Vernacular Scripts

It is recommended that cataloging with vernacular scripts be performed directly in Connexion, and not in Alma.

For large 505 or 520 fields, it is best to export a record from Connexion, rather than bring it into Alma via Search External Resources. Using Connexion export will ensure the large fields are not split and inadvertently unpaired.

See also Guide to Entering Combining Diacritics and Symbols in Alma

Paired Fields and Unlinking

Like OCLC, Alma supports alternate graphic representation using 880 linked fields. The vernacular script will display below the Latin script. The MARC tag number will display only once for the pair.

$$6 Sequence Numbers

Do not edit $$6 sequence numbers. This will be handled automatically by the system.

To display or hide $$6 sequence numbers, go to Edit >> Show Linkage Information (check or uncheck)

Add a New Paired Field

Add the Latin fields first, if not already present
With your cursor in the Latin field, go to Edit >> Alternate Graphic Representation >> (choose script name).
The system will add the field with the correct $$6 sequence numbers, and will duplicate the Latin subfields and text.
Replace the Latin text with the vernacular.

To Unlink Fields

Use Ctrl+Click to highlight the two linked fields that you want to unlink
Go to Edit >> Alternative Graphic Representation >> Unlink fields
The system will remove the $$6 values and each field will be in a standard MARC field
If you unlinked the 245 or 1XX field, you will have to remove one because a record can have only a single 245, 1XX

Unpaired Fields

If a vernacular field is unpaired, it will appear in the Alma Metadata Editor as an 880 field.

Connexion

This is how a record looks in Connexion with paired fields, and an unpaired vernacular 246. When you encounter this scenario, do not remove the unpaired field. Remember that the 880’s are in the record, but they are not displayed:

Alma

This is how the record looks in Alma, with the vernacular 246 ending up in an unpaired 880. Remember, you can toggle on or off the display of the linking:

HOLLIS

This is how the record looks in HOLLIS. Note that the 880 - i.e. a 246 variant title - shows properly in the public display:

Directional Characters

Directional characters are used to control the direction of the text when cataloging text that has both left-to-right and right-to-left languages.

Viewing Directional Characters

When directional characters are present in the record, they do not normally display. To view them, choose Edit >> Show directional characters. The symbols that represent directional change will appear in the text.

Direction	Description	Graphical Representation	Keyboard Shortcuts
Left-to-right mark	Enter text from left to right.	→	Ctrl + Alt + G
Right-to-left mark	Enter text from right to left.	←	Ctrl + Alt + M
Left-to-right embedding	Embed left to right text within text being entered from right to left.	⌈	Ctrl + Alt + D
Right-to-left embedding	Embed right to left text within text being entered from left to right.	⌉	Ctrl + Alt + N
Pop directional formatting	Select this option to return to the previous direction in which you were typing.	▼	Ctrl + Alt + P

When you have selected Show Directional Characters to display the symbols, there is a check mark to the left of this option. Select this option again to turn it off.

Inserting Directional Characters

To insert directional characters, go to Edit >> Insert directional characters, or use the keyboard shortcuts listed above.

There is a known issue that when you select one of these options from the Insert Directional Characters menu and Show Directional Characters is already selected, the directional symbol does not appear until you begin typing. However, when you use a keyboard shortcut to change directions, the directional symbol appears as soon as the keyboard shortcut is entered.

For additional information on cataloging in Hebrew, see Special Issues in Hebrew Cataloging.

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