Summary: Information about using the Create Lists function in Sierra and sharing review files with partner libraries.
This procedure is archived and no longer valid following the June 2022 system migration from Sierra to FOLIO. It has been retained for historic value only. It is not updated or reviewed.
Create Lists is a function of Sierra that permits authorized users to perform back-end database queries.
Basic info
- The Create Lists module is available in both the desktop client and the web browser version of Sierra.
- Create Lists uses review files to store all the records resulting from a search.
- Review files can store a finite number of records; sizes range from 100 records to 800,000 records.
- Larger review files should be reserved for record loads, batch editing, and metadata management work.
- All available review files are numbered sequentially and can be given custom names
- Searches can be constructed using Boolean logic or more advanced JSON queries
- More detailed instructions on using the Create Lists module and constructing queries is available in the Sierra documentation on III's CSDirect website (institutional login required)
Reserved ranges
Because we work in a shared catalog, different ranges of review file numbers are reserved for different libraries to use. Please use review files from the appropriate range.
- MSU Libraries
- 1 - 280
- 406 - 510
- MSU Law Library
- 281-319
- Library of Michigan
- 320-405
Note the review file numbers on the left and the maximum number of records each review file can store on the right.
In general, since the number of review files we "own" is finite, it's good practice to:
- empty review files when you are done with them
- avoid emptying the contents of someone else's review file
- use the smallest review file that will work for your needs
- put your initials in the name the review file