The Ohio State University

There are times when Felix seems to be running slower than it normally does, we get keying delays, records "in use" by the system, transactions not being processed, etc. Sometimes, this is due simply to what is being done on the system (big file loads, printing overdue notices, etc). Other times, this can indicate that Felix is starting to have problems.

Here are some things you can check yourself to see if Felix is just busier than a one-armed paper hanger, or is starting to "act up".

1. Check the system information to see if the transaction file is backing up

   Log into Felix as you normally would, and from the Main Menu choose:

   • Management
   • Information about the System (your Felix initials and password)
   • File Information
   • System Status

   The information you want to see is on the following screen, so F to move forward. On this screen, look at the first line of information and note the number of transactions that are not processed. (see example below)

   

   Quit back to the previous screen, and then go back into System Status and Forward to the second screen. You’ll then compare the number of records not processed on this screen to the number of records not processed previously. As long as this number is changing, Felix more than likely OK, just busy. If this number keeps increasing, this usually indicates something’s not right on Felix, so be sure and let me know so I can relay this to Nancy and/or Laura.

   
   

2. Check and see what is actually being done on Felix

   Log into Felix as you normally would, and from the Main Menu choose:

   • Management
   • Information about the System
     (your Felix initials and password)
   • Tasks being done by each login/port

   

   You’ll be looking at the information in the "task" column. Tasks such as loading files (MARC files, patron records, approval records), rapid updating, create lists can all "dump" large numbers of transactions into the transaction file and cause it to back-up temporarily. If you notice any of these running, you just need to wait a bit until Felix has had a chance to catch-up.

Document last revised 9/18/01 dc

Back to Top