[WEB4LIB] Re: Importing FirstSearch/WorldCat records into Pro cite?

[Stan Kosecki]

Darryl,

Based on ProCite5.0 advertised capabilities it would appear that some of the
FirstSearch databases can be searched through the z39.50 protocol and
results could be manipulated. Printed info from the ISIResearchSoft states:
"ProCite allows you to open, search and create databases instantly from
online library collections." They include a list of Z39.50 hosts for which I
presume the software is pre-configured. If this functionality works as
claimed, I would imagine it should be relatively easy to create a .cfg file
for any FirstSearch database accessed through z39.50.

Stan

************
Stan Kosecki                          skosecki at nal.usda.gov
Electronic Media Center               (301)504-7114
National Agricultural Library
10301 Baltimore Ave.
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
************
-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Askey [mailto:daskey at library.utah.edu]
Sent: Friday, December 10, 1999 3:18 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: Importing FirstSearch/WorldCat records into
Procite?


On 10 Dec 99, at 11:15, Darryl Friesen wrote:

> We have a trial access to FirstSearch, and I had a question about doing
this
> from one of our profs.  What's the easiest method to do this?  There
doesn't
> seem to be a FirstSearch or WorldCat import filter (or whatever they're
> called) for Procite/BiblioLink.  Has someone written one?  Will any of the
> others supplied with Procite do the job?

To my knowledge, such a filter (actually called a config or .cfg file in 
ProCite) does not exist. The problem is that FirstSearch has no 
mechanism to export records as tagged fields. I tried to modify an 
existing ProCite config file to import FirstSearch records, but gave 
up after fruitless hours of headbanging. I've sent several emails to 
FirstSearch asking them to create an option that would export as 
tagged fields. For their databases to be considered serious research 
tools, it seems that this is something they really ought to do.

If anyone has succeeded where I failed miserably, I'd love to hear 
about it.

Best,

Dale Askey
______
Dale Askey
General Reference, Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT  84112
Phone: (801) 587-9061
Fax: (801) 585-3464
daskey at library.utah.edu