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From the President's Desk
It’s hard to believe we’re already well into the school year. We appreciate the loyalty of you as customers and look forward to working with you the remainder of this year and well into the future. Please continue to send us your thoughts and suggestions on improving Alexandria at ideas@companioncorp.com. We sincerely value what you say and consider our relationship a true partnership.
In this month’s newsletter we have included a list of tradeshows we will be attending in the upcoming months. We encourage you to stop by and visit.
Thanks,
Bill Schjelderup ∞
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Tech Article
Considering v6
For those considering making the jump from version 5 to Alexandria version 6, there are some things to know before updating. Most information can be found in a video located on our website. First, go to this web page and fill out the info:
http://www.goalexandria.com/v6.html
On the next page, you can watch a video that discusses many of the new enhancements and changes found in Alexandria v6. Getting more familiar by watching the video and obtaining the demo will help you better prepare for the move and make the transition go much smoother.
Tech Videos
If you've had a long summer break, it can sometimes be difficult to remember how to do everything in Alexandria - especially while there is so much going on for the start of the new season. Fortunately, you can refer to our Tech Note videos located on our website HERE.
There are many useful videos that cover important areas of starting up the library. Videos include; importing items, importing patrons, setting grades, backing up, and several Tip of the Week videos.
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Product Highlight
Dear Alexandria Customers,
We appreciate your continued support of COMPanion Corporation and of Alexandria. This month, we have chosen to highlight the wonderful capabilities included in the “A” License bundle. Call to learn more about our special fall discount!
The “A” License includes:
Enhanced Web Capabilities for librarians and patrons: with Web Librarian, accomplish key librarian tasks such as circulation, cataloging, and reporting, and more simply by accessing a web browser. Patrons can easily search your library collection from any computer with internet access, even from their home computer during non-library hours.
MARC Search allows you to find, choose, and easily download MARC records seamlessly into Alexandria without ever leaving your program!
WAN (Wide Area Network) allows libraries within a district to search each other’s collections while maintaining autonomy.Cross Platform functionality allows Alexandria to work on either a PC, a Macintosh, or even a mixed Mac & PC environment simultaneously.
Explore is a fully customizable, icon-based search interface for more visual learners to use when searching your catalog. This option also allows you to create reading lists, highlight awards lists, launch applications, and even open websites and documents with the click of a button.
Z39.50 helps you easily search other library collections, such as public and college libraries, using Alexandria so patrons do not have to adapt to multiple library systems’ searching methods.
For additional information regarding the “A” License or questions regarding enhancements to your Alexandria program, please do not hesitate to contact our sales team at (800) 347-6439 or sales@companioncorp.com. ∞
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Kaaren's Corner
By Kaaren Linton, Librarian/Alexandria Trainer
Reporting on Reports
One of the modules in Alexandria that has been greatly enhanced in version 6 is Reports — even its location on the menu bar has changed. Let's start this tour by going to Tools on the menu bar and selecting Reports from the drop-down menu.
The first thing you'll notice once you are in the Reports module is that the various categories of reports are grouped by tabs and subtabs as opposed to having to return to the menu bar and make a selection from the drop-down menu to change to a different category of reports.
Saved Reports
For those who have been using a version of Alexandria other than version 6, you probably have used the Quick Reports feature to save your most-used reports. Alexandria now has a Saved tab for saved reports and a way to designate your favorite reports. In addition, many reports we believe will be most useful to you have already been saved to facilitate your use of the Reports module and these appear on the Saved tab. Of course, this does not represent all reports available in Alexandria — there are over 15,000 reports available — so, there are many, many more reports available to you than those listed on the Saved tab. A unique feature is the Search box that enables you to quickly search the saved reports to see if the report type you want has already been saved. Just type in your search term or terms and you will see the reports that match your search.
Note that when a report in the list is highlighted, the Select by options chosen and the scheduling information for that report appear in the bottom frame of the window. Yes, you can really schedule reports to run at a specified time and repeat as often as you desire — but more on that later!
To run one of the saved reports, double click on it. Remember, it will run as it has been set up.
To edit one of the saved reports:
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Highlight the desired report, then, click on Edit in the bottom-right corner of the lower pane of the window.
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When the Reports window opens, the Overview tab is in focus; click on the Selections tab.
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Make the desired changes, then click on Save in the upper-right corner of the window.
Tabs and Subtabs
Next, let's look at the tabs. Another big change is that reports dealing with items have been divided into two tabs — Titles for those pertaining to the item titles and Copies for those related to copies. Figuring out which tab to use will be very easy if you start to think of the information in terms of whether it is most related to titles or to copies. Look more closely at the Copies tab. Notice that there are subtabs representing the different report groupings of those reports falling into the Copies category. Again, you will see the saved reports associated with the particular subtab that is in focus.
To run a report that is not listed in the saved reports:
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Select the appropriate tab by clicking on it.
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Select the appropriate subtab.
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Click on the Add (+) icon in the bottom-left corner or the Reports window to open the Editing New Report window.
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Select the desired report from the Report Type drop-down menu.
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If the Format drop-down menu appears for that report giving you a choice of formats, select the desired one.
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Select the Sort By option from that drop-down menu.
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If you want to narrow the results, from the Select By drop-down menu, select the first selection option. (If you are in a Central Union system, this should be the Site, Library, or School depending upon which option is listed.)
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If additional selection options are needed, click on the Add (+) icon in the bottom-left corner of the window. Set the Boolean Operator drop-down menu as desired and change the Select By drop-down menu to your second selection choice. Repeat for as many selection options as you need for the report.
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Click on Print to print, Print PDF to generate the report in PDF format. The report will print to the screen. To print a hard copy of the report, go to File on the menu bar and click on Print.
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If the report generated meets your needs and you want to save it for use in the future, click on the Overview tab, give the report a Name, Description and add Notes. Also, check the Favorite box if you want the report listed in your Favorites.
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Click on Save.
Scheduling Reports
Now, for my favorite feature -- reports can be scheduled! Imagine having your overdue notices generated automatically and sent as email attachments while you sleep. Management of overdue notifications has become so simple. Yes, it will take a bit of time initially to set up the reports, but the rewards will be endless.
To schedule a report, you will use the Schedule tab to set when and how often the report should be run. Next, you will use the Location tab to indicate the output format and, if it is to be sent as an email attachment, the email address(es) of the person(s) to receive the report.
Version 6's Reports module is awesome! Don't you agree?
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