Cataloger's Desktop
Classification Plus
Tips for Original Cataloging

Introduction

Cataloger's Desktop and Classification Plus are Library of Congress products designed to increase efficiency in the area of Cataloging. Inplace of the traditional paper Library of Congress class schedules, Classification Plus offers a version using Folio Views software (c) which allows the cataloger to individualize cataloging documentation and quickly locate tables and data. Additionally, the documentation provided in Cataloger's Desktop is comprehensive enough for most cataloging needs and alleviates the need for multiple paper copies of documentation. Additionally, due to the networking aspect of these products, one is assured that everyone is using current data, documentation and schedules. Classification Plus and Cataloger's Desktop provide an environment whereby all the documentation one needs to do one's cataloging is found in two products. This is my simplified introduction to these two products and it will be updated and appended as I learn more about the products.

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Basic Call Number Searching Utilizing Classification Plus
1. Click on the desktop icon to open Classification Plus
2. Click on the letter of the class you need to use in order to assign a call number.
3. At this point, there are a few options to find the exact number you need:

Option A. Scroll down the table in search of terms and descriptions that accurately fit your piece.

Option B. Hold Control and tap G. This will bring up a "goto" destination box, wherein one can click on the box's arrows to scroll down the predetermined breakdowns. Click Go To when on the desired heading.

Option C. 1. Hold Shift and tap F2 (or click on the Query icon on the lower toolbar)
***2. A Query box is generated wherein you can type key words/terms.
***3. Hit OK
***4. A HitList of up to 50 items that match your query terms is then returned. Click here for information about the HitList.

Option D. On the bottom toolbar there is a Search button (the first pair of binoculars in a bottom row of icons). This button opens up the Advanced Query box. One can enter terms into this box in order to generate hits.

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HitList

(You can view them in a number of ways and after using Classification Plus, you will develop a feel for which view is the most efficient for you.)
Some explanations:

Option A. When one clicks on HitList a concise listing is generated of the first fifty matches generated from your query. Each "hit" is followed by a short phrase which alerts you to where in the schedule this "hit" will transport you. As you click on a selected "hit", you are taken to that precise spot in the schedule.
If at any time you want to return to the general "HitList" simply click on the top Back arrow.

Option B. Use the left and right arrow keys at the bottom of the screen to maneuver between the hits.

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Tables

All Tables referenced to in the schedules are linked within Classification Plus meaning that clicking on a link, transports the user to the proper table.

Example: If I click on "Table PN4" in the PN Schedule under the term: PN4885.S8 Swedish (Table PN4), I will be taken to Table PN4.
To return to my previous window, I can choose one of the following options:
Option A. Click on the back arrow (on the top tool bar) to return to the previous window.
Option B. Click on Window and click on the previous window. Classification Plus lists the various windows and gives a succinct title for each opened window. Windows remain open until they are closed.
One can close the window. At the top of your Classification Plus window there are 2 window action options rows - one for Classification Plus "the program" (top row) and one for the "current window" (bottom row). The options minimize, expand, close are available -- you want to select the "close option" represented by an "X" ---Be careful to close the bottom (not the top) row of these 3 options.

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Different Views of the Schedules and Hits

To fully understand the next section, you should be looking at Classification Plus at the present time and click on the different views in order to see in action what I am attempting to describe in words. I will briefly describe the different ways to view hit results and how to change the views by clicking on the row of rectangular buttons on the view toolbar (which is just above the bottom toolbar).

1.) Search
In the Search view, the screen is split with the actual schedule on top and the hits on the bottom. This screen division can be altered to allow the user to view more of one section than another and this is discussed in the Display section. This is a convenient view because you have the elements of the HitList in the bottom section and the schedule on top. Use the scroll bars on the right side to maneuver through both windows.

2.) Browse
In the Browse view, the screen is divided in half containing a breakdown of the entire class, while the right half possesses the actual text of the schedule. The line which divides these two can be altered and is explained in the Display section. This view is handy for quick scanning and searching.

3.) Document
Is my favorite view and probably the best to use. It is the default view. This view gives you a divided screen (which can be modified as is discussed in the Display section) composed of the schedule (in the bottom half) and a reference window which tells you, via a directory-esque listing, of where in the schedules you are (in the top half).

4.) Contents
This will show you a breakdown of the class by parts and you maneuver through it by clicking on the preceding plus and minus signs.
For example if while in the B schedule, if I click on contents, I see this: + Classiciation Schedule B
If I click on the "plus sign", I see a further breakdown. As I click on the 'plus' signs, more of the schedule breakdown is shown. This is especially useful for new cataloger to help show them the contents of a class.

5.) HitList
Provides a concise listing of what Hits a search retrieved. Clicking on the hit will transport you to the link in the context on the schedule as a whole. This view is good to give an overview of where a certain term is used and how it relates to the larger groupings in the class itself.
For example, if while in the B Class, I decide to search (via the shift / F2 method) the word "brain", I will have 6 hits to look through. When I click on HitList, the six hits are listed and I can see how each relates to the class breakdown. It makes it easy to quickly rule out some call numbers and easy to find areas to look more closely at.

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Display
One can alter the size of various windows. For an example of how to shrink or enlarge the amount of space between the various windows in various views, I will use the 'Document" window view:

***One can adjust the amount viewed in the top heading reference window (the window which gives you a brief "directory-esque" listing of where you are in the schedule) and the bottom schedule window (the actual schedule data). These two areas are divided by a line and by clicking on the divider with the mouse until a double arrow replaces the mouse's cursor, one can alter the amount of viewing space each "window" presents. At this point the line is active and by moving it up or down will change the amount viewed in the top and bottom box.

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Customization

If you want to add functions to your toolbar, keyboard or menus, click on Tools and scroll to Customize and click. This area allows you to organize your Classification Plus desktop workspace to optimize efficiency based on personal preferences and patterns of work.

For example: if you want to add the Paste icon to your toolbar, simply click on Edit under the Toolbar command category and then scan across the available icons by gliding your mouse over them (their function will appear in the Description box. Find Paste, click on it, and hold the click while you drag the icon up to an open space on the tool bar where you want to place it, and drop the icon by releasing the click. Now when you wish to paste text you need only to utilize your toolbar icon.

This is an example. I encourage you to scan through the available icons and perhaps you will find something that may contribute to a more efficient workflow, but in actuality, all the necessary icons are already in place on your toolbar.

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Shadow Files

Oftentimes in cataloging, one finds oneself perusing the same area of a class repeatedly. Since a set of LC Schedules is a costly purchase, personal or even multiple copies are not usually the norm. It is not generally a considerate act to mark up the office copy with notes, or daresay, highlighting frequently utilized class numbers, however, notes, highlighting and bookmarking pages or sections would be extremely useful at times. Classification Plus enables the cataloger, through the use of a Shadow File, the opportunity to virtually possess a personalized set of Class Schedules. This is a great economic savings and also a great benefit to the profession.

Shadow files are important in order to make full use of the customization features of these products. For example: If I know there is an AACR2 rule that I often refer to, I may want to highlight or bookmark that rule or perhaps even add a note. In order to accomplish this, I need to create what is called a Shadow File. The Shadow File will enable me to have the functionality of bookmarks, highlighters and notes.

To create a Shadow File:
1.) You need to be in the file (for instance, a database component such as: AACR2 (in Cataloger's Desktop) or the A or N class schedule 9in Classification Plus))
2) Click on New (either the white paper on the tool bar, or, Click under File and click on New)
3) Provided that you are saving in the location c:/Lctools/Shadows , your need only to enter in a file name in the box which has been generated (for example: Diane's AACR2)
4) Click NEW
5) There is now a new Shadow File with the name "Diane's AACR2" and this is the file you can bookmark, highlight and insert notes to suit your personal needs and workload.
6) When finished making any changes to a Shadow File, be sure to Save the file (click on the icon which resembles a "disk" on the toolbar)
7) When you need to return to a Shadow File, click on Open (the yellow open file folder on the toolbar) and select your Shadow File and double click.

N.B. Shadow files can be created for any of the Schedules or Documentation. To make use of it, is to truly maximize the potential of this product. One needs to just attain a level of comfort maneuvering the files; however, this product is very straightforward and there is not a high potential for a massive error since the file windows are not complicated with extraneous files and thus one will not find oneself "lost in the C drive."

IMPORTANT NOTE to consider In the Classification Plus Quick Reference Card, issued by the Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service, there is a note under the "Personalization" section stating "Warning: Personalization in Classification Plus will not carry over to later issues". Please be aware of this; perhaps this will change in future releases?

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Highlighter

There is a highlighter which is extremely useful. There are two ways to highlight items. You can choose between different colors. To make use of the highlighter you need to have a shadow file as previously explained.

Option A. Activate the highlighter by clicking on its icon on the toolbar (image of a yellow highlighter tip followed by an elongated box with an arrow at its end). First, click on the arrow and choose a highlighter color from the offerings and click on it. This will generate a highlighter image alongside your mouse's cursor. When you want to highlight something, simply click and glide over the text and click when finished highlighting. To deactivate the highlighter, click on the yellow highlighter icon. As long as you have a chosen color (ie. redline) in the box next to the highlighter icon, you need only click on the icon once to activate the highlighter feature, and click on it once again to deactivate it.

Option B.
1. When you have determined passage you wish to highlight, click (and hold the click) while you pass the mouse over the text. Release when you are finished selecting the text.
2. At this point, you should have text highlighted in black. Now, hold Control and click on h - this will bring up a box with various highlighter colors.
3. After choosing a color, click on Apply. (You can also click on Tools and click on Highlighter to bring up this box.
4. Remember to Save your editing by clicking on Save

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Notes

Another important asset is the Note feature. One can insert personalized text notes into any area of the class schedules and a yellow note pad will appear to the left of the class designation and can be clicked on and the note information easily retrieved.

1.) If you are at a point in the schedules and you want to create a note for future reference, click on the line you want to insert the note into.
2) Click on the note icon on the toolbar (yellow note pad).
3) This will generate a blank yellow note pad on which you can insert text or numbers.
4) When finished, click on the "X" in the Note dialog box you just finished typing into.
5) A dialog box will appear asking if you want to Save the note. Click Yes.
6) A yellow note will appear in the left margin.
7) These notes are dynamic and can be edited, removed or added to at any point.

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Other Notes of Interest ***All "see" notes are linked.

***Click on Search and scroll to Show History and click. An active (meaning linked) listing is generated composed of previous searches.

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