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    Adding a New XSL Template or Report Format to the GUI Services Menu (v17 )

    • Article Type: General
    • Product: Aleph
    • Product Version: 17.01

    Description:
    We would like to run the p_cash_05 service periodically with a special letter for specific patrons. I didn't like the default letter (cash-user-letter-00) , so I used the XSL Creator to create cash-user-letter-10.xsl. I saved the form on the server and ran UTIL I / 6. Now we need to add it as a letter format option when we run the cash_05 service. Please send us detailed directions about how to get a new template to show up in the appropriate service menu.

    Resolution:
    Once the XSL form has been created and is located /exlibris/aleph/u17_1/XXX01/form_eng, the cash-05 file used in the Services menu should be updated.

    First a quick explanation:
    Services menu files are stored in:
    exlibris/aleph/a17_1/ aleph/pc-b-eng = where the original files from Ex Libris are stored (the “A” tree)
    exlibris/aleph/u17_1/alephe/pc_b_eng = where updated user files (those that differ from the Ex Libris default) are stored (the “U” tree).
    If the "U" tree file exists, then the "A" tree file is not used.

    As long as you don’t change Services menu files, they belong in the “A” tree where they will be automatically updated, as needed, when service packs are installed.
    Putting a file in the “U” tree allows you to keep a local, customized version of that file (with, as in this example, an added print format option). The only downside is that it means someone will have to check each service pack to see if there are any updates for this file and update the file manually if there are. Updates to the Services menu files are not common but they do happen.

    The steps to updating the Services menu file are:
    [1] Move to the “U” tree pc_b_eng directory (if one does not yet exist, then create it):
    cd $alephe_root/pc_b_eng
    [2] Copy the file from the “A” tree to the “U” tree:
    cp ../../../a17_1/aleph/pc_b_eng/p-cash-05.xml p-cash-05.xml
    [3] Open the p-cash-05.xml file for editing
    vi p-cash-05.xml
    [4] Find the following section that controls the available letter formats:
    <control>
    <drop_down>
    <argname>F05</argname>
    <label>Letter Format</label>
    <source>explicit</source>
    <default>00</default>
    <cbitem>
    <value>00</value>
    <display>Standard</display>
    </cbitem>
    <cbitem>
    <value>01</value>
    <display>User Letter</display>
    </cbitem>
    </drop_down>
    </control>
    [5] Add a new format using your new form number, for example (using cash-user-letter-10.xsl):
    <cbitem>
    <value>10</value>
    <display>Extension Letter</display>
    </cbitem>
    [6] After adding the new form, this section should look like this:
    <control>
    <drop_down>
    <argname>F05</argname>
    <label>Letter Format</label>
    <source>explicit</source>
    <default>00</default>
    <cbitem>
    <value>00</value>
    <display>Standard</display>
    </cbitem>
    <cbitem>
    <value>01</value>
    <display>User Letter</display>
    </cbitem>
    <cbitem>
    <value>10</value>
    <display>Added Letter</display>
    </cbitem>
    </drop_down>
    </control>

    The 00 form is the default (<default>00</default>) and your new form will be 3rd in the list.

    See Support Knowledge Base entry #5243 for a more complete overview of XSL and XML files from a v16 perspective.


    • Article last edited: 12/26/2013
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