When is z303_update_date updated?

• Article Type: General
• Product: Aleph
• Product Version: 19.01

Description:
One of our libraries reported several patrons have been affected as if there was a patron load. But, no patron load has been run. Even so, the Global Information Update Date (z303_update_date) shows today's date.

What action(s) besides the patron load or creating a record affect that field? I'm trying to determine what may account for these records being affected?

Resolution:
The z303_update_date is populated with today's date when the io_z303 program is invoked with action "WRITE" or "REWRITE".

If a patron is in the p_file_20 input file, the z303_update_date is updated even if there is no change to the record. (p_file_20 does not compare the incoming record to the existing data. Unless a field contains the null character, it overwrites the existing data with the incoming data -- and changes the z303_update_date.)

Another batch job which updates the patron record is p_cir_77 ("Update Patron Records").

In the GUI, the "Update" button is lit up only when the operator has entered some change to the record.... So it is not possible for a patron record containing no update to be written in the GUI. {The operator *could* enter some change, realize it was a mistake, undo it, and then (unnecessarily) click on Update,... but that would be rather odd and unlikely.}

Aside from these, I don't think I have anything which would be helpful in analyzing this.

• Article last edited: 10/8/2013