[Evergreen-reports] Report Template Folders

[Beth Willis]

Jessica,

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, we are looking forward to the enhancement that will allow us to 
alphabetize our templates.  I think that our librarians may still have 
trouble identifying the correct templates in some of our folders, 
because the names often start with "List of items added..." or "Count of 
items by ..."

We also are considering using some sort of numbering system by which to 
identify report templates.  In this case, I plan to stay away from the 
database ID numbers.  Instead, I will assign a number to each template 
and this number will remain constant even if the template is cloned 
(i.e. edited).  If a template is cloned (i.e. copied) a new number will 
be assigned.

And I agree that making these edits in the database is much easier and 
less confusing than cloning templates to edit descriptive information 
about them.

Thanks again for your input.
beth

Beth Willis
Digital & Catalog Librarian
NOBLE, Inc.
26 Cherry Hill Drive
Danvers, MA 01923

On 5/22/2013 10:07 AM, Jessica Venturo wrote:
> Hi Beth,
>
> FWIW, in a future version of Evergreen (2.4 I think?), an enhancement has
> been added that will sort template names alphabetically.  We have this
> enhancement running in production and it is fantastic.  I think libraries
> are able to find shared reports a lot more quickly and easily.
>
> We do still run into problems occasionally because, as you said, a lot of
> the reports have similar names and descriptions and do similar things.  I
> recently went through the folders and tweaked the names of some of the
> templates trying to make them clearer.  If you have access to your database,
> changing the names of your templates there is SO much easier than cloning
> them and deleting the original!
>
> One of our librarians suggested that we incorporate numbers into our
> template names so we can tell them "You need template #XYZ" instead of
> giving them the long convoluted name that the templates usually end up with.
> I would like to do that, but I'm trying to figure out a way to do it that is
> simple and makes sense, and doesn't defeat the purpose of alphabetizing the
> templates.  I don't really like the idea of having to look up the template
> ID number to tag onto the end of the name every time I add a report to the
> shared folders, but maybe that's what I'll end up doing should we decide we
> need to implement a numbering system.
>
> I hope this helps, and I hope we hear from some library systems and
> consortia.  I'm sure the organization of report folders is a common dilemma.
>
> Thanks,
> Jessica
>
> ---
> Jessica Venturo
> Applications Support Specialist
>   Bibliomation, Inc.
> 24 Wooster Ave.
> Waterbury, CT 06708
>   203-577-4070 ext. 105
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: evergreen-reports-bounces at list.evergreen-ils.org
> [mailto:evergreen-reports-bounces at list.evergreen-ils.org] On Behalf Of Beth
> Willis
> Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 9:56 AM
> To: evergreen-reports at list.evergreen-ils.org
> Subject: [Evergreen-reports] Report Template Folders
>
> We have created dozens of shared report templates for our member libraries
> to use and to clone.  These templates are located in folders such as "Lists
> of Items," "Counts of Items," "Circulation,"
> "Acquisitions," etc.  In some folders there are many templates, include
> several templates with similar functions, similar names and descriptions.
> Consequently, it can be very difficult for library staff to identify the
> correct template for their desired report.
>
> Since there currently is no way to control the order in which the report
> templates display, we are trying to come up with some alternative way to
> organize these templates.
>
> Have others developed systems for organizing their report templates more
> effectively?  If so, I'd appreciate hearing from you.
>
> Thanks.
> beth
>
>
>
> Beth Willis
> Digital & Catalog Librarian
> NOBLE, Inc.
> 26 Cherry Hill Drive
> Danvers, MA 01923
>
>
>
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