Introduction
The "Parallelogram" Cloud App for Alma is used to automatically generate parallel fields in bibliographic records. It can convert non-roman text to romanized text and vice versa. The basic approach it takes is to use identifiers in the target record (ISBNs, OCLC numbers, etc.) to search for similar records in WorldCat and the Library of Congress Linked Data Service (id.loc.gov). It examines the parallel fields in these records and uses its findings to generate parallel text for the desired fields in the target record.
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Because the app is dependent on WorldCat and LOC data, it may not always find the information it needs. There is a chance that it will not be able to generate parallel text in every case, and the text it does generate is not guaranteed to be accurate. The tool compensates for this by presenting multiple options for parallel text where there is ambiguity, and also allowing you to correct its suggestions. Such corrections will be saved to the tool's internal database and can be recalled the next time that text appears in a record. Thus, over time, the tool should produce more consistent and accurate results.
The Testing Environment
Once this tool is released to the public, it can be installed easily by any user from the Alma Cloud Apps Center. However, while it is still in development, running the tool is a bit more involved. To open the testing environment, do the following:
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The testing environment uses the sandbox, not the production version of Alma. Because of this, the catalog data may not be exactly the same as what is in the public catalog. (It is based on a snapshot of the catalog from a few months ago). However, it also means you are free to experiment and change records as you wish without worrying about corrupting the catalog or causing other problems.
Launching the App
Before opening the app, you must first navigate to the bibliographic record you are interested in enhancing. The record can either be open in the MDE or in read-only mode (what you see if you click the title of the record in a results list). Alternatively, if you launch the app with a list of search results open, it will select the first record in the list. To launch the app, open the Cloud Apps Center using this icon in the upper right of the Alma window.
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After adding all of the desired parallel fields, click the "Save Record" button above the record to save your changes. To close the app, you can click the X in the upper right of the window or "Back to App List" in the upper left. Note that you may need to refresh your browser window or the MDE to see your changes reflected in Alma.
Field Options
Once a field has imported parallel data, the button to the left turns from a plus into an ellipsis. Clicking it will open the menu below:
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- edit: Edit the field (see the section "Editing Subfields" below).
- swap: Swap the contents of the parallel fields (except for subfield 6). This button has the same effect whether you select it for the original field or the 880.
- unlink: Removes the link between the two fields without deleting them. Subfield 6 will be removed from the original field, while in the 880, the occurrence number subfield 6 will be changed to "00". This button has the same effect whether you select it for the original field or the 880.
- delete: Deletes the field. If deleting an 880 field, subfield 6 is also deleted from the original field. If deleting a non-880 field, the contents of the corresponding 880 are first copied over to the original field, replacing the original field's contents. Then, subfield 6 of the original field is deleted as well as the entire 880 field. In other words, when deleting a field, you are actually deleting the contents of the field. In the end, it is always the 880 field that is removed.
Editing Subfields
If you select the "edit" option for a given field, the field will expand so that you can edit the subfields, as shown in the screenshot below:
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You can also edit the subfield text directly in the text box. The app remembers your custom edits and will display them in the candidate list if the same parallel text is encountered in the future. Clicking the "checkmark" button to the left of the field will save your changes to the subfields and also add any custom text to the app's internal database. Clicking the "X" button will discard any changes you made to the candidate list or the subfield text.
App Settings
The screenshot below shows the app settings. This screen can be accessed by clicking the "Settings" button above the record on the main screen.
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