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**Alma/Primo VE Main Resource Guide

This guide is one-stop site for everything related to FLVC's integrated library system (Alma) and discovery tool (Primo VE). Included are sections on training courses, basic functions of Alma, access to test environments, managing staff accounts, and more

Discovery Administrator Training Parts 1 and 2

Highlights / Rules of Thumb

 

  • When looking at Ex Libris documentation, make sure the content is for Primo VE and not Primo Back Office.
  • Discovery Views - DO NOT delete the baseline backup   
  • Understand which settings affect a view, which are institution-wide, and which are set by the consortia.
    • Settings that affect a view: search configurations, record display, customization package, facets, dedup/FRBR
    • Settings that are institution-wide: Display logic rules, ranking
    • Settings that are set by FLVC: UBorrow, some local fields
  • The areas highlighted below can be edited with the Discovery Admin role (accessing the Config area not required):  
  • Some areas require additional role/permissions. Examples include:
    • bX Recommendations  requires General Systems Admin roles (PPT 1 - slide 16)
    • Collections Discovery - requires Collection Inventory Operator, Collection Inventory Operator Extended together with Collection Inventory Operator, or Digital Inventory Operator​ (PPT 1 - slide 22)
    • Profiles for publishing electronic records to CDI and Google require Catalog Administrator, Repository Administrator, or General System Administrator (PPT 2 - slide 19)
    • Display Logic Rules - requires Fulfilment Administrator or General System Administrator (PPT 2 - slide 23)
  • When editing your Primo customization package, you can work with software such as Dreamweaver or Notepad++ or you can use Primo Studio. You must choose ONE method; you can't switch between programs.
  • Local Fields
    • We can only customize 100 local fields.
    • 51-100 are for consortial use - approved by UISC
    • 1-24 are for Dublin Core fields and must be the same across all institutions. Approved by DISC, coordinated with UISC
    • 25-50 for local needs
    • Limited to 10 fields that can be used in search/facet. 
    • See Discovery Primo guide for details
  • Local Resource Types (not the same as material type):
    • We can define maximum of 50 (as of May 2023) local resource types. Coordinated thru DISC and UISC
    • All 40 institutions must use the same resource types.
  • A login, such as Alma or Other, is required so FLVC can login to troubleshoot.
  •     
  • Indexing
    • Semi-annual indexing. Some edits don't take effect until complete re-indexing (fields for search/facet and some resource types)
    • 48-72 hours for CDI changes (Ex Libris is working to reduce this amount of time).

 

PowerPoint slides - July 2023:

Managing Customization Package

Follow the link for important information about downloading and uploading files in the Manage Customization Package area.