Catalog using Arabic scripts

Cataloging

Use Arabic script data for cataloging items in languages that use the script (for example, besides Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Azerbaijani). Use Arabic script data the same way you use other non-Latin script data in the client.

See Work with international records and Guidelines for contributing non-Latin script bibliographic records to WorldCat for details specific to non- Latin scripts. See also general procedures describing how to:

• Search WorldCat
• Create records
• Edit records
• Use constant data
• Save records and search save files
• Report errors in records
• Export records
• Import records

Authorities

Arabic scripts can also be used to add variant name headings to authority records.

Specific tools for using Arabic scripts

• Automatically transliterate existing romanized data (Latin script equivalent) into Arabic script data for Arabic or Persian records: 
  • Use Edit > Transliterate > Arabic [or Persian] to transliterate selected data in a record. 
  • Set an option (for bibliographic records only) in Tools > Options > International to auto-transliterate Arabic and/or Persian WorldCat records when you download them interactively. 
• Toggle alignment for Arabic or Hebrew script data right-to-left or left-to-right using View > Align Right (Default: Right-to-left). 
• Use Unicode formatting characters to control correct display of bidirectional data in Arabic and Hebrew records. 

Other tools to help with non-Latin scripts in general

• MARC-8 character verification (Edit > MARC-8 Characters > Verify) - Verify characters separately from record validation 
• Link/unlink (Edit > Linking Fields > Link [or Unlink]) - Visually link or unlink non-Latin script data fields with equivalent Latin script (romanized) data fields (bibliographic records only) 
• Export options for data fields (Tools > Options > International) - Determine (for bibliographic records only): 
  • Whether to export both equivalent Latin script (romanized) data and non-Latin script data or only one or the other 
  • Position of data if you export both Latin and non-Latin script data 
  • Sort order 
• Export and import using UTF-8 Unicode or MARC-8 character sets. The UTF-8 Unicode option allows you to work with non-MARC-8 characters in the client for your local records (settings for export are in Tools > Options > Export, click Record Characteristics, and settings for import are in File > Import Records, click Record Characteristics). 

Script entry methods

• If your system default language is not Arabic, you can install the Arabic language (in various forms) in Windows. When you install Arabic, Windows provides an input keyboard for entering Arabic script. See more about input methods for languages that use non-Latin scripts. 
• OCLC provides an alternative Arabic script keyboard developed for RLIN21 cataloging software. You can download the Arabic keyboard.
  
  RLIN21 keyboards include characters specific to each script (covering multiple languages that use Arabic script), whereas Microsoft keyboards include script characters specific to a single language.

Character sets supported

The client supports the following basic and extended Arabic character sets defined in MARC 21 Specifications for Record Structure, Character Sets, and Exchange Media for entering data in records and for entering WorldCat search terms.

• 33(hex) [ASCII graphic: 3] = Basic Arabic
• 34(hex) [ASCII graphic: 4] = Extended Arabic

Script identifiers in bibliographic records

The client adds the following data to c of field 066 in Arabic records to indicate the presence of Arabic characters:

• (3 (Basic Arabic) 
• (4 (Extended Arabic) 

Romanized data

See the ALA-LC Romanization Tables for Arabic and for Persian on the Library of Congress website.

Transliterate selected fields in a record

1. Display a bibliographic, authority, or constant data record containing romanized Arabic or Persian data.
2. Place the cursor in a field you want to transliterate into Arabic or Persian script.
   Or
   Select multiple fields containing romanized data. If you select parts of fields, the client transliterates the entire field(s).
3. When you are finished, perform one of the following actions:
   • Click Edit > Transliterate > Arabic or press <Alt><E><T><A>.
   • Click Edit > Transliterate > Persian or press <Alt><E><T><P>.
   • Right-click the field and then click one of the following on the pop-up menu:
     • Transliterate > Arabic
     • Transliterate > Persian

 Note: Although you can transliterate into Arabic or Persian while working offline (you do not need to be logged on to the OCLC system), your workstation must have an Internet connection.

Auto-transliterate WorldCat records retrieved interactively (bibliographic records only)

1. Navigate to Tools > Options or press <Alt><T><O>.
2. Click the International tab.
3. Select one of the following check boxes:
   • Auto-transliterate Arabic fields
   • Auto-transliterate Persian fields
    Note: This option works for bibliographic records that have the language code ara or per but no field 066.
4. (Optional) Select fields to auto-transliterate:
   1. In the International window, select one of the following check boxes:
      • Auto-transliterate Arabic fields
      • Auto-transliterate Persian fields
   2. Click Choose Fields to open the Choose Fields to Auto-Transliterate window.
   3. Click to select or deselect check boxes next to fields 1XX through 8XX (X = any valid tag number). By default, Fields 1XX through 8XX are selected.
   4. Click OK to save your settings or Cancel to cancel changes. You are returned to the International window. 
5. When you are finished, perform one of the following actions:
   • Click Close or press <Enter> to apply the settings and close the window.
   • Click Apply to apply the settings without closing the window.
   • Click Cancel to cancel changes you made.
    Note: When you retrieve and display auto-transliterated WorldCat records, the client marks the auto-transliterated fields with the symbol .

Example

To control the display of the data 742[1981 or 1982] that you enter in field 260 c of a bibliographic record that is preceded and followed by Arabic script data:

1. Click to locate the cursor in field 260 c.
2. Right-click in the field, click Insert Unicode Control Character in the pop-up menu, and then click LRE Start of Left-to-Right Embedding. 
3. Enter the data string, 742[1981 or 1982], immediately following the character. 
4. Without moving the cursor, right-click in the field again. In the pop-up menu, click Insert Unicode Control Character and then click PDF Pop Directional Formatting.

Notes on searching

• Use word or phrase search indexes and word or phrase browse indexes.
• Word searches find the data string you enter anywhere in the indexed field. Phrase searches find the data string starting with the first character in a field or subfield and including each character in exact order. Browsing scans an index for the closest match to the character string followed by any other data.
• If you use qualifiers to limit searches, enter them using Latin script.
• Do not use derived searching.
• Do not use truncation (asterisk (*) at the end of a search term). You can use browsing for automatic truncation (enter only as many characters as needed for a match without using an asterisk at the end).
• If you want to retrieve all Arabic script records or see sample records, use the "character sets present" search index (label vp:) with the assigned code ara. To find all Arabic script records, enter vp:ara as a Command Line Search only.

 Note: If a search for all Arabic script records alone retrieves too many WorldCat records (limit 1,500 records), you must limit the search and try again (e.g., vp:ara/1991-2; vp:ara and la:per; etc.).

See general procedures and search techniques for searching WorldCat.

Arabic character indexing specifics

The following table shows Arabic characters grouped and indexed together as if they are the same character (the characters are "normalized").

Enter any character of a group of normalized characters in a search and retrieve results for all characters in the group.

Images and names of characters indexed the same are in columns 3 and 4, opposite the character with which they are grouped/indexed.

Character	Character name	Other characters indexed the same
		Character	Character name
ا	'alif		double 'alif with hamza above
		آ	'alif with madda above
		أ	'alif with hamza above
		إ	'alif with hamza below
		ٱ	'alif wasla
		ٲ	'alif with wavy hamza above
		ٳ	'alif with wavy hamza below
ت	taa'	ة	taa' marbuta
		ټ	taa' with ring
		ٽ	taa' with three dots above
ح	Haa'	ځ	Haa' with hamza above
		ڂ	Haa' with two dots vertical above
		څ	Haa' with three dots above
د	daal	ډ	daal with ring
		ڊ	daal with dot below
		ڋ	daal with dot below and small Taa'
		ڏ	daal with three dots above downwards
		ڐ	daal with four dots above
ر	raa'	ڒ	raa' with small v
		ړ	raa' with ring
		ڔ	raa' with dot below
		ڕ	raa' with small v below
		ږ	raa' with dot above and below
		ڗ	raa' with two dots above
		ڙ	raa' with four dots above
س	siin	ښ	siin with dot below and dot above
		ڛ	siin with three dots below
ش	shiin	ڜ	shiin with three dots below and three dots above
			shiin with dot below
ص	Saad	ڝ	Saad with two dots below
		ڞ	Saad with three dots above
ض	Daad		Daad with dot below
غ	ghayn		ghayn with dot below
ط	Taa'	ڟ	Taa' with three dots above
ع	ayn	ڠ	ayn with three dots above
ف	faa'	ڡ	dotless faa'
		ڢ	faa' with dot moved below
		ڣ	faa' with dot below
		ڥ	faa' with three dots below
ق	qaaf	ڧ	qaaf with dot above
		ڨ	qaaf with three dots above
ك	kaaf	ڪ	swash kaaf
		ګ	kaaf with ring
		ڬ	kaaf with dot above
		ڮ	kaaf with three dots below
گ	gaf	ڰ	gaf with ring
		ڲ	gaf with two dots below
		ڴ	gaf with three dots above
ل	laam	ڵ	laam with small v
		ڶ	laam with dot above
		ڷ	laam with three dots above
			laam with three dots below
ن	nuum	ڼ	nuun with ring
		ڽ	nuun with three dots above
			nuun with dot below
		ں	nuun ghunna
ه	haa'	ھ	haa' doachashmee
		ۀ	haa' with hamza above
و	waaw	ؤ	waaw with hamza above
		ۊ	waaw with two dots above
		ۄ	waaw with ring
ي	yaa'	ئ	yaa' with hamza above
		ى	'alif maksura
		ۍ	yaa' with tail
		ێ	yaa' with small v
		ے	yaa' barree
		ۓ	yaa' barree with hamza above
ۆ	ie	ۅ	kirgiz oe