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

[Sara Brownmiller]

One problem with the host files that Procite mentions, as well as the
connection files offered by EndNote (a Procite competitor), is that there
is no way to script usernames/passwords for proprietary databases.  At
least I've not been able to discover one.  When one of our students or
faculty try to use these connection files, they are prompted for a
username and password.  Distributing such information to users who are not
familiar with license agreements about authorizied access and authorized
users, simultaneous users, port limits, etc. is problematic from a systems
point of view. 

Sara Brownmiller			snb at darkwing.uoregon.edu
Systems/Women's Studies Librarian	541/346-2368	
University of Oregon Library		541/346-3485 (fax)
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR  97403-1299

On Mon, 13 Dec 1999, Stan Kosecki wrote:

> 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
>