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    Summon: Library Catalog Deletes

    • Product: Summon

    How do we delete catalog records from the Summon Unified Index?

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    There are three options for submitting catalog delete records to Summon. Click the option below to read about each option:

    For information regarding the update schedule, see Summon: Summon Index Update.


    Option 1: Submit MARC Delete Records to Updates Folder With Delete Flag

    Put one or more MARC records per file into the FTP Updates folder with a "d" in the sixth position of the MARC leader field (position LDR/05). By doing this, record deletions can be processed alongside updates.

    If you use a different flag, please let us know prior to uploading the files to our FTP Updates folder.

    This option can be used in combination with options 2 or 3. 

    Your files must be submitted in the correct format. Please see the Exporting Your Records section of this Article for details.


    Option 2: Submit MARC Delete Records to Deletes Folder

    Put one or more MARC records per file into the FTP Deletes folder.

    All MARC records placed in the Deletes folder will be deleted, regardless of any delete flags.

    The word "deletes" must be in the file name. Files containing records to be deleted should be named using this convention:

    sourceid-packageid-deletes-`date +%F-%H-%M-%S`.marc

    For example:

    • yourlibrary-catalog-deletes-2011-01-26-13-18-58.mrc

    • yourlibrary-catalog-deletes-2011-01-26-13-18-58.marc

    This option can be used in combination with option 1.

    Your files must be submitted in the correct format. Please see the Exporting Your Records section of this Article for details.


    Option 3: Submit a Flat File (Text File)

    This option needs to be set up in advance. Please Submit a Case if you are unsure if this is configured for your library catalog.
    Provide the unique identifiers of records you wish to delete in a simple text file. Follow these two steps:
    1. After we set up the system for flat-file deletions, follow these rules to create your deleted-records text file:
    • The file must only contain the unique identifiers of the records you wish to delete.

    • The file must contain only one record per line.

    • There must be a line break after every unique identifier.

    • The file must not contain extra fields, text, or delimiters (no spaces, pipes, commas or tildes).

    • The file must be UTF-8 encoded.

    • The file name should not include any spaces or special characters.

    • The file name should include the date and time.

    • The file extension should be one of the following:

      .deletes (preferred)
      .txt
      .keys
      .xml
      For example: yourlibrary-catalog-deletes-2012-01-26-13-18-58.deletes

    See example of a deleted records text file.

    2. Place the text file into the Deletes folder of your FTP directory.

    If you are unable to provide delete records in the MARC format, this option is preferable.

    This option can be used in combination with option 1.



    • Date Created: 9-Feb-2014
    • Last Edited Date: 17-Nov-2017
    • Old Article Number: 8805
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