICON-DIR is empty:
LIB-DIR + WWW-DIR + "/icon", e.g. "/aleph/unn_n/xxx01/www_f_eng/icon"
path_convert the above, e.g. "/aleph/u18_1/alephe/www_f_eng/icon"

&icon_path is HTTPD + PATH

Category: Web OPAC (500) - ALEPH

Subject: ALEPH - 500

• Article last edited: 12/27/2013