This patch adds an HTML5-based offline mode to Koha's existing
circulation module, allowing librarians to check out items using a
basically familiar interface. The feature will be implemented using
the Application Cache and IndexedDB features of the HTML5 specification,
both of which are fully supported on Firefox 10+ and Chrome 23+, with
limited support going back to Firefox 4 and Chrome 11. The basic
workflow enabled by this patch is as follows:
Part 1: While connected to the Internet
1. Enable offline functionality by turning on the
"AllowOfflineCirculation" system preference.
2. Sync the offline circulation database on the computer that will be
used for offline circulation by following the "Offline circulation
interface" link on the Circulation home page, choosing "Synchronize (must be online)",
and clicking the "Download records" button. This process may take a while.
3. Bookmark /cgi-bin/koha/circ/offline.pl (the page you are currently
on) for easy access when offline.
Part 2: While disconnected from the Internet
4. Navigate to /cgi-bin/koha/circ/offline.pl using the bookmark you
created while online.
5. Start checking books in by scanning the barcode of an item that has
been returned into the box in the "Check in" tab.
6. Scan the barcodes of any additional items that have been returned.
7. Start checking out books to a patron by scanning the patron's barcode
in the box in the "Check out" tab.
8. Set a due date (the "Remember for session" box will be checked by
default, since circulation rules are not computed during offline
transactions and therefore a due date must be specified by the
librarian).
9. Scan an item barcode (if you did not set a due date, it will prompt
you) to check the item out to the patron.
10. If a patron has a fine you can see the total amount (current to when
the offline module was synced), and record a payment. Unlike when in
online mode, there will be no breakdown of what item(s) fines are
for, and you will only be able to record the payment amount and not
associate it with a particular item.
Part 3: While connected to the Internet
11. Click the "Synchronize" link and choose "Upload transactions" to
upload the transactions recorded during the offline circulation
session.
12. Navigate to /cgi-bin/koha/offline_circ/list.pl (there will be a
link from the Offline circulation page) and review the
transactions, as described in the documentation for the Firefox
Offline circulation plugin:
http://wiki.koha-community.org/wiki/Offline_circulation_firefox_plugin
RM note: the IndexedDB jQuery plugin bundled with this patch is
copyright 2012 by Parashuram Narasimhan and other contributors and is
licensed under the MIT license. The home page for the plugin is
http://nparashuram.com/jquery-indexeddb/.
Signed-off-by: Chris Cormack <chris@bigballofwax.co.nz>
Signed-off-by: Bernardo Gonzalez Kriegel <bgkriegel@gmail.com>
Comment: Works very well, no koha-qa errors
Test with Firefox 24.0
1) did some checkouts pre sync
2) synchronize database (Download)
3) go offline
4) Proceed to checkin some items from patron
5) Proceed to checkout items to patrons, setting date
6) Proceed to checkout to expired patron, warning appears
7) go online
8) Upload records
9) go to review transacctions and proceed
10) verified on patrons that checkin/out are done
Signed-off-by: Chris Cormack <chris@bigballofwax.co.nz>
Signed-off-by: Jonathan Druart <jonathan.druart@biblibre.com>
Signed-off-by: Galen Charlton <gmc@esilibrary.com>
Jared Camins-Esakov