Roadmap

Ability to create custom user fields like we can with a catalogue record. For example create a validation list field, so that a selected value can be assigned to a user record.

Improve Invoicing workflows by allowing an invoice to be generated ahead of an order.

Increase support for multi-media players within the portal. For example extending the existing YouTube player to also support other types such as Audio, video via sources such as vimeo, google drive, Azure, S3.

Creation of new field type - Look-up Would act in similar way to the Validation and Thesaurus Fields as follows: Like Validation fields, you link the value of a field from data in another field of another record type. (differs in that the links in a validation field occur with a fixed data table) Allows to choose a look up field from a record and return a corresponding value from the same field value or another related field. (i.e. Choose Full Name from list, and data chosen is Full Name form another record (direct correlation of field-to-field value between two records) OR choose Full Name but value comes from the corresponding First Name field in the record (correlation comes from relationship chosen at set-up and the relationship of data that exists in that record type) Like in a thesaurus field, user can type in data and as they type; real time results containing the entered word (or parts of words) are displayed to allow for easier look-up of data. Recommend that the field value could be a single entry or multiple entries by selecting a radio button of values returned to select entries desired. (or through a drop-down box/ radio button combination) Suggest that the infrastructure set-up for this field type has already been created with validation lists, so hopefully this field type may be easier to create and implement based on that existing work already done. As and advanced feature, we would like to see the ability to make data clickable, so that you can be taken to the other record's data when clicked. Rationale: Allows for data to be linked between record types. Maintains consistency of data between records that share common information. Allows for the storage of more complex data between interconnected record types. Changes in data from one record would be updated across all record types sharing common fields Examples of usage: Author records type contains biographical information on author. (in various separate fields such as Name, Date of Birth, Date of Death, Place of Birth, Early life, Works, etc.) and the author's name is linked to the records of the various books that they have written. People record type contains biographical information of their life (in various separate fields) and the people's record is linked to the various appointments (jobs they have held) and linked to a record which assigned the various location information on the appointments they have held. (This is extremely useful for the creation of disposition of forces in a military or Salvation Army context.) Artifact record contains information on various items held in collection. This could be linked to a conservation record which tracks conservation efforts made on each artifact by date and work completed. Each record is separate, but the artifacts are a common field to both too maintain that data consistency,

Believe it would be helpful to have a field type that would allow for calculated values to be created based upon related field types within a record type. Using simple excel formula such as: + * / Or using simple excel text formula such as & " " Usage: [Full Name Field] (Calculate Field Type) = [First Name Field] &" "& [Last Name Field] [Rug Area] (Calculated Field Type) = [Length Field] * [Width Field]

A way for administrators to set up public/shared Collections that are not tied to a specific user. Or a way to claim or take over collections from users that have left.

It would be nice to have more control over and tools for managing Thesauri. Examples include Ability to batch modify thesaurus entries; Ability to not only export but also import thesaurus entry fields; Implementing the auto delete empty terms feature; Collapse all opened folders in the A-Z view

The ability to rename a file that was previously uploaded.

On our previous database software, as well as the usual Boolean search characters, we were able to search for "within". So, it would be "John w2 Smith" would find John Reginald Philip Smith but not John Reginald Philip Grant Smith Also we could search for number ranges so 1 : 5 would find all boxes 1,2,3,4,5 but not 6 (we have files not books and they are in boxes here). We have a lot of files and many of them have very similar names so those search features would make our lives so much easier when trying to locate items for GDPR enquiries and court cases!

In the create a new order box it would be nice to have the ability to sort suppliers by their code vs. alphabetically. The alphabetical sorting puts some of the most often used suppliers closer to the bottom and infrequently used suppliers at the top. If we could sort by the assigned code it could move frequently used suppliers to the top.

Ability to store documents, image, and multimedia in cloud storage such as S3 and Azure which can then be linked to from Catalogue records. Also with the option of indexing remotely stored documents for searching.

Timezone support in core areas of the application so that if the server resides in a different timezone to the user, the user has the ability to set their current timezone and view date/time fields based on their setting. Core areas might include; catalogue, copy, user, loan, search areas.

Some form of AI integration within Soutron. Possible usecases: AI Chatbot for both Soutron documentation and also Portal Search of data in database to suggest related material AI live summariser of search results in Portal as a first pass of suggested results by providing a summary of suggested records. AI Summarisation of documents and its application to provide more automated cataloguing AI engine to identify broken weblinks in their records that will actually go and find potential corrected links – that admins can then accept.

We upload our files to the system via csv and occasionally we upload to the wrong Record or Content Type. There can be 1000 that go to the wrong type and the only way (aside from doing each one individually!) is to delete what you just uploaded and re-import. It would be great if we could just select them all and have a menu option to change the Record/Content type for the whole batch in one go.

When looking at the view item screen having added information such as last activity date, such as; check-in, inventory, edited... This is helpful when helping a patron locate a book that is not on the shelf where it is supposed to be. It gives an idea if there was recent activity so it may be on a cart somewhere or if it has not been used in some time and may be missing. There may be reports that give this info but when trying to assist a patron you do not want to take the time to run multiple reports.

Ability to generate a PDF of a webpage where the URL is already stored in Soutron.

Ability to determine if a validation list field shows up as checkboxes or a dropdown list when editing a record. Or alternatively a "select all" function. Maybe it would be set at the field properties level or a template level.

When a book is checked out to a fake account it appears to patrons who search the catalog as if it is just checked out to another patron and can either be recalled or will be returned soon. Our policy is to search for the missing title several times over an extended period of time before we remove/replace it. Being able to display a more accurate status such as missing, repair, or other would help alleviate confusion and frustration.