Using Pathfinder Pro

In Pathfinder Pro, you create links from origins (for example, the Encore/WebPAC display of a retrieved bibliographic record) to target resources (for example, an online database of articles on a topic related to the bibliographic record). Both origins and resources must have "definitions" in Pathfinder Pro.

Sierra and WebPAC/Encore serve as Pathfinder Pro origins.

Sierra and Encore/WebPAC origins generate requests in response to searches or other user-selected options and pass the requests to the Pathfinder Pro server. You do not need to configure the Sierra and Encore/WebPAC servers to work with Pathfinder Pro.

Any URL can serve as a resource.

You assign origin and resource definitions to categories, and Pathfinder Pro creates links between the origin and all resources in the category. Filters and data tests control which links are displayed and the circumstances under which links display.

Innovative provides Sierra and WebPAC/Encore origin definitions, some resource definitions, some categories, and commonly-used filters and data tests with Pathfinder Pro.

The Pathfinder Pro server:

• receives the request
• applies category suppression rules, if you have set up rules
• parses the request
• performs data tests that compare information in the request to the holdings in your coverage database, if you have set up such data tests
• performs data tests to see if the request contains the data required to retrieve the target, if you have set up such data tests
• displays the first option from the following list that contains at least one resource satisfying the request:
  1. a table or panel of resource links from unsuppressed categories
  2. a table or panel of resource links from suppressed categories

An Example of Linking to Resources from the WebPAC Origin

This brief example demonstrates how a patron might locate full-text articles related to a bibliographic record displayed in the WebPAC.

In this example, the patron has searched the WebPAC for the author "di prima, diane." The WebPAC, therefore, is the origin:

In this example, no target resource links are offered in the WebPAC browse display. However, if the patron chooses a record, such as "from Memoirs of a Beatnik," the Pathfinder Pro button appears in the WebPAC bibliographic record display:

Choosing the Pathfinder Pro button, the patron accesses a display of target resources created by the Pathfinder Pro server:

Choosing one of these links takes the patron to the target resource. At the target resource, the patron can navigate as their access allows. For example, the patron could follow the link to the target resource MLA International Bibliography, where the search results include a link to a full-text article about "di prima, diane":

An Example of Linking to Resources from Sierra

This brief example demonstrates how a staff member might locate resources related to a bibliographic record displayed in Sierra.

For example: the staff member has searched for "Harry Potter" in Sierra. Sierra, therefore, is the origin.

Target resource links are offered in the Sierra browse display if the staff member chooses Go | Pathfinder Pro or the Pathfinder Pro icon.

If the staff member chooses a record, such as "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the Pathfinder Pro menu option also appears in the Sierra bibliographic record display. Choosing the Pathfinder Pro menu option, the staff member accesses a display of target resources created by the Pathfinder Pro server:

Choosing one of these resource links takes the staff member to the target resource.