Using External Lookup Servers
Some external origins pass values within OpenURLs that the WebBridge resolution server cannot resolve into a direct link to the resource. However, these values can be converted to direct links by lookup services like PubMed or CrossRef.
WebBridge can receive and extract such a value in an OpenURL, pass the value to an external lookup service, and receive from the external lookup server an OpenURL that resolves directly to the resource.
When the WebBridge resolution server receives an OpenURL from an external origin, it checks the origin's WebBridge definition for the setting of the External Lookup option. If you have configured the origin to use an external lookup server, the resolution server parses the OpenURL and looks for a value to pass to the external lookup server.
If the WebBridge resolution server does not find an external lookup value in the parsed OpenURL, it uses the OpenURL just as if the external origin's definition were configured with the External Lookup option set to "No".
If the WebBridge resolution server finds an external lookup value, it sends it to the external lookup server in an OpenURL formatted according to the URL you enter in the external lookup definition. The external lookup server sends back an OpenURL with full citation information. The WebBridge resolution server parses this OpenURL and performs any data tests that you have set up. If the data tests pass, the WebBridge resolution server constructs and displays a resource link that, using the full citation information, links directly to the target resource.
The process for using an external lookup server is:
- Contact the external lookup service and set up an account for your library.
External lookup services, like all external origin vendors, allow you to place links from their web site to the WebBridge server (http://your_library_IP>:4550/resserv). Often you create and manage these links through an administration Web page on the vendor's web site.NOTE
Your library must have accounts with external lookup services, such as CrossRef and Efetch, to use External Lookup.
- Define a field selector.
The WebBridge resolution server uses this field selector to locate the external lookup value in the OpenURL sent from the external origin. You do not need to use the field selector in a data test.
If the OpenURL contains an external lookup value, the WebBridge resolution server proceeds with an external lookup.
If the OpenURL does not contain an external lookup value, the OpenURL is processed as if the external origin's definition were configured with the External lookup option set to No. - Create an external lookup.
- Configure the external origin(s).
- Customize the mapping file (if necessary).
Below is a schematic of how external lookup works. The user chooses the WebBridge button (illustrated by a red WB) and receives a link to a target resource (illustrated by "resource link" in blue).
