Creating a New item
To create a new Item, enter the Item Manager then choose [Create new Item] from the Toolbar menu (or press [F5]). On selection, a new Item is created in the database with a default HID based upon the current date and time.
Note that at this point, the new Item is fully created in the database but is not yet 'active' - this is deliberate so that the Item can be configured correctly before being made available to library users. In order to make the Item available, edit the Item when complete, check the [Active] checkbox and update the Item in the database.
MU Users
Pergamon MU has Unique and Core records merged into a single perceived on screen, and is managed automatically for you. As such, the next section can be ignored.
Creating a new unique Item
When creating a new unique Item in the database (i.e. something that never existed in the database before, or as any other copy of the same Item), progress through each tabbed page and complete the fields required. When finished, select [Update] to save the changes into the database*.
On creation of an Item for the first time, Pergamon will report that a new core record has also been created. As soon as this occurs, the core record is also available to any other unique Items being created - the [Active] flag reflects only the unique part of the Item.
*Note: It is often useful to update the Item more often than at the end of data entry, and possibly even place a bookmark, to prevent loss of the data entry due to external influences such as power failure. Remember however, that if the record is updated then the core component of the Item will become protected - if further editing of that record is required, the core record must be re-opened (see Editing an Item).
