Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Thu, 9 Apr 1992 09:46:48 CDT
From:         Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      Library Automation Questions

5 Messages, 152 Lines
Please reply to the author, not PACS-L.
1) MARC Parser
2) Windows
3) ARIEL Partners
4) Script programs
5) Script programs
*-----
From:      <BM.NLL@RLG>
Subject:   MARC parser
Back in February I posted a request on PACS-L for
information on stand-alone MARC parsers. That is, software
that will read MARC records, parse them, and output them a
controlled way (selectively by field, etc.).  I received
only a two suggestions:

   (1) A HyperCard script called "MARC reader" which builds
   HyperCard stacks.  This may be of use to people in the
   Macintosh world. I am not sure about the relationship
   between HyperCard stacks and ASCII output.  For more
   information contact Eric Lease Morgan (919-515-6182;
   eric_morgan@ncsu.edu).

   (2) Why not use Pro-Cite and Bibliolinks?

I did however receive messages from two people who were
anxious to hear about any software my request turned up.  I
take that to mean that the request was more than an
eccentricty.

Perhaps I should define more particularly what we (the other
two and I) are interested in.  We are after stand alone MS-
DOS or UNIX software that will read and parse MARC records
and allow the user to set a table (or the equivalent) so
that fields that meet particular criteria can be output as
ASCII (with or without delimeters, etc.).  The preference
would be for source code (so the programming could be
customized) and, ideally, the program should be freely
distributable so that one could incorporate it in utilities
without worry about fair use, etc.   Program size is also an
issue (I personally would like to have a TSR to do this).

The uses for such a program depend upon the user's
imagination, but some of the potential uses would be to
build bibliographies, to support batch MARC quality control
programs, to magic selective data from MARC quickly into
spread sheets, database managers, etc.

I was hoping that someone out there had already written
such software, so I wouldn't have to do it myself.  Still,
it really doesn't need to be an especially fancy or complex
project.  If I do end up writing a useful program I'll
notify the list.

----------------------------------------------------------
Stuart Spore                    |  Phone:  212-998-6333
Head of Cataloging & Automated  |  Fax:    212-998-6587
Systems                         |  spore@acf5.nyu.edu
New York University Law Library |
40 Washington Sq. So.           |
New York, N.Y. 10012            |
-----------------------------------------------------------
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From: emil@seq1.loc.gov (Elizabeth F. Miller)
Subject: Re: Library Automation--Comments & Questions
If you are running Windows on a network, there is a product that allows a greate
deal of control of what the user is allowed to access on the screen.  I have
seen the VINES (Banyan) version demonstrated, but I know that the product is
also available for other network platforms.  It is called Applications Manager
from Automated Design Systems (ADS).  There is a review of it in the December
2, 1991 edition of INFOWORLD.  The appealing thing about the program is that
depending on how you log on to it (with a password) you have access to only
what the administrator has given you.  You may be allowed to use applications
, but not be able to alter, drag and drop, or reconfigure anything.  I suggest
that you contact the company at 375 Northridge Road, Suite 270, Atlanta, GA
30350  (800) 366-2522 for more formal information or an onsite demo.

Elizabeth Miller        emil@seq1.loc.gov
Systems Analyst
Library of Congress
Washinton, DC 20540
*-----
From: DTPALMER@HKUCC.BITNET
Subject: ARIEL partners
After enquiring, I received a list of ARIEL users from RLG, but was told
that there is no ARIEL club (and no secret handshake).  Hence, we are left to
seek our own cooperative partners.

Our situation is a little different from most mainstream North American
Libraries, in that we do not participate in OCLC or RLIN for ILL.  Recently
however, we did subscribe to RLIN for searching only, via the Internet.  We
fill most of our requests for articles from the British Library Document
Supply Centre, at what seems, great cost.  I am hoping that ARIEL could be
shown to be less expensive.

I am imagining that HKU could search via the Internet serial holdings of
a cooperative partner, as well as be searched reciprocally.  that, an email
request could then be placed via the Internet.  that, this email request
would follow the ALA or IFLA ILL printed request form, but be receivable
in electronic form also.  that upon ARIEL transmission, billing would not
take into account our remote geographical location, i.e. "FOREIGN".

However, it seems that most library's policies are not well suited to the
above scenario; ours included.  I would like to hear from ARIEL holders
who would take requests in this manner and what billing would be.

Perhaps the next edition of _Inter-Library_Loan_Policies_Directory will list
those sites willing to take requests for ARIEL transmission?

David T Palmer
Systems Librarian
University of Hong Kong
*-----
From: Neal McBurnett <Neal_McBurnett@ATT.COM>
Subject: Script programs

Another popular scripting tool, for use on Unix systems with any interactive
program (telnet, ftp, etc) is "expect":

"expect: Scripts for Controlling Interactive Programs", Computing
Systems, Vol. 4, No. 2, University of California Press Journals, 1991.
(A comprehensive paper of example scripts.  This paper is
/anonymous@ftp.cme.nist.gov:pub/expect/scripts.ps.Z

Other references are available in the same ftp repository.

Neal McBurnett <Neal_McBurnett@ATT.COM> 303-538-4852    AT&T Bell Labs, Denver
*-----
From: billy@sol.acs.unt.edu (Billy Barron - VAX/UNIX Systems Manager)
Subject: Re: Script programs
>2.  Many responders recommended use of CUTCP, a version of TCP by Clarkson
>University which includes provision for script writing and execution, unlike
>other versions such as that by FTP Software that our library has adopted. The
>program is available by anonymous FTP from omnigate.clarkson.edu.

I missed the original message.  I'm trying to keep an archive of CUTCP
Telnet scripts for Internet Resources on FTP.UNT.EDU.  It's available for
anonymous FTP in the cutcp directory I believe.  If anybody wishes to make
a contribution, you can put them in the /incoming directory on FTP.UNT.EDU.
Then send mail to me and/or FTP@FTP.UNT.EDU.  Right now most of the scripts
are for either the North Texas or Michigan regions.

Brad Clements, the author of CUTCP, has told me that Clarkson was going to
release a huge set of scripts, but I haven't seen them as of yet.  I'll
merge them into my archive when they do or get them to merge mine into their
archive.

Billy Barron
VAX/UNIX Systems Manager
University of North Texas
billy@unt.edu
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU