Abstract

The study examined the current status and the use of electronic publishing files to produce a bibliographic database. In particular . it examined the problems faced in the production of KoreaMed, an abstract database of Korean medical journals. The methodology of KoreaMed to utilize the computer files which was produced in the process of publication of a print journal is found to be very effective. It assures the accuracy of data, accelerates the input speeds, and reduces the input costs. However, such a project can not be accomplished to a satisfactory level without the cooperation of the publishers involved. It turns out that many small publishers and academic societies hardly have saved the electronic publishing files of previous issues. Besides, it is hard to maintain the right channel to receive the files continuously. The input and processing of special characters are very delicate problems. In addition, the diversity of layout and formats of journals, of the electronic publishing software used, and of the storage media, makes the utilization of the electronic publishing files a very complex process. In order to operate the KoreaMed system more efficiently by requiring the publishers to submit XML files which meets the standard of the KoreaMed, it is necessary to educate and train personnels of journal publishers for the management of electronic publishing files.