On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 3:22 PM, Eric Lease Morgan <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > On Jun 3, 2011, at 3:19 PM, Reese, Terry wrote: > > >> Does Z39.50 support write operations? > > > > Yes, but only if the server you are using supports the z39.50 extended > attributes. However, few commercial ILS systems seem to support it by > default. > > Well, you learn something new everyday. Thank you. Does anybody know > whether or not Ex Libris's Alelph has such support? > Except for Louis XVIII... There's a registry of Z39.50 implementations at http://www.loc.gov/z3950/agency/register/entries.html , which lists Aleph as supporting the Database Update Extended Service (see Z39.50 2003<http://www.loc.gov/z3950/agency/Z39-50-2003.pdf>, pp. 141-145 and pp. 255-256. You can also ask the server itself, using the "Explain" service. Sometimes the server may even tell the truth. One thing to be wary of is that a lot of vendors do not put much effort into their Z39.50 implementations in case customers try to escape; there may be some arbitrary limitations or holdings related issue put in to make sure you remember who's boss. Simon