A statistical class is a division or category for which you can generate order statistics. You assign statistical classes to PO lines. This lets you track how much you are spending on specific groups of items.
Currently, Horizon does not provide a way to generate reports based on the statistical classes you assign; however, you can generate these reports using an SQL server reporting tool, such as ReportSmith.
Your budgets already track order information to some degree or another, depending on how and to what level your funds are divided and organized into separate budgets; however, statistical classes let you track order information independently of your budgets. For example, you can create statistical classes for categories you do not create separate budgets for. You can also create statistical classes for categories that span multiple budgets.
• | An academic library might create a budget for anthropology but use statistical classes to track how much is spent within the budget for standing orders, monographs, and video cassettes. The library might also assign these same classes to items purchased from other budgets. This lets the library track statistics for standing orders, monographs, and video cassettes across multiple budgets. |
• | A public library might create a single budget for fiction but use fund classes to gather statistics for smaller divisions within the budget, such as mystery, romance, and science fiction. |
Statistical classes are especially helpful if you do not use budgets, or if you have only a few budgets that are used for a wide range of items.
Before you begin entering statistical classes on your PO lines, note the following:
• | The Stat Class field on the PO line is not required by default. However, you can edit the “po_line” view to make it a required field. (For instructions, see “Changing the Properties of a Field” in the “Troubleshooting” chapter of the Acquisitions Guide.) |
• | If you create classes that overlap (such as “Mysteries” and “Paperbacks”), be sure to establish a policy that explains how you want them assigned to PO lines. |
This section contains these topics:
• | Creating a PO Line Statistical Class |
• | Deleting a PO Line Statistical Class |
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