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