Media Library Configuration

u The list of Media Libraries is represented by a MediaLibraryConfig record and the corresponding Media Library Configuration screen.

u The Library Operators field lists all Library Groups that are allowed to operate the Library. Only users with access to those Library Groups (set in their User Profile) will see the Library name in any popup. If this field is blank all users can operate the library.

u The Library Users field lists all Library Groups whose users are allowed to check tapes out of the Library. Only users with access to those Library Groups (set in the Library User list) will appear in the Users list in the Media Library Operation screen. If this field is blank all users will have checkout permission in the library.

u Fields in the blue area are designate acceptable media Format & Material, used for automatic Bin assignment.

u Bin Management options are specified in the yellow box:

• Auto Assign Bin # on Checkin: if set, this option indicates that automatic bin number assignment is in effect for the Media Library; when media is checked into this library, bin number will be assigned automatically by the system(based on other parameters and the library layout configuration).
• Recycle Bin on Checkout: indicates that bin numbers are recycled when media is checked out of the library; the media’s home location (library+bin number) will be cleared and the bin number made available.
• Validate Manual Bin #: if set, the system will verify that manually entered bin numbers are valid and exist for the library; valid bin numbers are configured via the Layout button (see below). If this option is set, manual bin numbers MUST not be occupied, that is, they must be available. That precludes users from manually setting more than one tape per bin location. (bin availability is checked only for shelves that have individual bin positions, that is the "Do not use Bin position" is NOT set).
• Do not use Bin position: this setting is used to indicate that individual media bin positions are not used for this Library; it indicates that media location within the Library is addressed at the Shelf level only; in this case the system configuration will have one single bin number per shelf.

u Fields in the orange box are used to specify Library components identification format. There are fields for Column, Shelf & Bin format (Cars have individual names). Those fields have the following formats:

• A….A : the component is identified by letters only; the number of A’s tells how many letters to use, ex:
  • ‘A’: will give id’s as: A, B, X, Z
  • ‘AA’ : AA, AB, AC, AX, AZ…
• N….N : the component is identified by numbers only; the number of N’s tells how many digits to use, ex:
  • ‘N’: will give id’s as: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, …
  • ‘NN’: 01, 02, 03, 24, 26, …

u The Bin # Template field specifies how the Bin Number identification is formatted, as a function of the other components identification. Any character in the field will be copied into the Bin Number and placeholders ([car], [col], [sh], [bin]) will be substituted for the corresponding component identification.

u The Layout button gives access to the Media Library Layout Configuration screen.

u This Screen has four groups of information and fields:

u Library Layout area (on the left hand side of the screen):

• The Library Layout configuration is displayed in the hierarchical list on the left, with Cars, Columns, Shelves & Bins. Besides each component identification comes the number of its comprising components (ex: cars show the number of columns, while shelves display the number of bins). Shelves and Bins also indicate if they are full or occupied.
• Selecting any item on the Library Layout will display its information on the Item Information area.
• The Clear All button wipes out the complete Library Layout, deleting all components.
• The Update Config button will create internal tables used by the Bin Management module. When a Library Layout is complete, one MUST update the Library configuration. The same is required when changes are made to a Library layout. This function will scan the whole Library and reassess the space used. It will create internal records used for Library Bin allocation.

u Library Parameters area (top right box):

• Generic parameters from the Library Configuration screen are displayed here for information only.

u Item Information area (right bottom box):

• Information about the item selected in the Library Layout is displayed in this area. This box is context sensitive and fields will change according to the type of item selected (car, column, shelf or bin).
• Always displayed is the number of Media currently assigned to the selected Library component
• The Edit … button will bring up that Library Component editing screen, where additional options and fields may be available.
• The Delete button, if enabled, can be used to remove the specific component from the library configuration. Only empty components (with no Media assigned to them) can be deleted! If a component has subordinate components (ex: Columns with Shelves), they will be deleted as well (all the way down to Bins).
• If the item displayed is a Shelf, the extra button Dup Shelf Config is available. It is used to duplicate the current Shelf configuration for all shelves in the same Column or Car. It allows one to set up the parameters for one Shelf and replicate them for the entire Column or Car.

u Add Items area (centre box):

• Fields in this area are used to add components to the Library Configuration. It is context sensitive and its contents depends on which item is selected in the Library Layout.
• The New … button will change label depending on the highlighted line on the layout panel. To add a Car, select the first line. To add a Column to a Car, select the Car line, to add a Shelf select a Column and to add a Bin select its Shelf.
• The Item Name field (Car Name, Column ID, Shelf ID or Bin Number) is used when adding a single component to the Library Layout. One single component will be created with that name/id.
• The various # of Item fields can be used to indicate the number of components of a given type to be created. This allows the system to automatically create records using the identification format specified in the Library Configuration.
  • Ex. if the Column format is specified as ‘A’, selecting a Car line, entering ‘7’ in the # of Columns field and clicking New Column, will automatically create columns A,B,C,D,E,F,G in the selected Car.
  • The same way, if the # of Columns & # of Shelves is specified, the system will create the specified number of Columns, each with the indicated number of Shelves.
  • One can easily set up an entire Library, configuring each Car at a time, just by indicating the # of Columns, Shelves per Column and Bins per Shelf.
  • The 1st Item Number fields can be used to indicate an initial number for the first item to be created (Column, Shelf or Bin). If omitted the system defaults to 1.
  • The Item # Increment fields can be used to indicate an increment step for each new item created (Column, Shelf or Bin). If omitted item numbers will incremented by 1.
  • The Contiguous Bin # option indicates that Bin number is to be contiguous for the whole Car, Column or Shelf, starting with the 1st Bin Number and for the total # of Bin indicated. If not set, Bin number will restart at the 1st Bin Number for each new Shelf.
• If the option Do not Use Bin Position is set in the Library Configuration, a Bin will be automatically created as Shelves are added to the Library Layout. This option will also replicate for each component in the Library.