2020 RN 05 Main
Ability to create/update the vendor details on a purchase order line using APIs
An option to create and/or update the fields within the Vendor Details section have been added to the Update PO Line and Create PO Line APIs.
See Rest PO Line in the Developer Network.
Monthly Run Option for SUSHI Harvesting Job
Idea ExchangeURM-121327The SUSHI Harvesting job can now be run on a monthly schedule, in addition to the weekly scheduling option. The monthly schedule offers four predefined optional dates across the month. This will save institutions from trying to harvest usage data each week, which can result in redundant failures in case reports are not ready yet.
Ability to Activate Portfolio from CZ using Create Order API
Idea ExchangeThe functionality, which was originally introduced in the January release, is designed for orders originating from OASIS. It is now available for 11 providers (see complete list).
See Real-Time Ordering.
New Metadata Editor
The new Metadata Editor is now available for your review in the sandbox. See the Metadata Editor and Rollout Plan sections on the Usability Improvements page for more information.
View Community Zone Portfolio Linking Information
NERS Enhancement (ID #5790) Idea Exchange URM-124230In order to assist with the decision of activating Community Zone portfolios, you can now view portfolio linking information from search results in the Community Zone tab. Previously in order to view the linking information of a Community Zone portfolio, you had to activate the portfolio. See Linking Information on the Searching in Alma page for more information.
UTF-8 Special Character Handling
Alma offers a new method of handling UTF-8 special characters (with diacritics). UTF-8 special characters may be represented in both the composed or decomposed version of the character in bibliographic or authority records. Now, you have the option to configure your system with normalize on save always to save the composed version of special characters. This may be especially useful to implement to avoid the use case where multiple records are changed due to their conversion to composed representation. Such records are marked for preferred-term correction (PTC) and cause heading updates (the only difference is the composed/decomposed nature of a special character).
For more information, see UTF-8 Special Character Handling in Alma.docx
Statistical Notes
Idea ExchangeURM-116240In advanced search for Physical titles and Physical items, you can now search for statistical notes. See Searching for Statistical Notes for more information.
MARC 21 and UNIMARC Updates
The following MARC 21 holdings and authority configuration profile updates have been completed:
- MARC 21 Holdings – Update No. 28 (May 2019)
- MARC 21 Authority – Update No. 26 (April 2018) and Update No. 28 (May 2019)
- 135 $a/1 Special Material Designation
- New codes: d – computer disc, type unspecified, e – computer disc cartridge, type unspecified, k – computer card, s – standalone device
- Renamed: j – magnetic disk, r – online
- New field 214
- New subfield 2 for the following fields: 200, 225, 510, 532, 541
- The following new subfields for the 602 field: c, d, o
- The following new subfield for the 604 field: 2
- The following new subfield for the 623 field: 3
- 101
- Repeatable
- New indicator 2 – Source of code
- # – ISO 639–2 language code
- 7 – Source specified in subfield 2
- New subfield 2 – System Code (NR)
- The following new subfields for the 123 field: q, r, s, t, 2
- The 106 field renamed to 106 CODED DATA FIELD: ENTITY NAME AS SUBJECT ACCESS POINT
- The following new fields: 180, 370, 822
- The following new X23 fields: 223, 423, 523, 723
API Usage Subject Area
May 2020 Analytics URM-120254The new API Usage subject area is now available. You can use the fields of this subject area to create reports that display usage of Alma Analytics by API. For more information, see API Usage.
Add Roles from Profiles For Widgets and Dashboards
May 2020 Analytics URM-94013When creating Analytics Widgets and dashboards (Configuration Menu > Analytics > Analytics Objects List or Analytics > Analytics Objects > Analytics Objects List) you can now select a profile of roles to assign to the widget or dashboard.
Improved Performance For Alma Analytics
Ex Libris is currently implementing performance upgrades to the Alma Analytics infrastructure. These upgrades will greatly improve performance when running analytics reports. These upgrades will be rolled out gradually. For the May release, the upgrades will be made available to NA02.
Normalization of Generic XML to Alma XML
May 2020 Digital Resource Management URM-120462 URM-117924Alma now supports XSL transformer rules to convert generic XML files in a DCMI schema to an XML format recognized by Alma. This enables a RESTful API to load the file into Alma. For example, you can load an ETD Admin file with a SWORD API into Alma in ETD-DCAP format.
Recent Entities for Digital Resources
May 2020 Digital Resource Management URM-120637- Digital Collections
- Digital Representations
- Digital Files
- Digital Deposits
For more information, see Recent Entities List.
Material Type Mapping
May 2020 Digital Resource Management URM-120462 URM-117783You can now map Alma material types to DCMI types that you configure. The DCMI types that you configure are available in the Material Type drop-down lists wherever they exist in Alma. Additionally, when the DCMI types that you configure are the value in the dc:type or dcterms:type fields in a DC bibliographic record, Alma will display the record with the mapped Alma material type. To support this feature, a new mapping table is available at Configuration > Resources > Cataloging > DCMI Material Type Mapping:
Related Digital Records
May 2020 Digital Resource Management Idea Exchange URM-114001
Related digital records are now indicated when clicking View It.
To support this feature, the new Disable Related Record Services for Digital configuration option is now available (Configuration > Fulfillment > Discovery Interface Display Logic > Related Records).
Clear this option to allow the related records indication for digital records to be displayed
Multiple Viewers Available for Staff Delivery
May 2020 Digital Resource Management URM-88411Library staff can now select which viewer is used to display a digital file. To support this feature, a new Delivery section was added to the Digital Representation Resource Editor that displays the available viewers. Unavailable viewers are marked as Disabled.
Option for Locate of Electronic Resources
You can now set a policy to not send a borrowing request to a lender that has only an electronic version of the requested resource, if the request has been requested for a physical format. When the new parameter, rs_ignore_electronic_for_physical_request, is set to true, the borrowing locate process for physical requests ignores lenders’ electronic inventory, as shown in the table below. Lenders which have the requested resource only in electronic form are then removed from the rota by the locate process.
If the Allow other formats check box is selected, when creating a new borrowing request, electronic resources are allowed, regardless of the value in the parameter.
The below table describes how the locate process runs with regard to the possible combinations of the Ignore Electronic and Digital Resources option in the locate profile and the new rs_ignore_electronic_for_physical_request parameter
| Allow other formats is not selected | Allow other formats is selected | ||
| rs_ignore_electronic_for_physical_request = false | Ignore Electronic and Digital Resources is not selected in Locate Profile Details | Allow electronic regardless of format | Allow electronic regardless of format |
| locate profile ignore electronic is selected in LocateProfile Details | ignore electronic regardless of format | ignore electronic regardless of format | |
| rs_ignore_electronic_for_physical_request = true | locate profile ignore electronic is not selected in Locate Profile Details | ignore electronic if physical / physical non-returnable | Allow electronic regardless of format |
| locate profile ignore electronic is selected in Locate Profile Details | ignore electronic regardless of format | ignore electronic regardless of format |
Control the presentation of related holdings in Primo
NERS Enhancement (ID #5340) Idea ExchangeURM-90487New configuration options are available for the Get It display, these options provide institutions the control of whether or not to present related holdings for patrons using Primo/PrimoVE. A more granular option provides the institutions with the option to present related records only for serials or only for monograph titles.
'Printouts Queue' Link Visibility
May 2020 Administration and Infrastructure URM-115013
Now you can grant access to the Printouts Queue link (Admin > Printing) only to specific users. To support this, two new user roles were added:
- The Printout Queue Operator - can access the Printouts Queue, but can see only the letters they have printed (which means they do not have access to the Printed By filter).
- The Printout Queue Manager - can access the Printouts Queue, and can see all the letters there. Have access to the Printed By filter.
The change in Alma will be implemented gradually, over the May and June releases, as follows:
- In May release: No change in behavior. All users can still access the Printouts Queue link.
- In June release:
- The Printout Queue link becomes hidden for all users without one of the above roles.
- The Printout Queue Operator role is automatically added to all the users who have printed to the Printout Queue within the previous 30 days.
To manage this change, Ex Libris recommends that you do the following within the duration of the May release:
- If grant access to the Printouts Queue link to existing users, make sure to add one of the above roles to all users that need to receive access to the link.
- To grant access to the link to new users, add the new Printout Queue Operator role to a Role Profile. This will make the link available for all users created with the relevant job category or user group, and a corresponding role-assignment rule for the Role Profile in place. For details about Role Profiles, see Configuring Role Profiles.
In addition, in the May release the retention period for items in the Printout Queue will be increased from 7 days to 30 days, after which the Alma cleaning job will clean the items. There is currently no way for customers to control the retention period.
See Managing User Roles.
Keyboard Shortcuts Enhancements
May 2020 Administration and Infrastructure URM-85963Now you can view the full list on the Shortcut Customization page (User menu > Shortcut Customization).
You can also disable global Alma keyboard shortcuts. You may want to do that in cases when your language requires usage of the same keyboard keys for typing accents or diacritics. Note that you can disable the Alma shortcuts, but cannot define other Alma shortcuts for the same action.
See Global Alma Hot Keys.
Sorting Tables Alphabetically in All Languages
May 2020 Administration and InfrastructureURM-30968Continuing the enhancements introduced in March 2020, now you can sort additional tables alphabetically in Alma, regardless of the language of the data in the table. The data is sorted according to the alphabet of the selected language.
This was implemented in the following tables within Alma:
- Bulk Change Due Dates table – Material Type column
- Add Non-Repository Citation table - Material Type column
- Edit Reading List Citation - Material Type column
- Resource Sharing Borrowing Request table - Languages column
- Manage Course Information table - Academic Department column
New SAML Certificate
May 2020 Administration and Infrastructure URM-120835
The current DigiCert SAML Certificate will expire in January 2021. If your institution uses this certificate, Ex Libris recommends that you consult with the IT dept. in your institution, and if required, replace the certificate for Alma and/or Primo VE. If replacing the certificate, this must be done in coordination with your IDP. For more information, see Replacing a Signed Certificate.
If your institution uses ADFS, Ex Libris highly recommends that you replace the certificate to avoid any complications.
Note: No immediate action is needed. Replacing the certificate can be done at any time till its expiry on January 5, 2021.
DARA Recommendations for My Electronic Resources by Provider
The My Electronic Resources by Provider feature in Alma allows you to view your subscriptions with providers and their availability status in Alma and activate any resources that you access but have not activated. DARA can now determine if the feature is relevant for your institution, but is not in use, and recommend that you use it.
For more information, see DARA – Data Analysis Recommendation Assistant.
For more information on the My Electronic Resources by Provider feature in Alma, see My Electronic Resources by Provider.