Navigating the MD Editor Page
- This is online help for the original Metadata Editor user interface.
If you are looking for help on the layout of the new Metadata Editor, start with the Metadata Editor page. - To switch to the new Metadata Editor in Alma, select
on the top-right on the top toolbar of the Editor.
Left Pane
- Templates – This tab contains templates that enable you to create new records based on a template, or use one of the templates to override existing data. For more information, see Working with Record Templates and Expanding a Record from a Template.
- Records – This tab contains the brief title information (move the mouse over a record and a tool tip displays the full title) and metadata ID linked to the MD record. The information presented depends on the type of resource being edited. Records are grouped according to type such as MARC 21 bibliographic, MARC 21 holdings, LC subject, LC name, NLM MeSH, Dublin Core, DCAP, MODS, and ETD. (The size limit of a record is 1 MB.)
Icons in the Records tab:Local Repository icon - indicates that the record exists in the local repository.
Suppressed icon - indicates that the record has been suppressed from external discovery systems, including Primo.
Network Zone icon - indicates that the record exists in the Network Zone (for institutions working with a Network Zone)
- Rules – This tab contains the private and shared normalization, merge, indication, and brief record level rules that you or others created. For details regarding this tab, see Working with Normalization Rules, Working with Merge Rules, Working with Indication Rules, Working with Brief Record Levels, and Working with Authority Headings Rules.
Main Pane
Lower Pane
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Info – This tab contains field-sensitive data based on MD registry definitions. See the table below for the sources of the information provided on the Info tab. Note that the languages in the table are referring to the user's preferred language.
Info Tab Links Registry Info Tab Link Bibliographic Records: MARC 21 - English (default): https://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/bd{field}.html
- German: https://www.alma-dach.org/alma-marc/bibliographic/{field}
KORMARC - Korean (default): http://www.nl.go.kr/common/jsp/kormarc_2014/sub/{group1}_{field}.html
UNIMARC - Italian (default): http://unimarc-it.wikidot.com/{field}
- French: http://documentation.abes.fr/sudoc/formats/unmb/zones/{field}.htm
CNMARC - Chinese (default): http://www.exlibris.com.cn:8991/cnmarc_help/{field}_xx_chi.html
- English: http://www.exlibris.com.cn:8991/cnmarc_help/{field}_xx_eng.html
Holdings: MARC 21 - English (default): https://www.loc.gov/marc/holdings/hd{field}.html
- German: https://www.alma-dach.org/alma-marc/holdings/{field}
- French: http://www.marc21.ca/M21/FND/F{field}.pdf
Authority Records: MARC 21 - English (default): https://www.loc.gov/marc/authority
- German: https://www.alma-dach.org/alma-marc/authority/{field}
UNIMARC - Italian (default): https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/uca/unimarc-authorities-format.pdf
- French: http://documentation.abes.fr/sudoc/formats/unma/zones/{field}.htm
CNMARC - Chinese (default): https://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad{field}.html
- English: https://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad{field}.html
GND - German (default): https://www.alma-dach.org/alma-marc/authority/{field}/{field}
- English: https://www.loc.gov/marc/authority/ad{field}.html
- Alerts – This tab contains field, subfield, indicator, and fixed-field, content-level warnings based on the MD registry. You can select any error in red (not overridable) or warning in yellow (overridable) to link directly to the field identified by the alert.
- Linked Data – See Using Linked Data While Working with Bibliographic Records for more information.
Locked Records While Working

Cursor Placement While Editing
Creating Bibliographic Records with the MD Editor
Creating Holdings Records with the MD Editor
- Open (or create) a bibliographic record in the MD Editor.
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Use one of the following methods to create a holdings record: with either the default holdings template or an alternative holdings template.
File > New > MARC 21 HoldingsThe MD Editor opens in split pane mode with the MARC 21 default holdings template open in the right area.
MARC 21 Holdings Template (Split Screen Mode)Alternative Holdings Template Method (This method will become available in the new MD Editor with the deployment of January 2021 release).- Select the Templates bar.
- Select the alternative holdings template from the list of MARC 21 Holdings templates and select New.
Alternative Holdings Template SelectionThe MD Editor opens in split pane mode with the alternative MARC 21 holdings template open in the right area.
- Enter your holdings data. See MD Editor Menu and Toolbar Options for additional information regarding working with the MD Editor and, in particular, the descriptions for the options under the Tools > MARC 21 Holdings menu related to holdings records.
- Select the Save icon. For additional information regarding saving records, see Saving Records in the MD Editor.
Automatic Generation of the Summary Holdings Statement Based on Items
- 863/864/865 fields
- 866/867/868 fields
- The normalization task MARC 21 Expand Holding By 866/7/8 Task (previously called marc21ExpandHoldingBy86XTask) uses the combination of the existing 853/854/855 field and the 863/864/865 field (automatically generated or manually entered) to create an 866/867/868 summary holdings field.
- The normalization task MARC 21 Expand Holding By 863/4/5 Task automatically generates the 863/864/865 field based on the existence and arrival of items linked to the 853/854/855 field in the holdings record.
- The 853/854/855 field is handled as part of the acquisitions process and managed in the following manner:
- When items are created from a prediction pattern, the link to the 853/854/855 field in the holdings record is made automatically. See Creating a Holdings Record with Predictive Pattern Content for more information.
- If the item is not created from a prediction pattern, the item’s pattern type and linking number need to be updated manually.
Pattern Type and Linking Number
- Open the Metadata Configuration page (Configuration > Resources > Cataloging > Metadata Configuration).
- Select the MARC 21 Holding link. The Profile Details page appears.
- Select the Normalization Processes tab.
- From the row actions list, select Edit for one of the normalization processes such as MARC 21 Holding normalize on save. The Process Details page appears.
- Select the Task List tab.
Process Details Task List Tab
- Select Add Tasks.
- Select the following processes and select Add and Close when you are finished:
- MarcDroolNormalization
- MARC 21 Expand Holding by 863/4/5 Task
- MARC 21 Expand Holding By 866/7/8 Task
You can resequence the order in which the normalization tasks are performed. When selecting the MARC 21 Expand Holding by 863/4/5 Task, be aware that it needs to precede the MARC 21 Expand Holding By 866/7/8 Task since the 863/4/5 (and 853/4/5) linked fields are used in generating the 866/7/8 fields.When using the tasks MARC 21 Expand Holding By 863/4/5 Task and MARC 21 Expand Holding By 866/7/8 Task, you also need to select the MarcDroolNormalization task to handle removing the duplicate 863/864/865 and 866/867/868 fields that get created every time a record is saved via the MARC 21 Holding normalize on save and ensure that it to comes before the MARC 21 Expand Holding by 863/4/5 Task in the Processes Selected section. Below is a sample normalization rule for the MarcDroolNormalization task.rule "delete 863 4 5 6 7 8 if it does not have subfield 8 9"
when
(TRUE)
then
removeField "863" if (not exists "866.8.9")
removeField "864" if (not exists "867.8.9")
removeField "865" if (not exists "868.8.9")
removeField "866" if (not exists "866.8.9")
removeField "867" if (not exists "867.8.9")
removeField "868" if (not exists "868.8.9")
endSee Automation Tasks for Summary Holdings for more information. - Select Save. If you chose to use the MARC 21 Holding normalize on save process option, now when you save a record in the MD Editor, Alma automatically generates the 863/864/865 fields and the 866/867/868 fields.
- Open the holdings record for which you want to generate the holdings summary fields in the MD Editor.
- Select Edit > Enhance the Record.
The Enhance the Record dialog box appears.Enhance the Record Dialog Box
- Select the normalization option from the drop-down list for enhancing the record with the 863/864/865 field and select OK.
- Record updated successfully
- Record updated successfully with the following errors - This message is followed by a list of retrieved errors.
- Record failed to be updated - This message is followed by a list of retrieved errors.
- Similar to the MARC 21 process, locate the bibliographic record to which you want to add a holdings record and open it in the MD Editor.
- Select the Add Holdings icon (Ctrl+Alt+H) or Tools > MARC Bibliographic > Add holding. The system opens the MARC 21 add holdings template.
- Enter the holdings content.
- Select the Save Record icon (Ctrl+S).
Creating Local Authority Records Using the MD Editor
MD Editor Menu and Toolbar Options
- To navigate back and forth (previous and next pages) in the MD Editor, use the Alt + --> or <-- (right or left arrows).
- To focus on the records in the left pane, use the Alt + Shift + B keys.
- To focus on the search bar, use the Ctrl + Alt + F keys.
- Shift + F2 returns you to the Alma home page.
Action | Description |
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New
(Alt+N) |
Opens an empty record/function, according to your selection, from the following list (that may vary dependent on your environment/installation):
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Save Draft (Ctrl+Alt+S) | Runs validation routines and saves the record as a draft. Your changes are saved, but the changes are not updated in the repository at this time. The record remains checked out to you and is not available to other catalogers for editing.
Draft records are deleted if they have not been modified for thirty days.
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Save Record (Ctrl+S) | Saves the changes made to the record in the repository but does not release the record. Use the release option to release the record. |
Save and Release Record (Ctrl+Alt+R) | Saves the record and releases it. When you release a record, it is no longer available in the left pane of the MD Editor. |
Duplicate | Creates a copy of the record. |
Release Record (Alt+Shift+R) | Releases the record without saving the changes. When you release a record, it is no longer available in the left pane of the MD Editor. |
Assign Record to Another Cataloger |
Reassigns the record to another cataloger. You can only assign it to catalogers who have the privilege to work with holdings in the scope of the record (Physical Inventory Manage privilege). For details on the scope of holdings records see the following presentation: Holdings record management on the library level. The record is displayed in bold in the list of open records in the MD Editor and a note is added under Tools > View Notes. To send an email to the new cataloger, select the "Send as Email" checkbox. The Assign To Letter is sent. For more information, see Configuring Alma Letters.
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Release Assignment | Releases a lock on a bibliographic record that is assigned to you so that someone else can work on it. |
Save as Template | Saves the current record as a template for recurrent use. |
Reload Original Record | Reloads (overwrites) the active record with the last version of the record saved in the repository and, thereby, discarding any draft changes made. |
Contribute Record to Central Catalog (Ctrl + Alt + C) |
Contribute changes to an external central catalog. Appears only if you have configured a Central Catalog integration profile. See Integrating an Aleph Central Catalog.
When working in a Network Zone, you can ensure that updates made by one of the members on a centrally-managed record are automatically saved in the Central Catalog record as well. This removed the need to use the "Contribute Record to Central Catalog" option. To activate automatic saving in the Central Catalog, select the "Automatic contribute to central catalog" checkbox in the integration profile for Aleph Central Cataloging (Alma configuration > Integration profiles > Aleph system > Action tab).
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Reload Record from Central Catalog |
Reloads the most recent version of the bibliographic record that was loaded previously from the Central Catalog. This restores the entire bibliographic record from the Central Catalog, removing any changes made by you. In SBN Central Catalog integration, you can reload the latest version of bibliographic and authority records. In all other Central Catalog integrations, you can reload only the latest version of the bibliographic record. The Reload Record from Central Catalog action is available when both criteria are met:
You can set Alma to automatically load the most recent version of the bibliographic records from the Central Catalog when opening a Central Catalog record for editing. To enable this, set the reload_record_from_central_catalog customer parameter to True (the default is False). This ability does not exist in SBN integration. For details, see Retrieving the Latest Record Version from SBN. |
Delete Record (Ctrl+D) | This option is enabled for a user with the Cataloger Extended role. Note that this option is grayed out when working on a bibliographic record that is linked to the Community Zone.
The Delete Record (Ctrl+D) function deletes the following:
For information about deleting bibliographic records in bulk, see Deleting Sets of Bibliographic Records. |
Copy to Catalog | Copies a shared bibliographic record to the local repository (Institution Zone) of your institution. This copy of the record is unlinked from the Community Zone.
In subsequent activations, the copied bibliographic record is not copied again to the Institution Zone. To prevent duplicates, Alma attempts to identify the original system ID; and if it matches an Institution Zone bibliographic record, the Institution Zone bibliographic record is used.
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Share with Network | Shares a locally created record with the Network Zone. See Network-Managed Records in a Collaborative Network. |
Options | Indicate (in the Placement of New Records and Templates dialog box) whether to place the record locally or in the Network Zone. See the Selecting Where to Create New Bibliographic Records section on the Network-Managed Records in a Collaborative Network page for more information. |
Exit (Ctrl+Q) | Exits the editor, and discards any unsaved changes (unless you select to save a draft upon exit).
Exiting the editor does not release any records. They remain checked out to you until you specifically release them (using Release Record or Save and Release Record) or the working_copy_lock_timeout configuration setting expires for a record and a different user, subsequently, edits that record. |
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Add Field (F8) | Adds a new empty row that can be set with a field value when cataloging.
When the field/row being added is a control field such as the LDR, 005, or 008, the space for the first and second indicators does not appear. For some fields, you need to be certain to enter the beginning zero to make it a full three-digit field for the first and second indicator to appear. Refer to the figures below.
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Remove Field (Ctrl+F6) | Use this option to remove one or more fields (rows).
Select the row you want to delete to make it the focus row or use Ctrl+click to select multiple rows and then choose Remove Field or Ctrl+F6. For more information, see the Delete Multiple Fields in the MD Editor video (1:00 min.)
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Add Sub Field (F9) | Adds a new subfield with the defined separator, for example $$ or ‡, to allow inline cataloging of the active field. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Add local fields to Community Zone-linked bibliographic records. All institutions can create and maintain local extensions in Community Zone-linked bibliographic records, records maintained in the Community Zone. You can add MARC 21 77X/78X, 09X, 59X, 69X, and 9XX or UNIMARC X9X, XX9, and 9XX fields. When you add local extensions, they are identified by the institution icon. Institution Icon for Local Extension
See Working with Local Extension Fields and Adding Local Extensions Using the MD Editor for more information. |
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Add Alternate Graphic Representation
(Alt+F1)
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When this parameter is set to False, this option enables you to edit paired fields without the complexity of 880 linkage. For example, if you have the 245 field selected, this option enables you to choose a relevant script for input. An additional line opens in the editor for input in the designated script. |
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When you set the alternate_graphic_representation_editing parameter to true, the Alternate Graphic Representation option replaces the Add Alternate Graphic Representation option in the MD Editor Edit menu. See alternate_graphic_representation_editing for more information.
For information about working with 880 linked fields and using the Alternate Graphic Representation option in the Edit menu, see Working with Linked 880 Fields in Bibliographic Records for more information.
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Add Rule | Add a normalization rule. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enhance the Record (Ctrl+Alt+E or Ctrl+Alt+W) | Runs pre-configured normalization routines. Normalizations are intended to correct or update metadata records. For example, sorting a record's fields, removing empty fields, or stripping out fields containing order information. See the enhance the record procedure and Working with Normalization Rules for more information.
When working on a Network Zone record, this functionality is applied only to shared fields and not to local fields. If you want to run a normalization rule on a local field, you can do so using one of the Bib normalization jobs (see Running Manual Jobs on Defined Sets), which take into account only local fields.
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Expand from Template (Ctrl+E) | Expands a record's data fields using a specified template. The record may be any of the following types: bibliographic, holdings, and authority.
When multiple panels are open in the MD Editor, the Expand from Template function is applied to the panel that is the focus. See Expanding a Record from a Template and Working with Record Templates for more information.
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Generate Author Number (F4) | Generates the author number.
The author number is generated for the following:
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Split Editor (F6) | Enables a side-by-side editing of two records (although only one side is active at a time). Select the right panel, and select a record from the list of records. This option is also available via the Split Editor icon ![]() |
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Full Screen (F7) | Opens the main editing pane in the entire page. This option is also available via the Full Screen ![]() |
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Open Form Editor (Ctrl+F) | This is functional for MARC 21, KORMARC, UNIMARC, and CNMARC as described below.
When one of these fields is the active row in the MD Editor, press Ctrl + f to open the editing form and press Esc to close the form. You can customize the 852 field Sublocation or collection (b) and Shelving location (c) drop-down lists in the MD Editor form editor to display the location's code, name, or code + name. For details, see Customizing How Library and Location Appear. |
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Close Form Editor (Esc) | Exits the control field editor and returns to the standard editor view. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cut (Ctrl+X) | Cuts the selected text. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copy (Ctrl+C) | Copies the selected text. To copy multiple fields simultaneously, press Ctrl and select all the fields to be copied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paste (Ctrl+V) | Pastes text that was previously cut or copied. Fields are pasted at the cursor location. Pasting multiple fields simultaneously pastes the fields in their numerical sort order. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Show Directional Characters | Select this option to show directional control characters when you are cataloging. These characters are used to control the direction of the text when cataloging text that has both left-to-right and right-to-left languages. See below for an example of a right-to-left Hebrew title with the Latin C++ entered in left-to-right mode and the ⌈ and ▼ directional symbols as part of the text.
![]() Directional Control Characters
By selecting this menu option, the symbols that represent a directional change in the text appear in the text. See the table below for the graphical representation of the directional control characters. The graphical representation that is visible when you select Show Directional Characters is followed by the hidden UNICODE character that controls the direction.
Note that if you want to copy/paste or cut/paste directional characters, you need to copy/cut both the hidden UNICODE directional character and the graphical representation that is prepended to it to successfully paste directional characters.
When you have selected Show Directional Characters to display the symbols, there is a check mark to the left of this option.
![]() Show Directional Characters Selected
Select this option again to turn it off. When you do this, the check mark no longer appears to the left of this option.
For additional information on cataloging in Hebrew, see Special Issues in Hebrew Cataloging.
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Insert Directional Characters | Select one of the directional options from this menu item to identify the direction for entering text from the field/subfield that you are cataloging. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcuts that appear in this menu list. See the table above for more information.
There is a known issue that when you select one of these options from the menu and Show Directional Characters is selected, the directional symbol does not appear until you begin typing. However, when you use a keyboard shortcut to change directions, the directional symbol appears as soon as the keyboard shortcut is entered.
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Action | Description |
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Arrow Up | Moves the cursor up field by field in a record. |
Arrow Down | Moves the cursor down field by field in a record. |
Arrow Right | Moves the cursor to the right across the field, subfield, indicator, and content information. |
Arrow Left | Moves the cursor to the left across the field, subfield, indicator, and content information. |
Action | Description |
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Search External Resources | Search external bibliographic databases, view and select relevant records before importing them to the repository. This option is usually chosen for copy cataloging workflows. See Searching External Resources for more information. |
View Versions | View and restore a previous version of the record.
![]() View and Restore Previous Versions
Note that when the Restore Record Version privilege is disabled for your user role, the Restore option does not appear when you are editing bibliographic, holdings, and authority records and select the View Versions (Tools > View Versions) option. By default, the Restore Record Version privilege is enabled for the Cataloger, Catalog Manager, Catalog Administrator, and Cataloger Extended roles. When the Restore Record Version privilege is disabled, the role can still view past versions of a record. See Privileges Report for more information. Contact Support, if you want to have this privilege configured for one or more of these roles for your institution.
The version counter starts after the first time that a record is modified. The creation of a record via import or manually in the MD Editor does not count as a version. As a result, when you select Tools > View Versions for a new record, the system responds with the message No revisions were found.
![]() View Versions - New Record
After the first modification to the record, the version counter starts; and selecting Tools > View Versions opens the MD Editor in split screen mode with the Versions tab as shown in the figure below.
![]() View Versions - Modified Record
In the figure above, the Version: 1 indicates that the record has had its first modification. For subsequent modifications, the version number increases.
The Created By: label is followed by the:
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View Versions of Original Record | View previous versions of a local record before you saved it to the Network Zone. See Network-Managed Records in a Collaborative Network. |
Validate | Execute validation routines on the bibliographic record. Validation issues are displayed in the Alerts tab. The validation routines are configured in the Metadata Configuration for Resources. See Editing Validation Routines for more information. |
Validate in Network Zone | Validate the local bibliographic record according to the validation rules of the Network Zone. See Copying and/or Linking Local and Network Zone Bibliographic Records. |
Browse Shelf Listing (Alt+C) | Display the following additional options in order for you to do a call number browse, if the cursor is in a call number field:
This functionality is also available by selecting Resources > Cataloging > Browse Shelf Listing. When you select the link in the Description column for a call number, the bibliographic record opens in the MD Editor for editing. When you select the Holdings link in the Level column for a call number, the holdings record opens in the MD Editor for editing. Browse Shelf Listing Call Number Results List
The way in which this browse works cannot be configured.
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Browse Bib Headings | Browse bibliographic headings. This capability can also be accessed from Resources > Cataloging > Browse Bibliographic Headings. See Browsing Bibliographic Headings for more information. |
View Notes | Display working copy notes. |
View Collections | Display the collections to which the bibliographic record is assigned and enables you to assign and unassign the record to a collection. For more information, see Viewing and Assigning Collections. |
Release All Records For User | Release all of the bibliographic and holdings records assigned to a specific user. Consistent with previous capabilities, the released records become unassigned and are available to all other catalogers for processing.
When a record is being edited, it is locked for use by the user who is performing the edits. Other users who open this record can see that the record is locked by the user who is working on it. In addition, if a record is locked, it cannot be overlaid by an import or updated by an update job. When you are finished working on a record, ensure that you release it. A locked record cannot be edited until the operator that has it locked releases it or a time equal to the value of the parameter working_copy_lock_timeout parameter has expired. The default value for working_copy_lock_timeout is one hour. See Configuring Other Settings for configuration information.
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MARC Bibliographic: | |
Derive New Record | Create a new bibliographic record based on the related bibliographic record and the default template. In addition, it also includes the relations supported by either the 773 or 775 field. For more information, see Deriving a New Bibliographic Record - MARC 21. |
Merge Records and Combine Inventory | Merge two bibliographic records and combine the inventory of those two bibliographic records under one bibliographic record. You have the option of deleting, suppressing, or keeping the bibliographic record with no remaining inventory as a result of the merge process. See Merging Bibliographic Records for more information. |
Add holding (Ctrl+Alt+H) | Add a holdings record that is linked to the current bibliographic record. |
Add Local Portfolio (Alt+O) | Add a portfolio. Opens the New Portfolio page with the Use existing title radio button selected and the Choose title field filled in and identified as a required field with a red asterisk. See the section Managing Local Portfolios for more information. |
Add Representation (Alt+R) |
Add a representation. Opens the Representation Details page that allows you to add a representation to the bibliographic record (for MARC records only). For more information, see Adding a Representation. |
Manage Location Information (Alt+Shift+L) |
This option is enabled only if a central catalog integration profile for SBN is defined. For details, see Sending Location Information and Updating the UNIMARC 899 Field in Alma. |
Align Record Version with Central Catalog | This option is enabled only if a central catalog integration profile for SBN is defined. For details, see Aligning Record Version with SBN. |
Create PO Line & Exit (Ctrl+Alt+O) | Create a PO line based on the bibliographic information in the active record. (This requires the Inventory Operator role permissions). |
Find Matches (Ctrl+M) | When editing a local record, check whether there are matches for the current record in your local catalog. When editing a record that is linked to Community Zone, checks whether there are matches for the current record in the Community Zone. To define the correct match profile to be used, you must configure the appropriate file key for serial_match_profile and non_serial_match_profile (see Configuring Other Settings (Resource Management)). |
View Inventory (Ctrl+I) | Check for the following inventory linked to the bibliographic record and displays the results in split editor mode:
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View in Search (Ctrl+Alt+V) |
Display the record in the results list format on the Repository Search page. For more information, see the MetaData Editor Hotkey to Search for Current Record (Ctrl+Alt+V) video (0:57 min.).
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View Orders | Display the record in the PO line list format on the Select PO Line page (when there is an order). |
Related Records | Check whether there are records that were defined as related to the current record, on which the Record Relations job was run. For details on creating and viewing related records, see Configuring Related Records for Physical Inventory. |
MARC Authorities
Note that the MARC Authorities options are available for any authority records such as MARC 21, UNIMARC, and GND. |
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Change Authority Placement | While working in draft mode with an authority record, you can change the placement of the record to the Community Zone, Network Zone, or the Institution Zone. When you select Change Authority Placement, the options provided in the New Authority Record Placement dialog box vary depending on how your Metadata configuration is set for locally managed or community managed authority records (see Controlling the Display and Access of Global Authorities in the MD Editor).
After you have saved the authority record, the Change Authority Placement option is disabled. You can no longer change the record's placement.
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Find Matches (Ctrl+M) | While editing an authority record in the MD Editor, display any records that contain duplicate authority headings content.
Matching Authority Headings Records
When matches are found, you have the option to view and edit the record(s). |
View "See Also" |
With the focus on the 5XX field in an authority record, show both records, the authority record being edited and the linked authority record. For vocabularies that use text matching, there might be more than one authority record that matches; and in this case, all authority records are listed. |
MARC 21 Holdings | |
Add Another Holding (Ctrl+Alt+H) | Add another holdings record to the bibliographic record. |
Add Item (Alt+I) | Add an item record to the holdings record.
Selecting this option opens the Physical Item Editor page. See Updating Item-Level Information for more information.
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View Bibliographic Record (Ctrl+Alt+B) | Display the bibliographic record. |
Update from Bibliographic (ALT+U) | Add fields from the bibliographic record to the 852 field in the holdings record, according to the following rules:
The above rules are the out-of-the-box settings, which are defined on the Call Number Mapping page. For more information, see Mapping Call Numbers to Holdings.
When you use the Update from Bibliographic option (Tools > MARC21 Holdings > Update from Bibliographic), holdings record subfields are reordered after import call number normalization. The subfields are reordered in the following sequence:
The 852 subfields are reordered in the following sequence:
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Relink to a Different Bibliographic Record | Relink the holdings record to a different bibliographic record. For more information, see Moving Holdings Between Physical Records (Relinking). |
Generate Accession Number | Generate an accession number for the holdings record in the 852 field. See Configuring Accession Numbers for more information. |
Next predicted Item's information | See Prediction Patterns. |
Open predicted items | See Prediction Patterns. |
View Inventory | See Prediction Patterns. |
Dublin Core / DCAP / ETD / MODS | |
Find Matches | Find the matching bibliographic record. |
View Inventory | Check for the following inventory linked to the bibliographic record and displays the results in split editor mode:
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View in Search (Ctrl+Alt+V) |
Display the record in the results list format on the Repository Search page. |
Add Representation (Alt+R) |
Open the Representation Details page where you can add a representation to the record. For more information, see Adding a Representation. |
XML View (Ctrl+Atl+X) |
View the record as an XML file. |
View Orders | Display the record in the PO line list format on the Select PO Line page (when there is an order). |
Set Management Tags: | |
Suppress from Discovery | Tag the record to exclude/include it from being published to the end-user discovery system (Primo, Google Scholar, Primo Central, Z39.50, or Libraries Australia, for holdings only). If a record has been suppressed, the Suppressed icon ![]() Collection records can also be suppressed; however, the records in the collection are still discoverable.
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Suppress from External Search | Exclude the record from being searched by external systems. |
Export to WorldCat | Tag the record to be included/excluded in the OCLC synchronization.
Select one of the following options to indicate how to handle the record: Don’t Publish, Publish Holdings Only, Publish Bibliographic Record.
The Publish Bibliographic Record option is the default setting in the following workflows:
![]() Records that are exported to OCLC and then suppressed by changing this export parameter to another value are published as deleted.
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Force export to WorldCat | Include holdings records linked to the bibliographic record in the next export to OCLC. |
Export to Libraries Australia | Tag the record to be included/excluded in the Libraries Australia synchronization.
Select the check mark to indicate how to handle the record.
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Force export to Libraries Australia | Include holdings records linked to the bibliographic record in the next export to Libraries Australia. |
Brief Level | Display the level of a brief record. See Viewing the Brief Record Level Set for a Bibliographic Record for more information. |
Action | Description |
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Add Holding
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Add a holdings record that is linked to the current bibliographic record. |
Save Record
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Save the changes made to the record in the repository but does not release the record. use the Release Record option to release the record. |
Create PO Line & Exit
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Create a PO line. Opens the PO Line Owner and Type page (the first step in manually creating a PO line), exits the MD Editor page, and creates a PO line based on the bibliographic information in the active record.
See Manually Creating a PO Line for more information.
(This requires the Inventory Operator role permissions).
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Add Item
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Add a physical item. Move to the Physical Item Editor to add an item for this holdings record. This icon is active for holdings records. |
View Inventory
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Open a list of inventory records linked to the bibliographic record including links to item records. Depending on the inventory contents, the list may include holdings (physical resources), representations (digital resources) and/or portfolios (electronic resources).
Since the bibliographic record can be linked to physical, digital, or electronic resources, they may all be listed.
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Delete Bibliographic Record
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Delete the bibliographic record from the repository. This option is available only for a user with the Cataloger Extended role, and only if there are no PO lines or inventory associated with the bibliographic record. For information on deleting bibliographic records in bulk, see Deleting Sets of Bibliographic Records. |
View Bibliographic Record
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Open in split editor mode to display the associated bibliographic record when working with MARC 21 holdings. |
Add Portfolio
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Add a portfolio. Opens the New Portfolio page with the Use existing title radio button selected and the Choose title field filled in and identified as a required field with a red asterisk. See the section Managing Local Portfolios for more information. |
Add Representation![]() |
Add a representation. Opens the Representation Details page that allows you to add a representation to the bibliographic record (for MARC records only). For more information, see Adding a Representation. |
Split Editor
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Open side-by-side editing of two records (although only one side is active at a time). Select the right panel, and select a record from the list of records. |
Full Screen
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Open the main editing pane in the entire page. |
Exit
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Exit the editor, and discards any unsaved changes (unless you select to save a draft upon exit). Exiting the editor does not release any records, and they remain checked out to you until you specifically release them using the Release Record option. |
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Select this button to switch to the new Metadata Editor. When you select this option, you are prompted to confirm (Yes) that you want to use the new MD Editor. Switch to MDE Confirmation
See Metadata Editor for more information. |
Saving Records in the MD Editor
Normalizing on Save
- The 035 fields are derived from the 001 and 003 fields (if the 003 field exists)
- For new records, the 001 value is saved as the originating system ID (MMS ID)
- For existing records the 001 field is updated with the MMS ID
- The 008 field is updated if it exists
- The 005 field is updated
- Part of the LDR (leader) field is updated (mostly the length of the record)
- Any additional, custom normalize on save processes/tasks configured in MARC 21 Bib normalize on save or MARC 21 Holding normalize on save, for example, by your institution are processed (refer to Working with Normalization Processes for more information)
Entering Diacritics and Special Characters in the MD Editor
- From the Windows Start menu, select All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Character Map.
- Select a font from the Font drop-down list.
- Select the special character that you want to insert into the MD Editor.
- Select Select, and then select Copy.
- Paste the character in the MD Editor.
Using Non-Filing Markers/Indicators in MARC 21
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The cataloging convention of using angle brackets, << >>, to indicate non-filing markers is supported.For example, angle brackets are used when cataloging MARC 21 records with Hebrew content.
- The second indicator of the 240 and 245 fields is used to specify sorting functionality.
Component | Description |
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Display | When there is text within the angle brackets, the brackets are removed when the text appears. |
Sort/Browse | For sorting or browse purposes, the text within the angle brackets is ignored. |
MD Editor | In the MD Editor, the angle brackets and the text within the brackets appear in the area where cataloging records are entered. However, where text such as a title appears in the MD Editor, the angle brackets are removed. |
Using Non-Filing Markers in UNIMARC


Using Non-Filing Markers/Indicators in KORMARC

Indicator Position | KORMARC Field |
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1 | 630, 740 |
2 | 130, 222, 240, 242, 243, 245, 440, 490, 730, 830 |
- Record: 245 0 1 $$a (The) Journal of product innovation management.
- Sort: Journal of product innovation management.
- Display: The Journal of product innovation management.

- Keyword search contains the or journal
- Search phrase contains the journal of product or journal of product
- Search starting with contains the journal of product or journal of product
Expanding a Record from a Template
- Regardless of the template's indicators, the system groups all of the template's data fields according to their tags, keeping the occurrence order.
- For each template group, the system performs the following:
- Regardless of the indicators, the system groups all of the record's data fields that match the template group's tag, keeping the occurrence order.
- Performs the following comparisons on the first data field in the template's group with the first data field in the record's group as follows (followed by the next data field in each group and so forth).
- If the template's data field contains a subfield that is not in the corresponding record's data field, the subfield is added to the corresponding record's data field.
- If there is no corresponding data field in the record's group, the entire data field from the template is added to the record.
Field 2: 260 _3 $$a Boston $$c 1973
260 _3 $$a Boston $$c 1973
See Working with Record Templates for more information.
- Open the record you want to expand in the MD Editor.
- Select Edit > Expand from Template to display the Expand from Template dialog box.
Expand from Template OptionThe following template is used for this example:Example Expand Template
- In the Expand from Template dialog box, select a template from the Choose Template drop-down list and select OK to expand the record.
Expand from Template Dialog BoxThe following figure shows the expanded record, which includes new 008 and 260 fields and expanded 245 and 260 fields:Example Record Before and After Expansion
Deriving a New Bibliographic Record - MARC 21
- Host Item (773) – An analytical record that refers to a specific article in a journal that is described by another bibliographic record.
- Other Edition (775) – A record that describes other editions of the same bibliographic record.
- t – The original 245.a (title).
- w – A repeatable subfield that contains the 035.a subfield for each 035 field or the original MMS ID.
- x – A non-repeatable ISSN (if it exists in 022.a). The tool uses the first occurrence only.
- z – A repeatable ISBN (if it exists in 020.a/020.e).
- g – Related parts. This is a required subfield, but it must be entered manually. The tool includes a placeholder in the field.
- p – Abbreviated title. This is a required subfield, but it must be entered manually. The tool includes a placeholder in the field.
- q – Enumeration of first page. This is a required subfield, but it must be entered manually. The tool includes a placeholder in the field.
- 050, 080, and 260 - Includes only the first occurrence from the original related record, but also includes other occurrences from the default template.
- 300.c - Includes all occurrences of the 300 field that have a c subfield from the original related record. Note that tool copies only the c subfield from the original related record.
- Open the MD Editor (Resources > Cataloging > Open Metadata Editor).
- Specify the default template and open the related record to which you want to link.
- Select Tools > MARC 21 Bibliographic > Derive New Record.
Select Derive New Record
- Select Host Item (773) or Other Edition (775) from the Choose Record Type drop-down list and select OK. The derived record opens.
Select the 773 or 775 FieldFor example, the following figure shows the fields that were used to populate the new derived record:Original Related RecordThe following figure shows the results of the new derived record. The non-highlighted fields are taken from the default template:Derived Record Showing 775 Field and Other Derived FieldsAlma does not create a related record link if you include the MARC code in parenthesis before the record number in the $w subfield of a 773 or 775 tag. An example of this is in the above figure in the 775 tag: ... $$w (OCoLC)1819120601 ... Therefore, it is recommended to not used parenthesized MARC codes in $w subfields in 773 and 775 tags.
- Enter any additional fields and update the empty g, p, and q subfields in the 773 or 775 field.
- Save your changes to the new record.
Deriving a New Bibliographic Record - UNIMARC
- 410 0$1001CFI0053075$12001 $aSaggi$v200
- 410 0$1001RCA0545544$12001 $aScienza politica. Saggi
- 410 0$1001UBO3505978$12001 $aStoria e teoria politica
- Open the MD Editor ( Resources > Cataloging > Open Metadata Editor).
- Specify the default template and open the related UNIMARC bibliographic record to which you want to link.
- Select Tools > MARC Bibliographic > Derive New Record.
Derive New Record OptionThe Derive New Record dialog box appears.Derive New Record Dialog Box for UNIMARC
MD Editor Nonediting Mode Record View
- Tools > View Versions > Select View (for a record)
- Tools > MARC Bibliographic > Find Matches > Select View (for a record)
- Tools > MARC Bibliographic > Related records > Select View (for a record)
- Tools > Search External Resources > Select Search > Select View (for a record)
- Tools > Browse Bib headings > Select Browse > Select View (Bibliographic Records Headings) > Select View (Bibliographic Records tab)
- Tools > MARC21 Holdings > Relink to a different bibliographic record > Select Search > Select View
Viewing and Assigning Collections
- Edit a record (MARC, Dublin Core, DCAP, ETD, or MODS) in the MD Editor and select Tools > View Collections. The Collections tab appears.
Collections Tab
- Select Add to Collection and select a collection to which you want to assign the digital record. The collection appears in the Collections pane.
"An external process has changed the original record" Message when Editing Community Zone Records
When attempting to release Community Zone records from the Metadata Editor, you might get this message: "An external process has changed the original record. It is recommended to reload original record".
This message occurs when a record is open in the Metadata Editor (which means that it exists as draft), and while it is open, another process changes the record in the repository. The "other process" may be, for example, an API, a job running a normalization process on a set, or the authorities preferred term correction job. As a result of the change made by this change, the record opened in draft mode in the Metadata Editor is now different from the record saved in the repository.
This message notifies you of the change, and recommends reloading the record to get the most up-to-date version. To reload the record, select File > Reload Original Record.