Related Objects
The SFX KnowledgeBase contains information about relations between objects. For example, if a journal ceases to exist and is continued by another journal, the two journals are considered related. Also, if one journal is a supplement to another journal, the two journals are considered related. These object relations may be valuable for end users when searching or browsing the SFX A-Z List or even when clicking an SFX button in a database. They may remember an older name for a journal, or be interested in SFX services for a related journal.
When a user sends an OpenURL to SFX for a particular object, it is possible to configure whether services for these related objects are included in the SFX menu and how these services are presented. Services for the related objects can be of the following types: full-text, abstract, TOC, and holding services.
Related object services are relevant to end users for the following reasons:
- Articles sought may be available only in related versions of the journal.
- Metadata in the OpenURL can be for one publication, but in fact, a related journal by another name is what the end user sought.
- Vendors can list previous or newer versions in their holdings, causing inconsistencies in the SFX KnowledgeBase.
For example, the journal Civil Engineering Systems does not have full-text, but it is followed by Civil Engineering and Environmental, which is available in full-text. Both journals are included in the A-Z List, and a link allows jumping from journal A to journal B and vice versa.
The type of relationship between the journals is indicated in the e-Journal Details dialog box of the journal record and in the Detail view. Only a journal to which you are subscribed displays availability information (for example, full-text available from). For a list of relation types used in SFX, see Table Relation Types Used in SFX.
For example, the following is the result list in the Detail view where two related journals are displayed, but only the first one has an active full-text portfolio.
Clicking the relationship link causes only the related object to be displayed.
Detail View
In the Table view, the result is the following:
Table View
Clicking View journal history for additional full text displays the e-Journal Details dialog box with the journal history. Clicking the link for the relation type refreshes the result page and shows only that particular related journal.
For example:
e-Journal Details
Configuring Related Objects
To activate the related object functionality, select Include related object information in the A-Z list from the Display section. For more information, see Display.
When the related object functionality is first activated, you must rebuild the SFX A-Z List. See Building the A-Z List.
When object relations is activated, objects are included in the A-Z List even if they have no active portfolios if they are related to an object in the A-Z List that does have one or more active portfolios.