Running the URL Checker for III

Should be done about once every 6 months

The library may run a URL verification at any time by selecting the V > VERIFY Universal Resource Locators option from the WEB ACCESS MANAGEMENT menu [E > ALTER system parameters, from A > ADDITIONAL system functions]:

*** WEB ACCESS MANAGEMENT ***

W > Change WEB Access Management table

V > VERIFY Universal Resource Locators (URLs)

Q > QUIT
Choose one (W,V,Q)

When this option is selected, the system asks whether a range of Bibliographic records or a set of records in a pre-existing review file are to be checked:

----- URL Verification -----

  R > To enter a RANGE of Record Numbers
B > To use a BOOLEAN search review FILE
Q > QUIT
Choose one (R,B,Q)

After the correct option has been selected, the system asks:

Verify 404 NOT FOUND responses twice? (y/n)

Answer 'y' to have the system repeat the verification test for any URLs that contain an IP name or address that cannot be found on the Internet (i.e., HTTP "404" errors). Note that this may slow the verification process, since it doubles the amount of time that the system tries to verify these URLs. The system then begins testing the URLs in the specified set of Bibliographic records. As it proceeds, it displays the message TRYING CONNECTIONS PLEASE WAIT and offers an option to stop the process at any time.
When the system has finished verifying all the records, if there are any errors found, it displays a report like that shown below:

URL Verification Report -- URL problems(09-26-99)
  Number of records verified: 36326

b1017494 http://www.ala.ogg -0003 Host not found
b1009588 http:/www.ala.org -0002 malformed URL
b1009673 htp://www.amersci.edu -0002 malformed URL
b1017494 http://www.maths.bku.edu -0014 Service Unavailable
b1019432 http://nasa.mars.gov -0001 Connection refused
b1019783 http://www.masc.edu -0003 Host not found

P > PRINT
S > STATISTICS
Q > QUIT
Choose one (P,Q,S)

For each invalid URL, the report displays the Bibliographic record number, the URL itself, and an error code and message describing the problem. A statistical summary may be viewed by selecting the S > STATISTICS option. A sample summary is shown below:

URL Verification Statistics -- URL problems(09-26-99)

  ERROR TOTAL

Host not found 2
malformed URL 2
Service Unavailable 1
Connection refused 1

TOTAL ERRORS 6

R > RETURN to previous screen
Choose one (R)

The system also writes any problems encountered while attempting to verify each URL to a system-generated review file. This file may be accessed using the Create LISTS of records function by creating a new review file and selecting Copy an existing file from the presented menu. At the end of the list of existing files are the system-generated review files, as shown below:

NAME CUR RECS MAX RECS
41 > Purchase Orders already printed 47
42 > Purchase Orders already sent electronically 361
43 > CLAIMS for orders to be reviewed 23
44 > CLAIMS for orders awaiting print 340
45 > CLAIMS for serial issues awaiting print 27
46 > URL Problems 143

Select file to copy FROM : (Z for your own file)
B > BACKWARD
Q > QUIT
Choose one (1-46,B,Q)

Select the URL Problems item to copy the list of verification errors to your new review file, where they may be displayed, printed, or manipulated using the options available in the LIST RECORDS function (see Working with an Existing Review File in the Create LISTS of records section of this manual for information on the options available in this function).

If the library has acquired the Innovative Cataloging Workstation for Windows, the new review file that you created here may be loaded and editing in interactive mode using the View Review File option in the Cataloging Workstation menu. See the separate documentation of the Cataloging Workstation for Windows for more information on using this option to edit records in a review file.

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Page last updated: Monday, October 28, 2002