Constructing URLs for Resources

Any URL can be a target resource. Target resource URLs do not have a standard format.

To construct a target resource URL correctly, obtain the resource's URL or its "link to" syntax from the resource vendor or another reliable source. CSDirect's WebBridge Link Syntax page lists the "link to" URL syntax of many resources that have been tested with WebBridge.

For a resource that does not accept dynamic content (such as search parameters) in its URL, simply enter its URL in the appropriate resource definition.

A resource that accepts URLs with dynamic content, such as search parameters, uses "link to" syntax. The "link to" syntax describes any static portions of the URL and the order in which the dynamic elements must appear. Resources that provide "link to" syntax instead of a static URL usually directly link to articles or pass queries to the resource.

When a resource accepts dynamic content in its URL, you must:

• determine the source of the dynamic content
• construct the URL with variables (field selectors) representing the dynamic content
• enter the URL in the appropriate resource definition

The source of the dynamic content needed to construct the resource URL depends on the origin of the request for the resource. For requests for resources from external origins, the dynamic content needed to construct the resource URL is contained in the OpenURL (the request).

The variables used to represent dynamic content are called field selectors.

Secondary Lookups

Some target resource URLs require dynamic content that is not in the OpenURL passed from the external origin. You can load this content into the coverage database and retrieve it with a "secondary lookup."

The term "secondary lookup" simply refers to additional dynamic content variables that represent coverage database fields (instead of OpenURL elements).

The variables used to represent dynamic coverage database content are called field selectors.

See also:

The Proxy Rewrite Method