Frequently asked questions

CatExpress frequently asked questions

General

• Must OCLC governing members subscribe to CatExpress to use it?
  
  A CatExpress subscription is not required for OCLC governing members.  If you have a cataloging authorization, you may use CatExpress without completing the order forms. If you have a question about your OCLC Membership status, contact your OCLC regional service provider. Please note: OCLC Membership is separate from membership in your OCLC regional service provider.
• Do governing members need a new authorization for CatExpress?
  
  No. OCLC governing members may use their current cataloging authorizations. A full-level or higher authorization is required to set or delete holdings. The Limited mode authorization allows only searching, not taking final actions such as setting or deleting holdings.
• Must governing members pay extra to use CatExpress?
  
  No. Your current cataloging subscription covers using CatExpress as an interface.
• Can a small library who is a governing member get CatExpress subscription pricing?
  
  No. CatExpress subscription pricing is valid only for libraries who are currently not governing members.
• Can I get catalog cards from CatExpress?
  
  No, OCLC does not offer catalog cards with CatExpress.
• Can I get labels from CatExpress?
  
  Yes. You can display and print labels from the display, edit or preview screens. See Help in CatExpress or the User Guide for more information.
• How do I access CatExpress?
  

  You access CatExpress via your Internet browser. We recommend you use the latest version of your browser to ensure access to all functionality.

  The URL for CatExpress is http://catexpress.oclc.org or http://connexion.oclc.org. Access CatExpress by clicking on the Express tab in Connexion.

• How can I practice in CatExpress without causing problems?
  
  Go through the exercises in the CatExpress Tutorial.

Searching

• Is there a trick in searching LCCNs?
  

  On the Basic Search screen, type the index label ln: before the LCCN. Example:ln:map32-14

  You may type the number either with or without the hyphen(s).

  You may also search via the LCCN index from the Advanced Search screen.

• Do I have to worry about initial articles and stopwords?
  
  No. CatExpress treats title searches as a form of keyword search which  uses stopwords. The most common articles in English are included in the CatExpress stopword list. They are automatically dropped before the search is done. There should be no difference if you put them in your search or leave them out. (We  recommend that you drop "with" and "within" when searching.)
• What are the CatExpress stopwords?
  

  &	be	he	of	was
  a	but	her	on	which
  an	by	his	or	with
  and	for	in	that	you
  are	from	is	the
  as	had	it	this
  at	have	not	to

• Can I search by OCLC control number?
  

  Yes.

  Basic Search screen: enter the number preceded by either # or * (for example, #754544 or *754544) and choose Standard Number.

  Advanced Search screen: choose the OCLC number search. You can also use the index label no: (for example, no:54544).

• What fields are indexed by which index label?
  

  For a full explanation of searching WorldCat indexes, with labels and lists of fields and subfields indexed, see Searching WorldCat Indexes.

  For more information on how to search using CatExpress, please refer to the CatExpress User Guide, chapter 2.

• Does CatExpress support medical call numbers (096)?
  
  Yes, in addition to Dewey, Library of Congress and Local. 
   
• How can I limit searches in Help to CatExpress topics?
  

  Type CatExpress as one of the words you are searching for.

  For example, to find help topics about editing records in CatExpress, search the help system for CatExpress editing.

Editing

• What fields can I edit in CatExpress?
  

  Following is a list of the fields you can enter. You cannnot change or delete fields already present in the record.

  MARC Tag	Definition
  020 $c	Price
  049	Holding library code (MANDATORY, must change to 4-character holding library code)
  090/092/ 096/099	Call number (LC, Dewey, Medical, Local)
  500	General note
  520	Summary
  521	Target Audience
  526	Study Program Information Note
  590	Non-printing/Local note
  852	Holding information (Only specific subfields are included)

• What if I add a Summary note when the record has one?
  
  You get two notes in your record. You get everything that was already on the record, and  additional  information you entered.
• How can I add different subject headings or delete notes?
  
  You do those types of editing in your local system.

Records

• Why do I get records for materials I did not work on?
  
  Usually this is a result of a union listing or cataloging agent doing work on your behalf. If your agent has not worked on the records or you do not have an agent, contact your local OCLC service provider or OCLC.
• On Product Services Web, are CatExpress records separate?
  
  No. CatExpress activity is part of the OCLC MARC Subscription records and reports section. Look there for records. We cannot break out MARC records based on which interface was used to feed into the MARC subscription.
• What are the delivery options for OCLC-MARC Subscription?
  
  Once your OCLC-MARC subscription is set up, you have the option to receive records by File Transfer Protocol (FTP) via the Internet from an OCLC Electronic Data Exchange (EDX) account or via the OCLC Product Services Web (PSWeb).
• How are export files built?
  
  Export files continue to collect records until they are downloaded. Choose to collect export files as a single file at the institution symbol level or to collect individual files at the authorization number level if your institution has more than one authorization number.
• How do I get exported records using CatExpress?
  
  CatExpress builds export files for all activity based on your choice for file collection (individual or institution files). Click Other/Download export records file to download your files.
• Can I get MARC subscription files without delete transactions?
  
  Yes. When you order OCLC-MARC subscription, choose the option not to receive records from which you have deleted holdings.
• Can I get exported records without setting holdings?
  
  If you are a CatExpress subscriber, records are delivered only when you set holdings. However, if you are a governing member using the CatExpress interface you may export records without setting your holdings.
• How can I determine how many units are left on my CatExpress subscription?
  
  Check the monthly OCLC CatExpress Transaction report via PSWeb at http://psw.oclc.org/. The YTD setholds column will tell you how many titles you have used through the end of the month. Contact your OCLC regional service provider if you need a more up-to-date total. You can also check your daily statistics by going to OCLC Usage Statistics: http://www.stats.oclc.org/. If you are already signed on to CatExpress, just click the Connexion Statistics link on the Home page.
• How can I identify my WorldCat Cataloging Partners activity?
  
  Libraries who participate in the WorldCat Cataloging Partners (WCP) service will have a row for their activity derived from WCP included on the reports, and a total which includes CatExpress activity plus the WCP activity.

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