Link Structure for External Patron Data Links
Polaris uses two elements to construct each external patron data link:
- A base URL, specified in the Web App: Patron External Database URL setting in Polaris Administration (staff client).
- A unique patron identifier, specified in a UDF in the patron record. Your library determines which UDF stores the unique patron identifier by configuring the Web App: Patron External Database UDF setting in Polaris Administration (staff client).
When a Leap user selects a link to view external patron data, the system combines these two elements to construct a URL with the following structure:
<base URL><unique patron identifier>
Example:
Assume your library has the following configuration:
-
The base URL is set to the following value in the Web App: Patron External Database URL setting:
https://database.example.com/home/retrieve?identifier=
- The Web App: Patron External Database UDF setting is set to 5, which specifies that the unique patron identifier is stored in the UDF 5 field in the patron record.
- Sarah Smith's patron record contains a value of 12345 in the UDF 5 field.
When you view Sarah Smith's patron record in Leap and select the external patron data link, the system constructs and launches the following link:
https://database.example.com/home/retrieve?identifier=12345
For information on configuring the Polaris Administration (staff client) settings mentioned above, see Configuring Leap to Display Links to External Patron Data.