[Archon-L] Ever-changing folder list (fwd)

[Chris Prom]

Walter,

Thanks for your comments.  My thought is to make systems users 
renumber first to make room for the new folders.

We discussed the idea of having it auto increment on insertions, 
but the problem is that the user could actually intending for 
several different things to happen, and the computer has no way 
of inferring the intent. But if you explictly choose to increment 
every folder number by x, then it will be easy to insert x number 
of folders, boxes, series, items, or whatever into the 'space' 
that you make.

Again, any thought are appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

On Mon, 7 May 2007, Walter Ray wrote:

> Chris,
>
> A bulk renumber function would be very useful.  I could have used it a
> few times already.  As you envision it, would you have to renumber first
> to make space for transferred items? (This is what I had to do
> manually.) Or would the renumbering happen automatically with an
> insertion?
>
> Walter D. Ray
> Political Papers Archivist
> Southern Illinois University Carbondale
> Library Affairs, MC 6632
> Carbondale, IL 62901
> Ph: (618) 453-1427
> Fax: (618) 453-8083
> -----Original Message-----
> From: archon-bounces at archon.org [mailto:archon-bounces at archon.org] On
> Behalf Of Chris Prom
> Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 4:31 PM
> To: Archon at archon.org
> Subject: [Archon-L] Ever-changing folder list (fwd)
>
> Amy,
>
> As you indicate, it is currently rather difficult to insert a
> folder into an already existing sequence, due to the way in which
> the folders are stored.  Given the fact Archon is run through a
> relational database, there does need to be sometype of numbering
> system so that the system knows what order to display them in.
>
> However, I am aware of the issue you raise, and have been
> thinking about ways we might address needs such as yours in an
> upcoming update to the software.  I have thought, for example,
> that some type of bulk renumber option might be the best way, to
> complement the 'transfer' function which already exists.
>
> I'd be interested to hear what needs others have in this area
> before we begin active work on it over the summer.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chris
>
> --
>
> Christopher J. Prom
> Assistant University Archivist
> University of Illinois Archives
> 19 Library
> 1408 W. Gregory Dr.
> Urbana, IL 61801
>
> phone:	217.333.0798
> fax:	217.333.2868
> e-mail:	prom at uiuc.edu
> web:	http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ahx
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 14:41:34 -0400
> From: Amy C. Schindler <acschi at wm.edu>
> To: Archon at archon.org
> Subject: [Archon-L] Ever-changing folder list
>
> We have several (mostly artificial) collections in the University
> Archives
> that grow with additions on a weekly basis including Subject Files,
> Faculty
> Alumni Files, Photographs, etc. As new folders are added they are simply
> interfiled in the appropriate box or cabinet drawer. I have been
> thinking
> about how best to put these folder lists in Archon and would appreciate
> any
> suggestions or clarification to my understanding of what Archon can do
> in
> the content manager module.
>
> In the past (up until January), a card was created for each new folder,
> interfiled in the card catalog, and that was that. As folders will
> regularly
> be added, adopting a number for each folder title for inputting into
> Archon
> simply does not seem practical as they will regularly shift and be a
> pain in
> my dreams of an efficient workflow to update. I have settled on simply
> listing the folder titles in the Description field (in the Content
> Manager)
> for an individual box or cabinet drawer instead of listing each as a
> folder.
> This will mean that only occasionally will an individual folder have to
> shift from one box or drawer to another. Is anyone working with a
> similar
> collection in Archon? Is it possible to change numeric sequences of box
> and
> folder lists and I have simply missed that bit?
>
> Thank you.
>
>
> Amy C. Schindler
> University Archivist
> Special Collections Research Center
> Earl Gregg Swem Library
> The College of William and Mary
> 757-221-3094
>
>