[OAI-implementers] error reporting

[Irina Dijour]

Hi Michael, 

I think that if we don't have error codes for low-level errors your solution
#2 (some lower level bound)
is the most suitable.

Thanks,
Irina

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael L. Nelson [mailto:mln@ils.unc.edu]
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2002 4:43 PM
To: oai-implementers@oaisrv.nsdl.cornell.edu
Subject: RE: [OAI-implementers] error reporting


On Sun, 23 Jun 2002, Irina Dijour wrote:

> >What error condition do you wish to report that is not covered 
> >by the existing error codes? I did not find any when writing 
> >my server.
> For example: One record in my database is wrong and I can not obtain
> datestamp information for this record. 
> I could say "cannotDisseminateFormat" but in truth I can disseminate
format,
> I just cannot get datestamp.

interesting...  all of the errors defined in OAI-PMH are about OAI-based
errors / exception conditions.  there is no provision for lower-level
errors, such as problems in the database.

I think the lack of a datestamp might be enough to say that this record
does not exist in an OAI-context.  

from section 2.5:

A record is identified unambigiously by the combination of the unique
identifier of the item from which the record is available, the
metadataPrefix identifying the metadata format of the record, and the
datestamp of the record.


so if you don't have 1 of {id,metadataPrefix,datestamp}, I don't think you
have a record.  I would either:

1.  ignore this record for OAI purposes

or

2.  make up a datestamp for the record.  it should not be hard to define
some lower bound for the record; use whatever you put in earliestDatestamp
in your Identify response.

regards,

Michael

> 
> BR
> Irina
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Simeon Warner [mailto:simeon@cs.cornell.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 11:16 PM
> To: Irina Dijour
> Cc: 'oai-implementers@oaisrv.nsdl.cornell.edu'
> Subject: Re: [OAI-implementers] error reporting
> 
> 
> 
> 
> What error condition do you wish to report that is not covered 
> by the existing error codes? I did not find any when writing 
> my server. 
> 
> My feeling is that 503 is not to be used for errors in the 
> same sense as <error> replies. 503 is for cases when the
> service is unavailable -- it may be used for flow control
> or perhaps temporary outages such as might occur with large
> updates.
> 
> Cheers,
> Simeon.
> 
> 
> On Thu, 20 Jun 2002, Irina Dijour wrote:
> > I have a small suggestion concerning error reporting.
> > 
> > We have several error codes in OAI 2.0 protocol ("badArgument",
> > "badResumptionToke" etc).
> > If I understand correctly, if none of these error codes fits for an
error
> > that should be reported, 
> > the OAI data provider should return HTTP Error code "503 Service
> > unavailable".
> > 1. If the OAI data provider uses HTTP Error code 503 it cannot specify
> what
> > exactly has happened.
> >     And sometimes it's useful.
> > 2. There are situations when the OAI Data provider wants to report a
> > specific error for a specific record.
> >     I think that sending HTTP Error code 503 in this case is too
general.
> > 
> > Therefore I propose to add additional error "unspecifiedError" (as it's
> done
> > in Z39.50 protocol). 
> > In the "error" element content OAI data provider may specify the error.
> > 
> > 
> > Irina
> > 
> > -----------------------------------
> > Irina Dijour
> > Software Development
> > Ex Libris ltd.
> > Malha Technology Park
> > Jerusalem 91481, Israel
> > Tel: +972-(0)2-6798-222  ext. 142
> > Fax: +972-(0)2-6798-634 
> > Irina.Dijour@exlibris.co.il
> > 
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> > 
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---
Michael L. Nelson
NASA Langley Research Center		m.l.nelson@larc.nasa.gov
MS 158, Hampton, VA 23681		http://www.ils.unc.edu/~mln/
+1 757 864 8511				+1 757 864 8342 (f)

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