2023-04-11 FOLIO Implementers Meeting Notes

04:20

Agenda today: Macros when migrating to FOLIO

Tara hasn't found many other ressources, they are linked above.

05:30

Kathy (Douglas College) presenting slides

What I want, is to automate (repetitive) actions in FOLIO. What we need:

• Data change in a field at the spot where the cursor is currently located.

• Data change across multiple fields in an App, starting from where the cursor is currently.

• Can a sequence of actions in an App be automated? Can a workflow across two or more Apps be automated? 

10:56

• What we'd want ... in a perfect world ...

• Some examples ...

15:27

Showing Sierra

Setting for macros; each indiv account can have their own. They are just text-string replacements. There are keyboard shortcuts in FOLIO, but you can't tweak them - can they be expanded on and edited in the future? Also, expanding macros to more than just text-string replacements would be good. 

19:08

Pedro (Cornell) presents Macro Express (version 3) with loads of examples

• Using since 2011 - it still works for us! Example in FOLIO: Instance edit screen, Administrative note, the command ",,i" adds text.

• Goal = use mouse as little as possible + consolidate keyboard shortcuts into commands for repetitive work. Example: in FOLIO of combining with FOLIO keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + H (Go to "Search & filter" pane) to get the cursor there + Ctr+F7 to search by barcode.

• Occasionally insert delays because FOLIO is too fast.

28:58

Switch windows open on the computer, e.g. move from FOLIO to OCLC.

30:18

Mouse locator, to input the coordinates, where you are in the screen. Pitfall if FOLIO is updated and the screen changes + if the screensize is different. So we try not to use coordinate-macros, but convert them into e.g. tabbing down (example: grab the call number at the bottom of the instance record). Another issue with different releases: example in Quickmark: Buttons moving from right to left side.

37:33

Macro to delete a marc field I don't actually need

Hotkey (activated by Ctrl or Shift) vs. Shortkey (can be whatever we choose) +  you need to slow the macro down sometimes. 

40:08

Other common macros they use

•  Book in hand, searching for it in FOLIO, then search in OCLC, copies the number into FOLIO in the single record import; stop macro before "Import", so that Pedro has to click that. The added data and new fields. Then adding the holdings and a gift note.

• The investment in creating these macros really pays off, I find them really handy!

47:34

Questions to Pedro

• How many are your core set of macros you share with everyone, and how do you share them? We put them on a server, mainly macros for inventory, total of 56, but not everyone uses all of them.

• Can add if/then commands, especially useful when selecting either the 2nd pane or 3rd pane Actions menu.

• What if you use the wrong macro? You can add scope (e.g. only window or program specific), that's one safeguard.

• Tried using Macro Express one, wanted to add a statistical code, got stuck witht the tabing because fields were already filled with exising data. I don't believe Macro Express deals with this specifically, I would probably create a new macro for that. Wouldn't the if/then fix that? Yes, I believe so.

• When you get an upgrade to FOLIO, how many days do you spend running around, checking and/or updating macros? Usually a couple of days - but it's well worth it.