2023-04-11 FOLIO Implementers Meeting Notes

Owned by Tara Barnett
Last updated: May 17, 2023 by julie.bickle

Date

Recording

https://recordings.openlibraryfoundation.org/folio/implementation-group/2023-04-11T11:00/

Attendees

TK

Recommended Resources and Pre-Reads

Agenda

  • Housekeeping
  • Macros in FOLIO
    • Quick demo from Kathy on current processes in Sierra
    • Presentation from Pedro Arroyo on Macros in FOLIO
    • Questions
      • Add questions here
  • Closing
    • Any actions or follow through?

Notes

Time

Topic

Notes

04:20Agenda today: Macros when migrating to FOLIOTara hasn't found many other ressources, they are linked above.
05:30Kathy (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 ...
15:27Showing SierraSetting 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. 
19:08Pedro (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.
37:33Macro to delete a marc field I don't actually needHotkey (activated by Ctrl or Shift) vs. Shortkey (can be whatever we choose) +  you need to slow the macro down sometimes. 
40:08Other 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!
47:34Questions 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.

Action Items