Alma
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For more information please review our FAQ and guidelines. Thank you.
52 results found
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Prevent 9xx local fields from being saved to Community Zone (CZ) records
There is a known issue of some sites not adhering to the Community Zone (CZ) Contribution Guidelines and Community Catalog Standards.
An example of this is the addition of local 9xx fields to CZ records.
Ex Libris already uses a normalization routine to validate CZ records which are changed by customers.
However, this routine does not specifically prevent the addition of local 9xx fields, even though the guidelines are clear that only changes which benefit the broader community should be made.Use case:
This has been a longstanding issue, but has been fixable in the Primo Back Office to an…24 votesHello all,
All 9XX local fields, excluding 906, 920, and 999, are removed from being saved to Community Zone records.
Please see October 2020 release notes https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2020/Alma_2020_Release_Notes
Alma Product Team
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Add a F3 functionality in the dropdown menu of the MDE
In the Metadata Editor, F3 is used in order to look up to the authority headings from a specific bib heading. This is a crucial feature of the MDE, yet it is not available in the dropdown menus. As our librarians sometimes work with tablets, with no function keys, this lack is troublesome. Adding the look up functionality in the dropdown menus would be a welcome improvement of the MDE.
78 votesHi all,
Thank you for submitting this Idea.
Open Authority Headings action is available at the Editing Actions menu starting from the Alma November 2024 release.
Best,
Liza
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Create a Physical Titles or Physical Items set from a list of MMS IDs
It is possible to create an All Titles set from a list of MMS IDs, but not a Physical Titles or Physical Items set. To run certain jobs – like Change Holdings Information – a Physical Titles set is required. In order to run this job on a list of MMS IDs, you must first create an All Titles set, then extract some other key like OCLC #, then create a Physical Titles set from that list, and only then can you run your job. Since all physical titles and items DO have MMS IDs, it should be possible to…
40 votes -
Make configurable pop-up assistance in metadata editor
Currently the po-up assistance in metadata editor for subfields 260$a$b$e$f, 264$a$b, 505$r$t and 561$a is hardcoded and it can not be deactivated. Activation/Deactivation should be configurable. We have many queries from our catalogers about that.
303 votesHi all,
Starting from the May 2026 release, catalogers can customize their workflow by toggling the pop-up assistance on or off for selected subfields.
Read more in the release notes: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2026/Alma_2026_Release_Notes/2026_RN_05_Main?mt-draft=true
Best, Alma Product
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Suggestions for Normalization Rules (NR) functions
Hello,
Please see the attached file.
We would appreciate it if the suggested Normalization Rules functions would be developed in Alma.Thanks
218 votesAlma now supports XSL normalization rules, expanding its capabilities beyond the existing DROOLS support. This addition enables more advanced and intricate data normalization. For detailed information on using XSL normalization rules, please refer to the May 2025 release notes available at: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2025/Alma_2025_Release_Notes
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Create a task that orders the 6xx (subject) fields
Alma currently does not have a way to mass resequence the 6xx subject fields, at least into consecutive order. This is an issue in analytics if subject is the field you organize your results by, as the initial subject field (600) may no longer be the first subject displayed and therefore searched on.
25 votesAlma now supports XSL normalization rules, enhancing its capabilities beyond the existing DROOLS-based rules. This new functionality enables more advanced and sophisticated data normalization processes.
A blog post has been published demonstrating how to use an XSL normalization process to address the request described in this idea. You can read it here: https://developers.exlibrisgroup.com/blog/how-to-re-sequence-all-marc-fields-using-xsl-normalization/
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Add OCLC number to physical item export
Large scale weeding projects would be made much more efficient if Alma offered the ability to include OCLC numbers in the physical items set export details. Currently, we are in the position of using a work-around where we must create a title-level set based on the same items. There are bib-level elements present in the physical item export, so we assume this is possible. Ultimately, we would prefer the option to select which fields export for every export we perform, but the addition of OCLC number to physical item exports would be a great first step.
94 votes -
Preferred term correction should flip headings that change tag number
Alma authority control does not handle cases where the bib heading is linked to an authority via a cross-reference, but the preferred and non-preferred terms are in different fields, e.g. preferred term is in authority field 130 and cross-reference in authority is in 410.
Alma should be able to handle this scenario. Currently when the bib heading matches the authority cross-reference, Alma won't correct these and instead puts them on this report: Preferred Term Correction - Bib Heading found no authorized term.
Example bib heading that Alma won't correct:
110/2_ $$a Allied and Associated Powers (1914-1920). $$t Treaties, etc. $$g…
249 votesNow in Alma, the Preferred Term Correction can flip headings with cross-reference in different fields.
For more information, see Managing Preferred Term Correction.
For more information on the report type, see Using the Authority Control Task List.
For more information on the customer parameter, see Configuring Other Settings (Resource Management).
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Create a "natural language" editor to create Normalization rules
The process for creating Normalization rules is unnecessarily complex and difficult, particularly for those of us who are not familiar with Drools logic. Our previous LSP had an intuitive interface which made creating rules to change details in MARC records much less time consuming. Ex Libris would do well to create such an interface.
16 votesAlma now supports XSL normalization rules, expanding its capabilities beyond the existing DROOLS support. This addition enables more advanced and intricate data normalization. For detailed information on using XSL normalization rules, please refer to the May 2025 release notes available at: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2025/Alma_2025_Release_Notes
Additionally, we are currently exploring the integration of AI assistance within the MD Editor. This feature would enable users to generate XSL rules using natural language input, with the help of AI.
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offer true author/creator browse
Currently Alma offers browsing bib headings with using "names" type - which includes also headings from 600/610/611.
We find it more useful to have a way to browse by author/creator headings without the subject name fields (relevant 1xx and 7xx without 6xx).263 votesAlma enables you to browse bibliographic headings to support various cataloging workflows. You can browse by author name, subject, series, and title.
As of November release for cases when a person appears both as a creator and as a subject (i.e., ‘Agatha Christie’ might be both the subject and an author), you can select between the following methods of mapping the MARC 21 fields 600, 610, 611:
Names – (existing options) When browsing bibliographic headings using this option, the 6XX fields appear under Names.
Subjects – (existing options) When browsing bibliographic headings using this option, the 6XX fields are not found.
Names (without MARC21 600/610/611) – (new option) When browsing using this option, the 6XX fields are not found.
Subjects (with MARC21 600/610/611) – (new option). When browsing using this option, the 6XX fields appear under Subjects.For more information please see Alma November Release Notes:
https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2020/Alma_2020_Release_Notes -
Generate accession number by using keystroke combination
Generation an accession number in 852$$h can only be done by using the menu (tools -> MARC21 holdings -> generate accession number), we would prefer a keystroke combination. It would reduce the clicking enormously!
142 votes -
add security levels to norm rules
Because all norm rules can be edited by all staff with cataloger roles, there is great room for erroneous changes for rules that are applied to batch jobs. For example, the norm rule that is applied to records being brought in from Z39.50 targets can be edited by any staff member. A single error in the rule can break the z39.50 import process for all staff until the source of the error is identified. Likewise, if we have a rule applied to import profiles and a staff member inadvertently changes it and we load 50,000 records, that could cause huge…
275 votesAlma now supports XSL normalization rules, enhancing its capabilities beyond the existing DROOLS-based rules. This new functionality allows for more advanced and sophisticated data normalization processes.
As part of this enhancement, a new privilege has been introduced and added to various cataloger user roles, providing controlled access to the Normalization Rules functionality.
For detailed information on using XSL normalization rules, please refer to the May 2025 release notes available at: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2025/Alma_2025_Release_Notes
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Put full 100 field information in search results
Please put the full 1XX field in the search results.
We have many people with the same or similar names which are distinguished by dates or other information from the 100 field. It would be very useful to have all the personal name information this display in the metadata editor and also to be available in the Excel download of the search results.
20 votesHi everyone, thank you for supporting this idea.
As of February 2026 release, Alma supports defining custom indexes for each institution based on Bibliographic data. This new infrastructure provides the flexibility for each customer to create their own search indexes tailored to their Bibliographic data.
Refer to the Alma release notes for more information.
Best,
Alma Product
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Increase size of MD Editor main panel
The Metadata editing window (main panel) is really small compared to the rest of the screen. Dragging and dropping the panes does not have much effect. There is also the Full Screen functionality which only widens the editing screen. The problem is that it should extend the view of the fields in the length. We would like to see more fields of the record at one time. The panels at the top and bottom of the screen are very wide, so there is plenty of space to make more room for the actual editing.
52 votesIn the new Metadata Editor, the editing area has been increased significantly
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Ability to limit Authority Control task list to only Institution zone records
It is overwhelming to have hundreds or thousands of records listed in the Authority Control task list every day, especially when most of them are Community Zone records that we're not supposed to change. We need to have the option to get a list of only our Institution Zone records that need to be worked on. This would save a lot of time and frustration from having to weed through the morass of Community Zone authority issues.
4 votesIdea was implemented as part of August release
please see https://youtu.be/BgQam-QxyAo
for more information -
cataloging level defaults
We have cataloging levels enabled in Alma. We would like the default for imports to be higher than the lowest level. Currently, all imports from import and integration profiles are assigned the lowest level, and the only way to change them is to run a job after importing.
30 votes -
Use the same font and formatting in the MD Editor and View Versions pane
Alma currently uses a different font in the View Versions display than that used in the MD Editor. The records are also formatted differently, with the field number being center justified against the corresponding field, rather than the number appearing at the beginning of the field. Line spacing is also different between the two versions.
These design issues make comparing two versions of a record side-by-side much more difficult than it should be.
Please use the same font and formatting in both the MD Editor and the View Versions record display. The use of shading in alternate fields (as in…
26 votesIn the new Metadata Editor, we have make sure to align the look of the record and its version to make it easier to compare
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Provide ability to "Catalog set" and "Filter set" on sets of authorities
Under 'Manage Sets' we are able to send sets of less than 30 bibliographic records directly to the Metadata Editor by clicking 'Catalog set'. We can also filter sets of less than 30 bibliographic records using indication rules by clicking "Filter set". These functionalities are not available for sets of authority records.
Existing authorities often will not be available to cataloguers using F3 if there are any coding mismatches from what Alma expects. This is much too big of a job to handle manually.
It would greatly improve authority control, especially cleaning up old authorities, to be able to filter…
32 votesFor better management of local authority records, the following new options are now available:
Catalog Set – A set of local authorities records can be opened in the MD Editor for cataloging.
Filter Set – You can filter a set of local authority records using indication rules to create a subset of records with only the records that pass the indication rules conditions.
For more information please see Alma November Notes:
https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/010_2019/Alma_2019_Release_Notes -
Identify headings linked to authority records in Simple Record View
I frequently consult the Simple Record View page of bibliographic records when working on the Authority Control Task List. This view, however, does not indicate which headings are linked to authority records and which are not. The only place in Alma to confirm this is through the Metadata Editor.
This proposal recommends adding a marker (such as the binoculars icon found in the Metadata Editor) to those fields in the Simple Record View with headings linked to authority records. This would save a step in the Task List review process, not to mention being helpful to any Alma user looking…
100 votesHi all, thanks for supporting this idea
It is now implemented in Alma as part of the May 2026 release.
Read more in the Release Notes: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2026/Alma_2026_Release_Notes/2026_RN_05_Main
Best, Alma Product
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Delete multiple MARC fields after they are highlighted / selected in Metadata Editor
At the moment, you can select multiple MARC fields when you hold down CTRL, as can be seen by the fields highlighted in BLUE in the attached screenshot.
However, when one attempts to remove them (CTRL+F6), only the first field is deleted.
This is a request to delete all highlighted fields
117 votes
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