EBSCOhost

Constructing Embedded URLs with Persistent Linking

Persistent linking allows users to authenticate and call any level of the EBSCOhost databases. Permanent URLs can be constructed to access one or a combination of tasks:

• Remote access authentication URL.
• One URL for both on site and remote access authentication.
• URL which calls a default preconfigured EBSCOhost interface.
• URL which calls a custom configured profile, created in EBSCOadmin.
• URL which calls a search in a specific interface and a specific database or combination of databases.
• URL which calls a specific journal.
• URL which calls specific search parameters.
• URL which calls a specific article.

The URLs have been also referred to as embedded URLs and syntaxed URLs. The URL itself is built with various parameters, used in specific combinations.

Basic EBSCOhost URL

The base URL for access to EBSCOhost is http://search.ebscohost.com/.

The use of this URL will default to authentication by IP address. If the IP address detected is registered with EBSCO, the user will be taken to the service selection page. The organizational name will be displayed on the page, and selections will be given which correspond to the profiles in EBSCOadmin for that organization. If the IP address detected is not registered with EBSCO, the authentication fields for simple ID and password will be shown.

All linked URLs are built using this basic EBSCOhost URL.

Modification of the URL

The basic URL is modified with the login.aspx extension: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?. Modifying parameters will then be added, and connected with an ampersand (&). Some parameters must precede others for the URL to function properly. Generally, the order of precedence is an authentication parameter (such as custid), profile parameter and database parameter.

URL Modifications for Authentication

URL modifications for authentication come before other types of URL modifications. The URL is syntaxed:

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=authcode where authcode equals:

• User ID/Password (simple) - uid
• IP Address - ip
• Patron Files (Customer Coordinated) - custuid&custid=customer EBSCOadmin account
• CPID (Patterned IDs) - cpid&custid=customer EBSCOadmin account
• Referring URL - url
• Shibboleth - shib

EBSCOadmin customer IDs must be included with Patron Files and CPID remote access methods as shown. Multiple methods can be configured, by listing the authcodes in succession, separated by commas. For example:

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,cpid&custid=XXX-123

will use IP authentication first, and if the IP will not authenticate by IP, default to Patterned ID authentication, calling site configuration xxx-123.

Embedding a simple User ID/password in a URL is possible, but should only be used when that URL can be obscured. Placing a URL with ID and password on a public webpage will compromise the user account information.

The embedded user ID and password construction:

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=uid&user=userid&password=password

For more information on remote access options for EBSCOhost, see Remote Access Methods for Online Resources at http://www.more.net/online/remote.html.

For set up of remote access for EBSCOhost, please contact MOREnet Technical Support at techsupp@more.net.

URL Modification for Direct Access to Profiles

Profiles define the interfaces, databases, collections, limiters, search screens and other features end-users see when using EBSCOhost. Profiles are configured in EBSCOadmin.

By default, each EBSCOhost interface has a single profile configured in EBSCOadmin.

Use of the profile parameter will allow users to bypass the Select Service screen, and go directly to the Choose Databases screen.

Profiles can be called with or without authentication modifications.

The URL is syntaxed:

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?profile=profile parameter

Default profile parameters are:

• EBSCOhost Web - ehost
• EBSCOhost Text Only - ehostnojs
• Business Searching Interface - bsi
• Student Research Center - src
• Searchasaurus - sas
• Kids Search - srck5

Profile parameters can be used with authentication parameters. Authentication parameters must come before profile parameters in the URL, and the parameters are connected with an ampersand (&). Example:

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,cpid&custid=XXX-123&profile=ehost

will use IP authentication first, and if the IP will not authenticate by IP, default to Patterned ID authentication. The URL will call the EBSCOhost Web default profile in site configuration xxx-123.

URL Modification for Direct Access to Databases

Use of the database parameter will allow users to bypass the Select Service screen and the Choose Databases screen, and will display a search screen with the database or databases preselected.

Databases must be called in tandem with profile parameters, and can be called with or without authentication modifications.

The URL is syntaxed:

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?profile=profile parameter&defaultdb=short database name

The EBSCOadmin profile called with the profile parameter must have the invoked database included in the profile's database list.

The short database names for databases available through the MOREnet contract are:

• Academic Search Elite - afh
• Alt-HealthWatch - awh
• Business Source Premier - buh
• EBSCO Animals - ani
• Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia - funk
• Health Source: Academic/Nursing Edition - hch
• Health Source: Consumer Edition - hxh
• MasterFILE Premier - f5h
• MAS Ultra: School Edition - ulh
• Military and Government Collection - mth
• Newspaper Source - nfh
• Primary Search - prh
• Regional Business News - bwh

A list of short database names is available at:

http://support.ebscohost.com/CustSupport/Customer/Details.aspx?faq=1255

More than one database can be called using multiple defaultdb parameters, separated by ampersands (&). Example:

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.asp?profile=web&defaultdb=f5h&defaultdb=afh

(This example will give an EBSCOhost Web search screen preselected with MasterFILE Premier and Academic Search Elite.)

URL Modification for Searches, Journals and Articles

Linking to searches, journals and articles is covered in EBSCO's Knowledgebase article What is the correct syntax for an EBSCOhost Persistent Link?, available at:

http://support.ebscohost.com/knowledge_base/detail.php?id=2747

The syntax must include the parameter direct=true& directly after login.aspx?. Authentication parameters immediately follow in the syntax.

Formatted links for completed searches are located in the search results window, from the link Display link to this search.

Formatted links for journals are located within the Publication Details for each journal, available through the Publication Search function.

Formatted links for articles are located within the article citation, under persistent link to this record.