Sierra Scheduler Task Builder

The Sierra Scheduler Task Builder creates and edits tasks that can subsequently be scheduled to run with Job Scheduler.

Creating a New Task

  1. Select the Scheduler option from the OTHER WEB APPLICATIONS section of the Admin App menu.
  2. Select the Tasks option from the Scheduler Admin App menu. The available task types appear along with all tasks that have been created from those task types.
  3. Click the ADD button associated with the appropriate task type.
  4. If your institution is set up with multiple environments, select the appropriate one from the Choose environment drop-down menu.
  5. Enter a Name for the task.
  6. Enter one or more Email Addresses for staff who are to receive email notification when the task is run as a job. Separate multiple email addresses with commas.
  7. Enter the parameters for the task. See Task Profiles for details on the parameters for each task type.
  8. Click OK to save or CANCEL to exit without saving your changes.

Editing an Existing Task

  1. Select the Scheduler option from the OTHER WEB APPLICATIONS section of the Admin App menu.
  2. Select the Tasks option from the Scheduler Admin App menu. The available task types display along with all tasks that have been created from those task types.
  3. Select the task to edit. A new tab opens with a list of the task's current parameters.
  4. Click EDIT.
  5. Edit the task parameters. See Task Profiles for the task parameters that are applicable to the task type.
  6. Click OK to save your changes or CANCEL to exit without saving your changes.

Deleting an Existing Task

  1. Select the Scheduler option from the OTHER WEB APPLICATIONS section of the Admin App menu.
  2. Select the Tasks option from the Scheduler Admin App menu. The available task types appear along with all tasks that have been created from those task types.
  3. Select the task to delete. A new tab opens with a list of the task's current parameters.
  4. Select the DELETE button.
  5. The system asks Are you sure?. Click Yes to delete or No to keep the task.

Task Profiles

Each task type has a unique set of Profile parameters, which vary according to the task type.

Name
Specifies the task's name.
Email Addresses
Specifies the email addresses to which notification is sent when the task runs.

The remaining parameters are grouped into a set of Task-specific Parameters and a set of FTP Parameters.

Task-Specific Parameters

File
Select the report type you want to create with this task. Options include Branch Data and Lending Data.

FTP Parameters

Host
Specifies the Host machine IP to which the record data is sent.
User Name
Specifies the login name for connecting to the remote machine.
Password
Specifies the password for connecting to the remote machine.
Remote Directory
Specifies the directory on the remote machine to which the record data is sent.
Secure Transfer
Specifies whether the connection is a secure FTP session or not.
Transfer Type
Specifies whether the data should be sent in ASCII or BINARY format.
Note that if a review file is updated or created while you are viewing Sierra Scheduler in the Admin App, you must exit, then reenter Scheduler in order to see the changes reflected.

The system presents a form which you fill out as appropriate. The first two elements on the form are:

Name
Specifies the task's name.
Email Addresses
Specifies the email addresses to which notification is sent when the task runs.

The remaining parameters are grouped into a set of Task-specific Parameters:

Task-Specific Parameters

Review File
Specifies a review file that contains the source records.
Rename as
Specifies the name to assign to the new review file.
Store Record Type
Specifies the type of records that are stored in the new review file.
Retain each box separately in review file
Specifies whether the review file should store every checkin card in the review file or simply store the complete holdings record.
Search on
In the drop-down menu, specify the range, review file, index, or advanced syntax to search. If you are searching on a range of records, enter the starting record number, including the record type indicator (for example, "b" for bibliographic, "i" for item, and so on) in the Start box and the ending record number in the Stop box. To specify that you want to search to the end of the database, enter the record type indicator followed by an asterisk (for example, b* for bibliographic, i* for item, and so on). Whenever this review file is regenerated, the system will search to the end of the database, even if new records have been added since the search criteria were set up.
Login
Specifies the user to associate with the new review file.
Saved Search
Specifies a saved search strategy to be used for the new review file. You must choose a search strategy created in the Sierra Create Lists function. You cannot create a search strategy within the Scheduler Admin App.
Name
Specifies the task's name.
Email Addresses
Specifies the email addresses to which notification is sent when the task runs.
Profile
Specifies the load profile to run. (Select the load profile for this scheduled task.)
Name
Specifies the task's name. If you do not specify a file extension, Sierra uses ".out".
Email Addresses
Specifies the email addresses to which notification is sent when the task runs.

The remaining parameters are grouped into a set of Task-specific Parameters and a set of FTP Parameters.

Task-Specific Parameters

Review File
Specifies a review file that contains the source records.
Rename as
Specifies the name to assign to the new review file.
Store Record Type
Specifies the type of records that are stored in the new review file.
Retain each box separately in review file
Specifies whether the review file should save the data from each box in the checkin card separately and thereby allow the system to output the box data when listing the review file.
Search on
In the drop-down menu, specify the range, review file, index, or advanced syntax to search. If you are searching on a range of records, enter the starting record number, including the record type indicator (for example, "b" for bibliographic, "i" for item, and so on) in the Start box and the ending record number in the Stop box. To specify that you want to search to the end of the database, enter the record type indicator followed by an asterisk (for example, b* for bibliographic, i* for item, and so on). Whenever this review file is regenerated, the system will search to the end of the database, even if new records have been added since the search criteria were set up.
Login
Specifies the user to associate with the new review file.
Saved Search
Specifies a saved search strategy to be used for the new review file. You must choose a search strategy created in the Sierra Create Lists function. You cannot create a search strategy within Scheduler.
Fields To Be Exported
Specifies the fields to include in the exported file.
Export Field Delimiter
Specifies the delimiter between fields in the exported file.
Export Text Qualifier
Specifies the delimiter for text fields in the exported file. This character precedes and follows each text field.
Export Repeated Field Delimiter
Specifies the delimiter between repeated fields of the same type.
Export Maximum Field Length
Specifies the maximum number of characters exported from each field.
Filename
Specifies the name of the file to which the records are written.
Date Appended to File Name

To prevent files from being overlaid when you transfer a new file to a vendor, Scheduler appends the date to the file name. The timestamp format is:

yyyymmddhhmmss

For example:

650SIERRRA-15844MARC.20140813094501.out

FTP Parameters

Host
Specifies the Host machine IP to which the record data is sent.
User Name
Specifies the login name for connecting to the remote machine.
Password
Specifies the password for connecting to the remote machine.
Remote Directory
Specifies the directory on the remote machine to which the record data is sent.
Remote Directory Text Box

Do not leave the Remote Directory text box blank. If you are loading the files from your login's home directory on the remote server, enter "." (a "dot" or period).

Secure Transfer
Specifies whether the connection is a secure FTP session or not.
Transfer Type
Specifies whether the data should be sent in ASCII or BINARY format.
Name
Specifies the task's name. If you do not specify a file extension, Sierra uses ".out".
Email Addresses
Specifies the email addresses to which notification is sent when the task runs.

The remaining parameters are grouped into a set of Task-specific Parameters and a set of FTP Parameters.

Task-Specific Parameters

Review File
Specifies a review file that contains the source records.
Rename as
Specifies the name to assign to the new review file.
Store Record Type
Specifies the type of records that are stored in the new review file.
Retain each box separately in review file
Specifies whether the review file should store every checkin card in the review file or simply store the complete holdings record.
Search on
In the drop-down menu, specify the range, review file, index, or advanced syntax to search. If you are searching on a range of records, enter the starting record number, including the record type indicator (for example, "b" for bibliographic, "i" for item, and so on) in the Start box and the ending record number in the Stop box. To specify that you want to search to the end of the database, enter the record type indicator followed by an asterisk (for example, b* for bibliographic, i* for item, and so on). Whenever this review file is regenerated, the system searches to the end of the database, even if new records have been added since the search criteria were set up.
Login
Specifies the user to associate with the new review file.
Saved Search
Specifies a saved search strategy to be used for the new review file. You must choose a search strategy created in the Sierra Create Lists function. You cannot create a search strategy within Scheduler.
Export Table
Specifies the table used to map Innovative fixed-length and variable-length fields to MARC fields and subfields when the MARC records are exported.
Create MARC Label File for OCLC?
Used for sending records to OCLC.
Originating System ID
Used for sending records to OCLC.
Project Identification
Used for sending records to OCLC.
Filename
Specifies the name of the file to which the MARC records are written.

FTP Parameters

Host
Specifies the Host machine IP to which the record data is sent.
If you are outputting MARC records to an Ex Libris product (such as Primo or Summon), enter the host and port values used to connect to the server in the following format: <host>:<port>.
User Name
Specifies the login name for connecting to the remote machine.
Password
Specifies the password for connecting to the remote machine.
If you are outputting MARC records for an Ex Libris product (such as Primo or Summon), enter the key provided by Ex Libris in this field.
Remote Directory
Specifies the directory on the remote machine to which the record data is sent.
Remote Directory Text Box

Do not leave the Remote Directory text box blank. If you are loading the files from your login's home directory on the remote server, enter "." (a "dot" or period).

Secure Transfer
Specifies whether the connection is a secure FTP session or not.
Transfer Type
Specifies whether the data should be sent in ASCII or BINARY format.
Date Appended to File Name

To prevent files from being overlaid when you transfer a new file to a vendor, Scheduler appends the date to the file name. The timestamp format is:

yyyymmddhhmmss

For example:

650SIERRRA-15844MARC.20140813094501.out

Scheduler appends the date/time stamp to the output data file only when a MARC Label file is not being created (Create MARC Label File for OCLC is set to "No") in Output MARC Records tasks.

Sierra Scheduler loads Patron and MARC records by default. Note that the Load MARC Records task includes MARC file preprocessing. You do not have to perform the preprocessing separately when using Scheduler.

Optional Load Task Features
  • SUDOC is an acronym for Système universitaire de documentation. The Load SUDOC Records task type is available exclusively to French institutions.
  • When loading UNIMARC authority records, Sierra Scheduler can automatically use established headings in bibliographic records to determine whether to load authority records as name authority records, subject authority records, both, or neither. To have this feature set up, please contact the Help Desk.

The system presents a form which you fill out as appropriate. The first two elements on the form are:

Name
Specifies the task's name.
Email Addresses
Specifies the email addresses to which notification is sent when the task runs.

The remaining parameters are grouped into a set of Task-specific Parameters and a set of FTP Parameters:

Task-Specific Parameters

Format
Specifies the format of the file to be loaded. Choose format 1 for Marc-like text files. Choose format 3 for fixed-length text files. (Formats 2 and 4 are deprecated.)
This option appears only when you choose to Load Patron TEXT Records.
Load (Conversion) Table
Specifies the table that maps MARC fields and subfields to Innovative fixed-length and variable-length fields when the MARC records are imported.
Load Type
Specifies the format of the data.
Update Database
If this option is set to No, the records are loaded, but are not written to the database. This can be used to test transfer parameters before attempting an actual transfer.
Create Review File
If this option is set to Yes, Sierra creates a system-generated review file in Create Lists containing the records that were loaded.

FTP Parameters

Host
Specifies the Host machine IP from which the record data is retrieved.
If you are loading MARC records from an Ex Libris product (such as Open 360 Services), enter the host and port values used to connect to the server in the following format: <host>:<port>.
User Name
Specifies the login name for connecting to the remote machine.
Password
Specifies the password for connecting to the remote machine.
If you are loading MARC records from an Ex Libris product (such as Open 360 Services), enter the key provided by Ex Libris in this field.
Remote Directory
Specifies the directory on the remote machine from which the record data is read.
NOTE

Do not leave the Remote Directory text box blank. If you are loading the files from your login's home directory on the remote server, enter "." (a "dot" or period).

Secure Transfer
Specifies whether the connection is a secure FTP session or not.
Transfer Type
Specifies whether the data should be sent in ASCII or BINARY format.
File Name Type
Specifies whether a specific file (the name option) or all files matching a given pattern are to be retrieved.
File Name/Pattern
Specifies a filename pattern. The filename pattern is used in an FTP 'ls' command on the host machine's remote directory. The results of the 'ls' command are the group of files that will be loaded. The host machine rules determine the allowed filename patterns in an 'ls' command.
Loaded Files
Displays a list of files that have already been transferred with this task.
Name
Specifies the task's name.
Email Addresses
Specifies the email addresses that a notification is sent to when the task runs.

The remaining parameters are grouped into a set of Task-specific Parameters:

Task-Specific Parameters

Year to Date Action
Specifies how the system updates the LYRCIRC fields in item records.
  • ADD -- Sierra adds the number from the YTDCIRC field to the number in the LYRCIRC field in the item records. This method allows you to keep a running total of all checkouts on the item.
  • REPLACE -- Sierra replaces the value in LYRCIRC with the value from YTDCIRC field in the items records. This method stores the number of checkouts from the last statistical period only.
Clear Year to Date
Specifies whether the system clears the values in YTDCIRC fields in item records when this task runs.
  • Yes -- Sierra clears the YTDCIRC field values.
  • No -- Sierra retains the YTDCIRC field values, so checkout transactions from the new statistical period are added to the existing total.
Update Last Changed
Species whether the system updates the Last Updated field in item records when this task runs.
  • Yes -- Sierra updates the Last Updated field in item records using the current date.
  • No -- Sierra does not update the Last Updated field in item records.
Start
Specifies the starting record number for the range of item records to update. You must include the record type tag and the check digit (for example, "i10000008"). When you add a new task, Sierra enters the first item record number in your database as a default. If this field is blank, Sierra starts with the first item record.
Stop
Specifies the ending record number for the range of item records to update. You must include the record type tag and the check digit (for example, "i13500006"). If this field is blank, Sierra uses the last item record in your database.

If you specify a record number in this field, you must also enter a value in the Start field. If you leave the Start field blank, Sierra ignores the Stop field value and updates all item records.

Saved Search
(Optional) Specifies a saved search strategy that the system uses to find the item records to update. You must create the search strategy in the Sierra Create Lists function; you cannot create it in Scheduler.
When you select a saved search, Sierra uses the saved search parameters to search the range of item records you specified with the Start and Stop fields. The system creates a system-generated review file containing the search results. Using the Create Lists function, you can copy the review file to view the contents or delete it.