The OpenURL Standard

OpenURL is a standard used to pass data in a URL format to a resolution server (also referred to as a "link resolver"). For more information about the OpenURL standard, see the NISO OpenURL Web page.

WebBridge is compatible with OpenURL 0.1 and 1.0 standards.

WebBridge includes a resolution server.

WebBridge works with any electronic resource capable of passing an OpenURL. See the Origins Information on CSDirect for information on individual vendors whose Web sites have been tested as WebBridge origins.

Based on the information passed in an OpenURL and rules specified in the WebBridge Management interface, the WebBridge resolution server offers links to Web-based resources. For example, by using WebBridge, your library can offer a link from a citation at one database to the full text of the article at another.

OpenURL Meta Tags

OpenURL meta tags are key/value pairs that represent a Referent (such as a journal article). They are described in the OpenURL standard as "By-Value Metadata Descriptors."

The keys in the key/value pairs must be valid for the specified metadata format (described in the OpenURL standard). For example, the rft.aulast key is a valid key in the metadata format for journals.

The example shows OpenURL meta tags (a By-Value Metadata Descriptor) for a journal article (Referent). The metadata format is specified and valid key/value pairs follow.

OpenURL 1.0 meta tags for a journal article
Formatted for readability:	URL encoded:
& rft_val_fmt = info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal & rft.atitle = Isolation of a common receptor    for coxsackie B & rft.jtitle = Science & rft.aulast = Bergelson & rft.auinit = J & rft.date = 1997 & rft.volume = 275 & rft.spage = 1320	&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal &rft.atitle=Isolation%20of%20a%20common%20receptor %20for%20coxsackie%20B&rft.jtitle=Science&rft.aulast =Bergelson&rft.auinit=J&rft.date=1997&rft.volume=275&rft.spage=1320

The OpenURL 0.1 standard allowed meta tags without the "rft." prefx.

When used as field selectors, the OpenURL meta tags are entered in the Definition text box for OpenURL in the WebBridge LR Management - Field Selectors menu. For example, in an "article title" field selector, enter the OpenURL meta tags:

rft.atitle|atitle

This allows WebBridge to use the field selector to locate an article title whether an OpenURL follows the 0.1 or 1.0 standard.