© F. Dell'Orso, Bibliography Formatting Software: An Evaluation Template
Last update: May, 6, 2004


 3.6. Import

Import

1 Different ways :
    1. direct copy (write from database to database)
    2. batch import
      a) with reformatting filters
         a1) ready-made
         a2) un/modifiable
         a3) user can define more
    3. can capture WWW pages
    4. can download data ready formatted in its own proprietary format from specific data sources
   5. other

Library Master Procite EndNote Reference Manager Papyrus
LM: 1 merge a subset; 2 a) a1) a2) a3) Pr: 1 copy and drag-and-drop; 2, a) a1) a2) modifiable, requires distinct BiblioLink procedure; a3); 3; 4 En: 1 copy and drag-and-drop 2, a) a1) a2) modifiable a3); 4 ; 5 can import from EndNote's XML  basic format and from Traveling library included in a MS-WORD document, e.g.: once anchored to a MS-WORD document a bibliographic record is embedded in it, if one handles such a document without the db EndNote records he can import them into a db, thus recreating them except for the Abstract, Notes and the six Custom fields which are never embedded RM: 1; 2, a) a1) a2) modify and save under different name a3); 4 Papyrus: 1 (drag and drop from another Papyrus 8 database); 2 a) a1) a2) modifiable a3); 4

2 Delimited/Tabbed stuctured input ASCII text file
    1. fixed/variable number of fields
    2. fixed/variable fields position in different RTs
    3. RT can be changed
    4. multiple value fields allowed
    5. fields also on different lines
    6. can define field separator
    7. can replace delimiter if embedded in field
    8. can define end of record

LM: 1 variable; 2 variable; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8 Pr: 1 fixed or variable ( RT; RN; plus all 45 fields or only workform related); 2 fixed; 3 no, must be present as the first field or last used in data entry be assumed by default; 4 yes, if separated by // / or ; in name field; 5 yes (Custom/Modify option); 6; 7; 8 En: CDF: only one ready-made option for ProCite that cannot be altered;
Tabbed: 1 variable; 2 variable; 3; 4

Tab delimited: special first line for reference type and second with fields names labels according to receiving EndNote RT; no fixed position required; recognizes multiple authors

RM: officially not available

You can (try to) create your own capture definition to import comma delimited records. None is provided. Fully undocumented. Not simple at all: use only one destination field "Source" with subfields and its parsing option. Assume you succeed, the answers would be : 1 and 2 variable according to the specified RT; 3 more than one can be defined; 4 yes; 5; 6; 7 ; 8

Papyrus: 1 and 2 variable according to the receiving RT; 3; 4 (all multiple defined fields, e.g.: names, publishers, kw ...); 5; 6

see shipped tab-delimited plug-in filter; no built-in CDF format: user must create it, not obvious: producer will assist for no charge

3 Can import alpha/numeric data from a spreadsheet

LM: yes as long as it is comma/tab delim. structured Pr: yes as long as it is comma/tab delim. structured En: yes as long as tab delimited or tagged structured, see above 6.2 RM: see above 6.2

as long as it is comma delimeted structured

Papyrus: yes as long as it is comma/tab delim. structured

4 Can import proprietary format files

LM: normally only modifiable dedicated filters; BookWhere? -Z39.50 client search tool- can directly write data to an LM database Pr: normally only modifiable dedicated filters, but can automatically convert Reference Manager and EndNote databases; BookWhere?; several databases can directly write data to a Pr database; or it directly reads downloaded file from host databases En: yes, e.g.: built-in filters: tab delimited, its own XML all unmodifiable;  EndNote, Refer/BibIX, Reference Manager  ProCite tagged (RIS)modifiable ; ProCite unmodifiable CDF; Bookends: export as ProCite, ISI's Web of Science; Ref-11, NoteBookII Plus & NoteBuilder, Citation 6, Papyrus 6-7, BibTex  + normally modifiable dedicated filters; directly reads downloaded file from several different hosts RM: normally only modifiable dedicated filters, but can automatically convert ProCite and EndNote files; BookWhere?, ISI Current Contents, ISI Web of Science can directly write data to an RM database; directly reads downloaded file from several different hosts Papyrus: normally only modifiable dedicated filters; automatic import from another Papyrus db; directly reads downloaded file from several different hosts

5 Can import ISO 2709 format

LM: no Pr: no En: no RM: no Papyrus: no

6 Can import MARC format file

LM: one has to create its own filter for a tagged MARC format (without leader and directory and each field on a different line) , alternatively, download records through Z39.50 online connection and MARC tagged modifiable filters, e.g. via the companion software Bookwhere? Pr: one has to create its own filter for a tagged MARC format (without leader and directory and each field on a different line), alternatively, download records through Z39.50 online connection and MARC tagged modifiable filters (limited options to handle subfields in names) En: one has to create its own filter for a tagged MARC format (without leader and directory, each field on a different line), then a series of specific options for handling MARC tagged records is provided (e.g. subfields to a limited extent ...); alternatively download records through Z39.50 online connection and tagged MARC filters, already made and modifiable (limited options to handle subfields in names) RM: filters for tagged USMARC are available -others can be created, e.g. for UNIMARC as well- to download and import records through Z39.50 online connection

t is more than difficult to deal with embedded subfield codes as the whole import procedure is poorly documented as far as complex issues are concerned

Papyrus: not ready-made: one has to create its own for a tagged MARC format (without leader and directory and each field on a different line)

7 Tagged structured input ASCII text file, reformatting:
   1. condition check
   2. change RT
   3. merge fields
   4. delete/discard fields
   5. field content parsing
   6. add field content, text strings, punctuation 
   7. tolerate fields in variable position
   8. upper/lower case conversion
   9. replace text

LM: 1 field mapping depending on RT; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9;

many more fexible and powerful options are available

Pr: 1 only: "when using workform [X], do not transfer field(s) ..." (field mapping depending on RT); 2; 3; 4; 5; 7; 8; 9 En: 2; 3; 4; 5; 6 no; 7; 8 (any field); 9 only omitting strings for each single field RM: 1 to replace text; 2; 3; 4; 5 (7 predefined patterns: author, periodical, date etc.: Source field lets indicate delimiters, also commas and tabs); 6 (4 keywords + date stamping --settings not at the filter level but in the import window); 7; 8 (also Casing Term Dictionary); 9; also "Periodical term Dictionary" for terms without periods in abbreviated titles that are not abbreviated words Papyrus: 2; 3; 4; 5; 6 (kw + internal date stamping)

8 Operability
    1. read range of records rather than all
    2. read one record at the time, confirm y/n
    3. handle duplicates
    4. preview
    5. log file

LM: (view errors at the end of the process) Pr: 3; 5 En: 3; 5 for Z39.50 connection downloaded records RM: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5 Papyrus: 2; 3; 4; 5

also: set level of fussinness; debugging window; retain/discard, de-capitalize incoming keywords; renumber incoming records; rejected items file

9 Import through Z39.50 online connection
    1. can modify import filters

LM: n.a. (needs external software BookWhereš with automatic SendTo LM feature) Pr: yes (via incorporated subset of BookWhereš client); yes En: yes (via incorporated proprietary toolkit, Yaz based); yes RM: yes (via incorporated subset of BookWhereš client); yes Papyrus: n.a.



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© F. Dell'Orso, Bibliography Formatting Software: An Evaluation Template
Last update: May, 6, 2004
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