Item type change alert
Submitted by Andrew Jackson on Tue, 2009-02-03 14:01.
In Leicestershire we have collections of popular fiction paperbacks, which we issue for 1 week for the first three months in stock. After that they become normal three week loan items. Is there any way a message could automatically be added to items when they are due to move from 1 week to 3 week loan? This would then alert staff to change the item type. We currently use Rotation plans to do this, but we have reached our limit of rotation plans and would like to free some up for proper rotation.
Andrew Jackson.
Adding messages to items
There is an article about Adding standard messages to borrowers or items.
The trickier bit is selecting the items. There is a Sybase datediff command that can be used to calculate the 3 months between two dates. While one date would be the current system date the other date is more problematic.
The ITEM table has a CREATE_DATE attribute and an EDIT_DATE attribute but neither one may be relevant in terms of when the item became in stock. The edit date refers to the last edit which may not have been a status change and the create date of the item may have been when the item was ordered not in stock.
There may be other approaches but just to confirm what are using as the start of the in stock period?
If the items can be identified the item type can be changed directly with or without adding a message.
Thanks
Brian Crampton
Developer, Talis
Adding messages to items
Brian, Thanks for your reply.
These items are delivered direct to libraries, who receipt the items and put them in stock, so we would want the three months to start from that date.
I'll consult with staff about changing the item type directly with or without a message.
Thanks, Andrew.
Adding messages to items
Is it possible to start counting the three months for the item to change type from the Receipt date? All this stock is receipted by our libraries in Circulation. They then put the items in stock.
Andrew.
Adding messages to items
The ITEM_ORDER_HISTORY has a DATE_RECD attribute that could be used to select items that have been received through the acquisitions module.
This would form the basis for identifying the items you want to add messages to.
Possible SQL code could be (although it might be more complicated given other criteria):
select distinct ITEM_ID
from ITEM_ORDER_HISTORY
where datediff(mm,DATE_RECD,getdate())=3
You may have to fiddle with the difference depending on what exactly you mean by 3 months.
Brian Crampton
Developer, Talis