Sorting Claims

There are two ways to sort claims. You can sort the list of claims by:

• fixed- and variable-length fields in the bibliographic and checkin records

This method of sorting is available for claims to be printed. Sorting by fixed- and variable-length fields changes the order of claims in the serial-claims-awaiting-processing file.

• the header of any of the columns in the table that displays the claims to be printed
  
  

This method of sorting is available for claims to be printed or emailed. Sorting by the column header affects only the display of the claims; it does not change the order of the claims in the serial-claims-awaiting-processing file.

Sorting Claims by Fixed- and Variable-Length Fields

To sort the claims by fixed- and variable-length fields in the bibliographic and checkin records:

1. Choose Send Claims from the Function list. Sierra displays the claims to print from the serial-claims-awaiting-processing file.
2. Choose the (Number of) claims to PRINT button.
3. Choose the Sort All button. The Sort claimser dialog appears. This dialog allows you to specify the fixed- and variable-length fields that are used for the primary, secondary, etc., sort.
4. Choose Append or Insert, if necessary, to add an initial blank line with Type and Field table cells.
5. In the Type column, enter c for a checkin record field or b for a bibliographic record field, or double click the Type table cell to display the Select record type dialog.
6. In the Field column, enter the tag for the fixed- or variable-length field to be used for sorting the claims or double-click the Field table cell to display the Select field dialog.
7. Choose Append or Insert to add lines. The claims will be sorted first according to the record type and field in line one, then according to the record type and field in line two, etc.
8. Choose Sort/Save to sort the file or Cancel to quit sorting.

Once begun, the sort continues even if you exit the Send Claims function. While the session is open and the sort is in progress, the status of the sort is displayed in the status bar. The buttons and menus in the Send Claims function are disabled and the table of claims is blank while the sort is in progress.

If you close Sierra and return to the Send Claims function in a new session, Sierra displays the following message and does not allow you to view the file:

Warning: Failed to load claims to print. Claim printing is locked.

No status is reported for the sort once the session is closed, although the sort continues.

When the sort is complete, a message displays in the status bar and all buttons and menus are enabled. The table of claims appears again. You will notice that the file has been saved in the sort order you specified.

If you limited by location or vendor prior to starting the sort, the limited display is retained only if you have not left the Send Claims function while the file was being sorted. If you did leave, all claims appear in the table.

Sorting Claims by the Column Headers in the Display

To sort the display of claims by a column, click on the column header. See Tables for more information about sorting, selecting rows, etc., in Sierra tables.

If you leave the Send Claims function, the sort by column header is not preserved.