Locate in WorldCat with OpenURL resolver Problem

dmwalk · December 16, 2008

I get most of my data from worldcat.org. The ISBN data usually has two numbers, like this: 084235266X 9780842352666. In preferences, I have set my OpenURL resolver as http://worldcatlibraries.org/registry/gateway. When I hit the Locate button for the above record the sent url resolves to http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/isbn/084235266X+9780842352666 which has both numbers and leads to a page not found. If I manually remove one of the numbers, then the correct Worldcat page is found. Is there any work around for this, other then editing the ISBN field or is this a bug in the Locate function?

7ce47a3d-f356-4adf-b34a-6b820d944457 · May 20, 2009

I see exactly the same problem - zotero v2.0b4

dstillman · May 20, 2009

We could adjust it to parse the field and send only one. (Which would be better? Do all resolvers support 13-character versions of legacy ISBNs?)

The underlying problem (two identifiers in one field) could be dealt with by more advanced identifier support, which has been discussed elsewhere in the forums, but in this case we might be able to get away with just dropping incoming 10-character ISBNs when the ISBN-13 is available.

7ce47a3d-f356-4adf-b34a-6b820d944457 · May 20, 2009

I can't say which would be better in general, for worldcat either ISBN will work.