[IUG] Networked OCLC Interactive Interface question

["Steidinger, Shawn E." <SSTEIDINGER at PARTNERS dot ORG>]

Hello all,
We are having trouble exporting OCLC records into our database, and suspect a
hardware problem. We are wondering whether or not to consider getting the
Networked OCLC Interactive Interface - product 110N.

Currently we are still using the character-based INNOPAC, rel. 2006.1 (and are
one week shy of converting to Millennium), and our cataloger has an RS232 serial
cable which connects her Win2000 PC somewhat directly to our INNOPAC server (the
cable goes through the wall and a couple of adaptors & a LAN box before
connecting to the INNOPAC server). When she hits the export function, the
receipt printer records what record was just overlaid or created, and she then
verifies that the record is truly in our database by looking it up.
Unfortunately, now when she hits export, she gets a Connexion error message
saying there's no connection to our INNOPAC server. Because this was an
intermittent problem, OCLC, III, and our institutional IS folks think this is a
hardware issue -  no IP addresses have changed, no one's messing with the
firewall, etc. As of last week, the problem is constant. I think something
finally died!

Anyway,  we're hoping that we can eliminate the dependency on the physical cable
connection & rely on software & TCP/IP.  Our cataloging volume is relatively low
- maybe 20-40 titles a week - will the interactive feature make our lives
easier?  How, exactly, does this interface work?  When you click on the Export
button, the record goes directly from OCLC through port 5500 to your INNOPAC
server?  Do you still get a little printout letting you know records are being
read & overlaid?  I've read the INNOPAC & Millennium manuals and the OCLC FAQ on
CSDirect, as well as perused the OCLC Connexion documentation, but nothing
compares to other users' experiences when considering a new product.

Thanks for your help & advice,
--SHAWN
********************************************************
Shawn Steidinger, Systems Librarian
Treadwell Library
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street/Bartlett Hall Extension
Boston, MA 02114

(617) 724-2781
ssteidinger at partners dot org
http://massgeneral.org/library


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