The rules covered in this chapter all relate to the functioning of OPAC and the features and services which will be made available to OPAC users. The specific rules explained in this chapter include those concerning:
You may access OPAC Rules from anywhere within the Parameter Management area of "Utilities" (i.e. when on the Parameter Management Form or any of its associated pop-up forms):
1. Press <F11> ("Action") to access the Utilities Action Bar, if it is not visible already.
2. Select Rules from the Action Bar to obtain the Rules Pull Down Menu.
3. Select OPAC... from the Rules Pull Down Menu.
A secondary pull down menu will "cascade" off to the right of the Rules Pull Down Menu, as shown in The OPAC Rules Options (Cascading Menu).
The OPAC Public Reservations Rules may be defined in a manner similar to the method of defining normal Circulation Reservation Rules. There are additional options governing whether or not to recall the Item(s) due back soonest and whether or not users will be able to edit the Last Useful Date for themselves (rather than having the system default).
See Implementing Public Reservations for an overview of the process.
Editing Borrower Reservations Rules involve the ability to set various parameters for given Borrower Type/Site Profile combinations, including:
To obtain the OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules List:
1. Select OPAC... from the Rules Pull Down Menu to open the OPAC Rules Menu.
2. Select Borrower Res from the OPAC Rules Menu.
The OPAC Borrower Reservation Prompt will appear, as shown in The OPAC Borrower Reservations Prompt.
This double prompt permits you to enter any particular combination(s) of either:
You must enter either a Site or a Borrower Profile: the prompt will not allow you to "Accept" the search should you enter neither. In effect, this double prompt may be used to specify either:
You may abandon this compound prompt bar from either prompt in order to return to the Parameter Management Form without initiating a search for OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules:
Press <F11> (Action bar).
Once a valid Site Profile and/or Borrower Type has been input at the OPAC Borrower Reservations Prompt, all current Rules matching the search criteria specified will be presented, as illustrated in The OPAC Borrower Reservations Rules List.
The OPAC Borrower Reservations Rules List is used to define and edit the various public reservation rules/parameters applicable to a given Borrower Type/Site Profile combination.
On this editable list, each line represents the Rules against one Borrower Type at the Site Profile specified at the prompt bar (assuming a particular Site Profile was input).
If no Site Profile was specified in the search, the OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules shown will represent the parameters for that Borrower Profile across all Site Profiles; with one line dedicated to each Site Profile.
If no Borrower Profile was specified in the search, the OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules presented will display the parameters for that Site Profile for all Borrower Profiles; each line relating to one Borrower Profile.
Information about each set of OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules will be displayed (or may be input, in the case of new rules) beneath the various headings shown in on the list. The meaning, method of completion and permissible inputs for each of these rules will be explained:
Site Profiles allow grouping of Sites when a set of Sites all share the same Rules (such as Opening Hours, Loan Rules and OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules). Each Site Profile comprises a code (up to 4 characters in length) and a full name, which will have been defined earlier using System Maintenance "Names". Either the Site Profile code or the name may be input.
When you press <Enter> to move down to the Borrower Type field (or press <F9> ("Accept") to commence the search), the short Site Profile code will be validated and expanded to its full name. A Site Profile name will be validated too. When an invalid Site Profile (code or name) is entered in this field, a list of the valid Site Profiles will be displayed for selection. Alternatively, Site Profiles may be listed for easy selection using <F5> ("List").
It is possible to list Borrower Types for direct selection from the Borrower prompt (in the same way as described for Site Profile above). Pressing <F5> ("List"), with the cursor on the Borrower Type prompt will reveal a pop-up list of the Types available.
The Borrower Type prompt works in the same way as the Site Profile prompt above. The Borrower Type name or code will be validated as you commence the search using <F9> ("Accept") or when you attempt to move back up to the Site Profile prompt.
One or both of these two fields will only be editable within the constraints defined at the double prompt. These fields may only be edited when adding a new row. The system will not allow you to enter codes or names in these fields which do not conform to the selection criteria specified for Site profile(s) and/or Borrower Type(s) when accessing this form.
When one or both of these fields is editable, you will be able to type in the code or name required, or select valid options directly from the pop-up lists obtainable off each field using <F5> ("List").
Use the Public Reservation Charge field to define the charge which will be incurred when a reservation is initially placed by an OPAC user. For example, there might be an administration charge of £2.50. A maximum value of £99.99 may be entered. Money values must be in the range: 0 pence to £99.99. If there is no Public Reservation Charge, enter "0" (i.e. £0.00).
This field is used to specify the upper limit on the number of copies that will be reserved when placing a reservation on a Work. For example if set to "5" then the reservation will be placed on the 5 most reservable copies (if available). If this is set to "0" then no reservations will be possible for this Borrower Type/Site Profile combination. The limit on the number of reservations allowed is defined within Circulation Borrower Rules. The Public Reservations Limit entered here will apply to the particular Borrower Type / Site combination represented by this line. You may specify any whole number up to a maximum of 99 in this field.
Note:
This parameter should not be confused with the limit on the number of reservations that a Borrower is permitted, which is defined as the Reservations Limit within Borrower Rules (as explained in Circulation Rules).
The Public Recall Limit field enables you to place an upper limit on the
number of Items which may be recalled using auto-recall. This field may
be used to put a restriction on the number of those copies of the Work
deemed suitable for inclusion in the reservation which may be recalled
automatically. The system will accept any whole number up to a maximum
of 99 in this field.
If set to "0" then no Recall Letters are generated.
The field abbreviated on-screen to "Pub res last date/days" is used for specifying the default Last Useful Date for reservations placed via OPAC. The default Last Useful Date is the last date after which the user will be considered to no longer require the current work. Reservations will be cancelled automatically when this date is reached. (As may be seen in the next section, OPAC users may be able to amend this default date themselves, depending on Library policy).
Talis allows you to define a period to the Last Useful Date as either:
This parameter controls whether users will be allowed to define the default Last Useful Date as a specific future date:
1. Move the cursor onto the Pub res last date/days field.
2. Press <F6> ("Date").
A small pop-up Date Form will appear, allowing you to enter a date in the format:
DD/MM/YYYY
where:
DD
represents the day of the month (numerically expressed),
MM
represents the month of the year, and
YYYY
represents the year.
For example:
29/04/1998
The slash ("/") characters may be ignored on input as the cursor will skip over these character positions.
To save the date entered and return to your position on OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules:
Press <F9> ("Accept").
To abandon the Date Form without making any changes to the Last Useful Date field:
Press <F12> ("Quit").
If you wish to define the Last Useful Date as a fixed number of days from the present date:
1. Move the cursor onto the Pub res last date/days field.
2. Press <F7> ("Days").
The pop-up Days Form will accept any whole number ranging from 0 days up to a maximum of 9999 days. To save the value entered and return to the OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules List:
Press <F9> ("Accept").
To abandon the Days Form without making any changes to the Last Useful Date:
Press <F12> ("Quit").
Depending on Library policy, OPAC users may be able to amend the default Last Useful Date shown in the previous field for themselves. Only two values are permissible in this field; namely "Yes" or "No". This field is not editable directly. Instead, use the <F6> ("Select") function key to toggle between the "Yes" and "No" options as required.
A value of "Yes" indicates to the system that the Last Useful Date is editable by OPAC users. If set to "Yes", the user cannot enter a date greater than that defined for the Last Useful Date/Days in Public Reservation Date/Days.
Alternatively, when this flag is set to "No", it means OPAC Borrowers will not be allowed to change the system default shown.
Recall Due Soonest acts as a "tie breaker" when there are several copies of the Work out on loan which could satisfy the reservation. This field may be toggled between a "Yes" or "No" value using <F6> ("Select"), in the same way described above. A "Yes" value in this field indicates that the Item(s) due back from loan soonest will be recalled. Alternatively, if this field is set to "No", it means the system will recall those copies of the Work which have been due back from loan the longest.
The standard navigation methods apply on this form. Either <Tab>, <®> or the other standard cursor movement keys may be used to move horizontally between fields on each line. Move down to the next line on the list using either <¯> or <Enter>.
You may move up/down the list more rapidly with <PgUp> & <PgDn> and <Home> & <End> if many Rules are present.
Note:
The <End> key may need to be pressed three times to go to the end of the list. Pressing it the first time will move the cursor to the end of the current field; the second time will move the cursor end of the current line, and finally it will pass you to the end of the list. If the list is long, <End> will have the same effect as pressing <PgDn> ten times only.
The function keys presented for use will change when moving across the line. For example, on the Public Reservation Period fields, the <F6> ("Date") and <F7> ("Days") options will become available.
You can add new lines to the list by moving to the bottom of the list and entering the parameter data required against each of the fields described above.
1. Use the cursor control keys, or <PgDn>, or <End> to move to the blank line at the end of the OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules List.
2. Enter new data or amend existing data on each field, using <Tab> or <®> to move to each successive field in turn.
3. When finished, press <Enter>, or use the cursor arrow keys to move down onto the next blank line, ready to add further OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules (as required). The rules will be saved on the system when you select <F9> ("Accept").
New lines will only be accepted by the system if the Borrower Type and / or Site Profile given comply with the selection criteria used to display in the current list. Attempting to leave a line without completing both Borrower Type and Site Profile will display the following message:
A mandatory field has been left blank
Note:
If both a Borrower Type and a Site Profile were given at the double prompt you will be unable to add new OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules, because all existing Borrower Types for the current Site will already be featured on the list.
Existing OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules may be edited, by over-writing any data already in the fields shown, whether directly or by entering/selecting different values using the appropriate pop-up forms and lists. Defaults needed to comply with input from the prompts cannot be amended.
If a new line is added which happens to be invalid or otherwise unnecessary, the line can be "removed" using the <F8> ("Remove") key. This key cannot be used to remove lines added in previous editing sessions. It is not possible to remove Borrower Rules from the Borrower Rules List once these have been defined and "Accepted".
Having added or edited the OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules required:
Press <F9> ("Accept").
The OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules List will close, and the database will be updated to reflect the new/amended Rules.
If, for any reason, you wish to abandon the OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules List without saving any changes made in the current session:
Press <F12> ("Quit").
The list will close, returning you to the Parameter Management Action Bar.
It is possible to mask copies from display in Talis OPAC and TalisWeb OPAC on the basis of Item Type, Item Status, Item Sequence, Item Size, Item Format, Item Site or any combination of these. Effectively this permits Libraries to specify which Item Types, Statuses, Sizes, Sequences, Sites and Formats that will display for each OPAC Collection.
The "Collection Rules" interface allows individual Item Types, Statuses, Sequences, Sizes, Formats and Sites to be defined for inclusion in any specific OPAC Collection.
Note: Each OPAC Collection has first to be defined using the "manage_collection" batch utility before Collection Rules can be specified for it.
To access the Collection Rules List:
The Collection Rules Prompt will be presented above a blank Collection Rules List.Refer to Figure 8.4: The OPAC Collection Rules Prompt.
This double prompt permits you to enter any valid combination(s) of either a Collection and/or Item Category. Effectively, any of the following options may be entered:
On the Collection Prompt it is possible to type the Collection Name of any existing OPAC Collection previously defined using the "manage_collection" script.
Only 20 characters are visible on both the prompt fields, though each can each accept up to 60 characters, for example in the event of lengthy Collection Names. Both prompts may be scrolled in a ticker tape fashion, or zoomed to full size by pressing <Ctrl> + "Z" ("Zoom") if necessary.
The Item Category Prompt permits an Item Categorys Code or Name to be entered. Valid Item Categories include:
If invalid input is entered at either prompt bar, a popup list is presented for easy selection of a recognised option.
Alternatively, a Collection or Item Category can be selected from these popup lists, obtainable on demand from both prompts:
The lists display Collections / Item Categories in alphabetical order. The cursor is placed on the nearest match to the incorrect data entered at the prompt or at the top of the list if <F5> ("List") has been pressed on a blank prompt.
Either a valid Collection or a valid Item Category (or both) must be entered. To search for Collection Rules matching the criteria:
The prompt will not allow <F9> ("Accept") to initiate a search if neither a Collection or Item Category has been specified; if so, the message line displays:
Enter Collection or Item Category
You may abandon the compound prompt bar, from either prompt, in order to return to the Parameter Management Form without initiating a search for Collection Rules:
When a Collection and/or Item Category has been input at the Collection Rules prompt, all existing Collection / Item Category combinations matching the criteria specified are presented. Refer to Figure 8.5: The Collection Rules List.
If no matches are found, an empty list is displayed with the Collection and/or Item Category validated at the prompt passed to the default first line and the All field set to "No".
Existing Collection Rules may be edited, either by directly overwriting any data already in the fields as presented, or by entering / selecting different values using the popup lists available on the first three fields.
Note: Default values conforming with the values input at the Collection Rule Prompts cannot be amended.
There are four Collection Rules fields:
The Collection field displays the name of the Collection to which the Collection Rule applies. Only the first 16 characters of the name is visible initially, although it can accept up to 60 characters. The rest of the name may be displayed in a ticker tape fashion or zoomed by pressing <Ctrl> + "Z" ("Zoom").
It is not possible to enter a different Collection Name in this field if the Collection was specified at the prompt when accessing this list. If this is the case, the Collection field cannot be edited, and when a new rule is created (by moving to the bottom of the list) the Collection Name defined at the prompt displays automatically.
If only the Item Category was defined at the double prompt bar, it is possible to edit the Collection field. It is then not possible to leave this field without specifying a Collection. Only a valid Collection Names can be entered. If the Name specified is invalid, a popup list of valid Collection Names and their ids is displayed, with the cursor on the nearest match to the invalid data entered.
Alternatively a valid Collection can be selected directly from this popup list:
You may abandon the list without changing the Collection field using <F12> ("Quit").
The Item Category field displays the Item Category involved in the current Collection Rule. Only the first 16 characters of the Item Category is visible initially, though it can accommodate up to 60 characters. The rest of the Item Category may be displayed in a ticker tape fashion or zoomed by pressing <Ctrl> + "Z" ("Zoom").
The Item Category specifies which category is to be used i.e. Type, Status, Sequence, Size, Format or Site.
It is not possible to enter the Code or Name of a different Item Category if the Item Category was defined at the Collection Rules Prompt when accessing this list. If so, the Item Category field cannot be edited. When a new Collection Rule is created (by moving to the bottom of the list) the Item Category automatically displays the value specified at the prompt.
If only the Collection was defined at the double prompt, it is possible to edit the Item Category field. The Item Category is validated before leaving this field. Either a valid Item Category Code or Name can be entered. If a valid Code is entered, the corresponding Item Category Name displays. It is not possible to leave the field without specifying an Item Category.
If the Item Category entered is invalid a popup list of the valid Item Category Codes and Names is displayed, as illustrated above in Figure 8.5: The Collection Rules List.
The cursor is placed on the nearest match to the invalid data entered, for easy selection.
Alternatively the popup list can be accessed ondemand, allowing a valid Item Category to be selected directly. Press <F5> ("List") to request this popup list and then <F9> ("Accept") to select the Item Category highlighted.
The Name field displays the Name of the Item Category defined in the selected Collection Rule. It is not possible to edit the Name field unless an Item Category has been defined. If an attempt is made to edit this field when the Item Category field is blank then you will be placed on the Item Category field and the message line will indicate:
Item Category must be defined
When a new Collection Rule is created (by moving to the bottom of the list), the Name field will always be blank.
The value specified in the Item Category field determines whether a Name pertaining to an Item Type, Status, Sequence, Size, Format or Site can be entered in the Name field. For example if the Item Category field for the current Collection Rule displays "Format", it is only possible to enter an Item Format into the Name field.
Input in this field is validated to check it matches on a Name or Code of the Item Category specified; it must do so or it will not be possible to leave this field. Either a valid Code or Name can be entered. If a valid Item Code is entered the corresponding Name is displayed.
If the data entered is invalid a pop up list of the valid Item Types, Statuses, Sequences, Sizes, Formats or Sites is displayed, according to which Item Category has been defined for the Collection Rule. Refer to Figure 8.6: Example PopUp Item Types List.
Alternatively, a valid Name can be selected directly from this popup list, by pressing <F5> ("List") on the Name field, selecting a line and then pressing <F9> ("Accept") to carryover this value into the Collection as required.
It is not possible to leave the field without specifying a Name. Only the first 16 characters of the Name is visible initially, although it can accommodate up to 60 characters. The rest of the Name may be displayed in a ticker tapemanner, or zoomed to full size by pressing <Ctrl> + "Z" ("Zoom").
The All field is where you specify whether or not Items have to satisfy one of each of the Item Categories specified for a Collection to be displayed. For example, an Item may have to be at one of the Sites as well as be one of the Item Statuses specified to display in a Local Studies Collection.
Only two mutually exclusive values are permissible in this field; namely "Yes" or "No". This field is not editable directly. Instead <F6> ("All") is used to toggle between the "Yes" and "No" options, as required.
When the cursor is placed on the All field, an extra <F6> ("All") function key displays. The <F5> ("List") function key is unavailable on this field.
A value of "Yes" indicates that Items have to satisfy one of every Item Category specified before they are displayed in the Collection.
A value of "No" indicates Items need to satisfy only one of the Item Categories specified to display in the Collection.
For example for a particular Collection, a Site, Format and several Sequences may have been defined. If the All field is set to "Yes" for a Collection, then before an Item is displayed in that Collection, it has to be at the Site specified, be of the Format defined as well as one of the Sequences included in the Collection Rules for the specified Collection.
If the All field is set to "No" an Item only has to satisfy one of the Collection Rules defined; thus it may be at the defined Site (but not be of a particular Format or have the Sequence specified for the Collection) in order to display.
By default the first Collection Rule defined for a Collection has the All field set to "No". Subsequent Rules added for the Collection also have the All field set to "No", unless you choose to change one to "Yes".
When the All field is changed for any of the Rules pertaining to a Collection, all of the other Collection Rules are also updated with the change. New Collection Rules defined for the Collection will also display the same All field value as the other Rules for the Collection. It is logically impossible for a Collection to have some Rules with the All field set to "Yes" and others set to "No"; i.e. the Collection's Items have to either satisfy all Item Categories to display or satisfy simply one to display.
Since changing the All field value is so powerfully significant, you will be presented with a dialog box before updating all rows associated with the Collection for which the All value is being edited. You are required to confirm whether or not to proceed with the change. The default response is "No", as illustrated in Figure 8.7: Update All Values For Collection Rules Dialog Box.
This dialog box overlays the Collection Rules List. Exiting this dialog box by responding "No" whether by pressing "N", or pressing <Enter> or <F9> ("Accept") when the "No" response is highlighted leaves the All field intact with its original value.
Responding "Yes" whether by selecting "Y", or pressing <Enter> or <F9> ("Accept") when the "Yes" response is highlighted closes the dialog box changes the All field on the Collection Rule. The cursor remains on the All field. The All fields for all other Collection Rules displayed for the same Collection also update online to match this edit.
It is not possible to leave a line on the Collection Rules List if any field has been left blank. If any of the fields are still empty, the cursor moves to the first one and the message line indicates:
This field may not be left blank
A check is also made regarding the uniqueness of the Collection Rule defined. The combination of Item Category and Collection Name fields must be unique to the Collection specified. If a Collection Rule has been defined already, the message line states:
This Rule already exists for this Collection
Lines added to the Collection Rules List can be removed, at any time:
Even Collection Rules added in previous editing sessions can be removed using <F8> ("Remove").
Having added to, or edited the Collection Rules List as required:
The list closes, and the database table COLL_RULES is updated to reflect the new/amended rules.
If you wish to abandon this list without saving any changes made in the current session:
The OPAC General Rules option allows rules to be defined for combinations of Operators and Sites, (in a manner similar to that for OPAC Borrower Reservation Rules). It is used determine:
To obtain the OPAC General Rules List:
1. Select OPAC... from the Rules Pull Down Menu to open the OPAC Rules Menu.
2. Select General Rules from the OPAC Rules Menu.
The OPAC General Rules Prompt will appear, as shown in The OPAC General Rules Prompt.
This double prompt permits you to enter any valid combination(s) of either:
You must enter either a Site or an Operator Profile: the prompt will not allow you to "Accept" the search if you enter neither. Effectively, this double prompt allows you to specify either:
The OPAC General Rules Prompt otherwise behaves in the same way as described for the OPAC Borrower Reservations Prompt. You may type in the code or name required against either prompt, or select a valid profile directly from the pop-up lists obtainable off both prompts using <F5> ("List").
Refer to Accessing OPAC Borrower Reservations, above for a more detailed outline of how to use a double prompt bar.
When a Site Profile and/or Operator has been input at the OPAC General Rules Prompt, all existing Site/Operator Profile combinations matching those criteria will be presented, as shown in The OPAC General Rules List.
This list enables you to define and edit the various "general" rules/parameters explained below, as they are meant to be applied to each particular Site Profile/Operator Profile combination (i.e. each individual line).
The broad principles of editing and navigation on this list are essentially similar to those described above in Defining OPAC Borrower Reservations Rules. Only the specific details of OPAC General Rules will be explained below.
These fields operate together in order to identify the Operator/Site Profile combination which applies to each line.
One or both of these two fields may be editable, but only within the constraints defined earlier at the double prompt when accessing this list. The system will not allow you to enter codes or names in these fields which do not conform to the selection criteria specified for the Site profile(s) and/or Operator Profile(s).
When one or both of these fields is editable, you will be able to type in the code or name required, or select valid options directly from the pop-up lists obtained off either field using <F5> ("List").
This field is used to specify whether or not Boolean searching will be allowed from the OPAC keyword search prompt. Set this field to "Yes" if Boolean searching (i.e. AND, OR) is to be allowed for users with this Operator Profile within this particular Site Profile.
If Boolean searching (either implicit or explicit) is not required, set this field to "No". Only single term searches will then be valid, and a message box will explain this situation to users if they enter more than one keyword together.
The Boolean Allowed field can only be edited using the <F6> ("Select") function key to toggle between the "Yes" and "No" options as required.
Use this field to specify whether or not Wildcard searching will be permitted. Set this field to "Yes" when Wildcard searching (i.e. "*", "?") is to be allowed for users of a given Operator Profile in combination with a particular Site Profile.
If Wildcard searching is not going to be allowed, set this field to "No".
The contents of the Wildcard Allowed field are modified using the <F6> ("Select") key to toggle between the "Yes" and "No" values.
OPAC may be set up to operate in a way such that the current search prompt (for example, the Author/Title search prompt, the Keyword search prompt or the Classmark search prompt, and so on) will re-appear when the user hits the spacebar when browsing the OPAC.
This facility enables users to re-enter a new search to be stacked on top of the results of the previous search
The value entered here indicates the maximum number of consecutive searches which may be stacked with a maximum stacked number of 5. To disallow search stacking set the value to "0"
The impact of this parameter on the behaviour of OPAC is as follows. There are two types of stacking:
For further information refer to Search Stacking.
In the case of explicit stacking (i.e. after pressing the <Space> to obtain a new search prompt) selecting <F12> ("Back") will take the user to the previous set of references.
When the number of searches currently stacked up is about to exceed the stack count limit in the "Maximum Stacked" field, a dialog box will display, indicating that the user has reached the maximum search limit. The OPAC user will be given the option of selecting <F12> ("Back") to return to the current search or selecting <F11> ("Search menu") to clear all searches and return to the Action Bar.
Implicit stacking works even when the "Maximum Stacked" parameter is set to zero. (Implicit stacking is controlled by the environment variable "TAL_IMPLICIT_STACK". Refer to Environment Variables for further details).
Note:
The Maximum Stacked parameter applies to explicit stacking only.
A post-restriction search, when stacked, has the following navigation characteristics. Pressing <F12> ("Back") will take the user to the previous set of references. Pressing <F11> ("Search menu") will clear all searches in the stack and return to the Action Bar.
It is possible to stack successively limited searches, for example, limiting by Date, then again by Format/Language. If stacking is turned off, each successive post-restrict will replace the set of results from the previous one. Selecting <F12> ("Back") will take the user back to the search prompt, with the restricted search syntax displayed. For example if the search has been limited with a date and language, both restrictors will display on the prompt, as the current search string.
Different messages will display at specified intervals after starting a search. The default interval values are shipped with Talis, but they may be amended. Both the time intervals and the messages themselves are Library-definable.
The three intervals correspond to the fields "Search Time 1", "Search Time 2" and "Search Time 3" on the OPAC General Rules List. The time settings are specific to Operator/Site combinations. It is therefore possible to set up different times for staff users and for public users at given Sites.
The search intervals work as follows:
The number entered here specifies the first search interrupt interval. Your input will be validated between 1 - 999 seconds. After the first interval (which defaults to 1 second), the first message will appear on the message line, indicating:
Searching please wait
This message will display until the search reaches the second interval.
Your input in this field must be a whole number between 1 -999 seconds. After this second interval (which defaults to 4 seconds from the start of the search, i.e. 3 seconds after the first interval), a new message will appear on the message line saying:
Still searching... press the spacebar if you want to stop the search
The search will continue, but the user can stop it if necessary by pressing the spacebar. On pressing the spacebar, the user will be returned to the search prompt from which that search was initiated.
After the third interval, the search will time out. The whole number entered here must be in the range of 1 - 999 seconds. The default for the third interval is 90 seconds.
Upon reaching this elapsed time, timeout will return to the point from which the search was initiated and display a message box. This message box will indicate that the search has timed out because it was too complicated, and advise the user to simplify the search.
Caution:
Search Times 1-3 must not be set to "0".
In order to disable search timeout, set the environment variable "TAL_INTR_TIMEOUT" as follows:
TAL_INTR_TIMEOUT=no;export TAL_INTR_TIMEOUT
<Enter>
Refer to OPAC-Related Environment Variables.
Having added to or edited the OPAC General Rules on display as required:
Press <F9> ("Accept").
The OPAC General Rules List will close, and the database will be updated to reflect the new/amended rules.
Note:
If you have inserted a new row via the General Rules maintenance interface, it will also appear in Security Rules with default values, which may be changed as necessary.
Note:
None of these amendments will take effect until the user has re-started Talis.
If you wish to abandon the OPAC General Rules List without saving any changes made in the current session:
Press <F12> ("Quit").
The list will close and you will be passed back to the Parameter Management Form.
Implementing Public Reservations provides a full overview of how Public Reservations are implemented.
Public Reservations Weightings permits the library to control which Items are reserved/recalled by a Public Reservation. These weightings allow the Library to make certain loans to certain Borrower Types more/less reservable and recallable than other Borrower/Loan Type combinations.
Public Reservation Weighting rules provide scope to define and edit rules controlling the relative weightings of public reservations placed via OPAC Borrower Services for given Item Type and Borrower Type combinations.
To obtain the Public Reservation Weighting List:
1. Select OPAC... from the Rules Pull Down Menu to open the OPAC Rules Menu.
2. Select Pub Res Weightings from the OPAC Rules Menu.
The appropriate double prompt will appear, as illustrated in The OPAC Public Reservation Weighting Prompt.
This double prompt enables you to specify a valid combination of either:
You must enter either a Borrower Type or an Item Type, since the prompt will not allow you to "Accept" the search if you specify neither. The double prompt allows you to define whether you wish to set Public Reservation Weightings for either:
The Public Reservation Weighting Prompt works in a similar way to the principles outlined for the OPAC Borrower Reservations Prompt. Either type in the code or name required against either prompt, or select a valid profile directly from the pop-up lists which may be obtained off both prompts using <F5> ("List").
Refer to Accessing OPAC Borrower Reservations, above for a more detailed account of how to use double prompt bars.
When a Borrower and/or Item Type has been input at the prompt, all existing Borrower/Item Type combinations matching the stated criteria will be presented, as shown in The Public Reservation Weighting List.
These fields operate together to identify the Borrower and Item Type combination represented by each line.
One or both of these two fields may be editable, within the constraints defined earlier at the double prompt when accessing this list. The system will not allow you to enter codes or names which do not conform to the selection criteria specified for the Borrower Type(s) and/or Item Type(s).
When one or both of these fields is editable, you will be able to type in the code or name required, or select valid options directly from the pop-up lists obtained off either field using <F5> ("List").
The weighting range falls between 0 to 9, with any weighting less than 5 being not recallable. Weighting 9 is the most reservable and the most recallable weighting.
Otherwise, the basic procedures for editing and navigation on this list are similar to those described above in Defining OPAC Borrower Reservations Rules.
Having added to, or edited the Public Reservation Weightings:
Press <F9> ("Accept").
The list will close, and the database will be updated to reflect the new/amended weightings.
If you wish to abandon the Public Reservation Weighting List without saving any changes made in the current session:
Press <F12> ("Quit").
The Security Rules option allows permissions to be defined for combinations of Operators and Sites, (in a manner similar to that for OPAC General Rules). Security Rules enable permissions may be set for:
To obtain the OPAC Security Rules List:
1. Select OPAC... from the Rules Pull Down Menu to open the OPAC Rules Menu.
2. Select Security Rules from the OPAC Rules Menu.
The Security Rules Prompt will appear, as shown in The Security Rules Prompt.
This double prompt allows you to enter any valid combination(s) of either:
You must enter either a Site Profile or an Operator Profile: the prompt will not allow you to "Accept" the search criteria if you enter neither. The double prompt effectively permits you to specify either:
The Security Rules Prompt behaves in the manner described above when discussing the OPAC Borrower Reservations Prompt. You may type in the code or name required against either prompt, or select a valid profile directly from the pop-up lists obtainable off both prompts using <F5> ("List").
Refer to Accessing OPAC Borrower Reservations, above for a more detailed outline of how to use double prompt bars such as this one.
When a Site Profile and/or Operator has been specified at the OPAC Security Rules Prompt, all existing Site/Operator Profile combinations matching the stated criteria will be presented, as shown in The Security Rules List.
The Security Rules List is used for defining and editing the various "security" rules/parameters summarised below, as they are meant to be applied to each particular Site Profile/OPAC Operator Profile combination (i.e. each individual line on the list).
The broad principles of editing and navigation on this list are essentially similar to those described above in Defining OPAC Borrower Reservations Rules. Only the specific details for each of the OPAC Security Rules will be explained in this section.
These fields operate together in order to identify the Operator/Site Profile combination which applies to each line.
One or both of these two fields may be editable, but only within the constraints defined earlier at the double prompt when accessing this list. The system will not allow you to enter codes or names in these fields which do not conform to the selection criteria specified for the Site profile(s) and/or Operator Profile(s).
When one or both of these fields is editable, you will be able to type in the code or name required, or select valid options directly from the pop-up lists obtained off either field using <F5> ("List").
Use this field to indicate whether or not a PIN will be required for access to Borrower Services and Public Reservations. The value shown here may only be modified using the <F6> ("Select") key to toggle between the "Yes" and "No" values. When a "No" is shown, this indicates that OPAC users will not be required to enter a PIN with their Borrower barcodes before being permitted to access Borrower Services or Public Reservations.
Enter here the maximum number of unsuccessful attempts the Borrower may make to enter a PIN before being trapped. Any whole number between 1 and 255 may be "accepted".
Use this field to select the trap message which will be attached to a Borrower who exceeds the number held in "max_pin_retries". Messages may be selected from a standard list:
1. Position the cursor on the PIN Message ID field.
2. Press <F5> ("List").
3. Highlight the standard message you require on the list.
4. The new PIN Message Id will be inserted when you press <F9> ("Accept") to close the list.
You may abandon the list without changing the current message by using <F12> ("Quit").
Refer to Defining Standard Messages for instructions on how to compose the messages available for selection.
This field indicates the number of seconds of inactivity which will be allowed to elapse before an OPAC terminal will timeout to the main OPAC welcome screen. The system will wait for the pre-defined period shown (the default is 60 seconds) before timing out. A maximum of 32767 seconds may be entered here. If this is set to 0 then timeout will not occur.
This field indicates the number of seconds of inactivity which will be allowed to elapse before an OPAC terminal currently in Borrower Services will timeout to the OPAC welcome screen. The system will wait for the pre-defined period shown here before timing out. A maximum of 32767 seconds may be specified. If this is set to 0 then timeout will not occur.
The contents of this field are used to determine whether users will be allowed to select the "Exit" option from the OPAC main action bar. (This is likely to be used for accessing OPAC over a network, or if staff are using other Talis modules).
Use the Exit Timeout field to determine whether or not the OPAC system will exit when timeout occurs (i.e. for users over a network) instead of returning to the main OPAC Welcome screen. The value shown here may not be edited directly; it can only be modified using the <F6> ("Select") key to toggle between "Yes" and "No" values. When a "No" is shown, this indicates that OPAC users will be returned to the OPAC Welcome screen upon timeout, rather than being ejected from OPAC altogether.
Having added to, or edited this list:
Press <F9> ("Accept").
The list will close, and the database will be updated to reflect the new/amended rules.
If you wish to abandon the OPAC Security Rules List along with any changes made during the current session:
Press <F12> ("Quit").
The current form will close and you will return to the Parameter Management Form.
Having performed an OPAC search and arrived at a list of the Works retrieved, Work Details may be displayed for a selected Work using <F7> ("Title"). It is possible to edit the default detailed display of any Work retrieved using OPAC. This is achieved using two aspects of the maintenance interface under OPAC Rules:
Many aspects of the Work Detail Form as displayed in OPAC may be amended using these two components of OPAC Rules, including:
There are several different displays available for the Work Detail Form in OPAC (in order to cater for different types of Work). This enables OPAC to produce the appropriate OPAC outputs for different categories of Work. There are five different layouts, each for a different type of Work, namely:
To obtain the Work Detail Layout Rules List:
1. Select OPAC... from the Rules Pull Down Menu to access the OPAC Rules Menu.
2. Select Work Detail Layouts from the OPAC Rules Menu.
The appropriate prompt bar will appear above the Work Detail Layout Form, as illustrated in The Type of Work Prompt.
This prompt enables you to specify the type of Work, thus enabling different displays to be edited independently to cater for each different type of Work. You may either type in the code or the name of the type of Work required at this prompt. Alternatively you may select a valid Work type directly from the pop-up list,which is obtained by selecting <F5> ("List").
When a type of Work has been input and "accepted" at the prompt, the relevant Work Detail Layout will be presented, as shown in The Work Detail Layout List.
This list defines the lines which will appear on the Work Detail Form for the particular type of Work selected at the Type of Work prompt. The Work Detail Layout list is used for defining each Work Detail display "template". This links to a definition of the MARC Tags and Subfields (defined using the Work Detail Tags List) which will be used as the information source for that display.
The broad principles of editing and navigation on this list are essentially similar to those described above in Defining OPAC Borrower Reservations Rules. Only the specific details of Work Detail Layout Rules will be explained below.
There are four fields in the Work Detail Layout List:
The Label Order determines the order in which the labels and their corresponding variable data are presented on the Work Detail Form. By editing this column it is possible to make one area of information precede another, for example to make the Title appear before the Author. The Label Order must be unique.
This field is used to define the text which will indicate the nature of the field contents displayed. Examples shown on screen are typically "Author:", "Title:", "Publisher:" etc. The corresponding meta labels (OD_DET_AU for AUTHOR) are given here, but a literal character string ("Author Name", for example) may be substituted if required.
The meta label will be used by default. If the system does not recognise your input in this field as a meta label, it will display your input as a customer-defined literal string instead.
Note:
If there is no data present in the Work selected in OPAC against a particular Tag/Subfield, the corresponding Label will not be included in the Work Detail Form.
The details of the MARC Tags and Subfields to be included in each display, and how these will be displayed, are defined using the Work Detail Tags List. The Layout ID is the attribute which links a particular layout defined using the Work Detail Layout List to the corresponding bibliographic display details set-up in the Work Detail Tags List. A list of the default IDs is provided below:
Layout_ID Constituent Area of Layout
0 Blank line
1 Author
2 Title
3 Edition
4 Publisher
5 Control Number
6 Subject
7 Notes (Tag 500)
8 Author: Multi-Volume Work (Child)
9 Title: Multi-Volume Work (Child)
10 Part of: Title, Multi-Volume Work (Parent)
11 Part No.: Multi-Volume Work (Volume)
12 Series Information: Series (Child)
13 Series Part No.: Series (Child)
14 Serial: Previously known as
15 Serial: Continued as
16 In: Analytical (Parent details)
17 Physical Description: Analytical
18 Contains
19 Notes (Tag 503)
20 Notes (Tag 504)
21 Notes (Tag 508)
22 Notes (Tag 514)
23 Notes (Tag 525)
There are typically different layouts for different types of Work.
The Layout Name is used to give a brief natural language description of the layout to be used. All default layouts supplied by BLCMP are called "BLCMP". Only default layouts are available at present. It is not currently possible to amend the Layout Name.
Having added to, or edited this list:
Press <F9> ("Accept").
The list will close, and the database will be updated to reflect the new/amended rules.
If you wish to abandon the Work Detail Layout Form along with any changes made during the current session:
Press <F12> ("Quit").
The current form will close and you will return to the Type of Work Prompt.
To access the Work Detail Tags List:
1. Select OPAC... from the Rules Pull Down Menu.
2. Select Work Detail Tags from the OPAC Rules Menu.
The Layout Number Prompt will appear above the Work Detail Tags Form, as shown in The Layout Number Prompt.
This prompt is used to specify the relevant Layout ID for any line on the Work Detail Form which you wish to define or amend. Any ID between 1 - 99 may be specified. The layout will be presented if it exists, or you may opt to create a new Layout ID by typing a new Layout Number and then pressing <F4> ("New").
The Work Detail Tags List is used to specify details of the MARC Tags and Subfields to be included in each particular layout. When a Layout ID has been input and "accepted" at the prompt, the relevant Work Detail Tag rules will be presented, as illustrated in The Work Detail Tags List.
The general principles of editing and navigation on this list are essentially similar to those described above in Defining OPAC Borrower Reservations Rules. Only details specific to Work Detail Tags will be explained below.
Each line on the Work Detail Tags List represents one MARC Tag/Subfield combination. There are eight fields:
The value present in this field is derived from the prompt bar and links to the corresponding Layout ID defined in the Work Detail Layout List. A complete list of the default Layout IDs from BLCMP is provided above.
This field is used to indicate the MARC Tag from which data will be derived for display.
Note:
If the Tag/Subfield in question is not present in the Work, the corresponding Label will not be shown on the Work Details Form. For example, if there is no author-related data, the "Author" label will not display on the Work Detail Form.
This field indicates the particular subfield (within the MARC Tag specified) from which data will be extracted for each record in order to construct the display.
The Local field is used to indicate whether a Library wishes to display the local or general version of this particular MARC Tag/Subfield. This parameter may only be modified using the <F6> ("Select") key to toggle between "Yes" or "No". The line is usually repeated if the library requests both general and local versions of a tag/subfield to display.
The Tag Order controls the order in which the Tags (and their corresponding subfields) will be used when presenting data on screen. By editing this field it is possible to make one element of information precede another, for example to make the Author's surname appear before the forename.
Punctuation entered in this field will be output in front of the data in order to bring about a suitable display. The result you wish to achieve may be either to AACR2 standard or a more user-friendly equivalent.
This field should be blank for the first data element displayed in the field.
Punctuation entered here will be output behind the data, to achieve a suitable presentation (again, either in conformity with AACR2 standards or some other user-friendly local equivalent).
This field is not available for use at present. The system defaults to the rule that data from any repeated field will be displayed in the Work Detail Form.
This field may be modified using <F6> ("Select") to toggle between "Yes"/"No", but (currently) the system will behave as though all rows on the Work Detail Tags List have been set to "Yes".
Having added to, or edited this list:
Press <F9> ("Accept").
The list will close, and the database will be updated to reflect the new/amended rules.
If you wish to abandon the Work Detail Tags List and any changes made during the current editing session:
Press <F12> ("Quit").
The list will close and you will return to the Layout Number Prompt.
The role and purpose of the various OPAC Rules has been explained. These include:
It is possible to edit the default Work Detail Form to create local versions of the Work display within OPAC. Both the formatting and content of the information presented on the OPAC Work Details Form may be Library-defined. There are two maintenance interfaces involved in setting-up and/or re-defining a Work Detail display:
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