# Almar · [](https://travis-ci.org/scriptotek/almar)
[](https://codecov.io/gh/scriptotek/almar)
[](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/almar)
Almar (formerly Lokar) is a script for batch editing and removing controlled
classification and subject heading fields (084/648/650/651/655) in bibliographic
records in Alma using the Alma APIs. Tested with Python 2.7 and Python 3.5+.
It will use an SRU service to search for records, fetch and modify the MARCXML
records and use the Alma Bibs API to write the modified records back to Alma.
The script will only work with fields having a vocabulary code defined in `$2`.
Since the Alma SRU service does not provide search indexes for specific
vocabularies, almar instead starts by searching using the `alma.subjects` + the
`alma.authority_vocabulary` indices. This returns all records having a subject
field A with the given term and a subject field B with the given vocabulary
code, but where A is not necessarily equal to B, so almar filters the result
list to find the records where A is actually the same as B.
[](https://asciinema.org/a/Bf4E5NEoMmcMmsw2Z9Mxc1DNi)
## Installation and configuration
1. Run `pip install -e .` to install `almar` and its dependencies.
2. Create a configuration file. Almar will first look for `almar.yml` in the
current directory, then for `lokar.yml` (legacy) and finally for `.almar.yml`
in your home directory.
Here's a minimal configuration file to start with:
```
---
default_vocabulary: INSERT MARC VOCABULARY CODE HERE
vocabularies:
- marc_code: INSERT MARC VOCABULARY CODE HERE
default_env: prod
env:
- name: prod
api_key: INSERT API KEY HERE
api_region: eu
sru_url: INSERT SRU URL HERE
```
1. Replace `INSERT MARC VOCABULARY CODE HERE` with the vocabulary code of
your vocabulary (the `$2` value). The script uses this value as a filter,
to ensure it only edits subject fields from the specified vocabulary.
2. Replace `INSERT API KEY HERE` with the API key of your Alma instance. If
you'r connected to a network zone, you should probably use a network zone key.
Otherwise the edits will be stored as local edits in the institution zone.
3. Optionally: Change api_region to 'na' (North America) or 'ap' (Asia Pacific).
4. Replace `INSERT SRU URL HERE` with the URL to your SRU endpoint. Again: use
the network zone endpoint if you're connected to a network zone. For Bibsys
institutions, use `https://bibsys-k.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/sru/47BIBSYS_NETWORK`
Note: In the file above, we've configured a single Alma environment called "prod".
It's possible to add multiple environments (for instance a sandbox and a
production environment) and switch between them using the `-e` command line option.
Here's an example:
```
---
default_vocabulary: noubomn
vocabularies:
- marc_code: noubomn
id_service: http://data.ub.uio.no/microservices/authorize.php?vocabulary=realfagstermer&term={term}&tag={tag}
default_env: nz_prod
env:
- name: nz_sandbox
api_key: API KEY HERE
api_region: eu
sru_url: https://sandbox-eu.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/sru/47BIBSYS_NETWORK
- name: nz_prod
api_key: API KEY HERE
api_region: eu
sru_url: https://bibsys-k.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/sru/47BIBSYS_NETWORK
```
For all configuration options, see
[configuration options](https://github.com/scriptotek/lokar/wiki/Configuration-options).
## Usage
Before using the tool, make sure you have set the vocabulary code (`vocabulary.marc_code`)
for the vocabulary you want to work with in the configuration file.
The tool will only make changes to fields having a `$2` value that matches
the `vocabulary.marc_code` code set in your configuration file.
Getting help:
* `almar -h` to show a list of command and general command line options
* `almar replace -h` to show help for the "replace" subcommand
### Replace a subject heading
To replace "Term" with "New term" in 650 fields:
almar replace '650 Term' 'New term'
or, since 650 is defined as the default field, you can also use the shorthand:
almar replace 'Term' 'New term'
To work with any other field than the 650 field, the field number must be explicit:
almar replace '655 Term' 'New term'`
Supported fields are 084, 648, 650, 651 and 655.
### Test things first with dry run
To see the changes made to each catalog record, add the `--diffs` flag. Combined
with the `--dry_run` flag (or `-d`), you will see the changes that would be made
to the records without actually touching any records:
almar replace --diffs --dry_run 'Term' 'New term'
This way, you can easily get a feel for how the tool works.
### Move a subject to another MARC tag
To move a subject heading from 650 to 651:
almar replace '650 Term' '651 Term'
or you can use the shorthand
almar replace '650 Term' '651'
if the term itself is the same. You can also move and change a heading in
one operation:
almar replace '650 Term' '651 New term'
### Remove a subject heading
To remove all 650 fields having either `$a Term` or `$x Term`:
almar remove '650 Term'
or, since 650 is the default field, the shorthand:
almar remove 'Term'
### List documents
If you just want a list of documents without making any changes, use `almar list`:
almar list '650 Term'
Optionally with titles:
almar list '650 Term' --titles
### More complex edits
For more complex edits, such as replacing two subject headings with one,
use the `--rem` and `--add` options to remove and add subject headings.
For instance, to replace `Physics` AND `History` (655) with a single subject `History of physics`:
almar --rem 'Physics' --rem '655 History' --add 'History of physics'
Note that only records having *all* of the two subjects to be removed (the `--rem` subjects) will be modified.
Any number of `--rem` and `--add` options is supported.
### Interactive editing
If you need to split a concept into two or more concepts, you can use the
interactive mode.
Example: to replace "Kretser" with "Integrerte kretser"
on some documents, but with "Elektriske kretser" on other, run:
almar interactive 'Kretser' 'Integrerte kretser' 'Elektriske kretser'
For each record, Almar will print the title and subject headings and ask you
which of the two headings to include on the record. Use the arrow keys and space
to check one or the other, both or none of the headings, then press Enter to
confirm the selection and save the record.
### Working with a custom document set
By default, `almar` will check all the documents returned from the following
CQL query: `alma.subjects = "{term}" AND alma.authority_vocabulary = "{vocabulary}"`,
but you can use the `--cql` argument to specify a different query if you only
want to work with a subset of the documents. For instance,
lokar --cql 'alma.all_for_ui = "999707921404702201"' --diffs replace 'Some subject' 'Some other subject'
The variables `{term}` and `{vocabulary}` can be used in the query string.
## Notes
* For terms consisting of more than one word, you must add quotation marks (single or double)
around the term, as in the examples above. For single word terms, this is optional.
* In search, the first letter is case insensitive. If you search for "old term", both
"old term" and "Old term" will be replaced (but not "old Term").
## Identifiers
Identifiers (`$0`) are added/updated if you configure a
[ID lookup service URL](https://github.com/scriptotek/almar/wiki/Authority-ID-lookup-service)
(`id_service`) in your configuration file. The service should accept
a GET request with the parameters `vocabulary`, `term` and `tag` and return the
identifier of the matched concept as a JSON object. See
[this page](https://github.com/scriptotek/almar/wiki/Authority-ID-lookup-service)
for more details.
For an example service using [Skosmos](https://github.com/NatLibFi/Skosmos), see
[code](https://github.com/scriptotek/data.ub.uio.no/blob/v2/www/default/microservices/authorize.php)
and [demo](https://data.ub.uio.no/microservices/authorize.php?vocabulary=realfagstermer&term=Diagrambasert%20resonnering&tag=650).
## Limited support for subject strings
Four kinds of string operations are currently supported:
* `almar remove 'Aaa : Bbb'` deletes occurances of `$a Aaa $x Bbb`
* `almar replace 'Aaa : Bbb' 'Ccc : Ddd'` replaces `$a Aaa $x Bbb` with `$a Ccc $x Ddd`
* `almar replace 'Aaa : Bbb' 'Ccc'` replaces `$a Aaa $x Bbb` with `$a Ccc` (replacing subfield `$a` and removing subfield `$x`)
* `almar replace 'Aaa' 'Bbb : Ccc'` replaces `$a Aaa` with `$a Bbb $x $Ccc` (replacing subfield `$a` and adding subfield `$x`)
Note: A term is only recognized as a string if there is space before and after colon (` : `).
## More complex replacements
To make more complex replacements, we can use the advanced MARC syntax, where
each argument is a complete MARC field using double `$`s as subfield delimiters.
Let's start by listing documents having the subject "Advanced Composition Explorer"
in our default vocabulary using the simple syntax:
almar list 'Advanced Composition Explorer'
To get the same list using the advanced syntax, we would write:
almar list '650 #7 $$a Advanced Composition Explorer $$2 noubomn'
Notice that the quotation encapsulates the entire MARC field. And that we have explicitly
specified the vocabulary. This means we can make inter-vocabulary replacements.
To move the term to the "bare" vocabulary:
almar replace '650 #7 $$a Advanced Composition Explorer $$2 noubomn' '610 27 $$a The Advanced Composition Explorer $$2 noubomn'
We also changed the Marc tag and the field indicators in the same process.
We could also include more subfields in the process:
almar replace '650 #7 $$a Advanced Composition Explorer $$2 noubomn' '610 27 $$a The Advanced Composition Explorer $$2 noubomn $$0 (NO-TrBIB)99023187'
Note that unlike simple search and replace, the order of the subfields does not matter when matching.
Extra subfields do matter, however, except for `$0` and `$9`. To match any value (including no value)
for some subfield, use the value `{ANY_VALUE}`. Example:
almar list --subjects '650 #7 $$a Sekvenseringsmetoder $$x {ANY_VALUE} $$2 noubomn'
## Using it as a Python library
```python
from almar import SruClient, Alma
api_region = 'eu'
api_key = 'SECRET'
sru_url = 'https://sandbox-eu.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/sru/47BIBSYS_NETWORK'
sru = SruClient(sru_url)
alma = Alma(api_region, api_key)
query = 'alma.authority_vocabulary="noubomn"'
for record in sru.search(query):
for subject in record.subjects(vocabulary='noubomn'):
if not subject.find('subfield[@code="0"]'):
sa = subject.findtext('subfield[@code="a"]')
sx = subject.findtext('subfield[@code="x"]')
```
## Development
To run tests:
pip install -r test-requirements.txt
py.test