Addons

Answer

Addons

What is it?

Addons are extensions that that you can add to the ILLiad client to increase its functionality. Examples of existing addons are your own library’s catalog, Google and Amazon. 

 How does it help?

Addons eliminate the need to toggle between ILLiad and frequently used resources that you search for through your web browser. Once you activate an addon, it appears as a tab within an ILLiad request, allowing you to easily use it in your workflow.

● The Serials Solutions and SFX addons integrate E-journal license data with your library’s e-journal holdings. These addons also combine data from external resources to make important information easier to access. They are referred to as “link resolvers” because they work to connect two sources of information. 

● Automates tedious manual searching—no more copying & pasting or typing titles into search boxes.

● Flexibility: Addons can be installed to individual ILLiad clients and also shared over your library’s network, just like print and email templates. This feature allows each client to be customized according to the ILL staff member’s range of responsibilities. For example, Lending staff will benefit from the use of the Serials Solutions and SFX addons, while the Addons for Google Scholar and WorldCat are useful to staff who handle Borrowing. Other addons that are universal include your Library’s catalog. See “Addons a la carte” below for more information. 

Getting Started

Enabling addon management in the Staff Manager

In order to manage your addon settings, you must first have the permission in ILLiad’s Staff Manager. This doesn’t mean only certain people can use addons; rather, it just limits the number of people who can configure the settings of their addons.

 

To do this, open the Staff Manager and, for each desired user, activate Can Manage Addons? under Client Access.

Now each of these users will see the Manage Addons button in the System ribbon of the ILLiad client, allowing them to individually turn addons on and off, while also change each addon’s configuration settings.

 

Tip: Addons a la carte

 

Addons, like custom layouts, can be shared -- but each individual staff user can customize them to meet their own needs. These changes are not shared so one staff member’s customizations will not affect any other staff member. This is helpful because staff can choose to disable addons they never use (sparing system memory and improving the overall speed of their clients).

Sharing addons over a network

Like print templates and email templates, addons can be shared over a network. Any addon that is adding to this shared Addons folder will be downloaded to each individual staff client. This is helpful because you don’t have to individually distribute addons workstation by workstation. By setting the shared network addons’ configurations in advance, this can also spare your staff from having to configure individual addons as well.

 

Tip: Preparing addons before sharing

 

If you want to test and configure an addon yourself before sharing it with staff over the network, simply install the addon to your own computer’s addons directory. Turn it on, configure it, and try it out. When you’re ready to distribute the addons with these settings, just copy it from your local directory to the shared Addons folder.

 

If you wish to share addons in this way, check out the ILLiad documentation:

https://prometheus.atlas-sys.com/display/ILLiadAddons/ILLiad+Addon+Technical+Overview

Go addon shopping

Many addons are now available from the ILLiad Addons Directory:

https://prometheus.atlas-sys.com/display/ILLiadAddons/Addons+Directory

 

With so many to choose from, the following activity might help you figure out which would most benefit your workflow.

 

Part 1.

In Column A below, write down the websites or resources you commonly use during request processing (i.e. your library catalog, journal finder, Google, etc.). Then, browse the ILLiad Addons Directory. Did you find a matching addon? If so, indicate that in Column B.

A. Websites/resources you commonly use

B. Available as addon?

 

Part 2.

For each available addon, run through the following installation checklist:

Addon Name

1. Download

2. Unzip to Addons folder

3. Configure

4. Share

         

 

  • Last Updated Jan 17, 2024
  • Views 173
  • Answered By Simone L. Yearwood

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