OpenURL links

Overview of OpenURL Links feature

The OpenURL Links feature lets you add links in FirstSearch that lead to your library's OpenURL servers.

If you add the links, they appear in detailed records in FirstSearch databases. When a user clicks a link, FirstSearch submits information from the record to the OpenURL server. The resulting server screen is displayed in a new pop-up window.

To add the links, you must:

Specify the URL of each OpenURL server.
Specify the URL of an icon for each server and/or specify the text to be displayed as a link.
Make the icon(s) and/or link text available in one or more FirstSearch databases.

Add OpenURL Server

Add the URL of a new OpenURL server for your library. You can also click a Test button to send an ISBN to the URL and view the results. You can use the ISBN provided or type another one.

Select OpenURL Server

Select a URL for an existing OpenURL server to rename, delete, add databases to, or remove databases from.

Add OpenURL Icon File

Specify the URL for an icon that FirstSearch will display as a link leading to the designated OpenURL server. If you do not specify an icon file URL, you must specify link text. You can also click a Test button to view a sample page containing the icon and/or link text. (The sample links do not lead to the OpenURL server.)

Note: The recommended image size of the icon is 16 pixels high and up to 64 pixels wide. If the image is more than 16 pixels high, FirstSearch scales its height to 16 pixels and scales its width proportionally.

Add OpenURL Link Text

Specify the text that FirstSearch will display as a link leading to the designated OpenURL server. You can specify both an icon file URL and link text. If you do not specify any link text, you must specify an icon file URL. You can also click a Test button to view a sample link containing the icon and/or link text. (The sample links do not lead to the OpenURL server.)

Choose Databases

Choose the FirstSearch databases in which you want to make the links (icon and/or link text) available. By default, the links are available in all the databases included in your FirstSearch account. If you do not want the links to appear in some databases, remove the databases from the Databases Included list.