Using SpineOMatic
- A barcode number for an item is scanned or typed into SpineOMatic’s input box.
- SpineOMatic sends the number to Alma to retrieve the item’s XML file.
- If Alma cannot be contacted, or if the item does not exist, an error message is displayed.
- If the item is found, the library name and title are displayed, and the call number is parsed into a vertical format suitable for printing on a spine label.
- If the item is in a special shelving location, a label prefix (“Media”, “Reference”, “OVERSIZE”, etc.) can be added automatically above the call number.
- The spine label can be reviewed and manually edited, if necessary, and sent to a selected printer with a button click. Or, labels can be sent automatically to the printer without manual intervention. Labels can also be stored in one of three batches for later printing.
Spine labels can be sent to three types of printer:
- Dedicated single-label desktop printers, such as Zebra, DYMO, Smart Label Printers, or any other printing device that has a Windows print driver.
- Laser printers using multi-label sheets. As barcodes are entered, the resulting labels are stored in one of three separate batches. A batch can then be printed at a later time. The Print Preview option ensures that labels are correctly aligned before printing. You can use a partial sheet of labels by specifying the row and column position of the first available label on the sheet.
- Ethernet-connected CAB A4+ (or similar) industrial label printer, via FTP. This specialized option is not likely to be used by many libraries, but it is available. See the Appendix for details.
Font type and size are selectable for all printing options. Dimensions and orientation of the labels can be specified for both single labels, as well as for any number of rows and columns of labels on multi-label laser printer sheets.
When you scan a barcode number for an item that’s in Alma, an XML file is sent back to your workstation. This file contains fields (library name, barcode number, title, author, call number, and many others) that can be used to create many kinds of labels. SpineOMatic knows how to create a standard spine label out of the box, but if you want to create your own labels, or add additional fields to the spine label (such as copy number, library name and the like) you’ll need to use the XML “element names.”
After you scan an item, you can view its XML file by clicking the Current XML tab:
The element names are the XML tags that are associated with a value. For example, <call_number> is the element name that refers to call number “QA76.73.S67 K55 2001”. The <call_number_type> is 0, which means that this is a Library of Congress call number.
There are several places in SpineOMatic where you are asked to specify “XML Sources.” You will use these element names in those instances. In this example, SpineOMatic is told to parse the <call_number> element, and to include holdings information from the <issue_level_description> element.
Many of these element names are used by default in SpineOMatic, and do not require you to type them in unless you want to change an XML source for some reason. Some, such as “Include other value” above, are optional, and you’ll have to enter an element name to use that feature.
SpineOMatic allows you to insert an element name without having to manually type it. Just scan an item and double click the relevant text area. For example, check the “Include other value” box (to make the text box active), and double click the text box. A list of all possible element names is displayed, and the text area changes color to indicate which box you’re changing.
In this example, we want to include the library name on the label. The “Include other value” checkbox has been checked, and an item has been scanned. Double clicking the text box causes it to change color, and a list of all element names is displayed at the left. Scroll down to find the <library_name> field, double click it, and the element name is copied to the text box.
If there’s a typo in an element name (such as “<libxary_name>”), SpineOMatic will alert you to the error by displaying XML! on the User Interface. Click this “XML!” symbol to see which element name caused the problem. The label will still be created, unless you check the “Stop on XML warnings” checkbox in the “Current XML” panel. In that case an error is displayed, and the label is not created.
