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Ex Libris Knowledge Center

May 2016 Release Notes

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The Alma May release provides numerous new features and enhancements. Some of these enhancements are a result of the NERS or Idea Exchange initiatives.
PDF.png Download a PDF of the Release Notes - Note that the PDF includes the online help pages that describe the core functionality of the new features.

Make the Most of This Release

Action Items
idea_exchange.pngIdea Exchange: Customizing the Request Forms for Primo - Request forms that are tailored for your end users’ needs and exactly match the service options you suggest to your end users are definitely something that you will want to easily implement. The new Primo request form customization options allow you to do just that.
Requesting Copyright Agreement for Digitization Requests - If your library, like so many other libraries, is required to make sure your patrons are aware of copyright restrictions when placing requests, you can now turn on the option to mandate a copyright declaration signature on the digitization request forms.
Group Items or Loans by Library in User Notifications - Notifications are now made clearer for patrons, with library separations implemented in the default notification templates. If you’ve customized your notifications, you can use the Alma default as an example for modifying your templates accordingly in order to achieve this goal.
Integration with UK Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) - If you are using the UK Copyright Licensing Agency’s Higher Education license, you can now verify your reading list citations' compliance with the license terms in an integrated manner, by turning on this new integration option.

What's New?

The following sections present the new and changed features in this release of Alma.

Acquisitions

Resource Management

Digital Resource Management

Fulfillment

Resource Sharing

Collaborative Networks

Analytics

Due to an upgrade of the OBIEE used by Alma Analytics, the export option for reports from Alma Analytics to Excel 2003 will no longer be supported in a future release. Only export to an xslx format will be supported and not export to an xls format.

Alma Infrastructure

  • You can generate a tracking ID that assists Ex Libris in debugging, by clicking the new Generate Tracking ID link from the Persistent Menu (Help > Generate Tracking ID). Use this option when an error occurs and the standard error message with a tracking ID does not appear automatically. Generate the ID as soon as possible after the error occurs. This ID enables Ex Libris to provide better initial analysis of the issues that you are encountering and helps identify inconsistent problems. Provide this ID in any Salesforce issue that you open. The following is an example of a tracking ID:
    generate_tracking_id.png
    Generate Tracking ID
    Watch the Tracking ID Generator video
  • In certain cases, an institution may have multiple SSO systems using the SAML protocol. In such cases, you can now configure multiple active SAML profiles in one institution. The Alma URL must contain the /SAML/idpCode/[profile code] suffix for Alma to use the correct SAML integration profile. To configure this feature, change the enable_multiple_active_saml_idp parameter (Administration > General Configuration > Configuration Menu > General Configuration > Other Settings) to true. For more information, see SAML-Based Single Sign-On/Sign-Off.

Alma APIs

  • idea_exchange.pngIdea Exchange: A new API was created to retrieve a job's status as well as the job's report, including detailed information such as successful records and failed records:

    GET /jobs/
    GET /jobs/\{job id}
    GET /jobs/\{job id}/runs
    GET /jobs/\{job id}/runs/\{run_id}

  • The Expand parameter was added to the Get User Loans API. For details, see https://developers.exlibrisgroup.com/alma/apis/users.

Known Issues

  • When importing an EOD file using the New Order profile, if the location of the item does not have a call number type, the call number type of the institution should be used as the alternative call number type. Currently, however, no alternative call number is used.
  • Related to merging bibliographic records in the MD Editor, if there are no requests, the Merge Records and Combine Inventory pop-up window does not display a count of 0 (zero) requests. The count appears for requests only when it is greater than 0 (zero). The count should also appear as 0 (zero) requests when they occur.
  • Regarding the autocomplete/pop-up assistance being provided for several UNIMARC fields in the MD Editor, there is a known issue related to UNIMARC 327 $a and 327 $b. These subfields are based on the same functionality and as a result, the pop-up suggestions in the MD Editor suggests both subfields’ values when entering content in either the 327 $a or the 327 $b.
  • Fixed position fields cannot be modified using the extension loader (extension packs) at this time.
  • When creating an OCLC Connexion import profile in a Network Zone member institution with the Use NZ option selected, the Use NZ record option is used upon finding a match. Currently, there is no possibility to select the Merge, Overlay, or Do not import options instead.
  • When a record is deleted in Alma, the headings associated with the record are still available when browsing bibliographic headings.
  • The Total electronic portfolios imported count in the MD import report does not take into account the portfolios imported in the first file that is imported when the import is split into several files.
  • When creating an Analytics report using the Cost per Use field, the year used is taken from the date of the invoice transaction instead of the fiscal year of the fund used in the transaction.

Data Services

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