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Alma was implemented on July 3rd, replacing Aleph/Verde/SFX and taking over the functions of Cognos. Connexion (cataloging), Aeon (special collections), and DRS (digital repository) remain in use.
Major Differences Between Aleph & Alma
| Aleph | Alma |
|---|---|
| Desktop-based Software | Web-based platform |
| Keyboard-focused with some point and click | Mouse-focused with keyboard shortcuts |
| Location-based knowledge of information (what's in which module?) | Search-based discovery of information |
| Made up of separate modules | Unified system |
| Updated through software versions, with a long time between versions | Updated monthly with full release notes |
| Static software environment | Log out / time out after 60 minutes of non-use |
| Aleph Numbers / HOLLIS numbers | Alma system number (the MMSID) plus dramatically improved search and the ability to save and export sets of records |
Logging In
Logging in: To log in to Alma , visit this link and log in with your HarvardKey credentials. --> Alma Training Sandbox
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| Tip | ||
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The first time you log in to Alma from your usual work computer, when you get to the Harvard Key authentication page, click on the box next to Remember this Device for 30 Days. This will allow you to skip the 2-factor authentication step and just log back in with your email and password. If you log in to any other system that uses the Harvard Key login, your browser should remember those credentials for up to 30 minutes or so and automatically log you in, which makes switching from one Harvard Key system (the LTS wiki, Alma, PeopleSoft, Harvard Images) to another easier. If you set your browser to automatically clear cookies or the cache at close, it will not remember your device each day and you will have to use the 2-factor authentication each time. If you're concerned about cookies, you might want to designate one browser as your "Harvard Key systems" browser and use it only for those services. For more about Harvard Key, visit the HUIT HarvardKey information pages. |
The Home Page
This is the Alma home page. Return to this page at any time by clicking the Harvard shield in the upper left corner.
Main menu bar
The main Alma menu matches the functional areas of Alma:
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Question mark icon: This gives you the option of different kinds of help with Alma, including the Ex Libris Knowledge Center.
DO THIS FIRST!
The first time you log in to Alma, do these two things right away. They'll improve your experience of using Alma.
- Click Always Show Location. The location you set will change the options you see and the actions you can take in Alma. Always showing that location lets you see at a glance if you're set to the right location for the work you're doing.
- Click on the location icon (a map pointer) in the blue menu bar.
- Click on the box next to Always Show Location so that a check mark appears in the box.
- You're all set!
- Add two widgets to your home page. You might choose to add other widgets later, but these two will be important to working in Alma.
- Click on the blue plus sign on the right side of the screen.
- Click on the boxes next to the first two widgets you see: Tasks and Notifications
- Click on the X in the upper right corner of this dialogue box, or hit the ESC key to close the box.
- You're all set.
Widgets
A widget is a small container for information on a web page. In Alma, these widgets can contain information about the Alma system (Notifications), about the library, or display charts and tables of data from the Alma database.
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To remove a widget, click on the downward-facing arrow in the upper right corner of the widget box, then click on Remove.
Context-dependent menus
The options underneath the main menu headings will change depending on:
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| The idea is to 'tidy up' your workspace; if you can't see a function you need to do your job, let your manager know. |
Quick Links
To identify menu items you need frequently - or menu choices you need rarely (and can never seem to find) - hover over the name of a menu item and the outline of a star will appear. Click on that star to add that menu item to your Quick Links list.
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Click the Return to Main Menu icon to return to the main menu.
Persistent Search
Below the persistent menu is the persistent search bar. These two items appear on every page in Alma, which means you don't need to return to the home page to start a different task. Just choose a new item from the menu or search for something (like an invoice number) to begin working on something new.
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Read more on Search and Sets (the results of searches).
Links to other help
- include these in online wiki for topics and in handouts
- Help Menu within Alma: Highlight the benefits of using the first two choices on the Help menu: Browse Online Help and Help for This Page
- links to Alma instructional videos
- clicking on text balloon icon to show the text being spoken to you (JW found this quite helpful)
- "Show me How" icon visible at bottom of screen (must turn on/off in Help menu)
Resource Pages
Aleph to Alma - Tips & Suggestions
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