Home → Cataloging → Non-book formats → E-Resources: Using MarcEdit to add $9 to field 856

5.1. E-Resources: Using MarcEdit to add $9 to field 856

All eRecords that you import into SPARK must have a customized 856 field, with:

$u, containing: a hyperlink to your library’s e-record
$9, containing: the “short code” for your SPARK location
Optional: $z, containing: a custom message to display rather than the text of the hyperlink

If the eRecords that you want to import do not have $9 in 856, you can add it in batch using a program called “MarcEdit”. To download MarcEdit, go to: https://marcedit.reeset.net/downloads

Note: MarcEdit is available for both Windows and Mac computers. Screenshots in the guide below are taken from Windows, but the basic layout and organization is the same for both versions.

Open MarcEdit, and click on the icon that says “MARC Tools”:
Click the folder icon next to “Open”, browse to where the batch file is stored, and open it. The batch should be in “.mrc” format.
In order to edit the file, you need to convert it from “.mrc” to “.mrk” format. Click the folder icon next to “Save As…” – browse to where you want to save the file on your computer, then click “Save”.
Finally, to convert the file, click “Execute”:
A message will show that the conversion was successful. To edit the converted file, click “Edit Records”:
The next screen will show the MARC coding for your e-records. To make your batch changes, go to the “Tools” menu, and click “Edit Subfield Data”:
The window that pops up will say “Edit Subfield Utility”. Take the following steps:
1. In the area under “Field”, enter 856
2. In the area under “Subfield”, enter 9
3. In the area under “Replace with”, enter the appropriate shortcode for your location
  - A list of SPARK shortcodes is available at https://sparkpa.helpspot.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=92
4. Click the box next to “Add subfield if not present”
5. Click the box next to “Match case”
6. Finally, click the button that says “Replace Text”
A warning box will appear, asking you to confirm that you want to continue. Click “Yes”.
Another message will appear, confirming that modifications were successful. Click “OK”. Then, click the “Close” button:
Lastly, convert the “.mrk” file back into “.mrc” format. Go to the file menu, and select “Compile File into MARC”. Choose a file name which will make it clear that this is the “.mrc” file that has been edited. Then click “Save”.