Here’s an example of how to setup GenSmarts for indirect access to Heritage Quest via a third party (e.g. your local library or similar) site that provides you access. The first step is to verify your access manually – access your third party site (e.g. your library) and navigate as needed until you’re able to manually enter search criteria into Heritage Quest and can get results returned. Take note of the URL that is more or less a direct link to the page that requires you to type in your id and password. That’s the point where you’ll want GenSmarts to take you to when you initiate a search from within GenSmarts. We’ll refer to that URL as the Login URL in the following instructions.

Using the Texas State Library website (http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ ) as an example, under “Online Databases”, we find a link to “TexShare Online Databases”, which is where they have their Heritage Quest access located. Clicking on that link, we’re taken to a page that describes the service and offers a login link for access called “ENTER DATABASES”. Clicking on that link, we’re where we can enter page . Clicking that link, we’re finally prompted for our LOGIN and PASSWORD for access. This page that is prompting us for our Login and Password has a URL of http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/texshare/authenticate.pl and is the one you’ll want plug in to GenSmarts.

Configuration

To begin, you need to let GenSmarts know you have access to Heritage Quest. This is done in the same manner as with other restricted access sites – you use GenSmarts top line menu TOOLS…SETTINGS…Subscriptions tab and put a tick mark next to Heritage Quest:

When you place that tick mark, you’ll notice a new input box will open up. This is the place for you to specify the URL from the first paragraph above. Going to that URL should be a page that prompts you to enter your third party site login id and password.

Establishing a connection

The first time you try to search Heritage Quest from within GenSmarts, GenSmarts will take you to the Login URL so you can establish a connection to Heritage Quest. At this point, you’ll need to do whatever is necessary to complete the login process and continue into the Heritage Quest site, all the way into the “Search Census” form. GenSmarts is watching as you’re doing this, though you’re doing all the work. When GenSmarts senses you’ve made it into the Heritage Quest search census form, it will finish navigating for you to the search page and fill in the search criteria.

Note that this “establishing a connection” sequence normally only occurs on your first search – provided you leave that browser window open for subsequent searches. You can use that browser window for other sites or navigation – it will remain authenticated to Heritage Quest. However, if you close it, GenSmarts will sense that the connection is no longer available and re-initiate the “establishing a connection” process described above.

Subsequent Searches

Provided you leave the browser window from above open, subsequent searches will be automatic and not require any additional input.