FMNH Transaction Module

Custom designed module to handle loans, transactions, accessions and external movements related to all

transactions.

FMNH Transaction Module

The high level goal of the Transaction module is to be able to

1. process transactions of objects that are not cataloged, and

2. accept partial returns of either type of object

FMNH Transaction Module• Shared tabs:

– Summary tab – define catalog and action– Dates tab – define return date and update dates if

renewed or transferred– Movements tab – track shipper and permits

• Observations:– The overall metadata have a few high level things in

common:• Tracking of specific prep types that are part of the catalog

record• Use of audit fields for annual reports (Description (e.g., family

name), Geography (e.g., South America, Holarctic)

FMNH Transaction Module

• 2 styles of transaction interaction– Botany/Geology: purists - can’t mix loans with any

other type of transaction

– Heterogenous: can mix loans with gifts and exchanges

Goal: create an invoice – either an Accession report, or a Loan/Gift/Exchange invoice

Botany/Geology style: can’t mix loans with any other type of transaction

Process flow for Transaction module

Loan transactions – only loans• Loan tab – get invoice #, define type of loan• Objects and Objects (U) tab(s) – define Objects, catalogued and uncatalogued• Dates tab – define return date and update dates if renewed or transferred• Loan Return and Loan Return (U) tab - go back to table to update if more returns

come in• Movements (Geology only)Non-loan transactions – anything except a loan• Transaction tab - get invoice #• Invoice tab – shows redundant invoice number (define type of transaction, can mix

transaction types, many in one invoice)Accessions – incoming gifts• Accession tab – select catalogue, get accession #

Heterogenous style: can mix loans with gifts and exchanges

Process flow for Transaction module

Transaction tab: get invoice/loan number, define kind of transaction (any from list of loan through gifts, exchanges, etc.)

• Objects and Objects (U) tab(s): define type of transaction for each object, link Object to catalog entry

• Loan Return and Loan Return (U) tab: go to table to update when returns come in, object lists are copied into return tabs so user does not have to copy/paste from the Objects tabs

Accessions tab: incoming gifts, select catalogue, get accession #• Fishes uses Accession (2) for extra reporting