[Koha-devel] call numbers

[robweir]

I submitted the following question to the general list, but received no 
response. Any chance someone on the development list would have a couple 
minutes to give me some guidance? Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks, Rob

----- Original Message ----- 
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 13:37:11 -0500
X-Priority: 3
To: address@hidden
Subject: Data Conversion - Call Numbers

I am converting data from an old system and need some help on which fields in 
Koha should be used to store the various components of the existing book call 
numbers. I'm a computer guy, not the librarian, so forgive me if my terminolgy 
is off.

Given the following sample call number:

R
220.7
J32c
V.1

I am guessing that the first line 'R' for Refernce Book would be an itemtype 
defined in the itemtype table and then entered in the biblioitems.itemtype 
field for each book. The second line of course would be stored in 
biblioitems.dewey field. I'm stuck on the third line which I think is referred 
to as the Cutter number. Where should that be stored? I see a 
biblioitems.subclass field, but it is only char(3) which isn't long enough 
since cutter numbers are typicaly four characters. I think a few of the call 
numbers have a dewey line and two lines of cutter numbers. If there are two 
cutter lines, where should that second cutter line be stored? And then for the 
last line, would biblioitems.volumeddesc be the correct field?

One more example call number from the old system:

BIOG
MORR H
C.2

I can probably use biblioitems.itemtype for the first line. I'm stuck again on 
the second line. And I think the last line needs to be stored in the items 
table since it is specific to each copy of a book with multiple copies. But 
which field?

I am hoping that once I get the data converted and everything stored in the 
proper fields, that a client who looks up a book using the OPAC interface will 
be able to see the entire call number for use in locating the book on the 
shelves. Will that be the case? Or are my librarians using a  call number 
system that is incompatible with Koha?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Rob