CueCat: Using with LibraryThing
From WikiThing
[edit] Using the :CueCat with LibraryThing
The simplest way to enter books into LibraryThing is to scan directly into the ‘Add Books’ page. Put the cursor in the Search box and scan the ISBN-13 or ISBN-13+5 directly into the field, :CueCat adds a carriage return automatically so the search is automatic. (This shows the result for a 'de-clawed' CueCat - see below for a 'clawed' version.)
I just need to click on the title to accept the result that I want to add to my catalogue.
Once you gain some confidence and if you are prepared to accept the results, you can check ‘Skip confirmation’ in the advanced options and, if there is a single result returned then LibraryThing will automatically accept it.
That’s really all there is to it.
[edit] Troubleshooting
The :CueCat is a pretty robust device and it seems pretty rare for them to go wrong unless they are physically damaged.
The commonest problems are:
- You haven’t quite got the knack of scanning yet and you get no output. Go back to the section above and test in a text editor with a good quality barcode laid flat on a desk. Vary the speed and direction, slide the :CueCat lightly over the code.
- You have a non-English keyboard, a Dvorak keyboard or some other non-standard device installed. Try resetting your computer to a standard English (US or UK) keyboard and see if it works OK. If it does then let LibraryThing staff know what your set-up is and they may be able to customise the code to recognise it (no promises).
- You’re getting output OK but it doesn’t seem right and LibraryThing can’t recognise it. If it’s encrypted then test the out put in the :CueCat Decoder. If this decodes correctly then your :CueCat is most likely OK. You can then try pasting a known good encrypted code into LibraryThing to check that is working. The code below decodes to the ISBN-13+5 9780684849140 51500 and pasted into LibraryThing’s search box set to amazon.com will find ‘Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping’ by Paco Underhill.
- .C3nZC3nZC3nWCxjWE3D1C3nX.cGf2.ENr7C3v7D3T3ENj3C3zYDNnZ.
- After that your best bet is to post in the Cuecat questions and help Group at LibraryThing.
[edit] See also
- CueCat barcode scanning
- CueCat Guide
- CueCat: Using with LibraryThing
- CueCat: ISBNs and Barcodes
- CueCat: De-clawing
- CueCat: Creating Barcodes