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Version: 3.1.X

Database Specific Configuration

While the Global Configuration sets the look and feel, the behavior of each specific catalog (e.g., Books, Articles) is defined inside its own directory.

Location: /bases/[database_name]/opac/[lang]/ Example: /bases/marc/opac/en/ (English configuration for MARC database).

Localization

Because these files are inside language folders (en, es, pt), you must replicate your changes across all languages you support. Otherwise, a facet created in English will not appear for a user browsing in Portuguese.

1. The Main Definition (.def)​

File: [db].def (e.g., marc.def)

This file tells the OPAC how to interpret the database structure.

  • Link: Specifies the database name.
  • Descriptores: The name of the field used for subjects (used in "Related Terms").
  • Pft: The default display format.

2. Advanced Search Form (_avanzada.tab)​

File: [db]_avanzada.tab (e.g., marc_avanzada.tab)

This file builds the rows of the Advanced Search page. Each line creates a search input with a label and maps it to a database field.

Syntax:

Label|Tag|Prefix

  • Label: Text displayed to the user (e.g., "Title").
  • Tag: The FDT tag number (e.g., 245).
  • Prefix: The FST prefix used in the index (e.g., TI_).

Example:

Title|245|TI_
Author|100|AU_
Subject|650|SU_
ISBN|020|IS_

3. Search Indexes Dropdown (.ix)​

File: [db].ix (e.g., marc.ix)

This controls the "Search in" dropdown menu found on the Home Page and simple search bar. It allows users to limit their keyword search to a specific index (e.g., "Search for 'Einstein' in Authors only").

Syntax:

Label|Prefix|Description_Column_Header

  • Label: The option name in the dropdown (e.g., "Authors").
  • Prefix: The FST prefix (e.g., AU_).
  • Description: Used if the user opens the dictionary browser.

4. Facets Configuration (_facetas.dat)​

File: [db]_facetas.dat (e.g., marc_facetas.dat)

Facets are the side filters that appear after a search (e.g., "Refine by Year").

Syntax:

Tag|Label

  • Tag: The field tag to aggregate.
  • Label: The title of the facet box.

Requirements for Facets:

  1. The field MUST be indexed in the FST.
  2. The indexing technique should ideally be Line (0) or Term (2). If you use Word (4), the facet will split names (e.g., "Steve" and "Jobs" will be separate facets).
  3. Prefix: The system assumes the prefix defined in the configuration.

5. Display Formats (_formatos.dat)​

File: [db]_formatos.dat

Defines the options in the "Export/View" menu when viewing a record.

Syntax:

PFT_Filename|Label|Output_Type

  • PFT_Filename: Name of the .pft file in the pfts/[lang]/ folder.
  • Label: Text shown in the menu (e.g., "MARC Tags").
  • Output_Type: usually H (HTML) or T (Text).