[Koha] Batch import-updating of existing biblios

[Wagner, Jane]

You can define matching rules on various indexed fields -- the most common
are ISBN and ISSN.  However, what happens when you load a matching record
is a complete replacement of the existing record.  It's not an "overlay"
in the sense of keeping whatever fields are now present and adding new
ones.  Koha does not presently have that capability.

Hope that helps.

Jane Wagner
Senior Project Manager
LibLime, a division of PTFS
Content Management and Library Solutions
6400 Goldsboro Road, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD  20817
(301) 654-8088 x 151
jwagner at liblime.com


-----Original Message-----
From: koha-bounces at lists.katipo.co.nz
[mailto:koha-bounces at lists.katipo.co.nz] On Behalf Of hansbkk at gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 12:07 PM
To: koha at lists.katipo.co.nz
Subject: [Koha] Batch import-updating of existing biblios

This isn't just a question on Koha's capabilities - I'm also seeking
general advice from a workflow/process POV.

Say I have a set of biblio records that are just the way I want them,
in the sense of the accuracy of the existing data in the currently
populated fields.

And I would like to "add value" to them later on - say I find a MARC
source that assigns subject headings in a way that I like, or adds
links to cover images, etc. looking to selectively overlay/insert a
subset of the new records into my existing ones.

How does Koha handle this?

Or would I be better off exporting my current records to MARC, using
an external MARC editing tool to handle the merge and then re-import?
Can anyone suggest tools for me to look at? I'm aware of biblios.net
and MarcEdit so far.

Obviously being able to do this in batch mode with reasonable matching
rules would be ideal rather than one at a time, as long as I can
review the results before "committing" the update.

Or if it's really better to do this one record at a time, does that
change the recommendation as to using Koha for the process?

And finally, what if there are certain field values that I do want
overwritten in addition to the new ones being brought in, but some
fields shouldn't be touched at all?

Thanks in advance. . .
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