Application Maintenance
The application uses several system-wide configuration values to adjust
the settings of the application. These values are set through the Application
Maintenance form. To access this form, click the System Values button on
Administration panel of the Main form.
NOTE: Incorrect use of the system
values may produce unexpected results in the application.
The form consists of two tabbed panels.
System-Wide
- Default Item Location - Select the default
location for new item copies added to the system. Note that you will not
be able to add new items through the Edit Item
Copy form until you set this value. The list of choices is defined
through the Edit Location form.
- Fine Grace Days - Enter the number of
days that an item can be overdue without incurring the fine stated on
the associated media type record. Set
this field to zero to charge fines immediately on overdue items. If this
value is not supplied, it defaults to zero.
- Search Result Limit - Enter the maximum
number of records returned for all patron and administrative searches
in the application. If this value is not supplied, a limit of 250 records
is imposed.
- Classification - Select the classification
system in use at your library, either Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress.
- Patrons Can Perform Item Self-Checkout
- Select this field to authorize patrons to check out items through the
application without administrator or librarian assistance.
- [Next Barcode] For Library Item Labels
- Enter the next value number for barcode labels to be printed for use
on library items. Take care that the ranges for library item, patron,
and miscellaneous labels do not overlap.
- [Next Barcode] For Patron Labels - Enter
the next value number for barcode labels to be printed for use on patron
library cards. Take care that the ranges for library item, patron, and
miscellaneous labels do not overlap.
- [Next Barcode] For Miscellaneous Labels
- Enter the next value number for barcode labels to be printed for miscellaneous
use. Take care that the ranges for library item, patron, and miscellaneous
labels do not overlap.
- Barcode Font Name - Select the locally-installed
Windows font to be used for printing of barcode labels. This font should
be the same at all workstations used to print labels. A sample "Code
39" barcode label is supplied with the application. However, you
can use any valid third-party label font for printing purposes.
- Barcode is "Code 39" or "Code 3 of 9"
- Select this field if the barcode font in use prints
"Code 39" or "Code 3 of 9" barcodes. These barcodes
use a special start and stop symbol at the beginning and end of the barcode
symbol. When this field is selected, the application will automatically
add the start and end symbols to the barcode value before printing the
barcode on a label.
- Top of Ticket Text - Enter any text,
such as the name of your library, that should appear at the top of each
check-out and fine-payment receipt printed at local workstations. Use
the vertical bar ("|") character to indicate where a new line
should begin within the text. All lines will be centered on the output
ticket.
- Bottom of Ticket Text - Enter any text,
such as that "thank you" message, that should appear at the
bottom of each check-out and fine-payment receipt printed at local workstations.
Use the vertical bar ("|") character to indicate where a new
line should begin within the text. All lines will be centered on the output
ticket.
Workstation-Specific
- Library Database - Indicate the full
path of the Microsoft Access database used as the library information
store. All workstations at your library should share a common database
file. Use the button to the right of the field to browse for the database
file.
- Report Template - Indicate the full
path to the HTML-formatted template file used to print standard library
reports. Use the button to the right of the field to browse for the template
file. The Technical Resource Kit document for the application includes
a discuss of the format of this template file.
- Basic User - Indicate the full path
to the on-line help file, normally named LibraryBasic.chm, to be used
by the local instance of the application. This file contains documentation
to assist patrons in the use of the application. Use the button to the
right of the field to browse for the help file.
- Administrator User - Indicate the full
path to the on-line help file, normally named LibraryAdmin.chm, to be
used by the local instance of the application. This file contains documentation
to assist administrators in the use of the application. Use the button
to the right of the field to browse for the help file.
- Enable Receipt Printing at this Workstation
- Select this field if a receipt printer is connect to the local workstation
for the purpose of printing check-out and fine-payment receipts.
- Receipt Printer Location - Indicate
the full path to the receipt printer to be used for check-out and fine-payment
receipts. Use the button to the right of the field to browse for the printer.
- Line Width - Indicate the width, in
characters, of each line of the output. If this value is not supplied,
a value of 40 is assumed.
- Receipt Postlude - Enter any raw text
and characters to be sent to the receipt printer at the end of a check-out
or fine-payment ticket. These characters may include commands to cut the
paper automatically. To determine which characters to use, consult the
documentation for your printer. You can include any standard characters
in this field. However, your printer may use special ASCII characters
to perform special functions. The following table discusses the special
character sequences you can use to specify these ASCII values.
Characters |
Meaning |
\n |
Insert a newline character in the text (ASCII 10). |
\r |
Insert a carriage return character in the text (ASCII 13). |
\e |
Insert an escape character in the text (ASCII 27). |
\x?? |
Insert an ASCII character in the text. Replace the "??"
component with exactly two values in base-16 hexadecimal format. |
\\ |
Insert a backslash character in the text. |
- Hide Login Button From Patrons
- Select this field to hide the Login button that appears in the upper-left
corner of the Main form. When this button
is hidden, you must use the F12 key to access the
Change User form.
When you have finished making changes to each field, click the OK
button to save your changes. To close the form without saving changes,
click the Cancel button. Changes made in most fields affect the
use of the application immediately. However, changes in other fields,
such as the Library Database field, only affect the application
after it has been restarted.
The Application Maintenance form provides user-friendly access to most
system configuration values. If you wish to have more direct access to
the system-wide configuration settings, click the All Values button,
which displays the Edit System Value form.
Note that any changes made on the Application Maintenance form will be
lost when you return from the Edit System Value
form.