Working Offline

The process for working offline in Polaris is the same whether your library has opted to use the automated offline uploading process or the manual uploading process. For more information on these options, see Managing Offline Circulation.

Note:
Polaris Hosted customers should not connect to Polaris Terminal Server to work offline.

To work offline in Polaris:

1. When you log on to Polaris, select the Work off-line checkbox on the Polaris Log On dialog box.

   

   Note:
   Your workstation may be set to automatically log you on when you open Polaris, and the Log On dialog box is not displayed. In this case, select File > Log Off > then File, Log On to display the Log On dialog box. For more information about setting Polaris for automatic log-on, see Automatic Staff Client Log-On.

   Once you have logged on, you are ready to work offline. Polaris creates a new transaction file for the session and automatically generates a file name.

2. Do any of the following tasks using offline Polaris:

   • Register patrons - See Create a Patron Record.

     Note:
     Patron records created offline receive a Verify Patron block. For more information about removing the block, see Resolve a Verify Patron block.

   • Check out items and print check-out receipts - See Check Out an Item.

     Note:
     In offline circulation, the due date calculation is based on the Standard Loan Period of the workstation’s branch, not the user’s branch. However, the Loaning Branch recorded in the transaction and in the item record is the logged-on user’s branch. This allows libraries to gather statistics for different bookmobile stops based on user log-on, while maintaining a consistent loan period for the bookmobile (the workstation branch).

   • Check in items - See Do a normal check-in from the Check In workform and Check in items in bulk.

If your library does not use automated offline processing, you must upload the offline transaction files manually. See View and upload offline transaction files.