Aleph sorts Items based on whether they are Issues or Non-Issues. This is defined in the Material Type for the Item record. There are three Material Types: ISSUE, ISSBD, and BOOK. ISSUE and ISSBD use the same sort sequence, and BOOK uses a different one. Sorting is controlled by the table tab_z30_sort.
Material Type = ISSUE and ISSBD
We are allowed one option each for how Items sort in the Web OPAC, the Web Reserves, and in the client OPAC. They are currently set as follows:
a=ascending, d=descending Web OPAC D 01 Web reserves A 00 OPAC client A 00
This means that that in the Web OPAC we are using the Sort Option 01 to sort the ISSUE and ISSBD Items in a Descending fashion (the most recent years appear at the top of the list). In Web Reserves and the OPAC client, we are set to Ascending Sort Option 00. We can change this if we want to. The possible Sort Options for ISSUE and ISSBD are listed below; to the best of my knowledge we cannot add Sort Options.
00 = Chron I, Enum A, Enum C, Enum B, Item Sequence 01 = Chron I (year), Enum A (volume), Enum B (number), Enum C (part), Item Sequence 02 = Holdings Record No., Chron I, Enum A, Enum B, Enum C 03 = Sub Library, Item Sequence
Aleph looks at the Serial Levels (Tab 4 of the Item Record) to determine how to sort the Items. If they are all the same it uses a sort of invisible Item Sequence number, which is assigned in order as the items are created and added to a bib record. There is no way for us to "sequence" the items as we could in ADVANCE (in other words, we can't force the sort).
When you are working the Serials, Items, or Circulation Client, you have a choice at the bottom of your Items window to use any of the above Sort Options. The one you choose has an effect on what you're looking at right now. If you change it, it isn't permanent and it doesn't affect anyone else's view of that list of Item Records.
Material Type = BOOK
Book might seem sort of misleading, because it assigned to Item Records that both are and are not actually books. The only thing this field is used for is to determine the sort order of the Item Records, so don't worry that it says BOOK if it's really a DVD. Again, we have one option each for how Items sort in the Web OPAC, the Web Reserves, and in the client OPAC. They are currently set as follows:
a=ascending, d=descending Web OPAC D 00 Web reserves D 00 OPAC client D 00
This means that that in the Web OPAC, Web reserves, and the client OPAC, we are using the Sort Option 00 to sort the BOOK Items in a Descending fashion (the most recent years appear at the top of the list). We can change this if we want to. The possible Sort Options for BOOK are listed below; to the best of my knowledge we cannot add Sort Options.
00 = If Enum A is not blank, it does Enum A, Enum B, Enum C, Sub Library, Collection
If Enum A is blank, it does Description, Sub Library, Collection
01 = Enum A, Enum B, Enum C, Description, Sub Library
02 = Enum A, Enum B, Enum C, Sub Library
03 = If Description is blank, it does Enum A, Chron I, Enum B, Enum C,
Sub Library, Item Status
If Description is not blank, Description, Sub Library, Item Status
04 = HOL record number, then does what 00 does
05 = Sub Library, Item Sequence
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Default Sort in the Serials, Items, or Circulation Clients
You can set the default sort in any of these clients by modifying your serial.ini,
item.ini, and circ.ini files. And I need to add directions for how to do this.
See notes below from 9/25 open lab
Sorting "On the Fly"
When you are working the Serials, Items, or Circulation Client, you have a choice
at the bottom of your Items window to use any of the above Sort Options. The
one you choose has an effect on what you're looking at right now. If you change
it, it isn't permanent and it doesn't affect anyone else's view of that list
of Item Records.
"Sequencing" Item Records
Aleph sorts based on the information listed above. There is no way to "sequence"
the items (i.e., to put them exactly in the order you wish) the way there was
in ADVANCE. In order to force the sort, you have to follow the rules set above.
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I also have this information, from 9/25 open lab:
Year/Vol./Issue/Part/Seq. Descending
The default is set in your serial.ini file and in your item.ini file. See handout, and talk to your LTE.
We seem to have 2 issues, and I'd like everyone to report back on which part works for you:
1. The default setting for how your Item List displays in the Serials Module
is in our serial.ini file. See the line that says ItemSortType=SERIAL-4? It
should say
that (SERIAL-4) in order for the items to display in Year/Vol./Issue/Part/Sequence
Descending. Is your default set this way? Your LTE can help you make this
local setting happen.
2. When you log into Aleph and call up a title in the SER module and look at
the Item list, does it automatically default to that display? It should, if
#1 is set
correctly.
3. If you change your Item Sort option at the bottom of the screen to the last option (Year/Vol./Issue/Part/Sequence Descending) does it work?
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There is also a Reviewed FAQ about Item Sorting on the Ex Libris support site. Ask someone on Barton Advisory Group if you'd like access to this document.