Using Patron Name Fields in Searches
In Sierra, Patron Name field data are not stored in the database as a single string. Instead, the various components of a patron name are partitioned into separate database elements. You must know how the system stores Patron Name field data in order to construct a search.
How Sierra Stores Patron Name Fields
The components of a Patron Name field are stored separately in the database, partitioned into the following database elements:
| Field Name | ID | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Name Prefix | 80105 | A word or abbreviation that appears before the patron's first name. For example, "Mr." |
| First Name | 80101 | The patron's first name. |
| Middle Name | 80103 | The patron's middle name. |
| Last Name | 80102 | The patron's last name. |
| Name Suffix | 80104 | A word or abbreviation that appears after the patron's last name. For example, "Jr." |
| Full Name | 80109 | The Sierra system populates this field with the patron's name in the form <prefix> <last name>, <first name> <middle name> <suffix>. |
When a patron name field is inserted into a record, the system parses the data according to rules based on your local customs and stores the name components in the appropriate database elements. The system can be configured to parse the entered name in either of two formats:
Standard Format
The standard format for keying a patron name is:
<last name>, <first name> <middle name>
The Last Name and First Name elements are separated by a comma and optional SPACE and the First Name and Middle Name are separated by another SPACE. For example:
Edison, Thomas Alva
The three elements of this name are stored in the database as:
| First Name | Thomas |
| Middle Name | Alva |
| Last Name | Edison |
When loading patron records from an external source, the system parses patron names as follows:
Non-MARC records
<last name>, <first name> <middle name>
MARC records
|a<last name>,|c<prefix>|b<first name> <middle name>
Compound Format
Compound format is used in countries in which it is the custom to have more than one surname. For example, in Spanish-speaking countries, a person's full name consists of a given name, optional middle name, and the last names of both parents. For example, Teresa García López Ramírez.
When the system is configured for compound format and you are keying a patron's name, it parses the input as follows:
<last name>, <first name>
The Last Name and First Name elements are separated by a comma and optional SPACE. Everything following the comma is stored in the patron First Name database element. No data is stored in the Middle Name element in this case. For example:
Ramírez, Teresa García López
The two elements of this name are stored in the database as:
| First Name | Teresa García López |
| Last Name | Ramírez |
When loading patron records from an external source, the system parses patron names as follows:
Non-MARC records
<last name>, <first name>
MARC records
|a<last name>,|c<prefix>|b<first name>