Alexandria's Z39.50 Preferences allow you to add, edit, test, or remove Z39.50 server addresses and even store them in “sets”. Every set comprised of valid Z39.50 server addresses can be selected from the Z39.50 Set drop-down menu in Items Management's Title Assistant dialog and used to search for potential MARC record matches in remote library collections. Alexandria provides a hard-coded COMPanion Default Set for the Title Assistant with two high-quality z39.50 servers.

Resources 

In 20.4, we updated the Z39.50 servers included in the COMPanion Default Set. Since servers are constantly coming and going, we trimmed it down for improved maintenance. However, there are many resources you can use to customize and bolster your own Z39.50 list:

• Library of Congress Z39.50 Gateway
• IRSpy Z39.50 Target Directory
• zbrary Directory of Z39.50 and SRU Targets
• OCLC Z39.50 Cataloging

In addition to those resources, you can research various subscription services or contact your local libraries and universities for their Z39.50 information.

z39.50 Sets

The left-hand side of the z39.50 preferences contains the Sets pane, where all your z39.50 sets are displayed in the order which they were created. The Sets list is essentially a collection of z39.50 server addresses that you can Add or Remove. The area situated below the Sets list contains tools that useful for adding, removing, or rearranging z39.50 server addresses within the set.

z39.50 Sets List Tools

• Add. Clicking the Add button triggers the Add z39.50 Set dialog which allows you to add a new set to the Sets pane. These sets can later be selected in the z39.50 Set menu of the Title Assistant.

• Remove. Clicking the Remove button triggers the Remove z39.50 Set confirmation dialog and allows you to remove an existing set (and all its associated servers) from the Sets pane.

• Move Up / Down. The way that z39.50 server addresses are arranged in a set—using the Move Up and Move Down controls—affects the order in which they are searched by the Title Assistant when that search set is selected in the z39.50 Set menu. New z39.50 server addresses are always added to the bottom of the selected set list.
  
  

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z39.50 Servers

The addresses stored in the z39.50 Servers pane are only meaningful for those wanting to search remote or specialized z39.50 databases from the Title Assistant dialog. Generally, we recommend only adding new z39.50 Severs addresses to the COMPanion Default Set; however, there may be situations in which you want to create your own, alternate z39.50 server sets to search specialized servers (e.g. Spanish language).

• Add to Set. Clicking the Add to Set button will copy a server address from the z39.50 Servers pane and add it to the selected set in the Sets pane.

• Test Selected Server. This selection performs a test on the selected server and provides the Sever Status in the z39.50 Server Settings based on the response it receives. If you select this option while holding down the <> or <Alt> key, all the server addresses in the z39.50 Servers pane will be tested. The status of a z39.50 server can either be Unknown, Available, or Offline.

• Restore Default Servers. If you feel that you've mistakenly removed or changed an essential, default z39.50 server address, this selection restores the z39.50 Servers list with COMPanion's default data. However, this will only restore all previously modified or removed default servers; this will not remove z39.50 server addresses that you created.

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z39.50 Server Address Settings

You are encouraged to provide as much of the following information as possible for your new z39.50 server.

• Server Name. Use this field to name your new address type (e.g. Biblioteca Nacional de España). This field is required; trying to save without a name will cause an error message to appear.

• Server Address. Supply the IP address of the z39.50 server to which you are trying to connect. If you don't supply a valid IP address or leave this field blank (i.e. 0.0.0.0), then this z39.50 address will be ignored.

• Database. When specified, users will be routed to the z39.50 database indicated in this field. In an Alexandria Controller environment, this field supports the entry of a hosted Data Station's serial number; this way, those who want to connect to a specific Data Station hosted on a Controller will be routed to the appropriate collection.

• Port. A valid port number (e.g. 210 or 2200) is required by Alexandria in order to successfully search the indicated z39.50 database.

• Username and Password. Connection to some z39.50 servers require a username and password. If they are required and you know them, provide them in the allotted spaces. Please keep in mind the case sensitivity of usernames and passwords.

• Server Status. Displays the last known status of the z39.50 server. This status is automatically supplied when Test Selected Server selected from the Actions menu. The status of a z39.50 server can either be Unknown, Available, or Offline.

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Step by Step Instructions

Create a Z39.50 Set

Remove a Z39.50 Set

Add a Z39.50 Server to a Set

Remove a Z39.50 Server Address from a Set

Add a New Z39.50 Server Address

Add a New Alexandria Z39.50 Server Address

Edit a Z39.50 Server Address

Remove a Z39.50 Server Address

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