CCS News
DECEMBER 19, 2008
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
System slowness - We have been on the phone quite a bit with Sirsi regarding the slowness. On Monday December 22 we will need to turn system logging on This will be done between 7:15 and 8am on Monday morning with Sirsi’s assistance. It will require a very short time of system interruption while we reboot.
Sirsi has advised that they have never seen this cause difficulty or slowdowns; however, we want you to be informed just in case. We will be in the computer room, so please call us to assist in case there are any difficulties at all. Sirsi will also be monitoring with us starting at that time and will watch with us through Tuesday morning when we will turn the logging off between 7:30 and 8:00 am again. Usually we don’t do these things on Mondays but in this case it is important to get the measure as soon as possible, and it will also give us some circulation statistics for when book drops are being emptied.
Holiday hours – the computer room will adjourn for the Christmas holiday beginning at 1:15 pm on Dec 24. This will accommodate the libraries that are open that day. The computer room will be closed on Dec 25.
The computer room will be closed starting at 5:15 on New Years Eve and will be closed all day News Years Day. Your favorite Computer Room staffer will be taking some time off over the holidays – so it might help you to know that generally speaking Frank will be gone Dec 19-25, Linda will be gone Dec 23-28, Willie will be gone Dec 26,29,31,Jan 2 and Bob will be gone Dec 29-Jan 3.
Snow plans –It is a good time to let everyone know what our plan is in case of snow. When it is fairly certain that incapacitating snow is on the way we will turn our regular support line to roll over to our cell phones before we leave the office. We will monitor the systems from home.. If a snowstorm surprises us and we are unable to get into the office – you can still always still reach us on the emergency number which is 866-537-2406 during regular support hours. This number is also given on general mailbox greeting when we are not in the office for some reason.
Bottom line: Our support number 847-342-5303 is ALWAYS a good way to reach us.
CARY TO RESUME HOLDS: Cary will accept holds from other libraries again as of January 6.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that several new Java users have asked why they can’t open more than one window in WorkFlows? The fact is, you can have multiple windows open in Java, but you can’t tell they’re open by looking at the screen unless you’ve activated the Window option on the Menu Toolbar. This option is not available when Java is initially installed on a PC and must be turned on manually by the user. (Under the Preferences menu, go to Desktop/Desktop Setup. Place a checkmark in the box at the bottom of the screen labeled “Multiple windows mode” and restart WorkFlows.) Once activated, the Window heading is added to the Menu Toolbar and when multiple windows are open it provides four ways to view them. (Tile, Cascade, Horizontal, and Vertical).
In addition to making different views available, the Window option turns on a useful keyboard command (Ctrl+F6) that allows you to switch between open Java windows the same way you use Alt+Tab to switch from one open application to another on your PC’s desktop. Fans of keyboard shortcuts may be familiar with the Alt+Tab key combination to move between several open Microsoft desktop applications without using the mouse. The Java shortcut works basically the same as Alt+Tab does in MS Windows. If you have more than one Java window open, press and hold down the Ctrl key and then press the F6 key to move backward from the currently open window to the previous open window. If you have more than two WorkFlows windows open, it will continue to backtrack through the windows in the order you opened them until you reach the first window in that session. Once you’re back to the original window, typing Ctrl+F6 again will take you back to the last window opened and start the process all over again. And there’s another good reason for implementing the Window menu option. It’s a work-around for the annoying Java error message: “There are open wizards that require attention. Please close the wizards.” Once you add Window to the Menu Toolbar, you’ll stop seeing that particular Java error. Ken Victorson
NO CCS NEWS TILL JANUARY 9:
We’ll take a holiday break and skip the next two weeks of this bulletin. Happy holidays to all from the CCS staff!
CCS MEETINGS THE NEXT THREE WEEKS:
Wed., 1/7, 2 PM, Ela: Long Range Planning Committee
Fri., 1/9, NSLS: Circulation
Thursday, December 11, 2008
CCS News
DECEMBER 12, 2008
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Open Holds Pick List and Slowness – periods of slowness were experienced late Wednesday afternoon. Sirsi was alerted and will have an opportunity to process the data. We would like to re-instate the mid-day pick list, but we might have to pick a different time based on the feedback that you have been sharing with us. Please stay tuned.
Holidays – the last day all computer room staff will be in the office is Wednesday, December 17. After that we begin some staggered vacation time and you might find that your favorite CR staffer is off for a period of a few days with the family. Computer Room will be closed Christmas Day and New Years Day and will be shortening schedules on Christmas Eve (night) and New Years Eve night, but we can support any open libraries using our emergency number.
AUTHORITIES UPDATE:
CCS sent 2142 bibliographic records to Marcive on Wednesday, Dec. 10th for Overnight Authorities Processing. The records have been processed and were reloaded into our system. Of the 2142 bibliographic records, Marcive returned 763 updated bibliographic records. Marcive also sent us 993 new authority records. Marcive’s speedy service insures that the CCS database is kept up to date as much as possible with current headings and references. -- Virginia R. Seward, CCS Authorities Librarian
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know there are two documents on the CCS web page that provide step-by-step instructions for using the Place Blanket Hold wizard - one for Java and one for the C client? Blanket holds can be an excellent solution for patrons who want a particular title immediately and don’t care what physical form it’s in. For example, they’re willing to accept a book in hard cover, paperback, large type, or illustrated edition - as long as they receive the item quickly. The Place Blanket Hold wizard allows you to put holds on multiple copies of an item in any format and the first available copy of that title (regardless of the format) will satisfy the hold. The other holds on that title will automatically be canceled when the hold has been filled. To review the documents that describe the Place Blanket Hold procedures, go to the CCS web page and select the link for Sirsi Resources. The instruction for the Java client is called: "Blanket Hold Procedure in Java" and it’s found under the Documented Procedures column on that page. The instruction for the C client is called: "Blanket Hold Procedure" and is also found under the Documented Procedures column on that page.
NOTE: The wizard for placing Blanket Holds may not currently be available on your Java toolbar. See my article in the November 6, 2008 edition of CCS News for information about how to add the Place Blanket Hold wizard to your WorkFlows screen. A document describing this process (called: Adding Blanket Holds to Java Toolbars) is also available on the CCS web page. – Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Tues., 12/16, 9:30, NSLS: Maintenance Coordinators
Wed., 12/17, CCS, 9:30: SCRAP
DECEMBER 12, 2008
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
Open Holds Pick List and Slowness – periods of slowness were experienced late Wednesday afternoon. Sirsi was alerted and will have an opportunity to process the data. We would like to re-instate the mid-day pick list, but we might have to pick a different time based on the feedback that you have been sharing with us. Please stay tuned.
Holidays – the last day all computer room staff will be in the office is Wednesday, December 17. After that we begin some staggered vacation time and you might find that your favorite CR staffer is off for a period of a few days with the family. Computer Room will be closed Christmas Day and New Years Day and will be shortening schedules on Christmas Eve (night) and New Years Eve night, but we can support any open libraries using our emergency number.
AUTHORITIES UPDATE:
CCS sent 2142 bibliographic records to Marcive on Wednesday, Dec. 10th for Overnight Authorities Processing. The records have been processed and were reloaded into our system. Of the 2142 bibliographic records, Marcive returned 763 updated bibliographic records. Marcive also sent us 993 new authority records. Marcive’s speedy service insures that the CCS database is kept up to date as much as possible with current headings and references. -- Virginia R. Seward, CCS Authorities Librarian
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know there are two documents on the CCS web page that provide step-by-step instructions for using the Place Blanket Hold wizard - one for Java and one for the C client? Blanket holds can be an excellent solution for patrons who want a particular title immediately and don’t care what physical form it’s in. For example, they’re willing to accept a book in hard cover, paperback, large type, or illustrated edition - as long as they receive the item quickly. The Place Blanket Hold wizard allows you to put holds on multiple copies of an item in any format and the first available copy of that title (regardless of the format) will satisfy the hold. The other holds on that title will automatically be canceled when the hold has been filled. To review the documents that describe the Place Blanket Hold procedures, go to the CCS web page and select the link for Sirsi Resources. The instruction for the Java client is called: "Blanket Hold Procedure in Java" and it’s found under the Documented Procedures column on that page. The instruction for the C client is called: "Blanket Hold Procedure" and is also found under the Documented Procedures column on that page.
NOTE: The wizard for placing Blanket Holds may not currently be available on your Java toolbar. See my article in the November 6, 2008 edition of CCS News for information about how to add the Place Blanket Hold wizard to your WorkFlows screen. A document describing this process (called: Adding Blanket Holds to Java Toolbars) is also available on the CCS web page. – Ken Victorson
CCS MEETINGS NEXT WEEK:
Tues., 12/16, 9:30, NSLS: Maintenance Coordinators
Wed., 12/17, CCS, 9:30: SCRAP
Thursday, December 4, 2008
CCS News
DECEMBER 5, 2008
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
System slowdowns – we were able to catch the slowdowns “LIVE” on Wednesday with a Sirsi technician. Although our diagnosis is still ongoing with Sirsi, we are sure that this time it was not the network. We have also ruled out our hardware capacity from the evidence gathered on the system statistics. However, there is a definite bottleneck where transactions slow and we could see this on the systems statistics coincident to when you were experiencing the problems at the libraries. The Pick List was suspended temporarily to see if that helped matters and we continue to monitor diligently.
List of Checkouts – we have heard from Sirsi that a list of checkouts from the "Print User" user helper in the Display User wizard must be printed on standard paper (not receipt paper). However, the Checkout wizard has the option of automatically printing out a list of a patron's current checkouts. This allows the information to be given to the patron at the point of checkout every time they check out items. This is recommended by Sirsi when the receipt printer must be used.
FAREWELL AND GOOD WISHES to departing CCS Library Directors Elisa Topper, who leaves Dundee at year’s end, and Elizabeth Crane Novak, who resigned from Round Lake effective December 1. We wish both Elisa and Elizabeth the best, although Life After CCS obviously includes an unfillable void.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that only six of the 23 CCS libraries have selected staff to help with testing Symphony 3.2.1? And only two of those six libraries have identified testers for more than one module. The areas to be tested are: Acquisitions, Cataloging & Serials, Circulation, ILL, and PAS and we need to have knowledgeable people review the fixes and enhancements in the modules associated with each of these areas. The installation of Symphony 3.2.1 on the test server will be happening soon (currently planned for later this month) and because this is a major upgrade to the software we need to have more volunteers available for this project – at least one if not more from each library. The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises when we ultimately upgrade the production server with the new release is to have as many people as possible examine it thoroughly while it’s on the test server.
As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, you’ll be hearing more about Symphony 3.2.1 testing as the date for the new installation approaches, but feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns about test procedures. I would really like to receive the names and email addresses of experienced staff members who’ll be helping with testing as soon as they're known, so I can add them to my testing spread sheet and start sending project information, test scripts, instructions, etc. to participants. – Ken Victorson
CCS MEETING NEXT WEEK:
Thur., 12/11, 9:30, Lake Villa: ILL
DECEMBER 5, 2008
FROM THE COMPUTER ROOM:
System slowdowns – we were able to catch the slowdowns “LIVE” on Wednesday with a Sirsi technician. Although our diagnosis is still ongoing with Sirsi, we are sure that this time it was not the network. We have also ruled out our hardware capacity from the evidence gathered on the system statistics. However, there is a definite bottleneck where transactions slow and we could see this on the systems statistics coincident to when you were experiencing the problems at the libraries. The Pick List was suspended temporarily to see if that helped matters and we continue to monitor diligently.
List of Checkouts – we have heard from Sirsi that a list of checkouts from the "Print User" user helper in the Display User wizard must be printed on standard paper (not receipt paper). However, the Checkout wizard has the option of automatically printing out a list of a patron's current checkouts. This allows the information to be given to the patron at the point of checkout every time they check out items. This is recommended by Sirsi when the receipt printer must be used.
FAREWELL AND GOOD WISHES to departing CCS Library Directors Elisa Topper, who leaves Dundee at year’s end, and Elizabeth Crane Novak, who resigned from Round Lake effective December 1. We wish both Elisa and Elizabeth the best, although Life After CCS obviously includes an unfillable void.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that only six of the 23 CCS libraries have selected staff to help with testing Symphony 3.2.1? And only two of those six libraries have identified testers for more than one module. The areas to be tested are: Acquisitions, Cataloging & Serials, Circulation, ILL, and PAS and we need to have knowledgeable people review the fixes and enhancements in the modules associated with each of these areas. The installation of Symphony 3.2.1 on the test server will be happening soon (currently planned for later this month) and because this is a major upgrade to the software we need to have more volunteers available for this project – at least one if not more from each library. The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises when we ultimately upgrade the production server with the new release is to have as many people as possible examine it thoroughly while it’s on the test server.
As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, you’ll be hearing more about Symphony 3.2.1 testing as the date for the new installation approaches, but feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns about test procedures. I would really like to receive the names and email addresses of experienced staff members who’ll be helping with testing as soon as they're known, so I can add them to my testing spread sheet and start sending project information, test scripts, instructions, etc. to participants. – Ken Victorson
CCS MEETING NEXT WEEK:
Thur., 12/11, 9:30, Lake Villa: ILL
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