[OAI-implementers] DSpace OAI-PMH support changes, issues

[Simeon Warner]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004, Tansley, Robert wrote:
> - Are Handles appropriate IDs for the OAI metadata records?
> Originally, it seemed pointless to me to use anything else; forcing
> people to jump through yet another hoop to get yet another unique ID to
> get set up.  However, on occasion people have indicated they'd rather
> use an oai: prefixed identifier.  If anyone can offer reasons and
> suggestions either way I'd appreciate it.

Aside from the possibility of changing ids to get around the changing sets
problem, I can't see why an oai-identifier would be preferred to a handle.

> - Might it be a good idea to change the base URL from something like
> http://dspace.mit.edu/oai/ to something like
> http://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request?  Having that / on the end has
> confused a few people, as URLs like this look a little awkward:
>
> http://dspace.mit.edu/oai/?verb=Identify
>
> Additionally, not having a / at the end also would allow the OAI
> implementation to use XSLTs to render the responses for browsers.
>
> However, of course this would of course require DSpace instances to
> re-register with openarchives.org, which isn't exactly ideal, but since
> there are other changes happening at the same time, perhaps now's a good
> time to just take the hit and clean things up a bit.
>
> Thoughts?

Probably sensible avoid confusion.

Cheers,
Simeon