Creating Search Widgets for Electronic Resources

1. Generating code: a. EBSCO: i. Go to the toolkit at http://supportforms.epnet.com/eit/searchboxbuilder/ ii. Select the databases you want to include in the search set iii. Enter the proxy prefix in the authentication box: http://silk.library.umass.edu:2048/login?url= and select “IP address” and “referring url” iv. Follow the remaining steps – box style, title, etc. v. Create search box and copy code from box.

b. CSA: i. Go to http://www.csa.com ii. Select “Quick Link-Administrative Tools” from left column iii. Sign in with UN: umass and PW: umass413 iv. Select “Search Widget” tab v. Select and move database(s) to include in search vi. Enter proxy prefix: http://silk.library.umass.edu:2048/login?url= vii. Select search box style options. Note: recommend increasing “Length of text box” to max. 60 viii. Create search box and copy code from box.

2. Pasting code: a. Code includes javascript, so you can insert it to a system that supports it, such as an html page or a LibGuide. The library content management system and university blogs do not support javascript. b. LibGuide: i. Login to your LibGuide and add a new box=Rich Text/Dynamic Content/Scripts. Give title and create box. ii. Select “Add text” to generate editor and move from “Rich Text Editor” (default) to “Plain Text Editor”. IMPORTANT NOTE: Code seems to get chopped off if added and saved in the Rich Text Editor. iii. Paste widget code into Plain Text Editor and add any explanatory text, such as what databases are included in search. Save changes.

3. Troubleshooting: Barbara and I have seen a space randomly inserted between the proxy prefix and the Ebsco url in the code. This breaks the search, but it can be fixed by removing that space by hand. If you have a trouble with a widget, contact me (Christine Turner) and I’d be happy to work with you to fix it.