OpenURL standard

OpenURL is a developing NISO standard that "defines a syntax to package metadata and identifiers that describe information objects and to point to a specific institution's link-resolution server or resolver." WebBridge currently uses OpenURL 0.1 and 1.0.

The WebBridge Resolution Server displays links based on the information passed in the OpenURL and on the rules specified in the WebBridge Management module.

By using the OpenURL, you can offer a link from a citation at one database to the full text of the article at another.

For more information about the OpenURL standard, see the document NISO Committee AX: Development of an OpenURL Standard.

Any electronic resource that is capable of passing an OpenURL can be defined as a WebBridge Origin. You can find a list of vendors and their databases that have been successfully tested as WebBridge origins on the CSDirect FAQ WebBridge Origins and Target Resources

To set up an OpenURL enabled database as an Origin for WebBridge:

• Contact the vendor to inform them of your interest in using an OpenURL link from their site to your Resolution Server (http://<Your_Innovative_Server>:4550/resserv). The vendor may have configuration information for you.
• Obtain the vendor's service identifier (SID). This value identifies the vendor and possibly the database from which the OpenURL is being passed. WebBridge uses the SID when determining to which Target Resource links should be offered.
  • A list of vendors and their SID values can be found on the CSDirect FAQ WebBridge Link Syntax.
• Set up the Origin(s) for the vendor.

Vendor requirements are often highly individualized. Since it is necessary to comply with each vendor's specifications in order to use them as an Origin, this step should be begun early in your process of setting up WebBridge.

For additional information, refer to the Innovative Guide and Reference Manual:

Page #108076: Entering URLs and Hyperlinks in Resource Definitions
Page #108077: Constructing URLs for Resources
Page #108079: Resource URLs with Dynamic Content from the Coverage Database
Page #108078: Resource URLs with Dynamic Content from OpenURLs
Page #108081: Configuring Elsevier ScienceDirect Resource Links
Page #108082: Constructing Hyperlinks to Resources
Page #108083: Using Text as Hyperlinks
Page #108084: Using Images as Hyperlinks