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Source Data Planning Template

To aid you in the database planning process, it is often helpful to develop a source data reference table that tracks the information, or possible information, that is contained in your database records. This document is intended to provide you with a template of how to organize database record information to assist you as you begin to create your local database using the Open SiteSearch Database Builder 4.0.x/4.1.x software.

Note:

The information contained in the template below is particularly valuable when you are creating a database description (.dsc) file.

Example

The following is an example of a typical MARC source data reference table that you can use as a basic template for any database source data. This example can be used to categorize most source data formats and can easily be adjusted to meet any special needs. Refer to the Description section below for additional information about each of the table column categories.

BER

Input Tag

Input Type

Special Processing

Indexes

0/2

001

OCLC Accession Number

None.

1 (Unique record identifier)

245/1

245

Title Information

Note:

Often includes volume and issue.

Find a way to breakout the volume and issue number. Use plural endings.

3 (Title), 4 (Title - Keyword)

650/1

650

Subject

Use plural endings.

5 (Subject - phrase), 6 (Subject - keyword)

260/3

260

Publication Date

Use a restrictor to limit publication year.

6 (Publication Information)

Description

The definitions below provide descriptions of the types of information that are contained in each column of the template above.

BER - contains the ASN.1/BER tag path that will label the input type after the source data has been converted into ASN.1/BER format. This column will be left blank until you convert your source data into ASN.1/BER format with a conversion utility program as you are creating your database. Use the ber2txt utility program to view the ASN.1/BER-formatted data in a human-readable format.

Input Tag - contains the source data tag that corresponds to input type. The source data template above shows the following MARC tags for record fields: OCLC accession number (001), title information (245), subject (650), and publication date (260).

Input Type - contains the description of the types of data contained in the input tag listed in the template (i.e., Publication Date, Author, Edition, Abstract, etc.).

Special Processing - describes the ways the data, input type, needs to be manipulated to provide patrons with useful search methods and results. You may wish to note restrictions, plural endings, synonyms, or other processes that you will need to define in your index definitions in the .dsc file to allow searching and present the data to meet your patrons' needs.

Indexes - lists the index number(s) that will contain this field of record information to allow patrons to search the database. A field id, or tag, must be included in at least one index definition in the .dsc file to allow patrons to search the field information. Also provides a short description of what is included in the index, or indexes, listed in this column. This description often reflects the input type.

See Also

Planning a SiteSearch Database
Creating a New SiteSearch Database
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