Browse Categories Configuration

Owned by Ashley Sneesby, created
Last updated: Oct 29, 2024
6 min read

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.

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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.

 

 

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

 

 

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.

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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

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.

 

 

Show rating stars and enable user ratings by clicking the stars

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.

 

Do not show ratings stars

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.

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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.

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

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.

 

 

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

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.

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.

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

 

 

Browse subcategory

 

 

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.

 

 

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Related Documentation

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