WebFeat Express FAQ

  1. What is WebFeat Express?
    WebFeat Express provides library patrons with a simple, single search interface to all of your library's online resources including library catalogs, subscription databases as well as free resources. The WAC Express administration console supports customization of database descriptions, subject categories and interface branding to meet your library's needs. WebFeat provides federated searching of over 1,000 databases from over 300 vendors and publishers.

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  2. What is WAC or WAC Express?
    WAC stands for WebFeat Administration Console. The WAC, or WebFeat Express administration console, is a browser based tool used to configure each WebFeat system. The WAC supports customization of database descriptions, subject categories and interface branding to meet your library's needs.

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  3. Why do we need to provide a Library Card/PIN#?
    Valid authentication credentials (library card, PIN, or other credentials) are required to support integration of the WebFeat Express service with your institution's remote authentication service. This information will only be available to WebFeat support staff.

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  4. One of our databases is not listed in WebFeat Express?
    From the Manage Databases page on your WebFeat Express administration console, select the Database Not Listed? link. This will allow you to submit a request to WebFeat to add support for your database to WebFeat Express. A WebFeat client services manager will contact you if additional information is required.

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  5. The database is listed in WebFeat Express, but not listed on the authentication page.
    Email WebFeat Express customer support (clients@serialssolutions.com) or your WebFeat client services manager.

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  6. How do we set up subject categories?
    Subject categories and subcategories are created and populated from the Subject Categories tab of WAC. To add a category, simply type in the name of the category and click Add. From the list of databases on the right, select/check each database you want associated with that category. Click Save. Subject categories and there associated databases can be added, deleted or edited at any time by following the above steps.

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  7. Is there a limit to the number of categories, or databases per category?
    Customers can create an unlimited number of subject categories and assign databases to multiple categories. They can also choose to create an "All Resources" category or choose not to create/use subject categories at all.

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  8. Where/How do we change a database URL or description?
    From the Manage Databases tab find the database whose URL or description you want to change in the right hand column databases that you have selected to be part of your WebFeat Express system. Click on the database to highlight it, and then hit the Edit button directly below the column of databases. This brings up a pop-up window enabling you to change the database URL, name (as it will appear to users on the WebFeat Express menu), short description and help text. From this pop-up window, administrators can also: select whether the resource requires authentication; choose whether the database is available to local, remote or both local/remote users; and choose whether or not the databases should be searched as a default. Be sure to click Save after making any changes.

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  9. What if our library catalog is not supported by WebFeat Express?
    From the Catalog Databases page on your WebFeat Express administration console, select the Catalog Not Listed? link. This will allow you to submit a request to WebFeat to add support for your database to WebFeat Express. A WebFeat client services manager will contact you if additional information is required.

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  10. How do we set up remote patron authentication?
    WebFeat seamlessly handshakes with your library's existing remote patron authentication and presents the identical remote login webpage your patrons are used to seeing. If your site uses a supported ILS, EZ Proxy or Shibboleth uncheck "None" and enter the appropriate URL in the space provided for the type of remote authentication your library uses. For instance, if your library uses an ILS, enter your URL information in the appropriate ILS section. Leave the other sections (EZ Proxy, Shibboleth) blank. Click Save to continue.

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  11. What if our remote patron authentication system is not supported by WebFeat Express?
    Email WebFeat Express customer support (clients@serialssolutions.com) or your WebFeat client services manager.

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  12. How do we know which user interface is best for our library?
    WebFeat offers a choice of three user interfaces that are based on some of our most popular custom interfaces. All are effective and easy to use. Choice of interface can be changed at any time, but WebFeat recommends that the library staff use the "preview site" option from the Launch tab prior to going 'live' with an interface choice. Preview Site allows the library to see how the interface will look with your databases configured. Typically, if the library has more than 10 databases, it is a good idea to use subject categories to aid in organization and to avoid the return of too many irrelevant results for users that are unfamiliar with what databases to search.

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  13. How do we brand the user interface for our library?
    The User Interface tab of the WebFeat Administration Console is used to make changes to site graphics and colors. The library can either use the default banner for the selected interface, or they may upload a custom branded logo/banner. Any size logo/banner is supported, but WebFeat recommends the banner/logo to be sized at 700 pixels wide by 85 pixels high. The image should be in jpeg or gif format. Other logo sizes besides the recommended size should be tested by library staff. Library staff may also Customize Color of the user interface. The scoreboard background color, primary and secondary border colors and text color may all be changed. Simply enter a web hexadecimal number in the appropriate space, or choose a custom color using the color picker pop-up.

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  14. What is the difference between our "preview" and "live" site?
    The WebFeat Express preview site allows you to view changes to your WebFeat Express system before those changes are deployed to the live search interface.

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  15. Why does the "preview site" URL reflect changes I've made, but "live" site URL doesn't?
    Before any changes made in WAC will appear on your live WebFeat Express system, you must first choose Deploy Changes from the WAC Launch tab.

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  16. How do we embed the WebFeat Express search box in our homepage?
    WebFeat Express provides example HTML for the creation of a search box. You can access the example using the following url: http://wfx.webfeat.org/wfsearch/searchHelp?cid=<<your client ID>>&t=qs where your client ID is your WebFeat Express client ID. For more information, please contact your client services manager.

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  17. How do we view usage statistics?
    If your institution subscribes to the WebFeat SMART, you can access your usage statistics from http://wfx.webfeat.org/smart. If you do not currently subscribe to SMART, contact your account representative.

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  18. How do we report problems with our WebFeat Express system?
    Email WebFeat Express customer support (clients@serialssolutions.com) or your WebFeat client services manager.

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  19. What does 'Authentication process incomplete. Results may not display' mean?
    Many subscription databases require IP address authentication. To support IP address authentication, WebFeat must contact your subscription database vendors to enable access to WebFeat Express. This can take 48 hours or more depending on the vendor. Until access is granted to WebFeat Express, the database may not be searchable.

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  20. One of my configured databases is not returning results. What do I do?
    Email WebFeat Express customer support (clients@serialssolutions.com) or your WebFeat client services manager.

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  21. Does WebFeat Express support RefWorks?
    Yes, WebFeat Express supports direct export to RefWorks. Select the Save Results button from the search results page. WebFeat Express also supports saving results in RIS format for import into other bibliographic management applications.

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  22. Can WebFeat Express users specify which databases to use in a particular search?
    Yes, users can specify which databases they want to search. When a user selects a subject category (or categories) to search, the system auto-selects the databases that apply to those subject categories. A list of those databases will display on the screen, and the user may deselect any databases they wish to exclude from the search. The user may also manually select all databases they wish to search.

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  23. Do I need to change my EZProxy configuration?
    Yes, please add the following lines to your ezproxy.cfg and restart the EZProxy server:
    Title Webfeat
Host wfx.webfeat.org
Host wfxsearch.webfeat.org

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