Locate the information or alter the information? I ask for clarification because they are different. If they only want to locate the information, I might suggest creating a custom report that lists the bibliography. (Of course the same information is only "Related > Bibliography" away) Chad M Petrovay Collections Database Administrator The Walters Art Museum 600 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21210 P: 410.547.9000 x266 F: 410.837.4846 [log in to unmask] www.thewalters.org <http://www.thewalters.org/> Exhibitions: Maps: Finding our Place in the World on view March 16-June 8, 2008 Maps on Purpose on view March 1-June 8, 2008 Beyond the Compass, Beyond the Square on view March 16-May 20, 2008 Mapping the Cosmos: Images from the Hubble Space Telescope on view now through July 27, 2008 -----Original Message----- From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Burke, Ashley Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 10:55 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Bibliography and Exhibition text fields. Thanks for your responses. I am really looking for an argument to not use these fields, since I also agree that they should be only used for legacy data- not for a duplication of information. One of the arguments for using the fields here has been so that curators or others not as familiar with TMS can easily locate the same information in the Objects module... Please note new email address: [log in to unmask] Ashley Burke Assistant Registrar The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art 5401 Bay Shore Rd. Sarasota, FL 34243 941-359-5700 ext. 1504 [log in to unmask] This e-mail is subject to the Sunshine Act and its contents may be subject to public disclosure. From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jay Hoffman Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 10:49 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Bibliography and Exhibition text fields. Yes, this is exactly why those fields are there. Often, legacy data are stored there from a data conversion, but the structured approach is preferred. If you don't need these fields, you could re-purpose them by renaming them, if you have need of another text field. ________________________________ From: Chad Petrovay Sent: Fri 5/9/2008 10:50 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Bibliography and Exhibition text fields. I think these text blocks are a vestige from an early edition of TMS, before the corresponding modules were added. These fields are populated with data brought over during our conversion, but it was also parsed and collocated into the corresponding modules. I have made these fields view only to all users, so they can review any information, but must use the Bibliography and Exhibition modules to make additions. One of my main arguments was that the modules provided better searchability, but also required less maintenance then the text-fields in the object record. One exhibition or bibliography record cross-referenced to multiple object records beats having to edit each object record individually. Chad M Petrovay Collections Database Administrator The Walters Art Museum 600 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21210 P: 410.547.9000 x266 F: 410.837.4846 [log in to unmask] http://www.thewalters.org/ Exhibitions: Maps: Finding our Place in the World on view March 16-June 8, 2008 Maps on Purpose on view March 1-June 8, 2008 Beyond the Compass, Beyond the Square on view March 16-May 20, 2008 Mapping the Cosmos: Images from the Hubble Space Telescope on view now through July 27, 2008 -----Original Message----- From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Burke, Ashley Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 8:17 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Bibliography and Exhibition text fields. Hello TMS Users- I have a question about how other users have dealt with the Exhibition and Bibliographic text fields in the object module of TMS. I would prefer to not use these fields because the information is already captured in the Exhibition module and Bibliographic module and attached to the Object records (allowing for better searching). We are trying to decide whether to repeat the information and also add to those the text fields. How have other institutions dealt with this and what was your argument for not using? Any information is appreciated! Thanks Ashley Ashley Burke Assistant Registrar The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art 5401 Bay Shore Rd. Sarasota, FL 34243 941-359-5700 ext. 1504 [log in to unmask] This e-mail is subject to the Sunshine Act and its contents may be subject to public disclosure.