Browse Categories Configuration

Configuration options for the Browse Categories section of the Library System and Library Location.


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Browse Category Configuration

Go to Pika Configuration and Library Systems from the left sidebar.  

Screenshot of the pika configuration menu highlighting the library systems option

Click the Library Id number, or the Edit link to gain access to the Library Systems page.

Screenshot of the library systems table highlighting the access links

Click on Browse Categories to open the section.

Screenshot of the collapsed browse categories menu

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Default Viewing Mode for Browse Categories

There are two options for the default viewing mode.

Show Covers Only is the most popular option and displays only the cover art. The Show Covers Only option is the default setting.

Screenshot of the default viewing mode menu highlighting the show covers only option

 

Screenshot of a browse category in the catalog using the covers only option

 

Show as Grid displays a smaller book cover along with title and author information.

Screenshot of the default viewing mode menu highlighting the show as grid option

 

Screenshot of a browse category in the catalog using the grid option

 

Patrons can toggle between both options independent of the default option you choose for your library with the toggle on the library homepage. The patron's web browser will retain the patron's chosen mode if they navigate back to their Pika homepage.

Screenshot of a catalog homepage highlighting the default view options

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Ratings Mode for Browse Categories

There are three options for ratings mode, all of which require that User Ratings are enabled for the library system. If you enable the Grid display mode (either on default or if users choose this option), the ratings options are not available.

Show ratings stars and enable user rating via pop-up form

Screenshot of the ratings mode menu highlighting the show rating stars and user rating via pop-up option

If this option is selected, users will see ratings stars under the cover art for a title. Clicking on the stars will open a popup window that allows logged in users to rate titles and write a review directly from the browse category. This option also entails that User Reviews are enabled.

Screenshot of a browse category highlighting the star ratings

 

Screenshot of the review and rating dialog popup triggered when clicking on star ratings in the browse category

 

Show rating stars and enable user ratings by clicking the stars

Screenshot of the ratings mode menu highlighting the show rating stars and enable user ratings option

If this option is selected, users will see ratings stars under the cover art for a title. Clicking on the stars will open a popup window that allows logged in users to rate a title directly from the browse category. If User Reviews are enabled, users will also see the review option. If only User Ratings are enabled, users will only see the ratings option.

Screenshot of a browse category highlighting the star ratings
Screenshot of the rating dialog popup triggered when clicking on star ratings in the browse category

 

Do not show ratings stars

Screenshot of the ratings mode menu highlighting the do not show rating stars option

If this option is enabled, ratings stars supplied by users do not display under titles and users cannot supply ratings or reviews when clicking on titles from the browse categories.

Screenshot of a browse category where the rating stars have been disabled

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Assigning, Ordering, and Unassigning Browse Categories

Assigning an existing browse category

To assign an existing browse category to your library’s site, click on the Add New button under all the listed browse categories.

Screenshot of the browse categories table in the library system settings, highlighting the add new button

You will see a new field and you can choose the intended browse category.

Screenshot of the expanded browse category field, highlighting the browse category options

You will see all existing browse categories displayed in this dropdown menu. These are organized alphabetically by title of the browse category. Start typing in the title of your intended browse category to navigate to somewhere closer in the list and use the unique textId to ensure you’re choosing the correct option.

Once you choose the intended browse category option, scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes and Stay Here.

Screenshot of a set browse category in the browse category table

 

Screenshot of the save changes buttons at the bottom of the library systems settings page

 

Navigate back to the Browse Categories section. The recently assigned browse category will be the last browse category in the table.

Screenshot of a set browse category in the browse category table

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Ordering assigned browse categories

To change the order of the assigned browse categories, use the arrow icon on the left to drag and drop into the desired order.

Screenshot of the browse categories table, highlighting the drag and drop sort action

Once the browse categories are in the desired order save your changes at the bottom of the page with Save Changes and Return or Save Changes and Stay Here.

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Unassigning a browse category

To remove a browse category from the display, click on the RED X icon. You will return a popup window confirming the action. Click OK. Save your changes after confirming the action at the bottom of the page with Save Changes and Return or Save Changes and Stay Here.

Screenshot of a set browse category in the browse category table, highlighting the deletion action button
Screenshot of the browse categories table highlighting the popup dialog returned when unassigning a browse category

You are not actually deleting the browse category, despite what the dialog says. You’re simply unassigning it from the library’s configuration.

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Other available options

Edit link

Clicking on the edit icon under Actions will bring you directly to the admin page to edit that Browse Category.

Screenshot of a set browse category in the browse category table, highlighting the edit action button

If you use the edit icon link, you will be directed to the edit options for that specific browse category. You can also edit subcategories that are assigned to a parent Browse Category using the edit icon.

Browse category

 

Screenshot of a set browse category in the browse category table, highlighting the edit action button

 

Browse subcategory

 

Screenshot of a browse sub-category in the browse category table, highlighting the edit action button

 

Browse category configuration form

 

Screenshot of a browse category configuration form

 

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Hyperlink

Clicking on the hyperlink icon under Actions will bring you directly to the browse category or subcategory on your homepage. This will allow you to share a link to a specific category e.g. on your library website.

Screenshot of the browse categories table in the library system settings, highlighting the hyperlink action button

 

Screenshot of an individual browse category accessed with the browse category hyperlink

 

Switching to another browse category will not change the linked URL when using the hyperlink option. For example, if you advanced to the Cats category from the example, the provided URL will still match the Dogs category from the hyperlink .

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Related Documentation

 

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