Import, Export, Publishing

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Import Profiles

What import profile options can be defined in Alma?

Record import and publication is considered a core function, and may be set up and run as a frequent process in Alma without intervention from Ex Libris. Libraries will set up one or more import and publication profiles, which can then be used to automatically import and export records on an ongoing basis. These processes may also be run on demand by the library.

All importing of metadata records in Alma is managed using “Import Profiles”:

These profiles define all aspects of the loading process. This process is split into a sequence of steps:

Loading the file

Normalizing and validating the records in the file

Finding an existing match in the catalog

Merging into the existing record (when relevant)

EOD (Embedded Order Data) files – creation of order line records (when relevant)

This can be summarized as follows:

The import process supports the maximum possible automation. For example, the import can be defined to merge an imported record into the catalog automatically in cases where the system finds a single match.

When importing any record, Alma goes through specific steps according to the rule of the appropriate import profile. It validates each record for encoding and content. It checks for matching records that already exist in the catalog, then can be set up to either merge, overlay, ignore (importing anyway), or flag matched records for review.

If at any stage during the import process, either because of errors, or because the import profile definition requires mediated intervention, the staff user will be able to review issues using a dedicated task list. This task list will provide the staff user with information on what the issue is as well as the relevant actions the user can perform.

Alma also allows for catalogers to use merge, match and overwrite options for individual bibliographic records as they are imported from another library system that is being used as an external resource. In this way it is possible for the Library to prevent duplication of records in the catalog.

Can records be imported from CSV or Excel files?

Bibliographic records may be imported using CSV or Excel files. They may be imported using Repository, New Order, or Update Inventory import profiles configured with the appropriate import options.

The import can include fixed position field content such as the LDR or MARC 21 008 content. If no fixed position field content is provided, the import process can create fixed position field content from the normalization rule that is specified in the import profile. If no normalization rules indicate what to create for the fixed position fields and no fixed field content is provided in the file, the import process can create fixed position fields when the enable_import_computer_generated Resource Management Other Setting is set to true.

Does Alma support importing records in GBK and BIG5 encoding formats?

Alma supports importing records in GBK and BIG5 encoding formats. In order to choose these options, the import must be in binary format.

What match, merge and de-duplicate options are available on import?

As part of the matching during the import process, the imported record is evaluated and compared to the institution’s catalog. Matches can be done using specific match “profiles” which define how a match is evaluated. There are two types of matches:

ID-based
“fuzzy”, weighted match vector

The “fuzzy” match method attempts to evaluate a record based on various non-unique identifiers and fields to determine if the imported record and the catalog record are in fact duplicates.

Alma will use institution-defined merge profiles to calculate the new record content. These profiles determine which fields are preserved in the existing catalog record, and which fields will be imported from the import record. The profile uses a configurable business rule to make these determinations.

Merge Profile List:

Is it possible to override normal validation rules?

Imported records are validated according to the validation task chain defined in the import profile.

For jobs/records with validation issues, you can:

Force the import

Choose not to import

Reject the file

Create an XML file of the failed records

Do import profiles support options for bibliographic record deletion?

As part of Import profiles you can define match actions including match and merge routines. If merging is configured you have the option to “Allow bibliographic record deletion”. This action deletes matching records under the following conditions:

The imported record includes a d in LDR position 5.
No PO line or inventory resources are associated with the bibliographic record.
For PDA portfolios, a portfolio that is associated with the bibliographic record has the same PDA ID as the PDA profile, and the PDA is not active.
In a collaborative network, a local institution record must not be linked to a Network Zone record

When an import job is run with an import profile that has the Allow bibliographic record deletion parameter selected and it finds a single match, the delete action takes priority over any Merge or Overlay match action that may also be selected in the import profile. (Multiple matches that are found require manual handling and are identified in the job report.)

Is there a limit to the size of the import file?

When uploading files – using the ‘Upload File’ method, It is suggested that you limit your file size to a maximum of 10MB. For files imported using the FTP File Upload Method, this limitation does not apply.

Can import profiles be shared across institutions?

The Community Zone includes import profile templates for vendors with the recommended configuration for the vendor.

In addition, Alma supports the option of sharing import profiles between institutions:

Libraries can copy import profiles Ex Libris has configured as a default template for a vendor.
Libraries can contribute profiles to the Community Zone
Libraries can copy profiles that other institutions have contributed to the Community Zone.

Clicking on the Community tab on the Import Profiles screen will display the list of profiles detailing profile type, contributed by and contribution date that can be copied to the local institution:

Export and publishing

What export options are available?

Alma supports the ability to export bibliographic, inventory, and authority records in their native formats, including MARC 21 XML or binary and Dublin Core XML. The export of bibliographic records makes use of Publication Profiles. These profiles are defined to determine which records to export, on what schedule to export them, and additional services to run at export (which may include enhancing or cleaning up the outgoing records). This publication approach is the same infrastructure used for synchronizing holdings with WorldCat.

Additionally, Alma supports the ability to perform ad-hoc exports on demand. This can be used for external record processing, updating for a shared repository, loading into an institutional data warehouse, or any other purpose. The most versatile and ubiquitous type of data extract is the Tools button that is found on most list screens generated in Alma. This Tools button permits the user to save whatever list is present to an Excel spread sheet for further work outside of Alma.

What options are available for exporting sets of records?

Alma supports workflows for exporting sets of records.

Export jobs are supported for the following:

Physical Items
Physical Items for Labels
Inventory Records
Electronic Portfolios
Bibliographic Records
Authority Records
URLs

The job wizard provides the possibility to set parameters, including the format, depending on the resource type:

In addition to the export jobs described above, Alma menus that contain lists have a Tools button which enables staff users to export lists to Excel spreadsheets. You can therefore download to excel a list of portfolios linked to a collection. Note the option to download current - i.e. the list on the screen - or extended - i.e. the full result list:

What record formats are supported for exporting records?

If publishing to FTP, the file size for one file cannot exceed 8GB.

Alma enables libraries to publish records to third-party systems in a variety of formats:

Marc 21
Dublin Core
BIBFRAME
RDA/RDF

How often can records be published or exported?

Parameters in the publishing profile allow for defining how often publishing to a third-party system (e.g. discovery systems) will be run:

Can groups of records, or sets of records, be exported - e.g. to OCLC?

Alma’s publication framework allows the system to export records automatically to one or more target sources. With this approach to export, external systems (such as discovery interfaces or resource sharing systems) can be kept up to date with records from the catalog. The publishing framework allows libraries to define exports for individual, groups of records, or records changed since the last export. This includes the ability to export the entire catalog with no additional fee. Example of publishing (export profiles) can be seen in the following screen capture:

For synchronizing local holdings with WorldCat, individual libraries will define in Alma a holdings synchronization service that will run automatically. The service will identify every record that is new, altered, or deleted since the last WorldCat synchronization. Any given resource can be suppressed if the library does not wish to share it; in this case it will not be exported for synchronization or holdings update. All affected records will be exported from Alma with updated information (or a holdings delete notification, as appropriate). Additionally, specifically for OCLC, Alma can export the actual holding record:

Can bound-with records be published to OCLC?

The Alma publishing to OCLC process supports handling related records when the Publish bibliographic record (DataSync) to OCLC and the Publish your Local Holdings Records (LHRs) to OCLC publishing profiles are run. Holdings information for bibliographic records that are part of a bound-with relationship can be published to provide an accurate representation of the inventory at the holdings library.

Can export profiles be shared with the Community?

Institutions may spend many hours creating publishing profiles to publish bibliographic and authority records to third-party systems. In order to help save time and effort librarians can contribute publishing profiles to the Community Zone and copy and use publishing profiles that other institutions have contributed in a like manner.

Contributed publishing profiles will appear in the Community tab on the Publishing Profiles page:

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