Google Books and Syndetics Integration

Tags: javascript , opac , elympics , google_books , gbs , syndetics , aleph
Last Updated: Jan 20, 2010 11:13

Description

We wanted to be able to integrate Google book covers with syndetics in our Aleph OPAC. To do this, we created the following scenario:

• When we have a syndetics image, display link (no covers) to Google.
• When we have no syndetic image, display Google cover. If we have no Google cover, display just a link to google books.
• If neither Google nor syndetics has a cover or link, then display nothing.

• Author: Mark Watmough
• Additional author(s):
• Institution: Napier University
• Year: 2010
  
  

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• License: BSD style
• Short description: Use, modification and distribution of the code are permitted provided the copyright notice, list of conditions and disclaimer appear in all related material.
• Link to terms: [Detailed license terms]

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• Skill required for using this code:
   basic/intermediate

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State

Stable - we've been running this without issues well over a year.

Programming language

Javascript

Download

Attach the code file(s) to this page and link to them here.
Page attachments management can be reached from the top-right menu - 'attachments' after page save.

Working example

Google link and syndetics cover available. Example here

Google cover/link available, no syndetics cover available. Example here

Google image/link and syndetics cover both unavailable. Example here

Using the following Ex Libris open interfaces

N/A

Installation instructions

I've included attachments, but the code above includes more notes.

Make sure your variables ($####) are the same on your system. This can be done by adding the <include>placeholders line to the relevant file.

TO DO list

N/A

Known issues

GBS not displaying in the direct files - this is because we have not got a variable ($0700 in the full-set-tail) to query GBS with ISBNs in the direct files as we have in the full set tail....i'm sure it could be done.

Comments

I've attached the relevant files to this page so it's easier to copy and paste. If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email me at m.watmough@napier.ac.uk.