Emory University Libraries Alma Documentation

Collaborative repository of Emory University Libraries documentation with a focus on Ex Libris's Alma.

Documentation that is general enough to apply to any EUL library will be named by activity, e.g. Suppress a Bib Record; documentation that represents a library's specific, local practice will be preceded by the short name of the library, e.g. Woodruff - Gift Book Collections.

Normalization Rules

Prerequisites:

To work with normalization rules, you must have the role of Catalog Administrator

Learning to work with Normalization Rules

Working with Normalization Rules
Normalization Rule Examples
Search ALMA-L for answers to norm rule questions or to ask others for advice

Example Rule

What this rule does:

Unconditionally adds the following fields to records:

583 1# $$a committed to retain $$c 20170701 $$c 20421231 $$f HathiTrust $$u https://www.hathitrust.org/shared_print_program $$5 GEU

590 $$a Retained as part of the HathiTrust Shared Print Program until December 31, 2042.

940 $$a HATHITRUST SHAREDPRINT

About Normalization Rules

Create, duplicate, or copy community rules in the Metadata Editor under the left side, Rules --> Normalization Rules:

Emory naming convention: EMORY-[library code] Name of rule

EMORY-ALL can be used for all libraries/shared processes

Examples in Shared folder:

Tips for working with Norm Rules:

I create various normalization rules in my Private Folder and then paste them into EMORY - UNIV Generic change when I need to actually run one
EMORY - UNIV Generic change is set up to work this way - it's set up as a reuseable process that you can just paste your Norm rule text into for "one off" change jobs, as opposed to things you need to run regularly or as part of another process. Otherwise, you'd have to set up a separate process for each norm rule you create to run them
Start by duplicating another rule and trying to change it to do what you want, rather than starting from scratch - it's much easier this way
Use the Split Screen editor and a test record to test your Norm Rule and adjust as needed

Using the Split Screen editor and a test record to test your Norm Rule:

Open up your test record in the Metadata Editor
Click the Split Screen Icon

Your record will collapse to the left and the right side opens up:

Click on Rules at the bottom left
Find the rule you want to open and choose Edit

The rule will open up on your right

Click Preview to test your rule on your record
Changes to the record will be highlighted
Changes won't be applied to the record unless you click Apply Changes

Run a Norm Rule using EMORY-UNIV Generic Change

Develop your norm rule using a Private Rule and testing on a test record until you're sure it works as expected
Create a set of records to run your norm rule on (you'll need to create a set of bib records for this kind of change)
Paste text of your Private Rule into body of EMORY-UNIV Generic Change and SAVE: