[Web4lib] form to create static catalog links

[Araby Y Greene]

Here are a couple of simple examples for you to try with ACPL's catalog.

http://www.library.unr.edu/sample_catalog_search.htm 

View source and grab the code if you want to use it. The first example
uses javascript to remove illegal characters from the search string
before sending it to your server. The second example just sends the user
input directly to your server.

I hope I didn't misunderstand what you were asking for.

Best,
Araby

__________________________
Araby Greene
Web Development Librarian
Getchell Library/322
University of Nevada, Reno
http://www.library.unr.edu/

araby at unr.edu
775.682-5678

     /|
  \'o.O'
  =(___)=
    U
ACK! THPTPHH!


 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org 
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Sara Patalita
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 2:45 PM
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Web4lib] form to create static catalog links
> 
> Hello!
> 
> I'm hoping to create a quick Web-based application where 
> people can enter their search terms and they will be given a 
> static URL which they could use to link to the results of 
> this search in our (iBistro) catalog.  [Note: I want to 
> provide a URL, not link to the URL.]
> 
> Our catalog uses dynamic URLs while actively searching, so 
> you can't copy and paste the URLs for later retrieval.  I 
> learned how to construct the syntax of search URLs in iBistro 
> (see http://tinyurl.com/32mux5 ) -- and savvy users can 
> insert their terms into the (admittedly long and somewhat 
> cumbersome) basic link structure.  The static URLs are used 
> to email catalog links to our Ask a Librarian users, post on 
> our Web site, blogs, etc.
> 
> I think more of our staff - and maybe patrons - would make 
> use of these URLs if they were easier to create.  
> 
> I assume I can create a simple application where users can 
> enter their terms and get a quick URL back -- which would 
> insert their terms into the catalog link structure (as 
> described here: http://tinyurl.com/32mux5 ), and perhaps even 
> then converting to a tinyurl-type URL to shorten them and 
> prevent possible line break problems.  The problem is, I'm 
> not sure of what application/language I could/should use to 
> accomplish this.
> 
> Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Sara
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> ***********************************************************
> Sara Patalita
> General Reference Librarian
> Allen County Public Library
> 900 Library Plaza
> Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
> spatalita at acpl.info
> Phone 260.421.1252
> 
> "The public library he mistook for heaven." ~The Poisonwood 
> Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
> ***********************************************************
> "The views, opinions, and judgments expressed in this message 
> are solely those of the author. The message contents have not 
> been reviewed or approved by the Allen County Public Library."
> 
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