1. Z39 Intro DigiTool Version 3.0

2. Z39 Intro 2 Overview What is z39.50? “A network protocol which specifies rules that allow searching of a range of different databases and retrieval of records via one user interface.”

3. Z39 Intro 3 Introduction The Information retrieval service definition describes as activity between two applications: 1. an initiating application, the client and a responding application, the server. 2. The server is associated with one or more databases.

4. Z39 Intro 4 Introduction Communication between the client and the server is carried out by the z39.50 protocol. The specifications are logically divided into procedures pertaining to the client and procedures pertaining to the server. The portions of the client and server that carry out the z39.50 protocol procedures are referred to respectively as the z39.50 origin and the z39.50 target.

5. Z39 Intro 5 What’s so important about z39.50? Powerful searching Local familiar user interface Retrieves structured data Facilitates distributed applications

6. Z39 Intro 6 DigiTool and z39.50 DigiTool provides two types of z39.50 services: 1. z39.50 server and 2. z39.50 gate

7. Z39 Intro 7 DigiTool and z39.50 The z39.50 server: Allows remote z39.50 clients to interrogate the institution’s database and currently supports the z39.50-1995 (version 3) protocol, allowing for:

8. Z39 Intro 8 DigiTool and z39.50 Search (FIND) of keywords in word lists (user- defined) Browse of indexes Expand of specific records from a retrieved set. Print/Save options.

9. Z39 Intro 9 DigiTool and z39.50 Important : The 39.50 protocol is based on USMARC, which means that non- USMARC institutions must map their catalogs to USMARC if a z39.50 server is to be implemented.

10. Z39 Intro 10 DigiTool and z39.50 The z39.50 gate: Handles the translation between the DigiTool system and z39 servers outside the system. This allows users to interrogate remote z39.50 compliant databases from the following modules:

11. Z39 Intro 11 DigiTool and z39.50 Meditor 1.External search 2.Browse of External Headings

12. Z39 Intro 12 www.exlibrisgroup.com Thank you!