[Koha] Subject-problem

[Steven F.Baljkas]

Tuesday, February 7, 2006    15:45 CST

Unni,

There was a reply to a similar question on this problem a short while ago (from Thomas D? also from a newer listserv member IIRC).

If memory serves, the overall answer was that, at present, there is no way to access the information in a properly coded 650 $a with any further subdivisions (i.e. $x topical subds, $v for forms, $y for chronological, $z for geographical).

One suggestion made was to create an new **additional** 650 tag that would have the punctuation 'internalised' as it were, so that a proper tag like this
    650 _0 $aDescriptive cataloging $xRules.
would become instead
    650 -) $aDescriptive cataloging--Rules.

Of course, this is not an ideal solution.
 
For a small collection, it might be possible to process the first -- or most important -- 650 for each record manually this way. For a large collection, that would be a nightmare. In any case, you would want to retain your original MARC records before re-editing so that you can revert to them in the future when Koha has solved this problem without needing to delete any of the pro tem 650 fields you had to create.

Towards the temporary solution for larger collections: I know that in the past the programmers have discussed writing scripts to concatenate call numbers into desired strings in one tag subfield; perhaps it would be possible to do the same for the 650?

I do not know how multiple 650s are handled by Koha, or indeed, how the search function might be hampered by having multiple levels of subdivisions within the 650 $a (I would imagine that it would help streamline things to remove form subdivisions for the meantime).

I hope that this helps somewhat, Unni. You can check the Koha archive yourself to see if you can locate the discussion to which I refer above.

Another Koha-ite will probably respond with greater technical detail. If someone who knows what status the solution to the 650 subdivisions problem has could respond, too, I am sure we would all be grateful.

Best regards,

Steven F. Baljkas
library tech at large
Koha neophyte
Winnipeg, MB, Canada

============================================================
From: Unni Knutsen <Unni.Knutsen at jbi.hio.no>
Date: 2006/02/06 Mon AM 10:21:13 CST
To: koha at lists.katipo.co.nz
Subject: [Koha] Subject-problem

The Oslo University College (Faculty of Journalism, Library and
Information Science) has entered a partnership with a Kenyan NGO. In
this connection we are currently testing out KOHA. Our partner has asked
us to help in developing a library in a Nairobi slum area. An open
source library system seems to be a good choice!

We have set up the system and most things run smoothly. However, we have
not been able to figure out how the *650 subfields can be retrieved in
the OPAC and in the cataloguing program. We therefor ask for advise on
how to establish a proper connection between different subfields, for
example $a and $x. The way things are now, we can`t manage to retrieve
subjects with information (text) in both $a and $x subfields, or in the
$x subfield alone.


Regards

Unni Knutsen
Høgskolen i Oslo
p48/R423
22 45 26 56

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