Hi Teague,

It sounds like you want to query an API given some kind of handle (e.g.,
DOI) or perhaps a URL to the paper itself?

For the former instance, we use the CrossRef API if the submitter knows the
DOI of the related journal article. Though in terms of sending it just a
URL to the paper, I don't know if it or other API services can handle that.
CrossRef returns Title, Authors, and a citation.

As others have suggested, there are other APIs you might use, depending on
your needs. MIT provides a handy list of other scholarly publication APIs
you might connect to: http://libguides.mit.edu/apis

Hope that's helpful,

drew

On Mon, Apr 25, 2016 at 10:08 AM, Park, Sarah <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Teague,
>
> If you want to auto-populated a form from URL, see this PPT file.
>
> Some years ago, I created an auto-populated ILL using JavaScript form from
> SerialsSolutions API (because I didn't have access to a PHP server).
>
> http://www.nwmissouri.edu/library/brickandclick/Presentations2012/SarahPark.pptx
>
> The PPT includes a sample JavaScript code. The actual working page is at
> http://www.nwmissouri.edu/library/ill/photocopy.htm
>
> Cheers!
> Sarah
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Matt Bernhardt
> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 8:51 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Form fill from URL
>
> If you're talking about a URL of the form:
>
> example.com/form?title=foo&author=bar
>
> ...which then loads a form with "foo" placed in the "title" field and "bar"
> placed in the "author" field, then yes - this is something that's
> relatively easy to do depending on how you're building the form. Your
> programming language of choice should be able to parse the querystring for
> fields and their associated values. The same language can then define field
> values based on those parsed values. It is then up to the user to make any
> necessary adjustments, and hit the submit button on the form.
>
> Or is your question more about a system that would take a URL of the form:
>
> example.com/form?handle=1721.1/90974
> or
> example.com/form?issn=1234-5678
>
> and then look up that identifier and fill the form with details such as
> author, etc? In that case, then yes - it would depend on the qualify of the
> APIs to which you have access. I've never worked with any, but provided
> they exist (and that you have access), then what you describe is definitely
> possible.
>
> Do either of these describe what you're thinking of? Or did I completely
> miss the mark?
>
> Thanks,
> Matt Bernhardt
> MIT Libraries
>
> On Fri, Apr 22, 2016 at 7:58 PM, Teague Allen <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > Hello collective,
> >
> > I've been given the opportunity to replace a much-detested PDF form
> > used to request cataloging for items by our researchers that are
> > published outside our organization. My hope is to create a web form
> > that will automatically populate with title, author(s), and
> > appropriate citation information if a URL/URI is entered. I imagine
> > this can by done with a citation manager API, but would love to hear
> > from someone who's already gotten beyond imagination.
> >
> > Any insight is very much appreciated,
> >
> > Teague Allen
> > Librarian III (Metadata)
> > RAND  Knowledge Services
> >
>