attachment rename possibilities

[sanramon]

I was wondering if it was possible to rename attachments to LOC Call Numbers (books) and DOI (articles, ebooks)? I can imagine ISBN or ISSN also being useful.

[Jon]

You could if you like. Create a format for this purpose, and in preferences tell Bookends to use that format to name pdfs. Then do a Global Change -> Rename Attachments. You might want to do this on one or two attachments, first, before applying it to all your attachments.

Jon
Sonny Software

[sanramon]

Great! Thanks for the replying so quickly.

[Jon]

If you need help in creating the format, let me know (hint, use conditional groups, so that if there is a call number, use it, and if not, use the ISBN or ISSN, and if they don't exist, use the DOI -- or some logic like that).

Jon
Sonny Software

[sanramon]

Right - I got that sorted now. Thanks!

Is there a way to identify the Call Num field in the 'autofill from internet' feature? As it is now neither Amazon nor CrossRef have the field identified by default.

Perhaps it is possible to add the Library of Congress to 'autofill', so that the Call Num field can be automatically filled?

Most of my books have an ISBN added (or the autofill adds them for me), but many do not have call numbers, and I'm wondering if there is a way to automatically update that field for many records at a time.

[Jon]

Hm, doesn't call number vary between libraries?

Jon
Sonny Software

[sanramon]

I suppose I mean the specific Library of Congress classification number - most libraries use that for their call numbers, right?

Anyway, if the 'autofill' searched the same library, then the call number would be consistent.

Perhaps it may be possible to update call numbers / Library of Congress classification numbers automatically either through the Library of Congress or through a specific library (whichever one a user wishes?).

I suppose for me right now the main question is simply how it might be possible update the 'call number' / 'library of congress number' field automatically for several records at once.

[Jon]

But that has it backwards, I think. The only reason to use the call number for autofill is if you had the call number and nothing else. So you'd have to get the call number from the LOC, then use it to autofill. But if you got the call number from searching within Bookends, this would not be necessary (because you would have imported all the other information already).

I don't know how often someone gets the LOC call number from some third party and then wants to autofill that in Bookends. In my experience, people who get books mostly get them from their own university libraries or Amazon. If people think getting the LOC call number from some source and then want to autofill from the LOC is a common problem, let me know.

Jon
Sonny Software

[sanramon]

I just realized that the Library of Congress Classification is distinct from the Library of Congress Control Number. I'm not interested in the control number, and, if I'm not mistaken, it is the classification that forms the basis for call numbers in most libraries (at least in N.America).

So, the field I've been referring to in this discussion is the Library of Congress Classification (the basis of the 'call number' field in the majority of N. American libraries).

I apologize for any confusion my lack of precision may have caused. I hope this clarifies my question. Thanks again for your help!

[sanramon]

I'm not interested in using the Library of Congress Classification or Call Number fields as the field from which to autofill other fields.

I'm wondering if it is possible to use autofill to add the Library of Congress Classification or Call Number information when it is lacking, as these fields are not affected by autofill.

Have I misunderstood? Please correct me if I am missing the obvious.

[Jon]

Ah, now I understand. Well, I suppose it might be possible that if there was an ISSN/ISBN, Bookends could search Amazon for the details and then the LOC for the LOC Call Number. Is this something others want, too? Getting the LOC Call Number?

Jon
Sonny Software

[sanramon]

After this conversation, I think I would actually be more interested in seeing the Library of Congress Classification field updated during an 'autofill from the internet', rather than the call number field.