Implementing Z39.50 search/retrieval using VBZoom ActiveX control within Access

[Fred Boer]

Hello:

Most library programs offer the ability to search the internet for
cataloguing data from libraries around the world. The "Z39.50" protocol
exists to allow for searching/retrieval of cataloguing information. I have
been researching a way to integrate this into my library application - and I
need help.

I have found something called VBZoom. Information about VBZoom is available
here: http://vb-zoom.sourceforge.net/

VBZoom is ".a collection of ActiveX COMponents, written in Visual Basic,
which implement the ZOOM 1.2 (Z39.50 Object-Orientation Model) Abstract API.
The current VB ZOOM is a wrapper for the YAZ Toolkit from Index Data, plus a
helper component for doing MARC-8 to Unicode character conversions."

The documentation describes various objects with methods and properties. I
believe that this might provide the capabilities I am looking for, but I
have no idea how it can be implemented. I have never used an External
DLL/COM/ActiveX component. I've seen terms such as instantiation, setting
objects, etc., and I've started to read in the ADH about Automation and
DLLs, but, frankly, I am finding it rather intimidating!

I know it is a lot to ask, but I would be grateful for any help in
understanding how to use VBZoom within my application. I'm afraid I will be
starting from scratch in this area...

Thanks!
Fred Boer

 

[Fred Boer]

Ha! I've actually managed to create a simple search example that works from
within Access using VBZoom! Whoo hoo! Oh yeah, oh yeah... who's the man? If
I were a soccer (football) player, I'd rip off my shirt and fall to my
knees! But I don't want to scare the women and children, and cause the hens
to stop laying...

Of course, when you have to spend 4 hours to determine that "databasename"
is *not* the same as "databaseName"...

Cheers!
Fred Boer

 

[lfinsto1]

Hello Fred,

[...] The "Z39.50" protocol
exists to allow for searching/retrieval of cataloguing information. I have
been researching a way to integrate this into my library application - and I
need help.

I'm facing a similar problem, and I was wondering how you're getting
on. Maybe we can help each other. I'm working on a client application
that reads data from a Z39.50 interface and writes it to my database.
I'm using Microsoft SQL Server 2003 for the database and Visual C++
..NET for the application. For connecting with the Z39.50, I'm using
Index Data's YAZ package (http://www.indexdata.com/), which implements
the ZOOM API (http://zoom.z3950.org/).

My impression so far is that using the Z30.50 interface is extremely
complex, and while there's a lot of information available, it's hard to
find what one is specifically looking for. It seems especially hard to
find introductory material. The YAZ documentation is quite good, but
doesn't have many examples. They do supply sample applications,
though.

Please contact me if you're interested in discussing the problem. I'm
afraid it may be off-topic for this list, though.

Thanks,

Laurence Finston

 

[Fred Boer]

Dear Laurence:

I'd be happy to discuss this with you! At this point, I have learned how to
use VBZoom from within Access to retrieve cataloguing information from the
Library of Congress. There is another Z39.50 client/program that you may be
interested in as well, called MARCEdit. I am currently looking through
documentation for MARC (and the various other formats) record information,
trying to puzzle out the easiest way to extract specific parts of the
cataloguing record.

If you would care to take the discussion off-line, email me at the address
used for this post (removing the munging, of course!)

Cheers!
Fred

Hello Fred,

[...] The "Z39.50" protocol
exists to allow for searching/retrieval of cataloguing information. I
have
been researching a way to integrate this into my library application -
and I
need help.

I'm facing a similar problem, and I was wondering how you're getting
on. Maybe we can help each other. I'm working on a client application
that reads data from a Z39.50 interface and writes it to my database.
I'm using Microsoft SQL Server 2003 for the database and Visual C++
.NET for the application. For connecting with the Z39.50, I'm using
Index Data's YAZ package (http://www.indexdata.com/), which implements
the ZOOM API (http://zoom.z3950.org/).

My impression so far is that using the Z30.50 interface is extremely
complex, and while there's a lot of information available, it's hard to
find what one is specifically looking for. It seems especially hard to
find introductory material. The YAZ documentation is quite good, but
doesn't have many examples. They do supply sample applications,
though.

Please contact me if you're interested in discussing the problem. I'm
afraid it may be off-topic for this list, though.

Thanks,

Laurence Finston

I have found something called VBZoom. Information about VBZoom is
available
here: http://vb-zoom.sourceforge.net/

VBZoom is ".a collection of ActiveX COMponents, written in Visual Basic,
which implement the ZOOM 1.2 (Z39.50 Object-Orientation Model) Abstract
API.
The current VB ZOOM is a wrapper for the YAZ Toolkit from Index Data,
plus a
helper component for doing MARC-8 to Unicode character conversions."

The documentation describes various objects with methods and properties.
I
believe that this might provide the capabilities I am looking for, but I
have no idea how it can be implemented. I have never used an External
DLL/COM/ActiveX component. I've seen terms such as instantiation, setting
objects, etc., and I've started to read in the ADH about Automation and
DLLs, but, frankly, I am finding it rather intimidating!

I know it is a lot to ask, but I would be grateful for any help in
understanding how to use VBZoom within my application. I'm afraid I will
be
starting from scratch in this area...

Thanks!
Fred Boer