Circulating offline

In Offline Circulation in Circulation, you can circulate your materials offline.
"Offline" simply means that the barcodes are collected outside of and separate from Destiny

For example, when your system is unavailable, you can continue to collect circulation information and process it when the system becomes available again. You can also conduct transactions in classrooms or bookmobiles where no computer is available.

To circulate offline, you can use any of the following:

• Follett Remote on a workstation
• Follett Remote on a Panther or Falcon
• A PHD Dolphin+
• A keyboard and a text editor
• A scanner and a text editor.

All of these hardware/software combinations produce a text file.
Please make sure the file name ends with .txt.

You then upload the file to Destiny for processing.

If you use a PHD Dolphin+ or create a text file, you'll need to include, in the file, special circulation command codes that indicate the type of transaction you are performing offline.

What type of transactions can I perform?

How do I use Follett Remote for offline circulation?

How do I use command codes for offline circulation?

What and where are these circulation command codes?

How do I create a file with a PHD Dolphin+ or a text editor?

How do I transfer the Dolphin scans to my workstation?

How do I upload the scan file to Destiny?

What does the Job Summary contain?

What permissions do I need in my Access Level?

What type of transactions can I perform?

Library Manager

Checkins and checkouts are the only types of transactions that you can perform offline. Marking copies lost or managing fines and holds must be done online.

Textbook Manager

Checkins, checkouts to patrons, and checkouts to (local) teachers are the only types of transactions that you can perform offline. Checkouts By Class must be done online.

Note: When checking out textbooks to teachers, the "Undefined" class is used. To transfer the offline checkouts to a single defined class, after uploading the Transaction File to Destiny, retrieve the teacher in Patron Status in Circulation and click under Currently Teaching.
Please note that you cannot transfer the checkouts to multiple classes.

Media Manager

Checkins are the only type of transactions that you can perform offline.

Asset Manager

Checkins, checkouts to patrons, and checkouts to locations are the only types of transactions that you can perform offline. Checkouts to departments, or locations without barcodes, must be done online.

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Circulating offline with command barcodes

You can check in and out offline by creating a file of barcode scans. You can create the file several ways. In fact, you can use any method of barcode collection that results in the proper ASCII text format.

• You can use the PHD Dolphin+ to scan or enter barcodes into a Scan.Log file.
• You can use your scanner to scan barcodes into a text editor such as Notepad or SimpleText. You could also type the barcode numbers into the file.

Note: Do not use Microsoft Word, WordPad, or Apple TextEdit. Hidden characters created by these programs can cause the upload to fail.

You'll need to include, in the file, special circulation command codes that indicate the type of transaction you are performing offline.

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What and where are these circulation command codes?

If you need to type the circulation command codes

Library Manager

%C123H for Check Out

%C127L for Check In

Textbook Manager

%C125J for Check Out to Patron

%C124I for Check Out to Teacher
(to an undefined class)

%C126K for Check In

Media Manager

%C118S for Check In

Asset Manager

%C121Q for Check Out to Patron

%C122R for Check Out to Location

%C120P for Check In

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Creating the file with a PHD Dolphin+ or a text editor

When checking out, you'll first need to enter the appropriate Check Out command code, then enter the patron's barcode, then enter their copies. If you're typing, make sure to press Enter after each circulation command code or barcode number:

1. If you're using one, open your text editor.
2. Scan the Check Out command code, or type it in and press Enter.
3. Scan the patron's barcode, or type it in and press Enter.
4. Scan the copy barcode, or type it in and press Enter.
5. Repeat step 4 as needed for additional copies.
6. To check out items to another patron,
   repeat steps 2–5.

When checking in, you'll first need to enter the appropriate Check In command code, and then enter the copies:

1. Scan the Check In command code, or type it in and press Enter.
2. Scan the copy barcode, or type it in and press Enter.
3. Repeat step 2 as needed.

Example of an Offline Circulation file:

When you are finished, name and save the text file. Make sure to save it as a .txt file and record the name and location of the file. When Destiny is available, you'll need to upload the file.

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Uploading the file to Destiny

Once you have created and saved a text file, transferred your data file from your Follett Panther or Follett Falcon, or transferred your Scan.Log file from your Dolphin to your workstation, you are ready to upload the file to Destiny:

1. Open Offline Circulation in Circulation.
2. Select the correct tab, if necessary.
3. Change the transaction date, if necessary. Click for a calendar.
4. For textbook or asset circulations, click to select the desired due date or loan period.
5. Click Browse to locate and select your barcode file.
6. For library circulations, if you do not want Destiny to create a temporary copy for an unknown barcode number, select the Do not create temporary records check box.
7. if you are circulating to patrons or locations at another school, make sure to select the File may contain … check box.
8. Select any of the other options on the page.
9. Click .
10. Open the job summary in the Job Manager to review the transactions.

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What does the Job Summary contain?

Once you've uploaded your Transaction File, open the job summary in the Job Manager to review the transactions. Each one is listed.

Although Destiny automatically handles many exceptions, you may need to take further action.
For example, Destiny automatically performs the following actions:

• Overrides any block conditions on a checkout and notes them in the Job Summary.
• Marks a copy Lost if the checkout patron is not found.
• If you circulate to patrons at other schools in the district and more than one patron has a specific barcode number, marks the copy Lost and lists each patron with that barcode in the job summary.
• If you circulate to patrons at other schools in the district and didn't select the File may contain … check box, marks the copy Lost.
• Lists, in the summary, any unknown copy that was checked in.
• Creates a temporary copy for an unknown copy that was checked out.
• If you selected the Do not create temporary records check box, creates an entry for an unknown barcode number.
• Notes, in the summary, any holds that were readied or fines that were created/deleted/refunded on checkin.

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What permissions do I need in my Access Level?

For Offline Circulation to appear in Circulation, you must have the following permissions:

Library Manager

Check out library materials on the Library Materials tab
Check in library materials on the Library Materials tab
Monitor/delete site's jobs on the General tab

Textbook Manager

Check out textbooks on the Textbooks tab
Check in textbooks on the Textbooks tab
Monitor/delete site's jobs on the General tab

Media Manager

Check in materials on the Media tab
Monitor/delete site's jobs on the General tab

Asset Manager

Check out assets on the Assets tab
Check in assets on the Assets tab
Monitor/delete site's jobs on the General tab

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