[Koha] Classification Confusion

[Rachel Hamilton-Williams]

Hi - ah, confused?  Hardly surprising I'm sorry, I'll try to explain, and others 
from HLT and Katipo please chime in when I get into a tangle myself.....


> Can anyone please clarify the difference(s) between Koha/Opac "Format",
> "Item Type", "Class" and "Group"?

GROUP:  Is an entirely "Koha" concept, brought about by the need to 
describe the record/info that is the specific to a "group" of items, but not "all" 
items under a biblio.  So it is the word like "biblio" that describes the middle 
"tier" of information within Koha.  If you're a code reader, it is synonomous 
with the "biblio-item" table.  

CLASS: Is a more general classification than itemtype, used for searching.  
It's "plain english"  to help people find things they way they might expect, for 
example: CD, Video, Picture Book, Fiction, Non Fiction are all good 
"classes".  The only "class" change you'd expect an item to make would be 
to move to the "stack".

ITEMTYPE: This is the "nity gritty" classification used to distinguish items 
for issuing purposes, it is not usually seen by the public, but used by Koha 
to work out how long someone can borrow an item for, and what charges 
may apply etc.

Examples of itemtypes include: Free CD, Pay CD, Bestseller CD, Non 
Lending CD  and these would all be in the CLASS "CD".

I think that ITEMTYPE = FORMAT (which is weird but true).

If you're a small/focused library the distinction between class and itemtype 
may not be particularly useful but hopefully this helps to explain how it's 
used in a public library.

Cheers
Rachel


> Where the confusion started:
> When using "Advanced" search options menu (/catalogue/index.html), I
> note the option to search by "Class" but I cannot find a way to add an
> Item/Title to a "Class" entry in the Catalogue.
> 
> Where I have looked for more clarification:
> When viewing the biblio using the  moredetail.pl option, I see a "Group"
> option that includes "Class" and "Item Type" options inside the "Group"
> sub-menu.
> 
> Comparing entries for "Format", "Group" and "Item Type":
> When using "normal" Acquisitions method to add a new biblio to basket, I
> see an option list for "Format". The "Format" option list includes
> select items that appear to include both "Group" and "Item Type" names.
> 
> So,
> 
> 1. Is "Format" the sum of "Group" + "Item" type?
> 
> 2. Should the search option box be rename to search by "Format" instead
> of by "Class"... or none of the above %-|
> 
> 
> Any help in clarifying my befuddled brain would be appreciated.
> 
> Yours faithfully, "confused" of Sydney.
> 
> R.
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> 


_____________________________________________________________

Rachel Hamilton-Williams             Katipo Communications            
WEBMISTRESS                          ph  021 389 128 or +64 04 934 1285 
mailto:rachel at katipo.co.nz           PO Box 12487, Wellington
http://www.katipo.co.nz              New Zealand
Koha Open Source Library System
http://www.koha.org