Example of an Orbis2 Search Box
View the demo form found here. Do a 'View Source' on the form - copy the javascript and the example form - edit it to fit into your site.
Constructing Canned Searches
The trunction character in Orbis2 is a ? .
!!! IMPORTANT !!! Be sure Canned Searches access only the Orbexpress URL. Do not construct Canned Searches using orbis.library.yale.edu.
These instructions were adapted from Cornell University Catalog’s Canned Search Help.
The easiest way to construct a canned search is to use a tool called the Voyager Canned Search Generator, which has been provided by Texas A&M University. Simply paste the URL http://orbexpress.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=###### into your browser and execute your search. Copy the URL from the orbexpress catalog and paste it into the Canned Search Generator, select "Generate New URL," and then copy and paste the resulting link into your webpage; Be sure to check your link after to make sure that it still works.
If the Canned Search Generator is unavailable, please use the instructions below.
These instructions were adapted from the Endeavor SupportWeb site and the University of Wisconsin-Madison's MadCat Help.
1) Do a normal search in WebVoyage (the OPAC) to get to the result you want. The simpler the search, the better.
2) Copy the URL on the results page and paste it into a text editor (NotePad, WordPad, etc).
3) Look at the URL's structure:
http://orbexpress.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=######
The URL consists of a server name, a path (cgi-bin), a file (Pwebrecon.cgi) and a series of field definitions (such as PID=####, SEQ=####, etc. following the ? and separated by &'s). You must modify the URL by removing some field definitions and adding one (steps 4-7). To remove a field definition, remove the definition itself and one of the &'s around it (i.e. don't have two &'s next to each other).
4) Change the server name from yaledb.library.yale.edu to orbexpress.library.yale.edu
5) Remove PID=#### (and one of the &'s around it). The PID=#### field definition refers to a specific instance of WebVoyage. It is only good for the current session and will produce an error if used after that session ends.
6) Remove SEQ=####### (and one of the &'s around it).
7) Remove &HIST=1
8) Add DB=local (and an &).
9) Copy and paste the new URL into a browser to see if it works. Depending on how the search was done, there may be more fields than is necessary to get the result. You can experiment with removing some of the fields. Then, start taking out fields one at a time to see whether the search still works. The goal is to shorten the URL to the most basic one that will work.
Notes:
Examples of proper syntax for common canned searches:
Title Search:
http://orbexpress.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=skelligside&Search_Code=TALL&DB=local&CNT=50
Author search:
http://orbexpress.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=pollock+jackson&Search_Code=NAME&DB=local&CNT=50
Subject search:
http://orbexpress.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=pollock+jackson&Search_Code=SUBJ_&DB=local&CNT=50
Journal title search:
http://orbexpress.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=sociology&Search_Code=JALL&DB=local&CNT=50
Bib ID search:
http://orbexpress.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&SL=none&BBID=3173824
Note: It is not possible to construct a canned keyword search limited by format (e.g. "sociology" limited to "all serials and journals," so this is the best method for searching for journals only).
Keyword search, using two
keywords:
http://orbexpress.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=sociology+and+feminism&DB=local&Search_Code=CMD&CNT=50
ISSN/ISBN search:
Note: If you want your ISSN/ISBN search to work in IE and Netscape, do not have
a ' ' (space) in the ISSN/ISBN number. For example: an ISSN of 1234 5678 will
not work in Netscape. An ISSN of 1234+5678 or 1234-5678 will work.
Note: If you have been using the following for ISSN or ISBN searches
of Orbis, there is no need to make changes as these scripts will be automatically
corrected for you (each would have been followed by "#" and then the
ISSN or ISBN).
http://www.library.yale.edu/ecollections/issn.htm
http://www.library.yale.edu/ecollections/catalog.htm
http://www.library.yale.edu/ecollections/catbook.htm
http://www.library.yale.edu/ecollections/sfxisbn.htm
URLs for Direct Links to Orbis Screens:
Simple Search: http://orbis.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=sbSearch
Advanced Search: http://orbis.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=bbSearch
Course Reserves: http://orbis.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=rbSearch
Your Library Account: https://orbis.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=pbLogon
Place Requests: http://orbis.library.yale.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=REQNOBIB
Note: The direct link for Your Library Account begins with https and not http.
The direct link for Place Requests should only be used to provide access to the Submit Purchase Requests Form. All other requests can only be initiated after the patron has searched for a book.