# **Cataloger's Desktop:**

# 

A Comparison of the

CD-ROM and Web Versions

### Anna M. Ferris

University Libraries

University of Colorado at Boulder

Norlin Library, Cataloging Dept.

October 28, 2004

**The purpose of what follows is to highlight the differences between
the**

**CD-ROM and Web versions of Cataloger's Desktop*.***

**1. Login**

> ![](media/image1.png){width="3.332638888888889in"
> height="1.9965277777777777in"}

*(CD-ROM)*

> The first notable difference occurs upon opening the program:
>
> The **CD-ROM** version opens
>
> directly from the Welcome Screen.
>
> The **Web** version uses two login windows and requires a
> pre-assigned user ID and password to open the program.

![](media/image2.png){width="3.4458333333333333in"
height="2.0819444444444444in"}
![](media/image3.png){width="3.3541666666666665in"
height="2.1041666666666665in"}

*(WEB: Login Window #1) (WEB: Login Window #2)*

*(This window can be closed once login is completed.)*

**2. Views**

Certain views are similar in both the CD-ROM and Web versions:

**[The Browse View]{.underline}** displays the Contents and Document
panes together.

![](media/image4.png){width="2.8409722222222222in"
height="2.1368055555555556in"}
![](media/image5.png){width="3.1659722222222224in"
height="2.1055555555555556in"}

(*CD-ROM*) (*WEB*)

**[The Document View]{.underline}** displays the full-text document
utilizing the entire screen.

![](media/image6.png){width="2.75in" height="2.1777777777777776in"}
![](media/image7.png){width="2.3333333333333335in"
height="2.165277777777778in"}

(*CD-ROM*) (*WEB*)

**[The Hit List (CD-ROM) & Results (WEB) Views]{.underline}** display
lists of search results.

![](media/image8.png){width="2.813888888888889in"
height="2.1354166666666665in"} ![](media/image9.png){width="2.54375in"
height="2.1375in"}

(*CD-ROM*) (*WEB*)

The **Web** version, however, offers two options for viewing the search
result hits:

> 1\. Out of context, **without** surrounding words *(select NONE)*.
>
> ![](media/image10.png){width="3.6041666666666665in"
> height="1.2819444444444446in"}
>
> 2\. In context, **with** surrounding words *(select SHORT)*.

![](media/image11.png){width="3.613888888888889in"
height="1.4479166666666667in"}

*(WEB)*

**[The Contents View]{.underline}** illustrates another notable
difference:

> In the **CD-ROM** version, the entire table of contents is displayed
> in a separate screen.
>
> In the **Web** version, the table of contents only appears on the
> left side of the screen in the **Browse** and **Search** views.

![](media/image12.png){width="3.0006944444444446in"
height="1.8222222222222222in"}

*(CD-ROM)*

> ![](media/image13.png){width="3.0in" height="2.0180555555555557in"}
>
> *(WEB)*

![](media/image14.png){width="2.748611111111111in"
height="1.9548611111111112in"}

*(WEB)*

There is a notable difference in how much of each resource is displayed
at one time:

![](media/image15.png){width="3.5631944444444446in"
height="1.7722222222222221in"}

*(CD-ROM)*

![](media/image16.png){width="3.5833333333333335in" height="1.875in"}

*(Web)*

![](media/image17.png){width="1.84375in" height="0.19791666666666666in"}

The **CD-ROM** version shows

each resource in a continuous, scrollable display.

> The **Web** version displays
>
> resources in pre-defined sections, requiring the use of
> **"Previous/Next Section"** buttons to backtrack or advance to another
> section.

**3. Searching**

There are slight variations in the way searches are performed in both
versions:

Where the **CD-ROM** version provides a variety of query templates,

![](media/image18.png){width="2.4138888888888888in"
height="0.8743055555555556in"}

*(CD-ROM*: *Simple Query)*

![](media/image19.png){width="2.1631944444444446in" height="1.40625in"}

*(CD-ROM*: *Advanced Query)*

![](media/image20.png){width="2.165277777777778in"
height="1.4152777777777779in"}

*(CD-ROM*: *Query Workform)*

the **Web** version integrates these templates into one continuous
**Advanced Search** screen.

![](media/image21.png){width="2.084722222222222in"
height="1.6548611111111111in"}

![](media/image22.png){width="1.9979166666666666in"
height="1.7180555555555554in"}

*(WEB: Advanced Search Screen)*

![](media/image23.png){width="2.0395833333333333in"
height="1.7284722222222222in"}

Where the **CD-ROM** version requires the user to consciously select
which resource to search:

![](media/image24.png){width="5.35625in" height="3.3465277777777778in"}

*(CD-ROM: Search results for the word "pagination" in the LCRI.)*

the **Web** version defaults to searching multiple resources
simultaneously.

![](media/image25.png){width="5.788888888888889in"
height="3.651388888888889in"}

*(WEB: Search results for the word "pagination" within various
resources)*

Also, depending on which search box is used, a different set of
resources will be searched:

![](media/image26.png){width="3.33125in" height="0.3375in"}

*(WEB: Click the "Help" button to view the list of resources.)*

![](media/image27.png){width="2.6868055555555554in"
height="0.9423611111111111in"}

Where the **CD-ROM** version offers the **Go To** feature for quick
searching within one resource,

![](media/image28.png){width="3.365972222222222in"
height="2.390972222222222in"}

*(CD-ROM: Control + G)*

the **Web** version offers a **Quick Search** box for searching within
several resources.

![](media/image29.png){width="2.34375in" height="0.4479166666666667in"}

*(WEB)*

*(This box, located at the top right corner of the screen, should be the
preferred way to search.)*

**4. Customization**

Each version allows users to limit access to the resources they use most
frequently:

Just as the **CD-ROM** version offers a customizable infobase list from
the Welcome Screen,

![](media/image30.png){width="3.9368055555555554in"
height="1.9402777777777778in"}

*(CD-ROM)*

(*Users make changes to the list by highlighting and deleting the
infobases they do not plan to use.*)

the **Web** version also allows users to select **Preferences** from the
list of available resources.

![](media/image31.png){width="4.497222222222222in"
height="2.436111111111111in"}

***(WEB)***

*(Users are advised to "Clear All" the checked boxes before selecting
the resources they plan to use.)*

Just as the **CD-ROM** version allows users to access infobases
according to specific topics,

![](media/image30.png){width="3.376388888888889in"
height="1.6618055555555555in"}

*(CD-ROM)*

![](media/image32.png){width="3.6875in" height="1.3118055555555554in"}

*(CD-ROM)*

the **Web** version offers pre-defined **Categories** of resources that
reflect the functions or types of materials that are most relevant to a
cataloger's workflow.

![](media/image33.png){width="1.9583333333333333in"
height="1.0520833333333333in"}
![](media/image34.png){width="2.0520833333333335in" height="1.125in"}
![](media/image35.png){width="2.0520833333333335in" height="1.1875in"}

*(WEB)*

While the **CD-ROM** version requires that a **shadow file** be created
before setting **bookmarks**,

![](media/image36.png){width="3.136111111111111in"
height="1.586111111111111in"}
![](media/image37.png){width="2.988888888888889in"
height="1.6041666666666667in"}

*(CD-ROM: Shadow File Window) (CD-ROM: Bookmark Feature)*

the **Web** version simply requires that the **Document** view be opened
before adding a bookmark using the
![](media/image38.png){width="0.7604166666666666in"
height="0.20833333333333334in"} icon. The list of saved bookmarks is
then accessed using the
![](media/image39.png){width="0.7291666666666666in"
height="0.20833333333333334in"} tab.

NOTE: The level of bookmarking specificity varies between the CD-ROM and
Web versions:

While the **CD-ROM** version offers bookmarking at any level within the
full-text document,

![](media/image40.png){width="5.059722222222222in"
height="1.957638888888889in"}

*(CD-ROM: Bookmarking an individual word)*

The **Web** version only offers bookmarking at the section title level.

![](media/image41.png){width="3.53125in" height="1.1555555555555554in"}
![](media/image42.png){width="3.626388888888889in"
height="1.207638888888889in"}

*(WEB: Bookmarking a section title)*

**5. Miscellaneous Web Issues**

Certain functions are available only with the Web version of
**Cataloger's Desktop** because it is a Web application:

> 1\. All customization features (i.e., **Preferences**, **Bookmarks)**
> are stored as cookies on the cataloger's personal workstation. For
> this reason, they cannot be shared and they will disappear if cookies
> are deleted.
>
> 2\. Many remote databases have been added (e.g., media, movie, theater
> and music guides, historical society catalogs, government agency
> websites, Autocat archives, and OCLC documentation) bringing the Web
> version of **Cataloger's Desktop** closer to becoming a comprehensive
> gateway for cataloging resources.
>
> 3\. A view tab has been added to the navigation bar for customers to
> send **Feedback** and comments to CDS (alternatively accessed via
> <http://desktop.loc.gov/feedback.asp>).
>
> 4\. Search sessions time out after 30 minutes of inactivity.