Skip to main content
ExLibris
  • Subscribe by RSS
    • Back
    MetaLib
    Ex Libris Knowledge Center

    Deep Linking Into a Specific Portal

    1. Last updated
    2. Save as PDF
    • Article Type: General
    • Product: MetaLib
    • Product Version: 4

    Description:
    I would like to create a link from our university portal to a specific function in one of our MetaLib Portals (not necessarily my default portal).
    How do I construct the deep link to syntax?

    Resolution:
    As of MetaLib Service Pack 155, v3.13, this is possible. This new deep link feature can be particularly useful to consortia.

    A standard deeplink to the MetaSearch module is constructed as follows:
    http://<server>:<port>/V?func=meta-1

    To send a user to a specific page, such as MetaSearch, in a specific portal belonging to a specific institute using the improved deep links syntax requires the addition of 2 parameters in order to change portals -- [1] the portal and [2] the institute.

    For example, to move to the EXLA portal in the EXL institute, the link could be constructed as follows:
    http://<server>:<port>/V?func=meta-1&portal-name=EXLA&institute=EXL

    Either of these deeplinks formats will change the portal:

    http://metalib.yourlibrary.com:8331/V/?func=change-portal-1&portal-name=EXLA
    This format will change the portal and go to the default page:

    http://metalib.yourlibrary.com:8331/V/?func=quick-1&institute=EXL&portal-name=EXLA
    This format allows you to change the portal AND go to a specific page:

    Please note that "change-portal" only works with the "portal-name" parameter, as shown above.
    On the other hand, the func + institute + portal feature works with either "portal-name" or "portal".
    For example,
    ?func=quick-1&institute=EXL&portal-name=EXLA
    ?func=quick-1&institute=EXL&portal=EXLA

    If there is more than one portal or institute in the MetaLib installation, it is imperative to ALWAYS include institution AND portal parameters in a deep link to a specific page. For example, a link that will work perfectly well within institutional IP ranges may default to the catch-all institution when a user selects a deeplink while working from an unknown IP.

    Note: Before implementing this functionality, make sure that all portals are correctly configured in the ./vir00/tab/default_z312 table. Refer to the document “How to add a portal” for instructions on how to configure portals in the table.

    • Article last edited: 10/8/2013