[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] search for something other than barcode in checkout screen

[Joan Kranich]

Hi,

We have a training server where I can use the libraries' items and patrons without causing problems.  If I am testing on the production server used live by libraries, I usually test using dummy patrons and items.  This also allows the freedom of changing permission groups in patron records and org units and circ modifiers in copy records without interfering with library business.

On the earlier question about a way to search for an item to check out by something other than the barcode (author, title, record number), we have this ability in our current system and some of our libraries were looking for this type of searching in Evergreen.  They have some material that cannot be barcoded and they circulate it using a title.  However it can be dangerous circulating material by title if the system does not let staff verify that the correct record was retrieved before performing the checkout.

Joan

Joan Kranich
C/W MARS Member Services
jkranich at cwmars.org
508-755-3323 ext. 21

From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org [mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of Steve Wills
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 11:49 PM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] search for something other than barcode in checkout screen

This thread raises an interesting dev situation/question.   If one is trying to help a library pull Evergreen together and they are in a remote situation, what is the best practice for testing desk functions?  I don't happen to have a stack and patrons handy most days.   What are the best practices for testing remotely?  Do folks have dummy items in their catalog?  Is there an extra dummy volume that is barcoded and stored in the shelving location "test stack"?  How do you do it?

for my part, for better or worse, I use live items that i know are currently not checked out.  In my rural library setting this tends to be safe since I choose titles that have low circ stats.  I do, however run the risk that a parton will try and check out my copy of "Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" while I'm using it for testing.  While I  use this technique for my poor library consortium, I am aware it is not a "Best Practice" in IT development.  What does your development environment look like?

Stev3

-----Original Message-----
From: Lori Bowen Ayre [mailto:lori.ayre at galecia.com]
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 10:06 AM
To: 'Evergreen Discussion Group'
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] search for something other than barcode in checkout screen

It seems this is a feature that is only important when you are playing with a demo server sitting at home without library material!  Thanks, Thomas.

Lori


On Sun, Feb 19, 2012 at 1:54 PM, Thomas Berezansky <tsbere at mvlc.org<mailto:tsbere at mvlc.org>> wrote:
No, there is no way to do that from the checkout screen. Barcodes only.

I am not sure why you would want to, either. If you don't have the item in front of you, why are you checking it out?

Thomas Berezansky
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium



Quoting Lori Bowen Ayre <lori.ayre at galecia.com<mailto:lori.ayre at galecia.com>>: