[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] ***SPAM*** RE: ***SPAM*** fund summaries from invoices

[Rogan Hamby]

Aside from legal issues I can think of pragmatic reasons to abstract the
conversation about workflows.  When you deal too closely with the whys of
one system (insert name of any one you want) and say that you want to be
able to do the same thing in another (say Evergreen) there is too much a
likelihood of copying details where the why those details exist doesn't
apply in the new system.  Those things may even be obvious to the users but
when you're describing those things to developers who don't use the system
as you do, you shouldn't make those assumptions.  It's surprisingly easy to
make those assumptions even when you don't think you are!

Abstracting the workflow and identifying what you need therefore actually
helps the process a lot.  Therefore things like screenshots are really
useful when developing and identifying your own workflow needs on a current
system but then that has to be translated into the requirements you give to
developers.

This is a long way of saying that forcing yourself to restate things helps
you identify the actual needs through the translation and restatement
process and helps to create more precise information.  Also, if you get rid
of potentially extraneous data that confuses participates you have a chance
at greater accuracy.




On Fri, Jul 12, 2013 at 12:10 PM, Ann-Marie Breaux <ABreaux at ybp.com> wrote:

>  As someone who works with many different library systems on behalf of
> our customers, I would say that it's a pretty standard request. Most
> libraries don't send their own payments to their vendors. Instead, they
> submit some sort of report, summary, or voucher to their larger
> organization - the university, the corporation, the city, the county, the
> state, the feds - and that larger organization handles the debits from the
> actual financial accounts and the payment to the vendor, either via credit
> card, EFT, or check. Those vouchers from the library can either be paper,
> which is sent to the larger organization along with copies of invoices, or
> they can be electronically transmitted between the library's financial
> system and the larger organization's financial system.****
>
> ** **
>
> In any event, my guess is that other libraries have a similar need. I
> don't know if there's something in Evergreen that parallels what Robert has
> requested, but I'm guessing that most every library using Evergreen's
> acquisitions system is doing something to report invoices and payment
> requests to their larger organization.****
>
> ** **
>
> Hope this helps,****
>
> ** **
>
> *Ann-Marie Breaux***
>
> Vice President, Academic Service Integration****
>
> YBP Library Services****
>
> Phone/fax: +1 (678) 445-5720****
>
> e-mail: abreaux at ybp.com ****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org [mailto:
> open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] *On Behalf Of *Jim
> Taylor
> *Sent:* Friday, July 12, 2013 11:54 AM
> *To:* 'Evergreen Discussion Group'
> *Subject:* [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] ***SPAM*** RE: ***SPAM*** fund summaries
> from invoices****
>
> ** **
>
> I think the question was simply what it was...is there a way to create a
> similar summary?    I don't believe it was a plea for someone to turn
> Evergreen into Symphony.   Would seem like useful information no matter
> what ILS one was using and, while also not being a lawyer, it would seem
> difficult for someone to argue that only they are allowed to produce a
> report which tells someone how much and from which budget lines they are
> spending their money.****
>
> ** **
>
> Guess I'm sticking my nose into someone else's discussion but seemed like
> an unfair accusation against Mr. Meeks and one likely to derail his request
> for information.****
>
> ** **
>
> Jim****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org [
> mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org<open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org>]
> *On Behalf Of *Lebbeous Fogle-Weekley
> *Sent:* Friday, July 12, 2013 10:01 AM
> *To:* Evergreen Discussion Group
> *Subject:* Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] ***SPAM*** fund summaries from invoices*
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Robert,****
>
> ** **
>
> I am not a lawyer, but I do have a vague idea that Evergreen development
> can't just mimic proprietary ILSes without running into potential legal
> trouble.  Nobody here is trying to produce a clone of Symphony or anything
> else; even setting aside legal concerns, that's just not a goal of the
> Evergreen project.****
>
> ** **
>
> That said, if you would be open to discussing your workflows and needs in
> a somewhat more abstract form, I do hope you find that the mailing list and
> the IRC channel[1] will help lead you down any of these paths:****
>
> ** **
>
> - Finding alternative workflows that libraries already using Evergreen can
> recommend to accomplish your essential goals****
>
> - Finding volunteer effort to develop new features****
>
> - Finding vendors who can develop the features you want for Evergreen,
> ideally blending your requirements harmoniously with those of libraries in
> a similar position****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks,****
>
> ** **
>
> Lebbeous****
>
> ** **
>
> [1] See http://www.open-ils.org/irc.php****
>
> ** **
>
> On Fri, Jul 12, 2013 at 10:25 AM, Robert Meeks <
> robert.meeks at asburyseminary.edu> wrote:****
>
> Hi all - another question as I continue to nail down my acquisitions
> workflows.****
>
> ** **
>
> When I finish with an invoice and successfully pay everything in
> Evergreen, I need to be able to create some kind of summary that displays
> how much money is coming out of which funds in an invoice. This is crucial
> to our payment process, as I send copies of the invoice to be paid and this
> summary to my business office, who then cuts the check to our vendors. The
> attached screenshot is the summary I used to be able to get from Symphony
> when I paid an invoice. Is it possible to create such a summary after
> finishing with an invoice in Evergreen?****
>
> ** **
>
> ****
>
> *
> Robert Meeks*****
>
> *Acquisitions Specialist - BL Fisher Library*****
>
> Asbury Theological Seminary****
>
> 204 N. Lexington Ave.****
>
> Wilmore, KY 40390****
>
> p: 859.858.2397****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
>
>
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> -- ****
>
> Lebbeous Fogle-Weekley****
>
>  | Software Developer****
>
>  | Equinox Software, Inc. / The Open Source Experts****
>
>  | phone:  1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457)****
>
>  | email:  lebbeous at esilibrary.com****
>
>  | web:  http://www.esilibrary.com****
>



-- 

Rogan Hamby, MLS, CCNP, MIA
Managers Headquarters Library and Reference Services,
York County Library System

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit
me."
-- C.S. Lewis <http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1069006.C_S_Lewis>
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