Evergreen version: 2.12
The View/Place Orders option in the current web client is located in the Actions menu of the Holdings View tab. Our preference is to move it out of this actions menu and to place it in the record summary where we currently have options to Add Volumes, Add to Bucket and to perform various "Mark For" actions.
We would like to move it for the following reasons:
- Staff users are rarely on the Holdings View tab when they decide to order a title. Staff need to see 1) bibliographic information and 2) their current holdings information when deciding if they are on the correct record for their order. Both pieces of information are more easily found in the OPAC view.
- In general, I think it would be good to set a precedent that Actions menus appearing above a grid only include actions that can be performed on the items listed in that grid. Most of the Holdings View action items are indeed for actions you would perform after selecting items in the grid. The View/Place Orders action is one of two actions there that is not being performed on the volumes/copies listed in the Holdings View. This action is performed on the actual bib record.
- If we keep this action where it is, we will probably need to adjust the code recently merged from bug 1539089 so that we don't grey out the menu on the Holdings View tab. As it stands, a volume or copy will need to be selected in order to use the View/Place Orders action.
On my screen, with a resolution of 1366 x 768, there appears to be plenty of room to add another button in the record summary without crowding other screen elements. However, if I change my resolution to 1024 x 768, we start to see a second row of buttons.
My recommendation is that we display the additional button, but also provide some responsive design here for cases when staff's display is set at a smaller resolution (under 1280?). When the screen gets small enough, those actions can be bundled under an 'Actions' button, similar to the 'Mark For' button we already see in the record summary.
The reason I don't recommend that we start off with that 'Actions' button is because it's critical to our cataloging staff that the 'Add Volumes' remain as accessible as possible. They are performing this action repeatedly throughout the course of the day as they add new items to the collection. If we incorporate some responsive design into this display, we can balance easy access to important actions with a cleaner display in those cases where screen space is an issue.
I agree. Having the View/Place orders menu choice to the Holdings View is counter-intuitive. Acquisitions librarians who are used to this function are looking at the OPAC view. There would be no reason for them to be on the Holdings View if they don't have any items yet.