RE: [IUG] Required Field

["CLARK Brenda B" <brenda dot b dot clark at co dot multnomah dot or dot us>]

Hi
We also really wanted a way to require certain fields and even certain
formats in our records -- particularly patron records -- but there's no
way to do that in the current Millennium product.  You're right that any
data that has to go through a web page first can be made to adhere to
some constraints -- because the library has more control over the
content of those pages.  But most staff are not going to be entering
patron data that way and it's very easy to get the data in the wrong
field if you're a speed typist (not speaking for myself of course).

I'm all for flexibility but in this case I'd like to see the flexibility
built around the library's being able to require the fields it needs.

Brenda


Brenda B. Clark
ILS Manager
Multnomah County Library
801 SW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205  

-----Original Message-----
From: innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org
[mailto:innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org] On Behalf Of Ryan, Ann
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 3:01 PM
To: 'IUG INNOPAC List'
Subject: RE: [IUG] Required Field


Hi Dalene

To the best of our knowledge (and we tried really, really hard to find a
way), it is not possible to have a library controlled mandatory field in
Millennium.  This applies to all record types (not only bibliographic
records).  We have the same problem in Circulation, where it is possible
to have a patron record, with no patron name. 

We have been told by III that this is an example of the flexible nature
of Millennium, that there are no constraints imposed by the system.
Speaking as someone who likes a little more control over my data
quality, I'd prefer that there was *some* ability to impose constraints
(even if the library does it rather than Millennium). As you've said,
prompts encourage staff to enter data correctly; but it's still possible
(easy) to get it wrong.

The only exception to this, is that if data is entered by web form (e.g.
patron self-registration), we can specify that (library defined)
mandatory fields are completed before the form is accepted for
translation into a Millennium patron record.

This might give some hope for the future -- I know that there is a III
product for web-based cataloguing. I haven't actually seen this in
operation. It may well be that this will also permit mandatory fields to
be required before the bib record is accepted by Millennium.  However, I
don't know how (or if) this would tie in with your workflow.

Regards

Ann

Ann Ryan
Millennium Business Support Manager
eLGAR 
Auckland Central Library, Level 3 
Ph 357-3090
Mobile 0274 276 8614
email: Ann dot Ryan at aucklandcity dot govt dot nz


-----Original Message-----
From: innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org
[mailto:innopac-bounces at innopacusers dot org] On Behalf Of Art Gutierrez
Sent: Tuesday, 20 December 2005 5:47
To: innopac at innopacusers dot org
Subject: [IUG] Required Field

 We are wondering whether there is a way to *require* a field in a
cataloging template.  I can't find anything in the documentation that
will allow me to do anything other than prompt for a field.
    We would like to require at least a 245 in one of our templates so
that our circulation staff who handle electronic reserves will be
required to enter a title before they save a record.
    Thanks!
    Dalene
    Dalene Hawthorne
    Assistant Professor
    Head of Automation and Collection Management
    William Allen White Library
    Emporia State University
    620-341-5052
    hawthord at emporia dot edu 



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