Differences Between Sierra Web and Sierra Desktop Application

This topic provides a quick reference overview of the differences between Sierra Web and Sierra Desktop Application. The former runs in a web browser, and the latter is installed on your computer. As a result, there are minor differences in how some features are set up and used.

Administering Sierra Web

Setting Up RFID-Enabled Workstations

If your library has acquired the Item Status API to support the use of RFID pads at circulation or Express Lane stations, you must specify the workstations that are RFID-enabled during setup. Sierra Web and the Sierra Desktop Application have different network requirements regarding this. For details, see RFID Pad Server Options Table.

Restarting Sierra Web

You can restart the Sierra Web application using an option in Admin Corner. See Restart Sierra Web for more information.

Using Sierra Web

Record Editing

The table below highlights the differences in using the record editor. For more information on using the editor, see Using the Keyboard and Mouse in the Sierra Record Editor.

Task Sierra Web Sierra Desktop Application
Moving quickly through the fields in order

To move downward:

  • Select the Tab key.

To move upward:

  • Select the cell you want instead. (This is fastest, although you can move upward by selecting Shift+Tab.)

The arrow keys don't transfer the focus from one field to the next.

To move downward:

  • Select and hold the Down arrow key.

To move upward:

  • Select and hold the Up arrow key.

You can also move around as can be done in Sierra Web, but the methods above are faster.
Selecting multiple fields While pressing Ctrl, select the fields one by one. Click and hold while you drag the cursor to select the fields.
Editing currency fields

Change the numbers before the decimal, transfer the focus (the cursor's position) to a location after the decimal, and then change the numbers after the decimal.

Change all the numbers, including the decimal, at once.
Editing fields with code/description combinations

Once the field has focus, enter the new code. Alternatively, select or double-click the field to select the value from a list of choices.

The field is divided into two parts, one for the code and one for the description, where either can have focus. This means you can do any of the following:

  • If the code has focus, enter the new code.
  • If the description has focus, enter the first few letters of the description. Once the description appears in full, select Enter.
  • Select or double-click the field to select the value from a list of choices.

Cataloging

After you manually add or edit a t-tagged MARC 245 field in the bibliographic record for an English-language resource, related fields that determine whether and how the title's initial article is skipped during sorting and indexing must be updated accordingly. How those fields are updated depends on the application:

For more information, see Initial Articles: Coordinating Cataloging Practices with User Searches.

Printing

Browser printers can be used only in Sierra Web, and local printers can be used only in the Sierra Desktop Application. Browser printers and local printers are two of several printer types. For more information, see Printing in Sierra.

Exporting Records from a Review File / Exporting the Outstanding Holds Table

There isn't a significant difference in these processes, but the final few steps differ:

For details, see Exporting Records from a Review File List or Managing Outstanding Holds.

Using Multiple Windows

In Sierra Web, you can use multiple windows only in the Cataloging function. For information on how to use multiple windows, see Using Multiple Windows.

Using Shortcut Keys

A few shortcut keys work differently in each application. For details, see Using Shortcut Keys.

Creating Macros

When creating a macro, both Sierra Web and the Sierra Desktop Application prevent you from using a set of reserved function keys. Sierra Web reserves the same keys as the Sierra Desktop Application plus several more due to its browser-based architecture. For details, see the discussion on reserved function keys in Macros Settings.