Polaris 7.7 Release Notes

Polaris 7.7 is in general release. Release notes include new and changed features, details on upgrading, and more.

Polaris 7.7 is currently in general release.

Highlights of Polaris 7.7

Below are only some of the exciting features included in Polaris 7.7. For the full list and all the details, please view the What's New in Polaris 7.7 found within our Documentation Portal. 

• 14 New Features from Enhancement Requests
• New Authentication Service for Polaris Web Applications 
• Web-Based Polaris ExpressCheck (Beta)
• Polaris Leap
  • Compare bibliographic records
  • Additional keyboard shortcuts
  • Ability to save Find Tool filter presets
  • Find Tool search history
• Polaris Administration (Web-Based)
  • Additional features and settings can now be managed through the web-based System Administration
• OAI-PMH
  • Harvesting bibliographic record data through OAI-PMH standard is now supported.
  • This was previously only available for archival records created through Fusion.
• PAC
  • The ability to configure the Reading Level Facet is now available 
  • The Reading Level Facet has been available previously, but it is now configurable
• Simply Reports
  • Create Record Sets from saved or scheduled reports (automatic record set creation)

 

Enhancement Requests Added to Polaris 7.7

Within Polaris 7.7 there were 14 added features and functionality that came right out of Idea Exchange enhancement requests. Polaris 7.7 is the first release to incorporate MEEP voting and 5 of the 14 enhancements were a result of MEEP voting. The features added as a result of enhancement requests and MEEP were: 

• Leap: Option to suppress non-blocking circulation blocks
• Leap: Duplicate detection for bibliographic records and authority records (without needing to save)
• Leap: Find Tool search history
• Leap: Ability to save filters in Find Tool
• Leap: Add Tax and discounts to invoices as an amount rather than a percentage
• Leap: Load All button for record sets
• Leap: Ability to select multiple chunks of items (CTRL + Click and SHIFT + Click)
• Leap: Additional shortcuts (keyboard hotkeys) for accessibility
• Leap: Make Leap more accessible for screen readers 
• Simply Reports: Create record Sets from Saved and Scheduled reports
• Simply Reports: Add Shelf location
• Polaris API: Check-In items via the API
• Store item due date in the check-in transaction
• OAI-PMH for harvesting bibliographic records

 TIP: Did you know on the Polaris Roadmap anything with a light bulb icon indicates it is a feature from an enhancement request.

 

New and Modified Polaris Administrative Settings

The following table lists the new and modified profiles, parameters, and permissions in Polaris Administration.

Setting	Purpose	Level
New Parameters
NCIP > NCIP uses patron passwords	Controls whether NCIP requires a patron's password. The parameter value can be Yes or No. The default is Yes (require a patron password, current behavior).	System
SelfCheck Unit > Polaris ExpressCheck theme	Specifies which theme the ExpressCheck workstation displays. This parameter controls only the web-based ExpressCheck.	System, library, branch, and workstation
New Profiles
Staff Client > Web App: Suppress display of non-blocking patron blocks	Specifies whether nonblocking circulation notes are suppressed according to the settings in the Patron Block Suppression policy table. If the profile is set to No, Leap does not suppress any nonblocking circulation notes. This is the default value. If the profile is set to Yes, Leap suppresses the circulation notes that are configured to be suppressed in the Patron Block Suppression policy table.	System, Library, Branch
New Policy Tables
Patron Block Suppression	Works in conjunction with the Web App: Suppress display of non-blocking patron blocks setting to control suppression of the following nonblocking circulation notes: Money Owed Held Item Unread Messages Accrued Money Owed If the Web App: Suppress display of non-blocking patron blocks profile is set to Yes, Leap suppresses the circulation notes you specify in this policy table. Suppressed notes don't appear during the checkout process in Leap. Set each circulation block to Yes (suppress) or No (do not suppress). The default value for each circulation block is Yes.	System, library, and branch
New Database Tables
ExpressCheck themes	Specifies which themes are available for selection in Parameters > SelfCheck Unit > Polaris ExpressCheck theme. Add a custom theme using the Insert feature. This database table controls only the web-based ExpressCheck.	System, library, branch, and workstation
New Permissions
PowerPAC > Reading level match string	Specifies the reading level string that appears in PowerPAC search results. If the reading level match string you specify matches the data found in the bibliographic record 521 tag subfield $b, the reading level string appears in search results along with the reading level value specified in the 521 tag subfield $a.	System
PowerPAC > Reading level ranges	Defines the reading level ranges that appear in PowerPAC search results if your library has enabled the reading level facet feature. Patrons can select reading level ranges to narrow their search results.	System

 

Polaris API changes

The following methods have been Added: 

• ItemCheckinPost
  • This ItemCheckin endpoint allows you to check in an item as a staff member.

 

For more information please review the Polaris API Reference Guide 7.7 located in our Documentation Portal.

 

Preparing to update your system

System Requirements

• Detailed requirement information can be found in the Polaris Operating System Requirements solution
• Windows Server 2016 or above is required.
  • Windows Server 2022 is supported, however, please note Microsoft has removed support for local SMTP and an external SMTP server will now be required.
• SQL Server 2016 or above is required.

•  

  Windows 10 or Windows 11 for the Staff Client installation, however, Polaris 7.7 now requires the 64-bit version of the OS.

 NOTE: When the new Polaris release is installed on a workstation, the file path changes from 7.6 to 7.7 as in the following examples:

• C:\ProgramData\Polaris\7.7
• C:\Program Files\Polaris\7.7
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Polaris\7.7

 

Upgrading Your System

In order to schedule your upgrade to Polaris 7.7, please log a ticket with your Site Manager or utilize the Polaris Upgrade Request Form.