Athenaeum Structure
It is helpful to build a mental map of how the parts of Athenaeum fit together.
Modules
The map above has the main menu in the middle, with the catalogue modules above, borrower modules lower left and issue (circulation) and issue history modules lower right. The admin area is off to the left and is normally less used than other areas.
The modules are colour coded and reflect the colour themes you see when using Athenaeum. Colours are used as a visual clue to where you are.
| Module | Colour |
|---|---|
| Menu | blue |
| Admin | blue |
| Catalogue | bronze |
| Catalogue Archive | magenta |
| Borrower | green |
| Issues | blue |
| History | blue |
| MARC | black |
Knowing the modules and how they fit is important because - amongst other things - reports are normally generated in the modules that contain their content. For example, overdue reports and letters are generated in circulation. Historical issue analyses are generated in the history module. Annual Summaries are generated in the catalogue module.
Navigating
You can navigate around the Athenaeum modules using the buttons on the main menu, or you can quickly navigate using keyboard shortcuts. In many instances you can also navigate from one module to “related” data in other modules (e.g. while viewing a borrower, you can see their historical issues in history with a click of a button).
Take some time to learn the shortcuts for the main functions and modules and then when you are comfortable with those, learn a few more.
Main Commands
Use the following keyboard shortcuts from virtually anywhere to:
| Function | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Main Menu | CTRL 1 | command 1 |
| Search | CTRL 2 | command 2 |
| Issue | CTRL 3 | command 3 |
| Return | CTRL 4 | command 4 |
| Extend | CTRL 5 | command 5 |
| Check | CTRL 6 | command 6 |
Single Key Navigation
When you are not editing text in an Athenaeum field (that is, you are not typing something), you can press the following keys to perform these functions.
| Key | Function |
|---|---|
| 1 | Menu (go here if you are lost) |
| 2 | Search |
| 3 | Issue |
| 4 | Return |
| 5 | Extend |
| 6 | Check |
| a | Admin screen |
| b | Borrower list |
| c | Catalogue list |
| F | Fees list |
| h | Issue History |
| i | Circulation list |
| m | MARC |
| n | Show navigation menu (main menu only) |
| q | QuickMARC |
| r | Catalogue archive list |
| t | Borrower types |
| u | Navigates to utility screens in some modules and the audit layouts when you are in the admin module |
| w | Resets the Athenaeum windows according to your preferences and tries to position them in line with the main window (this only works on the main menu and admin) |
Common Functions
At the top of most screens are common buttons that execute or reveal relevant commands and functions for the current module:
Command
The command button reveals a sub-menu with buttons for Issuing, Returning, Extending, Checking and then appropriate buttons for operating on the found set of records in the module you are currently viewing.
Filter
The filter button reveals functions for modifying the current found set of records (i.e. filtering them), or for finding records that meet a particular criteria.
Some filters modify an existing found set and some filters override the current found set. That is, some filters discard previous found sets before performing their function.
Found Set
A fundamental concept in Athenaeum to reporting or manipulating large amounts of data is that of the found set.
The founds set is merely the set of results from a find action; show related action or show all action. However, that result is then used to generate a report, print data, export to a spreadsheet, replace in bulk, bulk dispose or stock take, etc.
By finding different sets of data, you can use the same report function to produce different reports.
Most screens display details of the found set.
Those three numbers indicate, in turn:
- the number of the current record in the list
- the number of records in the found set - that is the number that are included in the view
- in parentheses, the total number of records in the current list - or the number shown plus the number omitted
So the graphic above shows that the current record is eight hundred and fifty fourth record in the list of one thousand and seven records in the found set and that there are eleven thousand one hundred and ninety records in total. (By deduction, that means nine thousand six hundred and eighty three records are omitted from view.)
Any time you perform a find, for example, those numbers will likely change.