[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Claims returned issue

[scrlheadlib at mts.net]

Thanks Jason. Sending this on to my computer expert, David! :)
Mary

-----Original Message-----
From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org
[mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of
Jason Etheridge
Sent: June 8, 2009 11:52 AM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Claims returned issue

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 12:13 PM, <scrlheadlib at mts.net> wrote:
> Can anyone help us?

Hi Mary, I can try, but I fear it'll involve delving into the database
with SQL.

> When we mark an item “claimed returned” and then the book is found we
cannot
> return the item.  We get a “check-in failed” message.

This is normal, if it's part of a "Force this action?" dialog, and not
a skull & crossbones error message.  Forcing the action will require a
specific permission (if the permission is lacking, it'll tell you the
name of the permission and prompt for the login credentials of someone
with the permission).

> We can delete the bar code and then reenter it and then it will return it
but it
> stays on the patron record as having 1 item out and it is listed in the
claims
> returned area and we have no idea how to get rid of it.  Deleting the bar
code
> and reentering probably wasn’t a good idea but we were getting desperate!

Recent versions of EG will warn you if you try delete items that are
still circulating, though it will still allow you to do so (and doing
so doesn't close out circulations).  The problem is that the Items Out
interface is trying to check in the item by barcode, and not by its
internal id, so when you try to check the item in from that interface
you're suddenly hitting the wrong item (the new one that re-used the
barcode, and not the one actually listed in Items Out).

You'll probably need to reach under the hood and fix this with SQL.

OPTION 1 - closing out the circulation in the database

I would use the column picker in the upper right of the Items Out list
and display the Circ Id column.  Note the circ id for the affected
circulation.

Then, in the database, using psql:

SELECT id, shortname, name FROM actor.org_unit;

Note the id for the library you want to check this item in at.

UPDATE "action".circulation SET checkin_time = NOW(), checkin_staff =
1, checkin_lib = <replace with org id for your library> WHERE id =
<replace with pertinent circ id from Items Out> ;

If there are no outstanding bills or fines associated with that
circulation, then you should also close it out completely like so:

UPDATE "action".circulation SET xact_finish = NOW() WHERE id =
<replace with pertinent circ id from Items Out> ;

The part where we say checkin_staff = 1, that's referring to the user
with id = 1 in the actor.usr table, which by default is the admin
user.  If you're a stickler for good statistics, you can replace that
with the internal id of an actual staff member.  Either of the two
queries below can get you that internal id:

SELECT id, usrname, family_name, first_given_name FROM actor.usr WHERE
usrname = <replace with OPAC login name of staff member>;

or

SELECT id, usrname, family_name, first_given_name FROM actor.usr WHERE
id IN (SELECT usr FROM actor.card WHERE barcode = <replace with
library card number of staff member>) ;

Or you can use the Patron Search interface and display the User ID
column with the column picker.

OPTION 2 - Undelete the item to either try again or recreate the error

First, delete the replacement item you created.  Then use the column
picker in Items Out to display the Copy ID for the affected
circulation.

To undelete the old item:

UPDATE asset.copy SET deleted = false WHERE id = <replace with
pertinent Copy ID from Items Out>;

Now try checking the item in.  If you still can't get the item to
check in, it's worth sharing more details with us surrounding the
error.  Or, for expediency, you can go back to Option 1 to force the
item to become checked in.

Let us know if this helps!

-- 
Jason Etheridge
 | VP, Community Support and Advocacy
 | Equinox Software, Inc. / The Evergreen Experts
 | phone:  1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457)
 | email:  jason at esilibrary.com
 | web:  http://www.esilibrary.com