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OCLC Support

Pass to Relais

Learn how requests from patrons are sent to Relais ILL via email using Pass to Relais.

Requests from patrons can be sent to Relais via email using Pass to Relais. 

  • The customer formats patron requests into a text based email using the labels defined below.  These labels are taken from the existing generic script format with additional labels added for patron information. 
  • Each request is sent in a separate text based email.
  • Emails are sent to a predefined email address that is dedicated for this purpose.
  • Emails coming into this address are read via the ILL Message Handler.  Instructions are provided below on how to configure the ILL Message Handler to accept Pass to Relais requests.  
  • The Subject of the email must contain “ILL Request:” It may include an optional request number.  For example, “ILL Request:” or “ILL Request: 123456789”.  The value after ILL Request:  is stored as the External Number field in Relais. External Number is a searchable field. 
  • The data included in the email is used to create a new patron request in Relais.
  • If a patron record does not already exist, the patron information provided in the email is used to created a skeletal patron record. 
  • No patron data in the email is used to update an existing patron record.
  • Each tag must start on a new line.

Label                     

Database Field

Notes

SER:

service_type

Mandatory.

Possible values:

  • LOAN
  • COPY
  • PHOTOCOPY

PUB:

publication_type

Possible values

  • BOOK
  • JOURNAL
  • CONFERENCE
  • BOOK CHAPTER

If a value is not provided, then a default value of Journal is used.  

TIT:

title

Mandatory.

AUT:      

author

 

EDN:      

edition

 

P/M:      

publisher            

 

P/L:      

publication_place

 

DAT:

publication_date

Look for a year and store in Publication_Year.

SBN:

isbn

 

BN2: 

isbn_2

 

SMN:

ismn

 

CNO:

call_number

 

RPT:       

series_title

 

LCN:

bibliography_num

Bibliography = “3”     (LCCN).

OCL:

system_number

System_Source = “O”   (OCLC Number).

NUM:

add_nums_letters

 

SRC:

info_source

 

ART:

article_title

 

ARA:

article_author

 

VOL:      

volume

 

ISS:

issue

 

PAG:

pages_requested

 

SSN:

issn

 

SN2:

issn_2

 

 

 

 

N/R:

need_by_date

YYYY-MM-DD

CO$

max_cost

0 – 9999.99

NOT:     

notes1

 

LSB:

library_symbol

Mandatory.

Home library symbol of the requesting patron.

PID:

patron_id

Used to look up an existing patron record in Relais.  If no patron record exists it is added.

20 characters maximum.

PNM:

patron_name

 

PSN:

patron_surname

Mandatory.

DMD:

deliv_method

Mandatory.

A single letter code that corresponds to one of the delivery method codes defined in Relais, e.g., P for Pickup or W for Post to Web. If a value is provided that does not exist in Relais then the delivery method defaults to Mail.

DAD: 

deliv_address

Mandatory.

If delivery method is (P)ickup use your library system’s pickup location code.

If delivery method is W for Post to Web or E(mail) then supply the patron’s email address.

MMD

msg_method

Mandatory.

A single letter code that corresponds to the messaging method codes defined in Relais, e.g., E for Email  (By including email messaging information, an email address is available for Notify Patron). If a value is provided that does not exist in Relais then the messaging method defaults to Mail.

MAD 

msg_address

Mandatory.

If the Messaging Method = E(mail) then supply the patron’s email address. 

AD1:

address1

 

AD2:

address2

 

CIT:

city

 

STA:

prov_state

 

PCD:

post_zipcode

 

CON:

country

 

 

Examples are provided.  

Example 1

To: Relais PTR Demo
Subject: ILL Request: PTR-1

SER: LOAN

PUB:BOOK

TIT: The Year of the Flood

AUT: Atwood, Margaret     

DAT: 2009      

P/L: Toronto     

P/M: McLelland & Stewart

RPT: MaddAddam Trilogy

SBN: 9780385528771

LSB: HOME

PID: 1

DMD: W

DAD: patron_name@emailprovider.com

MMD: E

MAD: patron_name@emailprovider.com

Example 2

To: Relais PTR Demo
Subject: ILL Request: PTR-3

 SER:COPY

PUB:JOURNAL

TIT:Nebraska nurse

ART:FOCUS ON ETHICS. THE UNKNOWN FEAR--MORAL DISTRESS.

ARA:BARR

VOL:25

ISS:1

PAG:13

SSN:0028-1921

DAT:1992

LSB: HOME

PID: 5

PNM: Jack

PSN:Smith

DMD:W

DAD: patron_name@emailprovider.com

MMD:E

MAD: patron_name@emailprovider.com

AD1: 123 Main Street

AD2:Suite 1

CIT:Ottawa

STA:ON

PCD: K1K 1K1

CON:Canada

 Notes: 

  • If a value is entered that is too long for the corresponding field, the value is truncated.  See Field Lengths for the current values for database fields.  
  • If a value is entered in an invalid format, the corresponding field is not populated.  A note is added to the Notes with the value that was supplied.  
    • For example:  The Need by Date contains invalid data: 31/12/2014

Configure ILL Message Handler to accept Pass to Relais requests

If you are using the Relais Hosted service, submit a ticket to Support requesting a configuration change.

  1. Login to Administer Settings.
  2. Select the Application Settings tab.
  3. Open the Pre-Processing section.
  4. Open ILL Message Handler section.
  5. Click Edit Extended Settings, to display Extended ILL Message Handler Settings.
  6. Click Add Source, and a Pass to Relais value as described below.
  7. Click Update.

RelaisILL_Extended_ILL_Message_Handler.png

 

Field

Description

Mailbox Active Set to Yes.
Description Pass to Relais.
Host Name The address of your email server.
Mail Port

The port used by your email server.

Default is 110

User Name The name of the inbox to be used.
Password/Confirm Password The password for the email inbox.
Unparsable Mailbox The address to which unparsable messages are sent.  These also display in Review Alerts.
Delete Messages Set to Yes. This ensures emails are deleted as they are processed by the ILL Message Handler.
Process Daily Set to No.
Home Library Symbol Your home library symbol.
Mailbox Customer ID Select your Customer ID, typically Relais ILL.
Default Library Your home library symbol.
Default Supplier Your home library symbol.
Default Service Level Typically default or select the preferred service level to assign to incoming requests.
Default Req Source

Select Pass to Relais.

 Note: If Pass to Relais does not display as an option, contact OCLC Support.