Alma Configuration Options

For configuration information associated with local electronic collections and databases, see the following sections in the Alma documentation:

• Adding a Local Electronic Collection

• Working with Database Type Electronic Collections

Configuration Options for Expanded DB Searches

The following table lists the configuration settings associated with expanded DB searches.

Assigning Categories to Local Database Records

This Database Categories feature requires you to apply database categories, which can contain up to three category levels, to the bibliographic records of your local databases.

1. Choose a local bibliographic field (for example, select any 6XX or 9XX field for MARC21) in which to store the database categories in your local bibliographic records, and then enter that field in the db_categories_field parameter on the Alma Customer Parameters page (Configuration Menu > Resources > General > Other Settings).

   Administrators need one of the following roles to update the above parameter:

   • Catalog Administrator

   • Repository Administrator

   • General System Administrator

2. For each local database's descriptive bibliographic record, use the Metadata Editor (Resources > Cataloging > Open Metadata Editor) to add the chosen MARC field with the following subfields to assign up to three category levels: $$a (level 1), $$b (level 2), and $$c (level 3). For example:

   699 ##$aEducation $bMedical $cFitness

   699 ##$aEducation $bHealth

   As shown in the example above, a database can belong to more than one category/subcategory.

3. Ensure that the Creates DB Categories File job (Admin > Monitor Jobs > Scheduled tab) under the Discovery filter is activated to allow the system to update the record's categories for discovery in Primo VE. This job is scheduled to run daily. For more details, see Scheduled Jobs in Alma.

Configuring the Display Labels for Database Search

Creating Display Labels and Translations for Categories

In addition to the labels that appear on the Database Search page, the Database Search Labels code table enables you to translate the display labels used for your DB categories. The display label that appears for a category and its translations is based on the value mapped from the MARC subfield.

To provide a translation for a category, you must create a row definition for each language:

• Code – Specify the value of the MARC subfield that is to be mapped from the source record. Ensure each space in the mapped value is converted to an underscore (_). For example, if your category is Medicine and Technology, the value of this field should be set to default.dbcategories.Medicine_and_Technology.

• Description – Specify the display label for the category in English, which is the default language.

• Translation – From the Filter field, select the language to which you want to translate a category's display label, and then enter the category's translation in the Translation field. For example, if you are creating the Spanish translation for Medicine and Technology, select the Spanish language, and then specify Medicina y Tecnología.

  

  Spanish Translation for Category