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<font size="+1">As an ex-Winnebago Spectrum cataloguer I can add a
little more description of how this worked.<br>
<br>
In the Winnebago Spectrum system there was a simplified form-based MARC
input screen, but behind it was a text display ("Edit MARC"). The
simple form did not display the leader or fields to 008, the Edit MARC
screen inserted the leader and standard MARC tags, indicators and
subfield markers ready for the cataloguer to type in the data.<br>
So, to copy records from outside sources, the process was:<br>
<br>
Open new record (Edit MARC)<br>
Find a source catalogue allowing display of full MARC as in Cab's
example<br>
Highlight from 001 to whichever last field is required (can exclude 900
local fields)<br>
Copy, change to Edit MARC, highlight all, paste.<br>
<br>
That was magically easy as long as the source record was compatible,
and many were. Minuteman is an example we used a lot.<br>
<br>
It sounds really simple, but note that the paste function was right
into Spectrum's MARC edit page. This would not work if you tried to
paste to a file and then import - for that you needed a proper "MARC
export" format file. This functionality was not officially documented
in the Spectrum manual, but word went around.<br>
<br>
To duplicate this, Koha would have to have a special pasteable text
edit screen capable of displaying the whole record on one page, not the
multi-tab MARC form interface available now.<br>
<br>
The Spectrum Edit MARC text screen did have the usual MARC help - if
you hit Enter on any area it would offer context help (e.g. 008 char 8
would say that a publication year was required, char 16 would refer to
the source for publisher location codes, at the end of a line would
offer a drop down list of MARC tags etc.).<br>
<br>
This feature of Spectrum is one of two that we miss - the other is the
ability to pay partial fines and have the system calculate the
remainder outstanding for us.<br>
<br>
However, with a few good quality and comprehensive Z39.50 sources,
cataloguing in Koha should be easy enough. With Z39.50 you do not have
to invest the months of experimentation with every library available on
Worldcat to find the ones that a) allow full text MARC display you can
copy, and b) have the MARC display in the proper format including
proper spacing in the 008 field. Many catalogues may display the MARC
but with human readable tag headings, or separate tags from indicators
with tabs or colons, or reduce multiple spaces to one. None of these
variations would work with copy and paste.<br>
<br>
If there is real interest in building a copy and paste MARC text
editor, we still have the Spectrum server available. We also have a
consultant who may be interested in developing this functionality. <br>
<br>
Just my 2 cents..<br>
Agnes<br>
</font><br>
Cab Vinton wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:835777770907301257t38f9f31bw719dff4ec20a0873@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I learned from a colleague at another library today that their system
(Winnebago) accepts MARC records in text file format.
This would be a big time-saver as it would allow catalogers to simply
copy & paste records from other systems into a text file, before
importing into Koha.
How difficult would this be to implement for Koha? A sample record
follows below, from the Minuteman Library Network in Massachusetts.
Cab Vinton, Director
Sanbornton Public Library
Sanbornton, NH
LEADER 00000cam 2200397Ia 4500
001 233216064
003 OCoLC
005 20081215093140.0
008 080703s2008 nyu d 000 1 eng d
020 9780739494752
020 0739494759
035 (OCoLC)233216064
040 KKV|cKKV|dWIQ|dIUI|dMLN
043 n-us-nj
049 MLNM
050 04 PS3555.V2126|bF43 2008
082 04 813/.54|222
100 1 Evanovich, Janet.
245 10 Fearless fourteen /|cJanet Evanovich.
250 Doubleday large print home library ed.
260 New York :|bSt. Martin's Press,|cc2008.
300 416 p. (large print) ;|c22 cm.
520 Personal vendettas, hidden treasure, and a monkey named
Carl will send bounty hunter Stephanie Plum on her most
explosive adventure yet.
650 0 Plum, Stephanie (Fictitious character)|vFiction.
650 0 Women bounty hunters|vFiction.
650 0 Bail bond agents|zNew Jersey|zTrenton|vFiction.
650 0 Bank robberies|vFiction.
650 0 Large type books.
650 0 Detective and mystery stories.
650 0 Humorous stories.
651 0 Trenton (N.J.)|vFiction.
856 42 |3Contributor biographical information|uhttp://www.loc.gov
/catdir/enhancements/fy0834/2008017664-b.html
856 42 |3Publisher description|uhttp://www.loc.gov/catdir/
enhancements/fy0834/2008017664-d.html
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Agnes Rivers-Moore
Assistant Librarian
Hanover Public Library</pre>
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