[Koha] [koha] Authorized value for category_types

[Caroline Cyr-La-Rose]

Hello James!

You can look at the SQL library on the Koha wiki. In the first sections, 
there is one about runtime parameters that explains it very well. 
https://wiki.koha-community.org/wiki/SQL_Reports_Library#Runtime_Parameters

I think there are a couple of options you can use.

1) Create your own authorized values list

As it is possible to use any authorized values list as runtime 
parameter, you can create an AV list just for this report. Since the 
codes aren't likely to change, this could be a good option.

- Go to Administration > Authorized values

- Click on New category

- Create a code for your category (e.g. BORCAT)

- Click on New authorized value for XX

- Add the authorized values for the category types, for example

Authorized value = A

Description = Adult

The other category types are

C = Child

I = Organization

P = Professional

S = Staff

X = Statistical

(see 
https://koha-community.org/manual/latest/en/html/faq.html#patron-categories-table)

- In your report, add the runtime parameter just like you would for 
itemtypes for example

WHERE category_type = <<Category|BORCAT>>

I just tried it in 20.05 and it works.


2) Add a simple text field as runtime parameter

I think this was Owen's suggestion.

- In your report, add a runtime parameter without av list, for example

WHERE category_type = <<Category>>

- As previously mentioned, users will have to know the specific codes to 
enter in the field (A, C, I, P, S or X), otherwise the report will not 
give any results.

- As of version 21.05, there is an option to make a text field a text 
area for several values 
https://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=27380

Regards,

Caroline

On 2021-08-12 10 h 30, muiru james wrote:
> Hi Owen and All,
>
> Thank you for your quick reply and very good advice. I will follow your
> idea on good documentation in the report.
> I have no knowledge on runtime parameters but thanks for that pointer too.
>
> If you can increase my knowledge on how to tell an authorized value or
> where to look I'd be grateful. I have used the 'itemtypes' authorized value
> (as copied from the koha reports library) but I'm always curious to learn
> more about it or at least understand it better. (-- WHERE items.itype=
> <<Itemtype|itemtypes>>)
>
> Thanks a lot
>
> Regards
> James
>
> On Thu, Aug 12, 2021 at 3:24 PM Owen Leonard <oleonard at myacpl.org> wrote:
>
>>> WHERE  categories.category_type= <<CATEGORY|category_type>>
>> category_type is an odd one. It's not an authorized value. In fact I
>> don't think they're defined anywhere in the database at all, just
>> hard-coded into templates and scripts. They're intended to be fixed
>> values, not ones which can be modified.
>>
>> I don't think there's any way to get an SQL report to generate a set
>> of options based on these values. It would be nice if one could supply
>> a set of user-defined options in a runtime parameter, e.g. <<Category
>> type|[{A:"Adult",C:"Child"}]>> but that would be complicated for
>> users. I think in your case you might have to rely on good
>> documentation in the report notes to let the user know which
>> category_type codes are valid.
>>
>>   -- Owen
>>
>> --
>> Web Developer
>> Athens County Public Libraries
>> (740) 737-6006
>> https://www.myacpl.org
>>
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