It's all about library

The new definition of myilibrary for EZproxy

2009-10-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

The definition of myilibrary for EZproxy should be changed as they use the new host lib.myilibrary.com. The new definition is as below:

Title -hide MyiLibrary
URL http://www.myilibrary.com/search/my_content.asp
DJ myilibrary.com
HJ myilibrary.com
HJ www.myilibrary.com
HJ lib.myilibrary.com

Technorati Tags: myilibrary,definition,EZproxy

How to determine patrons' IP addresses

2009-09-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

The issue of authentication for MetaLib can be solved with JavaScript. The variable,"REMOTE_ADDR", can determine clients' IPs. On-campus access does not request authentication; off-campus access does (via EZProxy).

To use this variable, Java scripts need a Server Side Include (SSI) which gives the IP address. To make the web server check for SSI code in your page, you need to add the appropriate extension (for example, .shtml extension) in the web server, and map it to ASP (classic) engine.

Apache needs the include module either loaded or compiled in. Also, these options need to be specified in httpd.conf:
AddHandler server-parsed .shtml
AddOutputFilter INCLUDES .shtml
Options Includes

Technorati Tags: IP Addresses,JavaScript,MetaLib

Extra targets are persistently appearing in SFX menu

2009-09-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

If journals that are not a part of the library subscriptions and deactivated in SFX always persistently appear in the SFX menu, they are actually pulled in from another consortial instance, which is configured to share targets with your instance. There's a way to turn of consortial sharing altogether.

The following file needs to be edited:
/exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/[instance]/config/ctx_object.config

In section:

Section "consortium"
active "N"

EndSection

change Y to N

The change should take place immediately and you should no longer receive extraneous targets from another instance.

Technorati Tags: Extra Targets,SFX Menu,SFX

Change the contact email for software error message

2009-08-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

Whenever an error occurs in SFX, a message will pop up:
...
For help, please send mail to the webmaster (sfxsdb@sfxdev)
...

This email address is set by the ServerAdmin line in the httpd.conf file in an instance's config directory. You can edit the file and set the email address to what is appropriate for your institution.

The instance's apache server will need to be restarted for the change to take effect. This will cause a minor interruption in service (should be no more than a few seconds), so it is recommended that you restart apache server during off-peak usage times.

The text of the error message cannot be currently changed, only the email address.

Technorati Tags: Contact Email, Software Error, SFX

The SFX linking to ISI's Journal Citation Reports

2009-08-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

The linking aims to check the ranking of a specific journal in JCR to determine a publication's impact factor in the global research community. The process is as follows:

Create a Local Target and Target Service: SDSU_JCR_LCL, and getCitedJournal.
Create a Target Parser, JCRSDSU.pm.
Configure Database Definitions in EZproxy Server for JCR by adding these lines to the configuration file config.txt:
T Journal Citation Reports
U http://links.isiglobalnet2.com
D links.isiglobalnet2.com

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, ISI, Thomson Reuters, Journal Citation Reports, JCR, SFX

Activate Ulrich's target

2009-07-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

Check Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory to see if the journal is scholarly or not.

The original target parser ULRICH.pm doesn't work with all ISSNs, especially for journals that experienced ISSN changes. This is an example, Chronicle [0195-5365]. Based on the original parser, Cari Roberts, Systems Librarian at University of Central Oklahoma created a new parser, ULRICHUCO.pm, which seemed to solve this problem.

This linking service to UlrichsWeb has been further developed by Steven Putt, Electronic Services Librarian at Calvin College. UlrichsWeb can be automatically queried and if an entry for that journal is found within UlrichsWeb the selected data from that database is automatically displayed in SFX menu. This is an example.

Please see this project conducted at Calvin College. To realize this function, there are 3 prerequisites:

Perl installed on a local web server, with LWP::Simple and CGI Modules (These are pretty common modules, but if you run into problems later on, you are on your own for getting these installed).
Access to a local web server
Access to your SFX server

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, Ulrich's, Ulrichsweb, SFX

OCLC OpenURL Gateway (2)

2009-07-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

To use OCLC OpenURL Gateway, a library's OpenURL link resolver must be registered with OCLC OpenURL Gateway, and a patron needs to create a free account. Registration can be done via WorldCat Registry.

When testing the registered SFX with OCLC OpenURL Gateway, if the following software error occurs:
Can't call method "get_attributes" on an undefined value at /exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/sfxsdb/lib/ContextObject/Engine.pm line 503.

This relates to a redirect that happens each time the SFX Menu loads. Since the OCLC URL already includes a question mark, the redirect does not work with two question marks and fails. Edit the config/authentication_gateway.config file and change Section "Authentication" as:
active "0"

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, OCLC OpenURL Gateway, OpenURL Link Resolver, SFX

OCLC OpenURL Gateway (1)

2009-07-07T09:37:00.001-07:00

If you often search in Websites such as WorldCat.org or ERIC, accessing full text to which the Library subscribes on campus is not a problem as you're usually directed to full text via SFX link resolver. When you're off campus, this would be a problem since you no longer have access to the SFX. However, through OCLC OpenURL Gateway, you can instantly create an association between your Internet connection and SFX.

The OCLC OpenURL Gateway is a free Web service which gives the library visibility, as it drives Web traffic where information seekers start their searches back to the library by automatically redirecting the users' requests to the library's link resolver.

DOI (Digital Object Identifier)

2009-07-07T08:06:00.001-07:00

DOI has been used by the science, technology, and medical journal publishing industry for a long time, and now it is being rapidly adopted by other publishing industries.

A DOI is a unique identifying number for a scholarly article that is used to obtain information about the publication's location on the Internet.

By default, when clicking a CrossRef or DOI-link in a source, you'll be linked to the full text at the publisher's website. This may not be the appropriate copy. The Library may host the journal locally or subscribe to the journal via databases.

As a CrossRef library affiliate, the Library can direct users to our holdings via SFX when the users click a CrossRef or DOI-link. This is achieved by the DOI server recognizing the users from our institution.

A cookie has to be set on your browser that will enable you to connect to our library's OpenURL Resolver - SFX when looking for citations which use a DOI link. An easy way to set a cookie is to let the user's browser load a particular gif displayed on the web page:
src="http://www.doi.org/cgi-bin/pushcookie.cgi?BASE-URL=http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb&Redirect=http://lib.sdstate.edu/lib116/images/doi_logo.gif" alt="DOI logo"

There are several ways to search with DOIs:

Append DOI to "http://dx.doi.org/". If you know the DOI of an article, simply append it to "http://dx.doi.org/" to make a link to search, e.g., http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.62.1457
Search DOI using Citation Linker
Access DOI via databases, such as EI Compendex, Oxford Journals Online

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, DOI, CrossRef, Cookies, Citation Linker, SFX

How to cite subject categories in SFX

2009-07-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Categories can be cited via SFX. For example, users can browse all journals in Biology the Library subscribed to in the topic guide. The below is how to construct a category:
http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb/az?param_category_search_type_save=browseSubCategory&param_perform_save=searchCategories&param_category_value=[Category ID]&param_subcategory_value=[Subcategory ID]

Please find a specific 'Category ID' and 'Subcategory ID', and then replace the above [Category ID] and [Subcategory ID] with those 2 IDs respectively, for example, this is URL for Biology:
http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb/az?param_category_search_type_save=browseSubCategory&param_perform_save=searchCategories&param_category_value=12&param_subcategory_value=145

To view all subcategories for a particular category, the subcategory value should always be -1. You can also cite more than one subcategory in the same category. The below is how to cite Language & Linguistics, and Literature under the category of Arts and Humanities:
http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb/az?param_category_search_type_save=browseSubCategory&param_perform_save=searchCategories&param_category_value=2&param_subcategory_active=1&param_subcategory_value=5&param_subcategory_value=75

Categories in SFX can be exported by Category Tool. And then you can find a desired category ID and subcategory ID.

To cite a specific journal, the syntax likes this:
http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb?sid=ALEPH&issn=[ISSN]

For example, this is how to cite Science [0036-8075]:
http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb?sid=ALEPH&issn=0036-8075

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, Categories, Subcategories, Journals, Topic Guide, Category Tool, SFX

Introduce the live chat with a librarian service

2009-07-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

Created a new LOCAL_ASK_A_LIBRARIAN_LCL target and getWebService service. In target service:
Parser: Generic
Parse Param: IF () http://lib.sdstate.edu/askus.html

To improve this service, we inserted the Meebo box in SFX. With JavaScript, the Meebo box actually can be hidden during off hours. That is, the Meebo box only shows up during information desk hours. To this end, modification should be made to the file:
/exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/[instance]/templates/simplified_template1/sfxmenu.tmpl.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, Chat with a Librarian, Meebo, SFX Menu, JavaScript, Information Desk Hours

Activate Local Feedback target

2009-07-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

To improve SFX service for users, and to direct users' reports about problems with SFX to the agency best able to respond to those reports, we have activated the LOCAL_FEEDBACK target.

The "Report a Problem" form is fully customizable. To customize wording or formatting, edit templates/targets/feedback/feedback.tmpl. To add fields or to change which fields are required, edit cgi/public/feedback.cgi.

The "Message Sent" page is fully customizable. To customize, edit /templates/targets/feedback/msgsent.tmpl.

The email address to which problem reports are sent can be modified at,
SFXAdmin-Targets-LOCAL_FEEDBACK-[S]ervices-[U/P]-$$YOUR_EMAIL_ADDRESS.

After finishing all those settings, we found that we could not send emails from the local feedback target, which took us a lot of time to troubleshoot. Finally, it turned out it was a problem with the Exchange server not allowing relaying from the SFX server and not a problem with the email program on the SFX server.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, Local Feedback, Report a Problem, Targets, SFX

Implement OpenURL-based services in PubMed

2009-07-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

There are 2 ways to implement an OpenURL-based service in PubMed: LinkOut or Outside Tool.

To implement an OpenURL-based service through LinkOut, a library submits holdings information as a file generated by the OpenURL-based service. One advantage provided by LinkOut is that LinkOut can display library holdings as a filter tab.

When an OpenURL-based service is implemented through Outside Tool, a link to the service appears on every citation in PubMed.

Unfortunately, you cannot have both of LinkOut or Outside Tool. It is the National Library of Medicine's policy to only support one link resolver service per library.

The documents worded in the PubMed make them seem more complicated than they really are. Here is the information we submitted for the request of Outside Tool:

1. Proof of relevant resources for test records
http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb?sid=Entrez:PubMed&id=pmid:12076440
-link to online full text

http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb?sid=Entrez:PubMed&id=pmid:19150555
-link to online full text, and local document delivery

http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb?sid=Entrez:PubMed&id=pmid:12337850
-link to local document delivery

2. Username and Password for services listed in the tool
The Username/password for log-in to our library resources is: *****/*****

3. Base URL of your local service
http://sfx.sdln.net:3210/sfxsdb

4. Institution name, postal address, contact name, contact email address and phone number
Fei Xu, Integrated Systems Librarian
Phone: (605) 688-5560
Email: fei...@sdstate.edu

Hilton M. Briggs Library, SBL 2115
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007-1098

5. URL of the tool icon
http://lib.sdstate.edu/lib116/images/sdsu-sfx.jpg
The file format of the icon is JPEG, and the size is 81x19 pixels

6. URL of the tool help page
http://lib.sdstate.edu/lib116/sfx/faq.html

7. Short label that identifies your institution
FIND IT@SDSU FullText

8. Whether a testing period is desired
No

9. LinkOut NameAbbr, if already using LinkOut
sdsdsublib

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, OpenURL-based services, LinkOut, Outside Tool, PubMed

Activate SFX button in subscribed databases

2009-07-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

SFX button has been activated in our most of subscribed databases. The button usually shows up in the search results page when full-text is not available in the database you are searching or not part of the Library's subscription.

When clicking on SFX button, the user is redirected to the link resolver, which displays links to the selected article. The user can then click those links to access the article in the Library holdings.

If the article is not found in SFX, ILLiad document delivery service appears, which will auto-populate the order form with citation information. The patron doesn't have to re-type the article title, volume, pages, etc.

Activating SFX button usually can be done through the admin website of a database. One thing I should mention is that the admin websites for different databases are quite like apples and oranges, the syntax for generating a link for SFX is different, and also for some databases, such as JSTOR, Project MUSE, such request should be submitted to the vendors, so it will take a while to finish this task.

Besides, not all databases support SFX button, such as LexisNexis. According to the product manager from LexisNexis, the academic is over 90% full text so they don’t provide such service. Please see the list of databases we have activated the SFX button.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, SFX Button, Database, ILLiad

Activate ILLiad target

2009-07-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

SDSU Library has integrated SFX link resolver automatically into their interlibrary loan request form. With whatever a bibliographic record at hand, SFX will first look to see if the full text is available electronically. If not, SFX will then try to see if the item is in the local catalog. If that search also fails, ILLiad document delivery service will appear in SFX menu, which will auto-populate the order form with citation information. The entire process happens in just a few seconds.

Here is how to set up ILLiad document delivery service.
Parser: ILLiad::DDL
Parse Param: url=http://illiad.sdstate.edu/illiad/illiad.dll/OpenURL

David Walker from Cal State University, San Marcos developed a nicer parser, which could get more reliable citations in ILLiad from SFX and pass more metadata from a source into ILLiad via SFX, for example, the OCLC number from WorldCat can be passed into ILLiad.

The improved parser is: ILLiad::DDLCSU

Please see the file DDLCSU.pm.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, ILLiad

AutoComplete feature

2009-07-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

When typing a title or part of it, a user will see suggested journal titles to be used as search terms.

According to Ex Libris, AutoComplete feature and ‘Exact’ search option cannot co-exist. If you want one feature, you have to sacrifice another. Just like, you cannot have your cake and eat it. See examples of OpenURL resolvers.

SDSU has pursued to have both of these features for a long time, which eventually was worked around by coding.

In order to realize this dream, modification should be made to the file: /exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/[instance]/templates/azlist_ver3/title_head.tmpl.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, AutoComplete, SFX A-Z list

Change the size and other properties of the popup window

2009-06-30T14:51:00.001-07:00

The size and other properties of the popup window using javascript:OpenWindow can be changed in the file:
/exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/[instance]/templates/js/common/main.js.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, Popup Window, Size, SFX

Change fonts and font color for SFX A-Z list

2009-06-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

In order to change fonts and font color for SFX A-Z list, modification should be made to the file: /exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/[instance]/templates/css/public/style.css

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, fonts, font color, SFX A-Z list

Add service links for SFX A-Z list

2009-06-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

In order to add service links at the bottom of SFX A-Z list, modification should be made to the file: /exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/[instance]/templates/azlist_ver3/tail.tmpl.

Please see SDSU SFX.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, links, SFX A-Z list

Change banner and add navigator for SFX A-Z list

2009-06-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

In order to change the library banner and add a navigator at the top of SFX A-Z list, modification should be made to the file: /exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/[instance]/templates/azlist_ver3/head.tmpl.

Please see SDSU SFX.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, Banner, Navigator, SFX A-Z list

Display holding information for books in SFX

2009-06-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

To display book holdings (eBooks and print books) from ALEPH in SFX without loading them into SFX, follow the instructions in chapter 14 of the Advanced User Guide: "Plug-In Feature". The instructions include filling out a configuration file called aleph_xserver_lookup.config.

Step 1
Create a new, separate target for Books, which must have not any portfolios
Create a getHolding target service in this target
Parser: ExLibris::ALEPH

Parse Param:
url=http://apollo.sdln.net&
database=SDB&
issn_index=022&
isbn_index=020&
jtl_index=wti&
btl_index=wti&
version=ALEPH_16&
author_index=wau

Displayer: ALEPH::ALEPH
Object Lookup: No

Threshold (local):
($obj->need('ISBN') || $obj->need('bookTitle') || $obj->need('authLast') || $obj->need
('@rft.aulast')) && $obj->plugIn('ALEPH')

Step 2
Edit /exlibris/sfx_ver/sfx_version_3/[instance]/config/aleph_xserver_lookup.config as follows:

#ALEPH X server details needed for plugIn lookup
Section "x_server"
url "http://apollo.sdln.net/X"
issn_index "ISSN"
isbn_index "ISBN"
full_title_index "TIT"
word_title_index "WTI"
database "sdb"
EndSection

Section "searching"
title_option "Y"
author_index "WAU"
num_of_words_for_search "6"
EndSection

Section "display"
marc_field "852$a 866$a"
display_summary_holdings "Y"
cut_off_num "20"
EndSection
#This is the end of content of aleph_xserver_lookup.config

There are different ways to search books and eBooks:
1. Citation Linker
2. Searching databases that can send OpenURLs to the SFX Menu and contain book metadata, such as Google Scholar

When searching books via Citation Linker:

When a book has both the title and the ISBN, the ISBN is always preferably sent to the Library Catalog as it is considered a more accurate match. In other words, you are always expected to search by ISBN if it is available.
The Author search is not an independent search, and it only works in conjunction with the book title.
The published date usually will have no effect when searching for books, because very few of the Knowledgebase in SFX so far have published date metadata, and you cannot use it to search the current version of the ALEPH PlugIn.

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, Book Holdings, eBooks, Book, SFX, Plug-In Feature, Citation Linker

Search print journals without ISSNs in OPAC via SFX

2009-06-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Value added services are referred to as services that are complimentary to but also ancillary to the core services offered by SFX. This topic is based on the practices at SDSU.

By default, SFX searches print journals in OPAC by ISSNs first, and then by titles. If print journals have no ISSNs, such retrieval might get many hits, which causes a problem to find a specific journal.

We changed the search strategy for SFX as: search by ISSNs first, and then by Aleph system numbers. Here is how to let SFX search a journal without ISSN by the Aleph system number.

At portfolio level,
Parser:
Generic

Parse Param:
IF() "http://apollo.sdln.net/F/?func=find-b&find_code=sys&sub_library=SDB&request=000132867" URLENCODE()

Technorati Tags: Value Added Services, SFX, Print Journals

How to create user-defined QuickSets in MetaLib

2009-02-08T21:35:00.001-08:00

The following tutorial takes 1 minute and 21 seconds to view.
How to create User-Defined QuickSets

Technorati Tags: MetaLib, QuickSets

South Dakota State University Libraries will go live with MetaLib pretty soon

2009-02-08T17:59:00.000-08:00

Known as information gateways, MetaLib allows databases to be grouped together in reflection of the library subject guides.

The library has more than 200 databases. Currently every single database has been tested in MetaLib and is available for searching.

Technorati Tags: MetaLib

South Dakota State University Libraries goes live with SFX

2009-02-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

South Dakota State University Libraries successfully migrated library holdings from EBSCO A-Z to SFX in December 2008.

The project covered more than 47,000 electronic titles and 10,000 print titles. This project presented itself as the opportunity of identifying and solving issues relating to hidden titles after the migration. A number of factors contributing to the issue were identified and solutions were developed. It is believed that these solutions should be instructive to the same problem in similar projects.

Technorati Tags: EBSCO A-Z, Link Resolver, Migration, SFX

Google Scholar

2009-02-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Google Scholar is a useful tool for locating scholarly sources. Its ease of use and similarity to basic Google attract many users. It is possible to check library local holding information through Google Scholar. Google Scholar crawls library holding information via ScholarSFX or SFX.

Google Scholar and ScholarSFX
scholarsfx is free both to members and non-members. Unfortunately, the ScholarSFX service doesn't exist anymore.

Google Scholar and SFX
I've been implementing Google Scholar at SDSU libraries. Google Scholar has gone live recently.

For on-campus users:
Go to Google Scholar and do a search, additional links called "Find it@SDSU" are now available. Clicking on these links will provide access to articles included in our e-journal or print holdings.

For off-campus users, you need to take additional steps:
• Click on the 'Scholar Preferences' on the Google Scholar homepage.
• Type "sdsu" in the search box behind Library Links.
• Click on 'Find Library'
• Select 'South Dakota State University - Find it@SDSU' as one of the libraries that you wish to appear on Scholar results screens.
• Click on 'Save Preferences' at the bottom of the webpage.

For more information, please see Linking to SDSU Library resources in Google Scholar.

Technorati Tags: Google Scholar, SFX

Methods for creating RSS Feeds for new books list

2009-02-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

Feed Servers
Attensa Feed Server is designed for Enterprises with many advanced functions. All data and records are hosted in internal servers. System requirements are pretty high.

Commercial software
FeedForAll. A number of universities use this tool to make feeds, which are hosted at internal servers.

Free Blog sites
WordPress.com or Google Blogger, which is easy to realize your goals, but the feeds have to be hosted at external servers.

WordPress MU
It is the best solution for maintaining blogs and creating RSS Feeds. All feeds and blogs are hosted and run in internal servers. WordPress has been used by many universities, such as Harvard, University of Washington, North Dakota State University, and etc.

Script Languages
Perl scripts and PHP scripts can be run at internal servers to create RSS Feeds. At SDSU, I've been creating RSS Feeds for new books list using PHP scripts.

Technorati Tags: New Books List, RSS Feeds, WordPress Mu

OpenOffice.org Portable

2008-08-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

OpenOffice.org Portable
OpenOffice.org Portable is an open source, full-featured office suite including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, drawing package and database. It is compatible with Microsoft Office, Word Perfect, Lotus and other office applications.

It can work on any portable device, so you can take all your documents and everything you need to work with them on the go.

Technorati Tags: OpenOffice, Portable Software

Useful websites and resources for librarians

2008-07-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

Del.icio.us - A popular social bookmarking site
Flickr mashups and 3rd party sites
Wikis
Google Sites
PBWiki
YouTube - Online video
Web-based Apps
Google Docs
Zoho Work Online
Stay attuned with dozens of blogs and news
Google Reader
Bloglines
Technorati - The leading search tool and authority for blogs in the blogosphere
Web 2.0 Awards Winners - Web 2.0 tools
Librarian's Internet Index
College at home
MyTutorials - Allows users to search for tutorials in a wide variety of topics
BBC Languages
Chinese Tutorials: Learn Mandarin with videos and documents
Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies: find out top tools for learning

Technorati Tags: Websites and Resources

Template for reference desk schedules

2008-07-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

Librarians' and reference desk schedules usually are arranged every week. It would be a good idea to let schedules update themselves with correct dates. Anytime schedules are opened, the date span will be updated automatically to the next week (from next Sunday to next Saturday).

Here I found two ways to work this out. One solution is to use Word Macros, and another one is to use Word Fields. The only drawback about documents with Macros is that you might get security warning. As to documents with Fields, after opening, you need to do: 1. Select all texts using CTRL+A; 2. Then press F9.

Please see the screenshot for the schedule.

Technorati Tags: Reference Desk Schedules, Reference Services, Templates

RefStat - a tool for reference services

2008-07-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

About RefStat
RefStat is aimed to prepare reference reports by collecting and analyzing routine reference services.

How to collect reference transactions
When recording a transaction, all you need to do is to specify a subject to which the reference transaction belongs. Since this application uses the "real time" (System time) as the time for reference transactions, you do not need to care about the time when a reference transaction happens.

How to deal with unusual situations
When you input the record into this application, if the current time is substantially different from the time the reference transaction actually happened, you can change the time by yourself. Reference transactions can also be modified or deleted as needed.

Slideshows for RefStat

An animated introduction to RefStat
The following tutorial takes 1 minute and 30 seconds to view.
Introduction to RefStat

Technorati Tags: Database Applications, Reference Services, Reference Statistics, Tutorials