Question

When searching for an ISBN on our z39.50 server we don't get a result in most cases although the ISBN is available. For some ISBNs the search is working. Why is it sometimes working and sometimes not?

Answer

All ISBNs which can't be found via z39.50 have an additional information after the number, in most cases "(pbk.)". The index entry is stored as follows:

01 z11_index \
02 z11_rec_key \
03 ind_code .......020
03 filing_text ....9780745642017(pbk)
03 sequence_1 .....000386624
02 z11_doc_number ...000386624
02 z11_alpha ........L
02 z11_text .........$$a9780745642017 (pbk.)

The filing text has no blank between the number and the additional text and so the ISBN can only be found when adding a truncation sign after the number.

For z39.50 search index 020 (direct index) is defined for the ISBN search with the above mentioned index filing. However for the search in GUI directly in xxx01 (not via z39.50) index WIS (word index) is used for the ISBN search. And there the blank between number and text in the ISBN is not deleted but remains which leads to the result that you can search the ISBN by number only and don't have to truncate.

Change the following:

$alephe_tab/z39_server/z39_server_XXX01.conf
word 020 7
word 020 1007

to

word wis 7
word wis 1007

So now the index WIS is also used for z39.50 search and searching only for the number of the ISBN is possible.

Restart of z39.50 server and pc server is required.

Category: Z39.50 (500) - ALEPH

Subject: ALEPH - 500

• Article last edited: 6/13/2014