Overdue recall fine limit incorrect with OVERDUE-RECALL-RATIO=B

• Article Type: General
• Product: Aleph
• Product Version: 20

Description:
We have specified OVERDUE-RECALL-RATIO=B ("Both") in our abc50 tab100. The tab18 line 50, column 6, recall fine is being added to the tab16 amount, as it should, but the maximum fine is not being calculated correctly....

We expect this to be the tab16 maximum fine plus the amount specified in the tab18.eng line 52, column 6, but it seems to be just the tab16 value.

Resolution:
Though the tab100 header for OVERDUE-RECALL-RATIO says that the variable applies to tab18 lines 0050-0055, I find that, though it applies to 0050 (Recall late return fine) and 0051 (Rush Recall late return fine), the "B" value does not apply to lines 0052 (Recall max fine ratio) or 0053 (Rush Recall max fine ratio).

It may be your expectation that the effect of OVERDUE-RECALL-RATIO "B" would be to add the amount specified in
tab18.eng line 52 (or 53) to tab16 col. 23 to arrive at a max-fine value, but that is not the case. The cash_fine_min_max
program has the following logic:

EVALUATE TAB100-OVERDUE-RECALL-RATIO
WHEN "N"
WHEN "B"
MOVE MAX-FINE-RATIO TO L-SUM
WHEN "Y"
COMPUTE L-SUM = N15-2 * MAX-FINE-RATIO

The program is doing exactly the same for "B" as for "N": it is taking the amount in tab18, comparing it to tab16, col. 23,
and using the lesser amount.

If you find this unworkable, please consider setting OVERDUE-RECALL-RATIO to "Y" and specifying a ratio which could apply to both the recall fine and the maximum fine. (Note: this will require changing any dollar amounts you have in tab18, column 6, lines 50-55 to "multipliers".)

• Article last edited: 10/8/2013