Frequently Asked Questions

Trending FAQs

Here are the most common questions recently answered by Customer Support!

You'll need to create a saved import. Go to the import you want and click Create Saved Import at the bottom of the window. Then you'll need to enter a name and fill out the Settings tab with your preferences. Lastly, go to the File Source tab and select FTP or FTPS from the Protocol dropdown. Enter your FTP/FTPS server's information. (If you don't have your own server, COMPanion offers secure and private folders on our FTP server!) Want to check if it works? Click Test FTP Connection. From there, you can run the import whenever necessary.

We recommend using FTP imports for larger files like patron pictures and BestMARC imports.

Great question! We've got loads of resources to help you make inventory go smoothly:

Inventory Workshop

6 Steps to an Easy Inventory

Do inventory through either Inventory Management or Circulation (you can even do some inventory while in Offline Mode, allowing you to walk around with a phone or tablet)

Check out our three Inventory reports

Use the Inventory Circulation commands:
- Inventory (I). Starts inventory mode with the current day's date. Each scanned item is recorded as inventoried.
- Inventory Suppressed (IS). This mode is the same as Inventory mode, except that dialogs are suppressed.
- Inventory Bookdrop (IB). All items scanned are recorded as inventoried as of the date specified in the inventory command.
- Inventory Bookdrop Suppressed (IBS). This mode is the same as Inventory Bookdrop mode (IB command), except that dialogs are suppressed.

There are two ways to forgive charges:

With the patron pulled up in Circulation, go to the Charges tab. Select the charge and click Make Payment. Enter the amount you'd like to forgive in the Forgive field and click Process.

Use the Forgive Charges utility to forgive charges, fines, and/or fees for multiple patrons at once.

Alexandria has multiple reports that will show you who has unpaid charges:

Send patrons a notice about their unpaid charges!

Discarded Copies report: See which copies have been discarded throughout the year and make sure the list is correct before permanently removing them with the Remove Discarded Copies utility.

Copies Labels Reports: Create labels for new copies.

Send patrons notices about their coming due items, overdue items, and charges:

Administration

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Scanners

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V7 FAQs

Recently switched to 7? Get your questions answered.

Inventory FAQs

Make your inventory quick, easy, and extremely efficient.

Reports FAQs

Learn how to make the most of report templates.

Items FAQs

Maintain a clean and searchable catalog.

Switch to 7 FAQs

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Makeover FAQs

We are thrilled to announce our Alexandria and Textbook Tracker Dream Makeover! Yep, that's right. We're giving the programs a new look while adding various improvements, such as responsive design and exciting features. Learn more about it!

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Beginning-of-Year FAQs

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End-of-Year FAQs

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Patrons FAQs

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Items FAQs

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Researcher FAQs

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Inventory FAQs

TEST!!! Absolutely. You can use an iPad or Chromebook to perform Inventory. If you are using an iPad, you will also need a compatible wireless scanner. Ask our Sales team what they recommend.

YES! You can inventory while you are circulating, and circulate while you are in the inventory process. Just be sure to keep track of your Inventory Start Date.

Well, we recommend using Inventory Management, which keeps track of inventory sessions and can save you time when performing inventory. But if you are doing inventory in Circulation, use Inventory Bookdrop (IB) with a wired scanner, or Inventory Bookdrop Suppressed (IBS) with a wireless scanner. If, for example, you're inventorying classroom sets checked out to teachers, you would choose Inventory (I) or Inventory Suppressed (IS) mode so those items are not bookdropped. In the Inventory Module, this means checking or unchecking the options for Audible alerts, and “Bookdrop items scanned during inventory”.

For more information, read about our Circulation Inventory Commands.

Check your session overview and take a look at your Call Number Range. Make sure the "From" and "Through" fields have the same number of characters.

For example From: 000.000 AAA

Through: 299.999 ZZZ

Run a report. In the Review step of the inventory process, run the Inventory Items Report. And in the Reports module, run the Copies Inventoried or Copies Not Inventoried reports.

Don’t forget about items that aren’t on your shelves! Items in classrooms, book rooms, or on display can be easy to overlook. Inventory these items before you declare a missing item as lost. If you're using Sessions in the Inventory module, this may mean waiting until you have finished all of your inventory, and using utilities to declare items lost.

Also, if you are running your session by a call number range, we recommend using call numbers that are the same length with only whole numbers (no decimals). Using irregular call number lengths can lead to inaccurate estimates.

We recommend completing all of your inventory sessions when you are finished with your whole inventory. This will ensure any items that may have been misplaced on a different shelf will be found and scanned.

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Reports FAQs

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Administration

Scanners

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Items FAQs

Switch to 7 FAQs

Makeover FAQs

Beginning-of-Year FAQs

End-of-Year FAQs

Patrons FAQs

Items FAQs

Researcher FAQs

Inventory FAQs

Reports FAQs

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