The Terrific Every Other Thursday Training Videos

Latest Episode

Season4 / Episode 2: Creating a Cancelled Holds Alert

This week we have an episode so big, we can barely fit everyone on one screen! Today we welcome Kelly McElligott and Jessie Zairo from ByWater Solutions and Monday Minutes as we follow up with their Monday Minutes from this week, and go beyond out-of-the-box functionality by bringing cancelled hold alerts to your home screen! That’s right! We break all the rules, and put things where we think they should go! We are rebels, and we HAVE FRIENDS!

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2

Creating a Cancelled Holds Alert

This week we have an episode so big, we can barely fit everyone on one screen! Today we welcome Kelly McElligott and Jessie Zairo from ByWater Solutions and Monday Minutes as we follow up with their Monday Minutes from this week, and go beyond out-of-the-box functionality by bringing cancelled hold alerts to your home screen! That’s right! We break all the rules, and put things where we think they should go! We are rebels, and we HAVE FRIENDS!

1

SQL and Authorized Values

It’s here! We’ve officially reached season 4! And to kick off this new season, we have a special guest! On this week’s episode, we will dive deeper into a topic we’ve touched on briefly in season 1, where we harness the power of Authorized Values to streamline reports. We’ll also touch on using CASE and other logic with dates in SQL.

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26

Holds and the Transport Cost Matrix

I get it… you saw the word “Matrix” and thought “Cool! George and Christopher are going to get all decked out in black with shades, and do some killer special effects, and bend reality before our eyes!” Well, we’re not dressing up, but I think we’ll blow your mind with all the info we throw at you about holds and the Transport Cost Matrix. We’ll lay out the basics about how holds work in Koha, and some important settings you need to know about, and how to fine tune the system with the aid of the matrix to maximize the efficiency of the holds system. Sorry…we couldn’t get Keanu. I guess you’ll just have to settle for the satisfaction of knowing SO much more than your peers that DIDN’T watch this video.

25

Customizing Koha 22 11’s Look

Koha 22.11 is slick with it’s brand new look. So slick, it has inspired folks to customize the colors to fit their organization’s colors. But this is a pretty hefty ask. Fortunately, George has done a lot of the heavy lifting on this one, and has given us a way to make quick work of this monumental task. Check it out, try it out, then buy George a drink at the next conference. He’s earned it.

24

Helpful CSS/jQuery Tools

Tweaking your Koha CSS or jQuery can be challenging, even daunting, especially if you don’t have a test server.  Who wants to make an adjustment to code to their production server, only to find that it isn’t readable, or even worse, broken.  In today’s episode, George walks through several tools that will help make your project less risky, and maybe a little more enjoyable.  We love it when George is helpful!

23

Limit Unregulated Values

Here’s an idea that won’t break the bank – and it will help you to prevent people from breaking Koha. Yes, despite all the hard work the community puts in to Koha, there are still ways we can accidently cause ourselves a headache or two. Hopefully this pill is easy to swallow. Specifically we will show how to set a limit on creating multiple copies at once in a bibliographic record.

22

Current Session Checkout Slips

Quick! Check this out! Don’t let this episode slip by! Print the most recent checkouts on your quick slips with these handy slip tips. Christopher and George show a couple ways to tackle this challenge using Template Toolkit.

21

Permissions Reports

Sometimes math sucks. And figuring out the math for a report on permissions is the worst. Christopher and George with share their approaches to creating reports that will help you keep a handle on who has what permissions. While the reports are more advanced, the outcome is quite simple and extremely helpful. And they challenge users to find better solutions to keeping up with the ever-changing permissions beast.

20

Anonymization and Pseudonymization

We can’t pronounce it at all, but we sure can talk about it. We’ve had anonymization around for a while, but pseudonymization is a mouth-full and a fairly new topic. In fact, it is so new we brought a guest on today’s episode to help slaughter the word, while bringing light to the subject. Help reduce the clutter of your data while securing your patron’s privacy. All this and Rogan Hamby. Whoops! I should have encrypted his name!!!

19

Automatic Item Modifications

Yes, that is right. We’re lazy. So lazy, in fact, that we want the system to do things for itself. That’s why this week we’ve decided to talk about the Automatic Item Modifications feature of Koha. Heck, we’re so lazy that we would have had an AI do all the talking about this feature, but I guess were not quite there yet.

18

All About Passwords

It’s no secret! We’re sharing our passwords. Er…we’re sharing everything we know about how passwords work in Koha, that is. So, if you are looking for ways to tighten up security, and help your forgetful patrons, this video is a must-see.

17

Closing Libraries

Closing libraries? Who wants to close a library??? Well, schools, for one. Not all of your schools want to operate through summer vacation. So, wouldn’t it be nice if you could give them a well-deserved break? Well, some of us care about the school libraries. And if you are like us, you’ll check out this video and tighten up your library closing skills.

16

Repurposed Library Fields

You thought the last video was bad. This is worse! Last week we talked about repurposing library fields. Now we actually DO something with it. Yes, that’s right. We make it MORE useful. Can you believe it? What will we come up with next?

15

Repurposing Fields

Are you wasting perfectly good fields? Do you have empty text boxes doing absolutely nothing? Do you hide your unused fields? Well, stop it! Make use of those fields. Put them to work for you. George is going to show you how to repurpose fields in the library branch data.

14

Merging Data

Don’t make a mess of your bib records or patron records. Clean up the clutter and the duplication by merging records. George walks us through both processes with ease.

13

jQuery: Hold Dates

Hold it! Don’t go any further. If you are looking for a way to wrangle your holds better around closed libraries, you should check out this video. George shows us ways to force “suspend until” dates for particular libraries, as well as work around some unexpected bugs with default hold expiration dates in current versions of Koha. I can’t wait! But your patrons will have to if you implement these tweaks.

12

ILL Workflows Continued

If you enjoyed our last video on ILL Workflows, you’ll love this episode. Christopher walks us through hijacking the hold notices with a little bit of template toolkit to leverage a whole new notice for ILL notifications.

11

ILL Workflows

This is cutting edge stuff here. Learn how to incorporate your ILL process into Koha without the ILL module using holds, frameworks, and statuses. If you have relied on tracking your ILL requests outside of Koha, or even within Koha using various hodgepodge methods, this is definitely worth checking out.

10

Custom Alerts

Where’s George? Probably doing something exciting. Sorry we didn’t give you a heads up. But if you want a better heads up in Koha, then this week’s video is for you. Christopher will share how to create custom alerts for check in, or whatever else floats your boat. He’ll demonstrate how he created a custom alert for deactivated devices that have made their way back to the library.

9

jQuery/SQL/CSS: Hold Queue Notifications

Is your holds queue not getting the attention it deserves? Are the holds piling up? Well, unless you want to add ‘Policing the Queue’ to your list of duties, you might want to consider watching this week’s episode. We even have a special guest! Here’s a hint: he likes sharks!

8

jQuery/SQL/HTML: Showing Closure Dates from Your Calendar

It’s that time again. Wait, what? You didn’t know? If only you had a calendar. Oh, yeah!!! Today’s episode IS about calendars. How about that?? Christopher and George show how they went from a general discussion in a slack channel with their friend Andrew to two different takes on incorporating upcoming closure dates from the Koha calendar into the main Koha staff page. And there is even a little side tip in the middle about pulling report results into your jQuery. All I can say is, it’s about time.

7

Plugin: Batch Patron Permissions Modifier Advanced

It’s bigger! It’s bolder! It just might be too much to pack into one video! In fact, it was. This is part two of our Batch Patron Permissions Modifier (try saying that five times fast) training. It’s so good, we even updated our graphics and intro. Someone is having too much fun in editing!

6

Plugin: Batch Patron Permissions Modifier

This week’s video is so spectacular, we not only had to scrap our first attempt, but we had to split it into two videos. That’s right: TWO. Not only that, we’re releasing it a day early, because we just know our viewers can’t wait. That, and I didn’t want to have to post and advertise on a holiday. Be sure to check out our outtake at the end. Happy Thanksgiving!

5

Patron Validation – Part 3 – Using Brute Force

A day early, but not short on content. Don’t want my validation???? Well, tough! You’re going to get anyway. How do you like them apples? And today’s episode is brought to you by the letter ‘k’. Just so you know.

4

Patron Validation – Part 2

More validation! I feel so loved! And validated! Did I mention I love to be validated? Part 2 of our 3 part series.

3

Patron Validation – Part 1

You know, I just pour my heart into Koha.  I don’t ask for a lot.  But when I do, it would just be nice to get some validation.  What?  You hear me?  You really do care about our data?  It’s so NICE to be validated!  In fact, let’s start a small series on patron data validation.

2

Patron Lists for Cards

Okay, you’ve successfully created a patron list. Now what? This week George gives your patron lists meaning by showing you how to create cards (or pages of cards) from a patron list. Isn’t it great to have meaningful lists? (Say yes.)

1

Patron Lists and Patron Clubs

Whether you’ve made the list, or are in the club, you’ll want to check out this video.  George and Christopher explore the differences between the two, highlighting the strengths of each, and giving examples on how to use both.  And welcome to Season 3!

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24

MarcEdit: Integrating with Koha

We’ve got nothing clever to say about this episode, but the episode speaks for itself. If you need to do some batch modifications to marc records that you can’t do in Koha, then this is the tool for you. George will show you how to connect MarcEdit to your Koha server so you can work your magic. (Some assembly required.)

Other References:

  • https://marcedit.reeset.net/

23

jQuery: Hide vs Remove

You’d think it is an easy choice, but there are legitimate reasons to go one way or the other. We’ll talk about some of these reasons, and as an added bonus, we’ll recap our last video with a great practical application on using drilldown SQL reports.

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22

SQL: Drilldowns – From One Report to Another

Open this report. Now open that one. Now fill in all the same info again. Now use some of the info from the last report and use it in this one. (Silent screams go through my head.) Oh, wait! I can tell this report to run another report!!!! And it can fill in all the parameters for me! (Glorious cheering now takes the place of the screams in my head.) Great! Gives me time for some coffee. Oh, wait. The coffee maker is broken. (Resume screaming.)

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21

Debugging jQuery & CSS

Wanna kill bugs, dead? Forget about Raid. We’ll show you a quick and easy trick to test a page without your jQuery or CSS modifications, without disrupting service or inconveniencing staff or patrons.

Supplemental Code:

  • Bypass staff jQuery: ?DISABLE_SYSPREF_IntranetUserJS=1
  • Bypass staff CSS: ?DISABLE_SYSPREF_IntranetUserCSS=1
  • Bypass OPAC jQuery: ?DISABLE_SYSPREF_OPACUserJS=1
  • Bypass OPAC jQuery: ?DISABLE_SYSPREF_OPACUserCSS=1
  • Bypass staff both: ?DISABLE_SYSPREF_IntranetUserJS=1&DISABLE_SYSPREF_IntranetUserCSS=1
  • Bypass OPAC both: ?DISABLE_SYSPREF_OPACUserJS=1&DISABLE_SYSPREF_OPACUserCSS=1

 

20

jQuery: Bootstrap Extras

Badges? We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinkin badges! But what I will show you are bootstrap badges and labels.

19

jQuery: Taming Spaces in Cataloging

This week, George shows off his savvy jQuery skills as he demonstrates how he confronts an onslaught of space invaders in item record call numbers. Using his mastery of code, he wipes out these unwanted spaces with a single click. He then goes on to show how to detect these unwanted pests that may already infest our domain. Well done, space slayer!

18

jQuery: “Also Try” for Staff Search Results

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Then look no further! Seriously. This week Christopher shows a clever mod for adding links that will continue your search in the staff catalog to other resources on the web, all with a simple click! No more opening new tabs, finding the link for your resource, and retyping your search criteria! Make searching simple for your staff.

17

jQuery/CSS: Improving the Circulation Rules – Part 2

No, this is not a rerun. We bring you Part 2 of a screen shrinking event as George “Unembiggens” the Circulation Rules page. That’s right! He’ll show you how to make that unwieldy screen conform better to your screen. Why scroll side-to-side when you can harness the power of jQuery and CSS?

16

jQuery: Improving the Circulation Rules – Part 1

This week George will show how to make several modifications to the Circulation Rules page, including downsizing or “unembiggening” the entire page. In an ironic twist, there is SO MUCH CONTENT that we have split this presentation into a two-part episode. And friends, don’t you worry. If you get stuck, we’ll be there for you! Just remember to subscribe, like, and comment on our video!

15

jQuery: Self Registration Confirmation Slip

We’ve slipped up again, but in a good way! Check out this week’s hack where we hi-jack the print summary for our self registered patrons and create a confirmation slip that patrons can sign. If you’ve ever hesitated using Koha’s self registration feature because your library is required to hold on to signed applications, this may be the workaround for you.

14

jQuery/CSS: Lockdown Library Settings

Yes, we’re locking things down. But never fear! We’re also giving you the keys…the keys to customizing access in Koha. That’s right! You can decide who has access to what, even if Koha doesn’t give you that specific option. In this episode, we’ll show you the basics by locking the the switch library feature. No switching for you!

13

jQuery: Embiggening Your Selections

Yes, you heard that right! You can now embiggen your selections to your hearts content. That is perfectly cromulent. Don’t believe me? You’ll just have to see for yourself.

12

jQuery: Remove the Trailing Slash from Titles

We’re so CRAZY but we’re not slashing prices! No! We ARE slashing the slashes in the titles! That’s right! You too can slash the slash! Simply watch this video and apply our jQuery, and you and your patrons can enjoy endless results in staff AND OPAC searches without all those pesky trailing slashes! (Only applies if you modify the XSLT to remove authors and contributors from the title line and may not be valid in all 50 states (just kidding). Side effects may include spontaneous jumping for joy after endless ranting about slashes being part of the MARC standard for titles, and may alleviate strange looks from co-workers as you recount your annoyance at the existence of characters mixed in with your data which would otherwise be pristine.)

11

Tab Hackdown: Javascript/CSS Tabs vs Bootstrap Tabs

It’s time for our annual Koha Hackdown! This time we have a two round special where George and Christopher go head-to-head, battling to defend their methods for creating tabs in Koha pages. Who will come out on top? Only our viewers can decide. Be sure to weigh in on the comments.

10

jQuery (CSS): Helping Circulation Workflows

You have to go with the flow – unless you change the flow. In this episode, we make modifications to the circulation process to help streamline the workflow by highlighting buttons, and provide useful information along the way with links and instructions.

9

jQuery: Print Slip Descriptions

It’s time to slip into another iconic episode where George shares how to modify the print slip descriptions for easier identification. He’ll even throw in another quick modification to change which slip is printed with the print/close icon.

8

jQuery & CSS: Tweaking the Reports Environment

It just keeps getting better. Three tweaks in one video! Three tweaks to tame your reporting environment. Three tweaks to make your life better. (Well, at least to make your workflow better.) This week’s video shows how to adjust your home Reports icon to go straight to your saved reports, how to clean up reports printing, and how to improve the tabs loading. We could add more, but we don’t want to overwhelm you with so much good stuff.

7

RESTdefaultPageSize & jQuery: Fixing Pickup Locations

 

It’s about time! Well, actually, it’s about pickup locations. But we’re back, and today you get TWO tips for the price of one! Which is FANTASTIC, since you don’t pay anything at all! And don’t forget to leave a comment and let us know what you think of the video.

6

Koha jQuery, VBA & Git: Backing Up Notices & Reports

When it’s time to change then it’s time to change. Don’t fight the tide, go along for the ride. Don’t ya see? When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange what you report and how you’re gonna communicate. (Sha na na na na na na na na, Sha na na na na!) Just make sure you have good backups! George will show you how to git ‘er done, and help you save a “bunch” of your work.

5

Koha jQuery & REST API: Advanced Credential Reset

Whoa! Hold on a moment. Let’s just take a moment and let this soak in… you mean to say there is MORE? Like, we can do better? Well apparently that is exactly what George is showing us this week. He took the challenge and came back full force by trying out the REST API with his code, applying it to his unique setup, and coming up with some great code. George applies the REST API to multiple scenario dropdowns. As an added bonus, he was able to improve his code and layout on another page. It just keeps getting better and better!

4

Koha jQuery & REST API: Resetting Credentials

Stressed about patron credentials? You can rest easy with this week’s hack. Christopher shows how to add a couple of quick reset buttons for patron credentials using Koha REST API. This video shows off a tool which allows you to grab information that isn’t normally available on the page you are modifying, without relying on public reports. This is definitely a video worth checking out.

3

Koha jQuery & CSS: Alert Enhancement

It’s time for another alarming video! This time we give you a short but impactful enhancement that will make your Moderation Alerts on the home page stand out and get noticed. Didn’t know you needed this? That’s because the alerts are probably not getting noticed! So, take a peek at what we’ve done here, and make your Koha just a little more productive, beautiful, and readable.

2

Koha jQuery: Displaying Overdues in Checkout

This video is long overdue, both literally and figuratively! Need to get a better handle on overdues, and see them a little more clearly? Tired of the hunt through dozens of checkouts? Well then, feast your eyes on this helpful video! George and Christopher share their work on some eye-opening modifications that will make dealing with overdues just a little bit easier.

1

jQuery: Blocking Checkouts

 

Halt! Don’t go any further! This is the perfect jQuery to learn about if you want to stop people in their tracks. Well, at least if you want to stop certain accounts from checking out when they shouldn’t. Christopher and George each share their own version of helpful code to keep both staff and patrons on track with checkouts. And when you’re done, be sure to like the video or add a comment. Now…proceed with watching!

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24

SQL & Frameworks: Alternative Authorized Values

A day late but not short on content. Today George dazzles us with a clever way to limit parameters in SQL reports AND bib frameworks using Authorized Values. You are authorized to use this in whatever way it works best for you. Really. You don’t need our permission. Unless you want it. Then yes, we permit you to do this.

23

Plugins: cloudLibrary

This week our lofty goal has our heads in the clouds as special guest Jason Robb goes over the plugin for Bibliotheca’s cloudLibrary content. If you are in a fog about this plugin, be sure to watch this episode.

22

Plugins: Hoopla

Time to get excited for this event! What’s all the hoopla? Well, it’s actually Hoopla! Today George walks us through the setup and use of the Hoopla plugin in Koha. And as an added bonus, he shows off how to enhance the Hoopla results so they stand out. So, make a big racket. Otherwise, you’ll just look silly standing (or sitting) there during this Hoopla.

21

Koha jQuery Hackdown: Cataloging Labels vs Automatic Library Setting

It was bound to happen. Not just one, but TWO great hacks in today’s video. George and Christopher go head-to-head with a couple short, but helpful hacks in this week’s special Koha Hackdown episode. Which hack is more helpful? You decide.

 

20

jQuery: Handling Bad E-mails

There is just no getting around it. Bad e-mails exist. And we all have to deal with them in our own way. Christopher shows how he takes care of these nasty buggers in an efficient way. And George plots to use this idea for his own nefarious purpose. What will he do?

19

Q&A: Following Up on Episodes 15 & 17

Someone had a question, and guess what! We had an answer! Not only that, we had two! Join us as we go over 2 past episodes and provide some new content for one of our past hacks and a WordPress plugin we featured recently. There is always something new to learn with The Terrific Ever-Other-Thursday Training Videos.

18

jQuery: Quick Permissions

We give you permission to ooh and aah over this gem of jQuery. We’ll show you how to setup quick permission buttons in your user permissions, so you don’t have to scramble, trying to remember the same settings you’ve set for every other staff member. And as an added bonus, a button to copy permissions from one user to another, just to make it that much more exciting and spectacular. Are you drooling yet?

17

Library Bookshelves: A WordPress Plugin

This week we escape from the norm, and look at a WordPress plugin to display book covers based on reports from Koha. And our video editing is slightly improved as well. But don’t let that distract you from this awesome plugin.

16

Notices & Slips: Template Toolkit

This week we welcome our very first special guest, the awesome Lisette Scheer! Lisette will be dazzling us with her wicked skills in Template Toolkit, making notices and slips better for the entire world. She will also bring an extra sparkle to the usual witty banter.

15

jQuery & CSS: Placards

It’s time to boldly go where no man has gone before – or at least no Koha OPAC has gone before. Join us this week as we explore strange, new worlds with our hosts while they show you how to add placards (information panels) to OPAC search results for items outside of your normal collection. This is an episode that even Jean Luc Picard would be proud of. (Or is that Jean Luc Placard?)

14

jQuery & CSS: Enhanced Suspended Hold Listings 

Holy enhanced features, Batman! This is the feature you’ve all been waiting for. No more delays! This week, Christopher shows of a brand new tweak that will really make those suspended holds stand out, and even shed some light on future holds.

13

jQuery: Enhanced Search Facets

 

Hold on to your facets, because you ain’t seen nothing yet! This week Christopher takes the helm as he navigates viewers through the bizarre world of search facets. One could almost say it’s “facet”-nating!

12

SQL: The Dashboard Finale

 

You’ve watched the life-sucking training videos that led you step-by-step through each detail of George’s twisted mind. Now watch the video that brings it all together in a slow, unrelenting madness as you take control of Koha and become the master of SQL and item records. (Maniacal laughing inserted here.)

11

SQL: ExtractValue

 

In this exciting, action-packed episode, George goes in for an extraction – of subtitles in Marc records. Will he get them out in one piece? Watch, and find out!

10

SQL: Unions

 

In order to form a more perfect union… you need to watch this video! We’ll go over how to show the results of multiple queries in a single report.

9

SQL: Coelesce

 

You can’t get something out of nothing – unless perhaps you understand the essence of coalesce, more or less. This is good stuff.

8

SQL: Dates and Subqueries

 

Continuing on with the SQL saga, George freaks Christopher out with his geeky date voodoo and Subquery magic.

7

SQL: Like vs Equals

There is no tutorial that equals this bi-weekly mayhem. And if you enjoy it, be sure to like it too! George will dazzle you with his straight-forward explanation of these two comparison operators. And is there any thing else he might add this week?

6

Concatenation and If Statements in Reports

Hey, its a SQL sequel! If that hasn’t blown your mind, George certainly will when he combines Concatenating and If Statements into one glorious training video.

5

Links in Reports

Excite your noodle on this fantastic episode, where George adds links to reports (Not the Jimmy Dean kind).

4

HTML Messages

In this shorter, more riveting episode, George shows how to restore HTML functionality to patron messages and more. He also figures out how to stop the recording.

3

Slip Logic

This frightening episode highlights the magical code that can add logic to your slips, making them smarter, powerful, and maybe even a little more attractive – much like the hosts.

2

jQuery: Status Enhancements

In this week’s terrifying episode, Christopher and George monkey around with the statuses in the detail page so staff can see jaw dropping detail between different statuses. Christopher also learns how to correctly spell TERRIFIC on the title screen.

1

jQuery: Cart Enhancement

In this thrilling video, George and Christopher walk you through the jQuery needed to make the “CART” shelving location more visible in the OPAC and the staff client.

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