New Metadata Editor Functionality

User Interface Improvements Overview

Beginning with the May 2020 release, Ex Libris is undertaking a usability improvement initiative to facilitate an enhanced user experience across Alma navigation and in the Metadata Editor. This initiative is a result of cooperation with Alma working groups and a response to wider community feedback.

For more information, see Usability Improvements.

New Metadata Editor Functionality Rollout Plan

The following tables detail the rollout timeline for the New Metadata Editor per functionality.

Records Area

New Metadata Editor Menu Option	Functionality	Release*
Save	Save Record (Split Icon's Upper action)	May 2020
	Save and Release	May 2020
	Save Draft	May 2020
	Save as Template	May 2020
	Options (configuration for network members only) * Network members can contribute bib records to the network catalog, which is a central catalog for all members.	May 2020
New	Sub-section: "Recently Used Templates" - New Feature	Q1 2021 - not planned
	list of relevant available formats according to the configuration	May 2020
	Template Display Configuration - New Feature	May 2020
	Contribution to Community Zone	November 2020
Open Record - New Menu Item - not planned	Barcode - New Feature	Q1 2021
	ISBN - New Feature	Q1 2021
	ISSN - New Feature	Q1 2021
	MMS ID - New Feature	Q1 2021
	Other System Number - New Feature	Q1 2021
Record Actions	Release Record	May 2020
	Reload Original Record	May 2020
	Duplicate Record	May 2020
	Derive new record (Bib only)	May 2020
	Merge & Combine	July 2020
	Validate (Local + network - bib + Authority + Holdings)	May 2020
	Find Matches (Bib + Authority)	May 2020
	Show Linkage Information (Bib only Toggle action)	August 2020
	Add Note	August 2020
	Assign Record to Another Cataloger (Valid for bib + Authority + Holdings)	August 2020
	Release Assignment	August 2020
	Suppress from Discovery (Toggle action - for Bib and Holdings)	August 2020
	Sub-section: "Set Management Tags" - Export to WorldCat - Force Export to WorldCat - Export to Librairies Australia - Force Export to Libraries Australia	November 2020
	Contribute Record to Central Catalog (For network members only)	September 2020
	Copy to Catalog (For network members - for network bib)	August 2020
	Share with Network (For network members only)	August 2020
	Validate in Network (For local + network - For LOCAL: bib + Authority + Holdings)	August 2020
	Update from Bibliographic (For Holdings record only)	August 2020
	Relink to a Different Record (For Holdings record only)	August 2020
	Generate Accession Number (For Holdings record only)	August 2020
	Next Predicted Item's Information (For Holdings record only)	August 2020
	Open Predicted Items (For Holdings record only)	August 2020
	Change Authority Placement (For Authority record only)	August 2020
	See Also (For Authority record only)	August 2020
	Delete Record	August 2020
Editing Actions	Add Field	May 2020
	Add Subfield	May 2020
	Add Local Field	May 2020
	Remove Field	May 2020
	Open Form Editor	August 2020
	Close Form Editor	August 2020
	Field Information	May 2020
	Cut	May 2020
	Copy	May 2020
	Paste	May 2020
	Enhance the Record	May 2020
	Expand from Template	May 2020
	Add Heading Section	May 2020
	Generate Author Number	May 2020
	Sub-section: Add Alternate Graphic Representation	September 2020
	Sub-section: Change Script	September 2020
	Sub-section: Link Fields	September 2020
	Unlink Fields	May 2020
	Flip Fields	September 2020
	Sub-section: Insert Directional Char	July 2020
	Show Directional Char	July 2020
Add Inventory	Add Item	July 2020
	Add Portfolio	July 2020
	Add Representative	July 2020
View Related Data	View Bibliographic Record	September 2020
	View Collections	July 2020
	View in Search	July 2020
	View Inventory	May 2020
	View linked Data	November 2020
	View Notes	May 2020
	View Orders	September 2020
	View Related Bibliographic Records	May 2020
	View Versions	May 2020
Order	Order	September 2020
Search & Browse	Browse Shelf Listing	May 2020
	Browse Bib Headings	May 2020
	Search Resources	May 2020
Editing Pane	Field Information (action in Field level menu) - New Feature	May 2020
	[…] (Field level menu) - New Feature	May 2020
	Colored field number/indicators/sub-fields - New Feature	May 2020
	Cataloger Level in Authorities	February 2021
Records Navigation Pane	Filter list (scope filter) - New Feature	May 2020
	Search in list - New Feature	May 2020
	Refresh list - New Feature	May 2020
	Release All	May 2020
	Editor Split Mode	May 2020
	Pin Record List - New Feature	May 2020
	Expand >> /Collapse << - New Feature	May 2020
	X (close pane in pane's header) - New Feature	May 2020
	(i) (pane's header information icon) - New Feature	May 2020
	(save diskette icon) (auto save information) - New Feature	May 2020
	Record's warning/error editing validation messages	May 2020
	View Record's validation messages in split mode - New Feature	August 2020
	Pushed (badge) - New Feature	May 2020
	Assigned (badge) - New Feature	May 2020
	View Only (badge) - New Feature	December 2020
	Notes (icon badge) - New Feature	May 2020
	Suppressed (icon badge) - New Feature	May 2020
	Right click menu (on a record in the records list) - New Feature	Q3 2021
	Informative record tooltip in records list - New Feature	May 2020
Other	Catalog Set	September 2020

*The timeline of the rollout plan is subject to change.

Templates Area

New Metadata Editor Menu Option	Functionality	Release*
Save menu	Save Record	January 2021
New menu	New Record From Template	January 2021
	List of relevant available formats according to the configuration	January 2021
	Template Display Configuration - New Feature	May 2020
	Placement Options	January 2021
Template Actions menu	Edit	January 2021
	Duplicate	January 2021
	Delete	January 2021
	Share Template	January 2021
	Contribute to CZ	January 2021
	Make Private - New Feature	January 2021
	Save as Default	January 2021
	Template Properties	January 2021
Editing Actions menu	Add Field	January 2021
	Add Subfield	January 2021
	Remove Field	January 2021
	Reorder Fields - New Feature	January 2021
	Open Form Editor	January 2021
	Field Information	January 2021
	Cut	January 2021
	Copy	January 2021
	Paste	January 2021
Search and Browse menu	Browse Shelf Listing	May 2020
	Browse Bib Headings	May 2020
	Search External Resources - New Feature	May 2020
Editing pane	Field Information (action in Field level menu)	January 2021
	[…] (Field level menu)	January 2021
	Colored field number/indicators/sub-fields	January 2021
Navigation pane	Filter list (scope filter) - New Feature	January 2021
	Search in list	January 2021
	Refresh list - New Feature	January 2021
	Editor Split Mode	January 2021
	Pin Template List - New Feature	January 2021
	Expand >> /Collapse << - New Feature	January 2021
	X (close pane in pane's header) - New Feature	January 2021
	(i) (pane's header information icon) - New Feature	January 2021
	(save diskette icon) (auto save information) - New Feature	January 2021
	Template's warning/error editing validation messages	January 2021
	View Record's validation messages in split mode - New Feature	January 2021
	View Only (badge) - New Feature	January 2021
	Right Click menu (on a template in the templates list)	January 2021
	Informative Template tooltip in Templates list - New Feature	January 2021
Other	Right-collapsed Template - New Feature	January 2021
	Left-collapsed Template - New Feature	January 2021
	Improved icons for Private / Shared / CZ	January 2021

Rules Area

New Metadata Editor Menu Option	Functionality	Release*
Save menu	Save Rule	March 2021
Save menu	Save and Close - New Feature	Upcoming
New menu	List of available rule types according to the configuration	March 2021
Rule Actions	Edit	March 2021
	Duplicate	March 2021
	Delete	March 2021
	Share Rule - New Feature	Upcoming
	Contribute to CZ	March 2021
	Make Private - New Feature	Upcoming
	Add Note - New Feature	Coming Soon
	Rule Properties	Upcoming
Editing Actions	Cut	March 2021
	Copy	March 2021
	Paste	March 2021
	Add Note Inline - New Feature	Upcoming
View Related Data	View Notes - New Feature	Upcoming
View Related Data	View Versions - New Feature	Upcoming
Search and Browse	Browse Shelf Listing	March 2021
	Browse Bib Headings	March 2021
	Search External Resources - New Feature	March 2021

Editing pane	Field Information (action in Field level menu)	March 2021
	[…] (Field level menu)	March 2021
	Colored field number/indicators/sub-fields	March 2021
Navigation pane	Filter list (scope filter) - New Feature	March 2021
	Search in list	March 2021
	Refresh list- New Feature	March 2021
	Editor Split Mode	March 2021
	Pin Rule List- New Feature	March 2021
	Expand >> /Collapse <<- New Feature	March 2021
	X (close pane in pane's header)- New Feature	March 2021
	(i) (pane's header information icon)- New Feature	March 2021
	(save diskette icon) (auto save information) - New Feature	Upcoming
	Warning/error editing validation messages	March 2021
	View validation messages in split mode - New Feature	March 2021
	View Only (badge) - New Feature	March 2021
	Notes (badge) - New Feature	Coming Soon
	Right-click menu (on a rule in the rule list)	March 2021
	Informative tooltip in rule list - New Feature	March 2021
Other	Right-collapsed rule - New Feature	March 2021
	Left-collapsed rule - New Feature	March 2021
	Improved icons for Private / Shared / CZ	March 2021

More Resources

See Metadata Editor for more information on functionality.
See presentations for step by step training.

See video for a short training session
See webinar to understand more

Known Issues

The following table contains selected known issues.

Issue	Description
Both LDR fields are focused	When opening a record, and then clicking Split and opening another record, the LDR fields of both records are focused.
Wrong time in the tooltip of the auto-save icon	After manual save, the tooltip of the auto-save icon is not updated to the time displayed in "Successfully Saved" message.
Info message about linking the bib heading to authority records does not appear	When you create a bib heading where field 650 (first indicator 1 and second indicator 0) is $$a, and then click save, the message "Alma has attempted to link the bib headings to authority records..." does not appear, or appears wrongly.
A warning appears across both sides of the split screen	On merge preview, a warning appears on both sides of the split screen.
When browsing bib headings, the arrow goes over the results	When you browse bib headings and select View for a result, the arrow goes over the left side of the split screen.
White space above the validation message hides part of the record content	When viewing two bib records with validation messages in split mode, if pinning the validation messages, the white space above the validation message hides part of the record content.
Missing information when viewing representation of inventory	When viewing representation of inventory, some information is missing and some doesn't look as expected.
"Browse bib headings" menu action for NZ/CZ records	The "Browse bib headings" menu action disabled for NZ/CZ records. In order to use the "Browse bib headings" please close the record or use the "Browse bib headings" link from the Alma menu.
'Old Editor' button display	In some institutions, when entering the new MD Editor from the Alma menu, sometimes the 'Old Editor' button does not appear in an accessible place. To switch to the classic MD Editor 'zoom in' using the browser menu until the button will appear at the new MD Editor's top right corner. This issue will be fixed for the May release.

Resolved Issues

The following table contains the resolved issues related to the new Metadata Editor.

Issue	Description
Cannot scroll down the Matching records list in new MD Editor when the scaling of the display is 125%	New Metadata Editor: Users could not scroll down the matching records list in new Metadata Editor when the scaling of the display was 125%. This was fixed.
Holding field 852 is "reloaded" for every change in the library field	New Metadata Editor: when entering or changing the location information in the holding tab 852 $$b, the field seemed to reload on every change. This was fixed.
'Add Holdings' Button not Working if no Holdings Exist for lower Cataloger Level User	New Metadata Editor: The 'Add Holdings' button was not working for a user with a lower cataloger level than the record's in a specific scenario. This was fixed.
Insert Directional Characters (RTL)	New Metadata Editor: Insert Directional Characters (RTL) - the text moved left, but the cursor stayed right. This was fixed.
Add shortcut for "[Add] Alternate Graphic Representation"	New Metadata Editor: The shortcut for "Add Alternate Graphic Representation" (Alt F1) and all its sub-menus (Alt F2, Alt F3, Alt F5. Alt F6) did not work. Also, the label description of the menu (Alt F1) was missing. This was fixed.
Privacy concern with Modified By including identifiable staff user primary identifier for other sites in CZ records	New Metadata Editor: "Modified By" info for Community Zone records displayed user username and the institution code, instead of displaying only the institution code. This was fixed.
'Suppress from Discovery' isn't available before saving bib record	New Metadata Editor: 'Suppress from Discovery' option was not available before the first saving of a record. This was fixed.
"Error while validating data with profile" after adding Portfolio	New Metadata Editor: "Error while validating data with profile" appeared after adding a portfolio to an Network Zone/Community Zone-linked record. This was fixed.
Issue when working in old and new MD Editor with Cataloger Privileges Lower than the Bibliographic Record	New Metadata Editor: The new local record created from the "Copy to Catalog" action retained Cataloger Level from the network record. This was fixed. The local record now gets the minimum Cataloger Level value "00", which allows the staff catalogers to work on the record.
Indicative display for available or not available menu options is not consistent	New Metadata Editor: Duplicate record menu option was erroneously available for Community Zone records. This was fixed. Now the menu does not include the Duplicate record option.
View Related Data in menu is unavailable when user's cataloger level is lower than record's cataloging level	New Metadata Editor: In a read-only record, menu items "Add Representation", "View Versions", "View Notes", "Order" were unavailable as a result of higher cataloging level. This was fixed.
Search Resources > SBN > “Header information not defined for this presenter” appears in the results pane.	New Metadata Editor: When searching external resources, Search Resources > SBN > “Header information not defined for this presenter” appeared in the results pane. This was fixed.
Add Local Extension option missing from new MD Editor in single institution	New Metadata Editor: the "Add Local Extension" option was missing in single institution for Community Zone records. This was fixed.
Record Title Center Aligned to Both Margins	New Metadata Editor: Records list > information popup upon hover on a record: the title was center-aligned to both margins. This was fixed.
Add copy no. to holdings inventory list	New Metadata Editor: View Inventory > Holdings list, the "Copy Number" (852 $t) was added to the display after the call number. The "Copy Number" will help to distinguish between multiple holdings records in the same location and call number.
Fields deleted when Saving Holding record	New Metadata Editor: Editing an holding record with 853 field and using the MARC21 Expand Holding By 863/4/5 Task in some cases caused the Save Record action to fail. This was fixed.
GND records are created on the correct level if using "New Record From Template"	New Metadata Editor: when creating GND record from the right-click action "New Record From Template", the record was not created on the correct level (Community Zone). This was fixed.
"Old MDE" button disappears 20% of the times	New Metadata Editor: In some institutions, when entering the new Metadata Editor from the Alma menu, sometimes the 'Old Editor' button did not appear in an accessible place. This was fixed.
Heb interface: Redundant HTML tags in "View Only" header	New Metadata Editor: Redundant HTML tags appeared in "View Only" header in the Hebrew interface. This was fixed.
'Create authority' should not copy subfield $e	New Metadata Editor: F3 > Create Authority Record: For MARC21 bibliographic fields 100, 110, 600, 610, 700, 710, subfield $e was copied into the newly created authority record. This was fixed.