Bug 11299 introduced the "Link authorities automatically" function. When the button is used for fields with only the main heading or the main heading and one subheading, it works. However, I've noticed a few instances of it not picking up already existing authority records. When this happens, it generates a new authority record. Then, if the same authority is used in a new bibliographic record the "Link authorities automatically" button will link to the newly created, duplicate authority. Example: In a new bibliographic record, the 650 fields are filled out as follows: 650$a - Biology 650$x - Research 650$y - 1960 There is already an authority record with this content in the 150 field: 150$a - Biology 150$x - Research 150$y - 1960 When the "Link authorities automatically" is clicked, the original authority is not picked up, but a duplicate authority is created. On a new bibliographic record, the same information is added to the 650 fields and the "Link authorities automatically" is clicked and the duplicate authority is linked, not the original one.
Hi Holly, I believe this sounds very similar to bug 31185 that has a patch now. Could you have a look and verify?
I'm not sure it is. Bug 31185 seems to be about when duplicate authorities already exist and you try to use the "Link authorities automatically" button. What I am seeing is in situations where there is only one authority, but it has content in multiple subfields, the "Link authorities automatically" button can't pick up the one authority and duplicates it. So, "Link authorities automatically" is wrongly creating new authorities. Please let me know if I am wrong.
I was not sure if they were the same, so that's perfectly fine. Thx for taking a look! I'll keep them linked with see also, because they touch the same area at least.
Hi, I had a similar experience in unimarc with author fields (700) : if the authority only have a surname (heading 700$a), not a first name (700$b), it is find by "Link authorities automatically" function. However, if searching for firstname + surname the "Link authorities automatically" function will not find the existing authority and a duplicate authority is created.
On latest version 22.11 that happens on 1xx and 7xx not in 6xx and if you have more than one sub field then mismatch to find the heading and create new authority on ES , on Zebra not find at all and create authorities even for 6xx I will try later to describe a test plan
Hi Nick, can you maybe tell how this relates to your recent work on auth linking? Maybe one of the other bugs will resolve?