IMPORTANT! This page is now about obsolete release (21.11).

Next release page: Release 22.05 pilot library memo



Common notes and hints to pre- and test fresh KK-Koha build.

KOHA-44 - Getting issue details... STATUS

KOHA-40 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Table of contents:

PLEASE! Use Slack chat which we have for our customers: 

Some notes about filling:

  1. learn contents of this page,
  2. adopt hints and knowledge for your server and use,
  3. propagate this among your operators and users if needed,
  4. and please feedback and fill here more with some what you found needed to be said or missing.

Notes about contents. Let's combine and note here:

  1. how to check if all working well on your Koha. 
  2. what is not working on your release now
  3. what is working differently
  4. what is new
  5. what missing
  6. feel free to combine your knowledge

!!! All below is about KK-Koha 16.472 (Autumn 2021) vs KK-Koha v15.311 (Spring 2021)


Something working differently as before?

  • Placing a hold to a specific item: the pick-up-location has to be chosen from the table that shows the items: the column at the right-end of the table: Allowed pick-up locations / Sallitut noutopaikat.
  • Analytical records (music component parts): moved to another place (tab called "components") 
  • Batch jobs e.g. item deletion: goes to queue (can be seen in a new section called "Background jobs" see: Koha admin->Background jobs)

Something new added? 

  • Looking different not new option: Holds→Existing holds: canceling a hold is now button (before: red cross)
  • New syspref: AutoRenewalNotices

If you select Send automatic renewal notices: according to patron messaging preferences
then the option appears in Koha and in Finna.

In Koha, you can set Autorenewal on/off for different patron categories (cgi-bin/koha/admin/categories.pl)
This change applies only to new patrons.

Also, the Automatic renewal option shows in Finna, if you activate the setting.



Something not working in your Koha?

all moved to JIRA:
KOHA-206 - Getting issue details... STATUS


Something wrong with the translation?

all moved to JIRA:
KOHA-215 - Getting issue details... STATUS

KOHA-139 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Something missing?

DB schema (external link) leads to the community's not yet ready page

(credits to Saija Pyhtilä )

The link leads to  https://schema.koha-community.org/21_11, which is not yet ready – the result will appear here: http://schema.koha-community.org/ (there is older schemes available, incl. 21.05).

How to and what to test to be sure that your Koha works properly

When testing, it is important to check the result of any action in Koha and in Finna views (also Finna.fi).

Some functions may seem like they work fine, but it is a good practice to verify the situation from the staff view and patron's point of view.

Check all functions related to nightly cronjobs

  • Fines
  • Holds expiring
  • Hold expire charges
  • Autorenewals

Other resources:

Test plan notes by Johanna Miettunen 


Function/process to test
  • test Finnish and English (and Swedish) interfaces

Koha

Finna
Cataloging

Create a new bibliographic record, if you do those in your Koha

  • frameworks are working as they should
  • fields are shown as they used to


Cataloging

Making a new holdings

  • holdings templates (bibliographic frameworks) and fields are working as they should
  • cgi-bin/koha/admin/biblio_framework.pl →



Cataloging

Adding and editing an item

  • editing via Action button: Duplicate a copy
  • add multiple copies using Add & duplicate, Add multiple copies of this item
  • change item's Not for loan -status eg. from Ordered to In Process etc. Check that status changes correctly in Finna too.


Cataloging

Component parts, e.g. music (parent and child records)

  • linking with parents and child record 
  • child and parents can be found with title


Circulation (borrowing)

Borrow items with different item types to different patron categories (regular, staff, students, ILL, special groups etc.)

  • correct due dates
  • print due date slips


Circulation (borrowing, returning)

Renewing an item

  • one by one
  • all loans


Circulation (borrowing, returning)

Borrowing items with special status (e.g withdrawn, lost, in process, ordered etc.)

  • borrowing
  • renewing
  • returning (popup windows on staff Koha, behaviour with SIP machines)



Circulation (holds)

Placing a request and editing it

  • change pick-up place for title-level holds
  • delete title-level hold
  • make hold for title where some of items are “in order”-status
  • revert a hold and print a new slip
  • place multiple item-level and title-level holds for same patron (check that functions and blocks according to your processes)


Circulation (holds)

Borrowing with SIP machines, before the request is processed

  • another patron should be able to borrow
  • does the request trap correctly when some item (from same bib ) is returned
  • can item be renewed before trapping (if enough copies available on shelf)


Circulation (holds)

Holds in transfer



Circulation (holds)

Holds available for pick up

  • try to borrow item for someone else
  • cancel request (from patron page and from holds page). See that no fees are calculated either way!


Circulation (holds)Special cases that might differ in libraries due to different service processes and settings, eg, in 3AMK, check this process:
  • all items are available, place a request
  • request is trapped in different branch from pickup location
  • cancel the request while in transit
  • record the behaviour when item arrives to original pickup location (popup messages, statuses in Koha and in Finna)


Circulation (holds)

Check that new holds appear on Holds queue (Varausjono) & Holds to pull (Hyllyvaraukset) -reports

  • Transport cost matrix


Customer information

Adding a patron






Customer informationMaking address change in Finna: request comes to Koha for approval and is changed when approved 

Customer information

Patron messaging preferences

  • check in Koha that there are no suprises with settings, for different patron groups
  • check that they work in Finna (if you have allowed patrons to modify them)
  • test new messaging settings and slips: eg. Autorenewal, Hold reminder (can't be tested really because no cronjobs at Koha3)


Customer information (login in Finna)

Test ability to login and operating in Finna as a patron, who

  • has more fines than Overdue fines cap (amount), like 15 euros etc.
  • has material onloan with Lost -statuses
  • is debarred
  • account is expired
  • wants to change his/her PIN code (password)


Customer information

Accounting (Money-related) issues are extremely important

  • overdue charges accumulating correctly
  • fines and fees showing correctly
  • buttons and functions: Pay amount, Pay selected, Write off all, Write off selected
    • if unwanted buttons re-appear, check your IntranetUserCSS


Searching (patrons)
  • search patrons with special characters (ä, å, é etc.)


Searching (bibliographic data and items)
  • search with item barcode


PluginsMake sure necessary plugins are installed/updated and enabled, e.g. Finna plugin, Tuudo plugin, Label Maker plugin
  • test processes related to plugins, e.g. for spine labels 3-letters printing 
  • /cgi-bin/koha/plugins/plugins-home.pl


Tools

Batch item modification

  • change items full call number, or something similar
  • is job queued and operated as it should, logs afterwards, any error messages


Reports

Testing your often used reports (daily, weekly, montly reports)

  • document changes
  • report error messages


CSS

Prefence: IntranetUserCSS

  • see that all CSS-changes you made are still working (e.g. suppressed/hidden fields in intranet) 



Things that can’t be tested beforehand 

-Tuudo app: making a new card, renewals 

-self-service machines: item in transit, item in transit with a hold, items with “special” status (e.g. withdrawn etc.) 

-automatic renewal (or is it possible?) 

-expire reserve charge

-overduecharges  (can be tested, but the truth reveals itself in production)

-messages are not delivered


To-do in Finna after update:


-Translation texts for Hold_Reminder (Library Card Settings - Notification settings)




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