Print Templates

Worth the aggravation?

Richard V. JacksonHuntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical GardensSan Marino, California

Print Templates

Print Templates – SCIUG 2012 – Loyola Marymount University 2

What are print templates? Millennium feature since Release 2007 Enable much greater flexibility in

customizing printed output and notices Available for these output types (and

others):Monographic Spine LabelsBills and Fine Notices Courtesy Notices Hold NoticesHold Cancellation Notices Hold Pickup Notices Hold SlipsTransit SlipsOverdue NoticesPaging Slips and Lists

Recall Notices Statements of ChargesStatements of Checked-out ItemsDue Slips (Express Lane)Ecommerce Receipts (Express Lane)Purchase OrdersAttendance Lists (Program Registration)Serial ClaimsSerials Routing Slips


Basic Courtesy Notice Oakland Public Library 125 14th Street Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 238-3134 02-16-10

This is an automatically generated reminder. Please do not respond via email. To view your current account status go to http://catalog.oaklandlibrary.org/patroninfo

AUTHOR: Kurlansky, Mark. TITLE: A continent of islands : searching for the Caribbean destiny CALL NO: 972.9 KURLANSKY BARCODE: 32141015280120 Main Library Storage - Ask at Desk DUE: 02-19-10 DATE CHECKED OUT: 01-29-10 02:34PM

JANE SMITH 100 Main St. APT 101 EMERYVILLE, CA 94608 4:594


Example Courtesy Notice using print templates (from SFPL)


A print template is simply …

… a file — the filename has a .jrxml extension (Jasper report XML)

Can be viewed/edited in any text editor Normally use iReport — a free 3rd-party

program from Jaspersoft — to edit .jrxml files

Download the program from CSDirect– Millennium 2007-2009: iReport 1.3.3– Millennium 2011: iReport 4.0.2


Advantages of using print templates More control (page size, font, color,

layout) Incorporate images and graphical

elements Scannable barcodes Hyperlinks (in email notices) Better handling of diacritics Save output to a PDF file Multiple templates for different

formats/needs


Advantages of using print templates More fields to choose from

The standard Hold Pickup Notice uses these fields:

Date of notice Library return address Patron name and address Notice text Item info (author, title, barcode,

location) Pickup by Pickup at Notice text number


Advantages of using print templatesWith print templates, the Hold Pickup Notice data library includes 58 fields:

Library_Address_Line1_C Library_Address_Line2_C Library_Address_Line3_C Library_Address_Line4_C Message_C Print_Sequence_CText_Number_C Total_Patron_Fines_C Item_AgencyItem_AuthorItem_BarcodeItem_Bib_Record_IdItem_Call_NumberItem_Checked_Out_DateItem_Checked_Out_LocationItem_Code1 Item_Code2 Item_Due_Date Item_Edition

Item_IDItem_In_LocationItem_Last_CheckinItem_Location1Item_Material_TypeItem_Message Item_NoteItem_OPAC_MessageItem_Pickup_By_Date Item_Pickup_Location1Item_Pickup_Location_Braddr1Item_Pickup_Location_Braddr2 Item_Pickup_Location_Braddr3Item_Publish_DateItem_PublisherItem_Record_IdItem_TitleItem_Total_Checkout Item_Type

Item_VolumeMessage_Patron1Patron_Address_Line11Patron_Address_Line21Patron_Address_Line31Patron_Address_Line41Patron_Agency1Patron_Barcode1Patron_Checked_Out_Number1Patron_Code11Patron_Code21Patron_Code31Patron_Code41Patron_Home_Library1Patron_Message1Patron_Name1Patron_Phone_Number1Patron_Phone2_Number1Patron_Record_ID1Patron_Type1


Advantages of print templates Data manipulation and conditional

printingUsing Java string methods, you can:– Print “Call of the wild” as “CALL OF THE

WILD”– Print only the last 4 digits of a barcode– Use field values to determine what to

print

See the handout for more information.

If Location="gcrf ", print "REF"Else if Location="hmrf ", print "MSS REF"Else if Location="hcons", print "CONSERV."Else if Location="botr ", print "BOT RARE"Else if Location="href ", print "INVALID!" [etc.] This is not the actual

code!


Advantages of print templates Print templates may be adapted to suit

other purposes or fit non-standard workflowsFor example, using templates for spine labels:TR

647W395 2010c.2

TEL626558

Waterhouse

Gun running in the Red Sea

3 0006 3004 0214 7


Disadvantages

Steep learning curve Can be difficult to

learn iReport So many ways things

can go wrong – can be difficult to troubleshootproblems

Many places to seek help


My own adventures with spine labels We needed to replace our aging printers


Adventures with spine labels


Adventures with spine labels We needed more

readable labels … … and a better

process for maintaining them


Adventures with spine labels Liked the Zebra printer

– Small– Relative inexpensive



First template, based on Kathy Setter’s IUG presentation and samples from the CSDirect wiki, resulted in:



Finally, something printed:


Did you find it an incredibly finicky, difficult process? Is my experience the norm? In trying to make what seem to be small adjustments in the labels, it will often cease to print at all ...

Cindy Harper“Print templates - specifically with Zebra printer”(IUG List posting, 9/1/10)


It took three of us in tech services going over the documentation, taking the class (spine labels) and a lot of practice AFTER the class to get labels to print (and ones we could live with).

Alison Pruntel“Re: Print templates - specifically with Zebra printer” (IUG List posting, 9/2/10)

I've been browsing the list archives, but I'm seeing more problems than solutions.

Tyra Ealy“Spine Label Printing”(IUG List posting, 12/23/10)


Spine labels: Portrait vs. Landscape


Spine labels: Portrait vs. Landscape Initial solution: Define the page size as

square (1.5 x 1.5 ") in the print template, setting the correct size in the printer settings

Contrary to what I read, but it worked! …

until …

Page size in printer settings

Page size in print template


Spine labels: “Skinny label” problem

Narrow call numbers doubled up on the label

An appeal to the IUG List brought a solution from Bob Thomas (posting on 8/4/2010)


iReport (version 1.3.3) changed the orientation to “Landscape” when page size width > height

Needed to edit the .jrxml file directly (using Notepad), changing the orientation to “Portrait”

Spine labels: “Skinny label” problem

Orientation="Portrait"


Spine labels: “Skinny label” problem This enabled me to match the page size

in the print template to the printer settings

Page size in printer settings

Page size in print template


Finally — the result:


Refinement #1: Automating pre-stamps

Certain special locations require a location “stamp” above the call number

These had been generated using a locally-defined “LABEL LOC” field in the Item record

Problem: The location code and LABEL LOC are logically dependent but functionally independent — errors and inconsistencies can easily occur

MSS REFCD1879.5C64 G37

folioTR647W395 2010c.2


Refinement #1: Automating pre-stamps


Refinement #1: Automating pre-stamps With conditional printing in the print

template, I could print pre-stamps from the location code

$F{itemFix79}.equals("hmrf ") ? "MSS REF" + "\n"


Refinement #2: Varying the font size A couple longer pre-stamps didn’t fit

Again, the IUG List came through (posting from Gerri Moeller, 9/22/2010)


Refinement #2: Varying the font size

"<style fontName='Arial Narrow' size='10'>" + "AHMANSON" + "\n" + "Reading Rm." + "</style>" + "\n"


Volume: ser.3 v.29-30

Volume: n.s. v.11-12

Refinement #3: Volume field line breaks Problem: The print template wraps a

long field as far to the right as possible Goal: Make it possible to manually set

line breaks in a long Volume field

VM1S32 n.s. v.11-12

VM1S32 ser.3 v.29-30


Refinement #3: Volume field line breaks Solution: Add a string method that

convert 2 spaces in a Volume field to a carriage return

Volume: n.s.^^v.11-12

VM1S32 n.s. v.11-12

Volume: ser.3^^v.29-30

VM1S32 ser.3 v.29-30

$F{itemv}.replaceAll(" ","\n")


Spine labels: What was gained Sharper, more readable spine labels


Spine labels: What was gained Sharper, more readable spine labels Greater convenience in printing labels Elimination of pre-stamp errors Easier label printing so Reader Services

staff can print replacement labels Possibility of multiple templates for

different formats/different needs


Spine labels: What was lost Ability to preview (and edit) spine labels

(not as much of a problem as you might think)

Ability to use the old label queue or print labels directly from an Item review file– The label queues used with print

templates are specific to one login/one session

– Useful chiefly for printing sheets of labels, or printing multiple formats with separate queues


Getting started

1. Enable print templates in the character-based systemA > ADDITIONAL system functions A > ALTER system parameters S > SYSTEM codes O > Set system OPTIONS D > Database maintenance

41 > Enable Print Templates........YES


Getting started

2. Check authorizations

The Print Templates manager should have all 4 authorizationsPrint Template users need no special authori-zations, but may benefit from 282 & 283

282 Preview Print Templates283 Update Print Templates Tab284 Import/Export Print Templates285 Delete Print Templates


Getting started3. Download and install iReport from

CSDirect


Getting started4. In Millennium, go to Admin > Settings

> Print Templates tab– Must be enabled per login, per output

type


Getting started

5. Edit the template– Export one of the default templates– Open and edit in iReport– “Save as” with a new name

(that doesn’t start with “_”)– Import back in Millennium


Getting started6. To use (and test) the new template,

move it left to the Preferred Templates column


Getting started

7. Select the Print Templates printer


Circulation notices Print templates for circ notices are

stored in print template families. Each family can hold:– Separate templates for print and email– Separate templates for different

languages

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Courtesy notice

Hyperlinks

Dynamic data

“Regis.#” (Unique ID) field not available in print template. This is extracted from the barcode: 20006009999998 using the .substring method.


Holdslip

If we wanted to print “Jac/R” instead of “Jackson, Richard V.,” we can use Java string methodsA string method has this structure:

[field name].[method name]([parameters])


String methods: an example

To change “Jackson, Richard V.” to “Jac/R”:

$F{v_p_name}.substring( 0 , 3 )

+ "/"

+ $F{v_p_name}.substring($F{v_p_name}.indexOf(",") + 2,

$F{v_p_name}.indexOf(",") + 3 )

The .substring method extracts first 3 characters of Name

Concatenate the literal string “/”

Use the .indexOf string method to find the start and end points of the first letter of the first name


Using iReport

Version 1.3.3


Using iReport

Version 4.0.2


Editing the Text Field Expression

Expression editor window

Available fields String methods


Measurements in iReport Measurements are in PostScript points

— which iReport calls “pixels” (px) For printed output: 72 px = 1 inch

– 8.5 x 11 inch sheet = 612 x 792 px– 1 x 1.5 inch label = 72 x 108 px– Font sizes: 12 = 12 pt (approx. 5

lines/inch)10 = 10 pt (approx. 6

lines/inch) For email output: px matches screen

pixels– What looks good in print may look small

in email– Increase font sizes 30-40% for email

templates (14-16 px instead of 10-12 px)


Finding Help Print templates main page on CSDirect

(http://csdirect.iii.com/documentation/print_templates.php)


Finding Help PrintTemplates Web – a wiki on CSDirect

(http://csdirect.iii.com/lswiki/PrintTemplates/WebHome)


Finding help

Innovative Guide and Reference

#107521 — Printing with Print Templates

#107687 — Creating Customized Print Templates

#107515 — Print Template Data Libraries


Finding help InnoU online courses

(http://csdirect.iii.com/innou/catalog.php)


Finding help

IUG Conference presentations(http://www.innovativeusers.org/iug-past-

conferences)

IUG List– Search previous postings– Can be difficult to answer questions on

the list– Unfortunately, you can’t attach a print

template– Provide as much description as you can


Finding help Reference page on Java string methods

(http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/lang/String.html)


Finding help

Access the iReport Designer page (http://community.jaspersoft.com/project/ireport-designer)

– From iReport: Help > iReport– Start Menu > Jaspersoft > iReport-4.0.2 >

iReport site


Conclusion Print templates can be difficult and

time-consuming to learn Once mastered, there can be many

benefits If status quo still meets your needs, stay

with it Print Wizard is still an option (not with

print templates) Over the long term, maintaining print

templates – and the expertise they require – could be challenging

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Thank you!

Richard V. JacksonHead of Copy Cataloging / Database Manager

Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

San Marino, [email protected]

http://www.huntington.org/

Print Templates – SCIUG 2012 – Loyola Marymount University

Print Templates

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