Connexion Client

Connexion Client

Connexion Client is a third-party tool that allows catalogers to edit and manage records outside of the ILS. 

Using Connexion Client in Koha

Below is a great partner tutorial video for anyone who is new to OCLC Connexion! We walk through how to import a record from Koha into OCLC Connexion Client, how to directly import records into Koha from OCLC Connexion Client, and also how to export Authorities from OCLC Connexion Client into Koha. 

Please note OCLC decommissioned the Connexion website in April 2024. Connexion Client is still available and continues to work with Koha!

Tutorial Video: Using OCLC Connexion


Setting up OCLC Connexion Client on the Backend

During the setup process, a library will decide on a few workflow actions. A library can decide:
  1. Which MARC field to match the records on?
    1. Common fields are: ISBN, OCLC, Koha Bib Number
    2. must be an existing matching rule in Koha staff interface.
    3. the CODE must not contain spaces
      1. The CODE is what is placed into the config file on the server
  2. What action to take if a match is found?
    1. "replace", "create_new", or "ignore"
  3. What action to take if no match is found?
    1. "create_new" or "ignore"
  4. What action to take with embedded 952 item data?
    1. "always_add", "add_only_for_matches", "add_only_for_new", or "ignore"
  5. What kind of import mode?
    1. "direct" - overlay with any/all existing matches
    2. "stage" - add only to the Manage Staged Record tool under the Cataloging module.
If you are a partner with ByWater Solutions, we will set up the backend configuration with the library's actions.

Setting up OCLC Connexion Client to communicate with your ByWater Hosted Koha


To set up the OCLC Connexion desktop client to connect to Koha, go to Tools > Options, then choose the Export tab:
  1. Choose the “Create…” button to set up a new destination,
  2. Choose “OCLC Gateway Export”
  3. Select OK
  4. Enter the following information:
    1. Host Name: your catalog’s appropriate hostname (URL) - provided by ByWater Solutions from your config file 
      1. will NOT include http or https at the front
      2. will end in .io
    2. Port: Your catalog’s appropriate port number provided by ByWater Solutions from your config file
      1. will NOT be the same as your SIP, z39.50, or SFTP
    3. Notify Host Before Disconnect: checked
    4. Timeout: 100, Retries: 3, Delay: 0 (zero)
    5. Send Local System Logon ID Password: checked
    6. Login ID: provided by ByWater Solutions from your config file - can be modified at your request, but requires systems team assistance
    7. Password: provided by ByWater Solutions from your config file - can be modified at your request, but requires systems team assistance
  5. Select “OK” when finished and you should see your new “Gateway Export” option listed
  6. Select “Record Characteristics” and make sure that the bibliographic records are using MARC21, UTF-8 Unicode, and click OK to save 
You should be ready to go! To export a record from OCLC Connexion Client to Koha, just press F5 while the record is on-screen. The export dialog will pop up, and you’ll see Connexion attempting to talk to Koha. You should get a message that the record was added or overlaid, including its biblio number, and a URL that you can copy into your web browser to jump straight to the record.

More Resources

The Koha Community Wiki also includes screenshots and step-by-step instructions on exporting bib records to Koha from OCLC: Koha Community Wiki
The attached manual has instructions and larger screenshots to help with using Connexion Gateway to export your records in OCLC and have the information and/or items reflected in Koha.


Notes
OCLC has discontinued the Connexion browser at the end of April 2024, so libraries will need to either use the browser-based product that will be replacing it, or set up a Connexion Gateway using the desktop software.

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