Older page(s): 23.05 pilot library memo, 21.11 pilot library memo, 22.05 pilot library memo, 22.11 pilot library memo

CURRENT 23.11 RELEASE:  Release 23.11 (20th) changelogs - COMING UP (not yet).

PLEASE! Use Slack channel:  ADD HERE
for most issues and their life cycle support talks and get back there with notes, which you think should be noted.

Table of contents:


Something working differently as before?

  • Tools-Batch extend due dates: possibility to extend due dates for certain item types (Bugzilla 26978)
  • Cataloging-Batch record modification (Bugzilla 24480) : added field is now ordered within the already existing Marc fields in the bibrecord
  • Koha administration-system preferences: some authorized values can be chosen from drop-down menu, no need to use numbers anymore (more user-friendly) (eg.  (Bugzilla 31731)
  • Holds queue: barcode-section includes now link to item (Bugzilla 34160)
  • Item search: batch item modification and batch item deletion options are available in item search results (Bugzilla 34227)
  • Patron loan list: renewing and returning : divided functions to two different buttons (in fig. check in selected items-button and renew selected items-button) (Bugzilla 35068)


Something new added? 

  • Koha administration-Basic parameters-Libraries: opportunity to add UserJS and UserCSS for single library- maybe valuable to libraries which use Koha Opac?? didn't test it
  • Koha administration - Basic Parameters - Authorized Values- Vendor_Issue_Type: in acq module 
  • Koha administration - Patrons and circulation - Patron restriction types: opportunity to put fee limit and lift after payment ? values for restriction types
  • Koha administraton - Patrons and circulation - Circulation and fines rules:  new value "no automatic renewal before" 
  • Koha administration - Acquisition parameters - Currencies and exchange rates : Define currencies and exchange rates used for acquisitions
  • Koha reports → Run with template : "Sometimes it is useful to display the results of a report in a non-table format" using notice templates (see Bugzilla 34136, test notice type created in Koha-KK: Notices TEST-REPORT)
  • Koha tools-Notices and slips: New notice types
    • Auto- renewals (notification of automatic renewal) . See Bugzilla 34924 and 
    • Membership-renewed (account renewal). See Bugzilla 28688
  • Koha-system preferences-TrackLastPatronActivityTriggers: new options:
  • Bugzilla 35221 and Bugzilla 15504
  • Patrons: possibility to add patron as protected in library management (could be useful for example with Z-automaatit, Z-verkkomaksut patrons?) Bugzilla 26170  cgi-bin/koha/members/memberentry.pl?
  • Cataloging: possibility to switch smoothly to Advanced editor and back Bugzilla 34275
  •   
  • Item search: items with damaged status can be searched Bugzilla 26468, 35254

System preferences: (Check these preferences if they are "valuable" for your library)

  • NEW

    • Administration preferences-ForceLibrarySelection: Possibility to force staff to choose library when logging in to Koha Bugzilla 34188
    • Acquisition-CalculateFundValuesIncludingTax Bugzilla 31631
    • Circulation-Overduenoticefrom: new option "patron home library" (probably not valuable to us, not using patron home library) Bugzilla 32740
    • Preservation: new module (see the idea of using it Bugzilla 30708 ) : PreservationModule, PreservationNotForLoanDefaultTrainIn, PreservationNotForLoanWaitingListIn
    • Serials-SerialsSearchResultsLimit Bugzilla 31846
    • ShowlastPatronCount Bugzilla 21246

BETA PHASE


Pre-pilot (not on production) beta testing started. Let's build testing notes keeping in might that we need to repeat those steps a few times once new changes from the community/mcaster are absorbed.

This is the checklist used in previous rounds:


Function/process to test

Koha

Finna

Cataloging

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

  • frameworks are working as they should (can be changed, default values are copied to new holdings)

  • fields are shown as they used to be

  • MARC bibliographic framework test, cgi-bin/koha/admin/checkmarc.pl

  • item date picker should work when adding item)  (see Jira KOHA-278 - Jira project doesn't exist or you don't have permission to view it.)

  • field values can be highlighted with a mouse (Firefox / Chrome / Edge




  • 3AMK: OK /27.10.
  • 3AMK: OK/ 27.10.
  • 3AMK: Firefox / Text highlighting is not working with a mouse for input fields in bibliographic and holdings templates / 13.11.2023 (23.11.882 beta) Johanna
    fixed: 3AMK ok 22.11. (KK-Koha 23.11.892 preproduction) Johanna


Cataloging

Making a new holdings (previous version had sometimes 500 error)

  • holdings templates (bibliographic frameworks) and fields are working as they should (previous version: couldn't change the tab in holdings framework)

  • cgi-bin/koha/admin/biblio_framework.pl


  • 3AMK: OK, can change tabs /27.10.can't change holdings framework /reported 27.10
    →fixed: Fikka ok 9.11.
  • Fikka: also creating new holdings has problems, reported 2.11. →fixed: Fikka ok 9.11.


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.

  • 3AMK: ok otherwise but not able to test visibility in Finna / 7.11.

different statuses tested in test-finna 17.11./IH ->OK

Cataloging

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

  • linking with parents and child record 

  • child and parents can be found with title

Fikka ok / 15.11.

  • 3AMK: Ok / 24.10.
  • 3AMK: Ok /24.10.

In Finna test views, component parts are not always working as they do in production Finna. Problem is recognised, but the solution is not clear.
See, Slack discussion.
Important to test in production. 22.11. /jm

Cataloging

Merging records

  • find duplicate bib records, try to merge them into one (SQL report (26) on test server)
  • 3AMK & Koha-test: Not working, a) Causes Error 500.
    b) However, changes reference (destination) record, e.g. adds fiields one selects from the source record(s), but does not remove duplicate record. / 13.11.2023 (23.11.882 beta) JM


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

  • Fikka ok / 2.11.


  • 3AMK: Ok/2.11.
  • 3AMK: Ok/2.11.


Circulation (borrowing, returning)

Renewing an item

  • one by one

  • all loans

  • Fikka ok (one by one & all loans) /2.11.
  • 3AMK: tested in koha-kk-finna: renewing ok/17.11.

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)

  • Fikka ok (SIP machines not tested) / 2.11.
  • 3AMK: borrowing same way as previous versions , SIP machines not testedOK /3.11.


  • 3AMK: returning same way as previous versions, SIP machines not tested Ok/3.11.


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)

  • canceling waiting hold in Finna (if possible)

  • 3AMK: placing & editing & deleting & reverting ok. Multiple holds logic for one patron ok. Item-level holds logic ok. / 6.11.
  • 3AMK: tested in koha-kk-finna:
  • change pick-up place: some patron types can, others don't (should check more settings) /17.11.
  • delete title-level hold: ok /17.11.

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

  • 3AMK: ok / 7.11.
  • Fikka ok 15.11.


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!

  • Fikka ok /2.11.
  • 3AMK ok /6.11.


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)

  • 3AMK: ok / 7.11.


Circulation (holds)

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

  • Transport cost matrix

  • Fikka: Holds queue ok/2.11.
  • 3AMK: Holds queue ok/2.11.


Circulation (holds)

See that the fee of hold that is not picked up appears correctly.

  • Fikka: not working, reported 6.11. → Works ok now/ 14.11.


Circulation (renewing)

Automatic renewing

(never done in Fikka / not tested)

  • 3AMK OK/1.11.


Circulation (renewing)

Renewing in Finna


Ok in test-finna/IH 17.11.

Customer information

Adding a patron


  • 3AMK: Ok /30.10.
  • 3AMK: Ok /30.10.
  • 3AMK: Ok/30.10.
  • Fikka: all OK/30.10.


Customer information

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

Check that correct fields are included in the form, and that everything works
! These have variations in different libraries (example on test-Finna)



  • 3AMK: ok (test in Koha-kk-Finna )/7.11
    Ok In test-koha 16.11./IH

Customer information

Making changes in Finna regarding (patron can do this without library approval)

  • SMS number (Koha's Primary phone) NB! Not used in 3AMK.

  • email address change in Finna: is changed successfully when patron clicks Save Patron information in Finna.




  • 3AMK: e-mail ok (test in Koha-kk-Finna)/7.11.
  • Ok in test-finna/IH17.11.

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 latest messaging settings and slips: eg. Autorenewal, Hold reminder (if you are using those)


  • 3AMK: messaging preferences same with old and new,added patrons OK /3.11.
    Fikka ok (tested only in Koha) 15.11.

Changing preferences through test-finna OK /IH 17.11.

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)

  • needs new PIN-code (has forgotten it)
  • lost card
  • gone no address


Ok in test-finna/IH 17.11.

Customer information

Accounting (Money-related) issues are extremely important

  • overdue charges accumulating correctly

  • fines and fees showing correctly

  • adding payment manually
  • buttons and functions: Pay amount, Pay selected, Write off all, Write off selected

    • if unwanted buttons re-appear, check your IntranetUserCSS


  • - Fikka:OK/2.11. -3AMK: Ok /3.11.
  • Fikka Ok/2.11.
  • 3AMK:Ok/30.10. - Fikka ok/30.10.
  • 3AMK: Ok with one test case/30.10. - Fikka ok/30.10.


Searching (patrons)

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

  • 3AMK: works as before. Mäkinen finds Mäkinen, but so does Makinen / 7.11.


Searching (bibliographic data and items)

  • search with item barcode

  • search with ISBN and ISSN, other standard numbers if you are using them

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

  • 3AMK:Ok /24.10
  • 3AMK: Ok /24.10
  • 3AMK: Ok /24.10


Slips/prints

Patron slips

  • issueslip (Patron -print slip -tulosta kuitti)

  • issueqslip (Patron-print quick slip -tulosta tänään lainatut)

Returning slips

  • transferslip (Returning item - transfer to other library)

  • holdslip (varauskuitti)



  • Fikka: ok/2.11. -3AMK: ok/9.11.
  • Fikka:ok/2.11. -3AMK: ok/9.11.
  • Fikka:not tested(no need for that)  -3AMK: ok/9.11.
  • Fikka: ok/2.11. -3AMK: was ok prior 9.11. - 3AMK: works 22.11./JM

Plugins

Make 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


  • 3AMK: label maker plugin ok/9.11.


Tools

Batch item modification

  • change items full call number, or something similar

  • remove batch of biblios

  • is job queued and operated as it should, logs afterwards, any error messages


  • 3AMK: tested call number change Ok/30.10.

  • Fikka: tested batch item modification: loc, notice and price → works OK


Reports

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

  • document changes

  • report error messages

  • be prepared to edit your reports if database structure has changed (big grin)

  • 3AMK: looks to be ok. / 7.11.


CSS

Prefence: IntranetUserCSS

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

  • 3AMK: ok / 7.11.


Acquisitions

(different things tested)

Has been tested in test-fikka at an early stage of piloting/IH






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