Sierra Offline Circ (when Pika is Offline too)
The following documentation outlines the Offline Circulation process that works when both Sierra and Pika are down. This method uses a desktop application that can be downloaded directly to your computer.
Table of Contents
Installing Sierra Offline Circ application
Download the appropriate file to a temporary directory on your PC (for example, C:/TEMP). This directory can be any temporary directory you choose. When you click the file download link below, your browser should open a Save As dialog, allowing you to specify the directory to use for saving the file. If the system does not prompt you to choose a directory, copy the file from the default download directory into which the browser placed the file to a temporary directory.
Software release Offline Circulation Installer Sierra
From the Windows desktop main menu, choose the Start | Run... command. Enter the following command in the Open box; use the temporary directory into which you downloaded the software. c:\temp\offline#####.exe (Insert the name of the file you downloaded in the command.) Choose OK to proceed.
The setup program begins to load and displays a series of dialog boxes. Some of these dialogs prompt you for installation settings, though most dialogs have the recommended settings already entered. To proceed to the next step in the setup, choose Next; to return to a previous step, choose Back. Choose Cancel to end the installation procedure without installing the software.
The setup begins with the Welcome dialog. After reading the information in this dialog, choose Next to continue.
Read the Software License Agreement dialog. If you accept all of the terms of the license agreement, choose Yes. If you don't agree, choose No, and Setup will close without installing the software.
In the IP Address dialog, enter the IP address of your Sierra Server (see below).
MLN1 → sierra.marmot.org
MLN2 → nell.flatironslibrary.org'
The Folder Name dialog displays. The name in the Program Folders box is the menu under Start | Programs to which the Sierra Offline Circulation name will be added. Accept the default folder or choose a different folder. Choose Next to continue.
In the Sierra Offline Circulation dialog, review the installation settings that you have selected. To change a setting, choose Back to return to the appropriate dialog, and re-enter the desired setting. When you are satisfied with the installation settings, choose Next to begin copying the Workstation files.
If the setup detects that the appropriate version of the Java Runtime Environment is already installed on your PC, you will be prompted to reinstall the JRE component. Choose No to continue without reinstalling the JRE component or Yes to reinstall it.
The Setup Complete dialog displays. If you want to view the Readme file, leave the "View READ ME file now" box checked. If not, uncheck the box. Choose Finish.
Performing Checkouts with Sierra Offline Circ
To check out items in Offline Circulation:
Launch Offline Circulation if you have not already done so.
Change the current mode to Check-Out.
Respond to the prompts as follows
System Prompts | You Respond |
|---|---|
Key or Scan Patron ID Barcode | Enter the patron's barcode or ID in the text box and press Enter. The New Patron button is enabled at this point. If you want to change patrons, choose New Patron. |
Enter due date | Use the date format specified in the Preferences dialog to enter the due date for the item that you are checking out to the patron, and press Enter. For example, if Offline Circulation is set up for mdy due dates, enter: 12-20-2009 You can change the due date as often as necessary during a session. |
Hourly? | If the item:
Offline Circulation displays the barcode of the patron to whom you are checking out items |
Key or Scan Item Barcode | Enter the barcode for the item at checkout, and press Enter. |
When you complete the prompts, Offline Circulation:
Displays the item checkout information in a table.
Prints the item's due slip (if Offline Circulation is set up to print one due slip per item).
Writes a record of the checkout to the circ.dat file.
Continue as appropriate:
Continue to enter item barcodes for checkout to the patron.
End the patron's session in one of the following ways:
Check out items to a new patron by choosing the New Patron button.
Change the current mode to perform another type of transaction.
When you end the patron's session, the system prints the patron's due slip if Offline Circulation is set up to print one due slip per patron.
Performing Check Ins with Offline Circ
Launch Offline Circulation if you have not already done so.
Change the current mode to Check-In.
At the Key or Scan Item ID Barcode prompt, enter the item barcode in the text box.
Press Enter key. The system writes a record of the checkin to the circ.dat file.
Renewing Items with Offlines Circ
To renew items in Offline Circulation:
Launch Offline Circulation if you have not already done so.
Change the current mode to Renew.
Respond to the prompts as follows:
System Prompts | You Respond |
|---|---|
|
|
Enter due date |
For example, if Offline Circulation is set up for mdy due dates, enter: 12-20-2009
The system enables the New Due Date button. To assign a different due date to the next item you renew:
|
Key or Scan Item Barcode | Enter the barcode for the item being renewed and press Enter. Offline Circulation displays the item renewal information in a table. If Offline Circulation is set up to print one due slip per item, the system prints the item's due slip. |
Continue to enter item barcodes for renewal for the patron.
To end the patron's session:
To renew items for a new patron, choose the New Patron button. The system displays the Key or Scan Patron ID Barcode prompt.
To perform a different type of transaction, change the current mode.
If Offline Circulation is set up to print one due slip per patron, the system prints the patron's due slip.
Uploading Circulation Files to Sierra once back online
Verifying that the Workstation Is Connected to the Server
To determine whether the Offline Circulation workstation is connected to the Sierra server:
Start Sierra on the workstation.
Attempt to log in.
Continue as appropriate:
If you are able to log in, continue to the next step in this procedure.
If you are unable to log in, the Offline Circulation machine is not connected to the server. You must:
Copy the patron.dat and circ.dat files from the Offline Circulation directory to a removable medium, such as a CD or flashdrive. The default Offline Circulation directory is C:\Sierra Desktop App\Offline.
Locate a workstation that is running Offline Circulation and is connected to the Sierra server.
Check the contents of the Offline Circulation directory on the connected workstation:
If it already contains a patron.dat or circ.dat file, upload the existing file(s) before continuing.
If no Offline Circulation files are present, copy the patron.dat and circ.dat files from the removable medium to C:\Sierra Desktop App\Offline.
Uploading the Offline Circulation Files
To upload Offline Circulation data saved in the C:\Sierra Desktop App\Offline directory:
Launch Offline Circulation.
Choose File | Upload circulation and patron data. The system prompts you to verify that the server can accept data.
Choose Yes. Offline Circulation:
Connects to the Sierra server.
Uploads the patron.dat and circ.dat files from the workstation to the $IIIDB/circbatch directory on the Sierra server.
Pre-processes the circ.dat file and converts it to an rdydate&time file. The date&time number reflects the date and time of the conversion.
When the upload is complete, Offline Circulation:
Displays the number of uploaded circulation transactions and patron registration records.
Prompts you to erase the files from the Offline Circulation machine.
Next, open a Service Request on the Marmot Helpdesk asking us to process your newly uploaded offline circ file.
Erasing Files from the \Offline Directory
To ensure that offline data is not uploaded twice, erase the data from the circ.dat and patron.dat files in the C:\Sierra Desktop App\Offline directory. If you do not erase old data, a future upload of this data could overwrite existing data.
To erase the offline files:
At the prompt, choose Yes to erase the files from the current workstation.
If you uploaded the files from a workstation other than the workstation on which the files were generated, erase the files from the original workstation:
Launch Offline Circulation on the original workstation.
To delete circulation transactions (in circ.dat), choose the File | Erase circulation transactions menu option.
To delete patron registration data (in patron.dat), choose the File | Erase patron transactions menu option.
Related Documentation
[Related articles appear here based on the labels you select. Click to edit the macro and add or change labels. Delete any of the text under Related Documentation before publishing the page.]
Remember to add the labels to the Related Documentation (Filter by label) box. For a list of the labels, see this page.
Once published, labels should be added to each page to ensure that the related documentation appears on the pages with those labels.
Filter by label
There are no items with the selected labels at this time.