DOCUMENT: OSCAR and Felix: System Introduction for Technical Services S.3
DATE: 2001 Feb. 14 rev. (issued 1999 April 1)
ISSUED BY: Cataloging Dept. (nvp)
- Introduction
At present, staff functions in OSCAR/Felix are available only via Telnet; the web pac version of
OSCAR is only for public search and display. A staff web version, Millenium, is planned.
Access to OSCAR in staff mode (Felix) is protected by 2 levels of security:
a department level and a personal level
Authorizations are given appropriate to work assignments and only with training.
For most technical service functions, select Felix (workstation icon or menu).
At Logon prompt, enter logon and password assigned to your Department:
Logon: dept1 (as provided by dept. administration)
Password: xxxxxx (as provided by dept. administration)
At User name, enter your assigned user ID (uxxx) and your personal password:
Username: uxxx [u + first four or five initials of last name]
Password: xxxxxx (your personal password)
As menu options are selected, the user ID and personal password might be requested.
CAUTION: Do not share a personal password, do not write it down.
It is recommended that personal passwords be changed monthly.
II. Menus
All options for working in OSCAR/Felix are in menus, and options given depend on level of
authorization of the user. Options appear as either a:
List of menu choices in center of screen
or
Row of menu choices across the bottom of screen
When a menu option is keyed as a single letter, <enter> is not needed.
When data is keyed in that is variable in length, use <enter>
Use Q> Quit or R> Return to "back up" in menus, or use ESC.
Menu options presented as letters or numbers can have different meanings among screens or
functions. Read menu options carefully; do not key ahead.
Prefer S> Summary of attached records when asked what type of record to display most
prominently. The response shows all records attached to a bib (order, item, check-in) or an
authority record. Any choice of which to display retrieves all records through the same indexes,
but different data is displayed most prominently.
IIII. Types of records
There are 7 types of records in OSCAR/Felix. Each has a unique, system-assigned number
following a dot + prefix letter indicating the type of record:
.b######## bibliographic (descriptive information about the title, e.g. a book;
must have attached order and/or item record)
.i######## item (copy number, volume number, specific location, etc.;
attached to bib record)
.o######## order (on order, received or not, fund, notes about handling, etc.;
attached to bib record)
.c######## check-in (issues or volumes of a serial or continuation;
attached to bib record for serials or continuations)
.a######## authority (shows authorized form of a heading & cross-references
name, subject, series, uniform title, conference;
not attached to any other record)
.p######## patron (patron record, circulation functions;
linked to item record temporarily for a borrowed piece)
.r######## reserve (course reserve, circulation functions;
linked to item record temporarily while on reserve)
IV. Fields in records
All records have fixed and variable fields.
Fixed fields display at the top of the record
- numbered and labeled fields
- not repeatable
- codes (values) used in the fields must follow guidelines and policies
To see authorized codes, in Felix select
M> MANAGEMENT information
I> INFORMATION about the system
C> CODES used
Codes change: use online lists; always date any paper printout!
In Update or Create records, to see options for codes, key the line number of the field and "?"
Variable fields display below fixed fields
- numbered
- some are repeatable (e.g. notes)
- defined to hold specific kinds of information of varying length
V. Staff or Public Displays
In staff logon mode, use Y or SHIFT + to toggle between public and staff displays.
Public displays are "user friendly" and display holding prominently;
excludes bib records which are coded as "suppressed" (s);
if the bib is suppressed, all attached records also are suppressed
Staff displays have more information and options
includes bib records which are coded as "suppressed" (s)
MARC tags instead of labels can be seen in both staff and public displays;
use T to toggle between the type of display.
VI. Search or Update
If user chooses S > SEARCH, the system assumes the user is not knowledgeable and provides
prompts. No database changes are allowed through SEARCH mode.
If user chooses U> UPDATE, the system assumes the user is knowledgeable and knows what
information needs to be keyed. A user ID and password are required.
If an action is not allowed, the menu option is not given in the list or row of choices.
VII. Update options
Each record must be updated separately, and the changes made permanent.
(Exception: staff who are specifically authorized for global or rapid updating)
Circulation passwords allow updating only of item records;
Cataloging passwords allow updating of bibliographic and item records.
(Note: some cataloging staff are specifically authorized to update authority records)
Use D> DELETE or mark for deletion (9 in bib, 999 in item) carefully!
Once a record is deleted, it cannot be recovered.
See OSCAR Database Management Policies and Procedures documents.
Many are available at: index.html
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