Simpson Library Technical Services

Alma uses a customizable description template to populate item information.

This information describes the enumeration and chronology of continuing resources.

A Description Template Guide shows inputs and outputs for each field in the Enumeration and Chronology section of the item record.

Description Templates can sometimes not work as intended.  If your description does not populate as intended, please talk to the Technical Services librarian.

Rebuild an item's description

If description templates change, it is necessary to rebuild the item's description to provide consistency.

Create an itemized set by performing the following steps:

1. From the Alma menu > Administration column > Manage Jobs and Sets >Manage Sets.
2. Click on "Add Set" and choose "Itemized" from the dropdown menu.
3. Fill in the set details by performing these steps: 
   • Add a "Set name" and "Description" (optional).
   • Click on "Set content type" and choose "Physical Items" from the dropdown menu. 
   • Define who can see the set by selecting either "Yes" or "No" for the "Private" option.
   • Make sure the "Status" is set to "Active  
4. Click the button "Add Members to Set"
5. Use the search bar on the top to search for the title of the resource that needs changes
6. Select all items and click the button "Add Selected"
7. Repeat search until all items are added.
8. Click Done.

Run the job, "Rebuild Physical item description" on the itemized set created above:

1. From the Alma menu > Administration column > Manage Jobs and Sets >Run a Job.
2. Search for the job by typing "Rebuild" in the Description search bar.
3. Select the job "Rebuild Physical item description"
4. Click Next.
5. Select the set created above.
6. Submit