Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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). Starts Inventory mode for the current date with automatic bookdrop. (If an item is checked out, it is automatically checked in.)
  • Inventory Bookdrop Suppressed (IBS). This mode is the same as Inventory Bookdrop mode, 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:

• Charges and Overdue Fines - Complete report
• Charges and Overdue Fines - Charges Only report
• Charges and Overdue Fines - Fines Only report

• 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:
  • Coming Due Items Notice report
  • Overdue Items Notice report
  • Unpaid Charges Notice report
  • Overdue Items and Unpaid Charges Notice report

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:

• Charges and Overdue Fines - Complete report
• Charges and Overdue Fines - Charges Only report
• Charges and Overdue Fines - Fines Only report