Re: Number of lists

[Elizabeth Thomsen <et@xxxxxxxxxx>]

We have 160 review files, at least half of which are in use at any given 
time.  We find that the more training we do that helps people get their 
data from a review file into the exact format they want, the less time 
those files stay on the system.  We also have a script that empties all 
unowned files overnight, which helps remove files created during 
training or when people are just experimenting.  You can see it here:
http://www.noblenet.org/swapshop/lists/emptyrevfile.htm

In some ways, I'd like to have another 40 (or more) review files, but 
there's one design issue in the program that makes me reluctant to add 
any more files.  Just about every place where you need to choose a 
review file, you have to look at the whole list of files (including the 
empties) as a dropdown menu, and you can't sort them, see the initials 
of the creator/owner, or , most importantly, the file numbers.  This is 
true when you are using one file as a range for another, or in global 
update, or in MilStats.  It's really time-consuming to have to scroll up 
and down trying to locate the file you want, especially when you already 
know the file number.  Some of our folks have learned the trick of 
naming files somethings easy to spot, like "!!!!!!!!!!!!My New 
Books!!!!!!" but when there are several files with names like that, it 
gets really ugly.  It drives me crazy with a list of 160 files...I can't 
imagine what this is like with a much longer list.

It would be a major improvement if we could enter a file number as an 
alternative to seeing the whole list, and if when the list were 
displayed, the file numbers were included and the empties were omitted.

The only place I can think of where this display is handled totally 
differently is when you're doing a search and you choose "Use Existing 
Search."  Here you can see the numbers and sort the files, which makes 
it much easier to choose the one you want.

-- 
Elizabeth Thomsen, Member Services Manager
NOBLE: North of Boston Library Exchange
Danvers MA 01923
et@xxxxxxxxxx