Configuring Statistics

The Statistics module in ABCD is a powerful reporting engine that allows you to extract, cross-reference, and visualize data from your bibliographic databases.

Because library data can be highly complex, generating a chart requires teaching the system how to organize this data. This is done in three sequential stages: defining Variables, building Tables, and grouping them into Processes.

Access: Statistics > Configuration (using the gear icon at the bottom of the Statistics Dashboard).

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1. Defining Variables (config_vars.php)

A "Variable" is a specific piece of data extracted from a record (e.g., Author, Publication Year, Item Type). Variables are the building blocks of your reports.

1. Click on Variables Configuration.
2. To create a new variable, you can use the Variable Assistant (Magic Wand):
   • Variable Name: Provide a clear, human-readable label (e.g., Publication Year).
   • Database Field: Select the field from the dropdown list (automatically populated from your database's FDT).
   • Click Insert Variable and then save.

Advanced Configuration: Instead of the assistant, administrators can manually add a "Blank Row" to define a variable using the ISIS Formatting Language (PFT).

• Example: v10^a (Extracts subfield 'a' of tag 10).
• Example: (v650/) (Extracts all repeatable subjects on separate lines).

tip

Administrator Note Variables are reusable. Once you define "Location", you can use it as a Row or a Column in dozens of different tables without having to recreate it.

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2. Defining Tables (tables_cfg.php)

A "Table" defines the layout of a single report by crossing two variables (Rows × Columns).

1. Click on Tables Configuration.
2. Click Add Table to create a new row in the configuration matrix.
3. Fill in the parameters:
   • Title: The report header (e.g., Items by Location and Year).
   • Rows By: Select a variable for the Y-axis (e.g., Location).
   • Cols By: Select a variable for the X-axis (e.g., Publication Year). Note: You can leave the Column variable empty to generate a simple Frequency List (Top list).
   • Search Expression (Optional): This is a powerful filtering tool. You can input an ISIS search expression (e.g., ("OPED_2026$")) to force this specific table to only process records matching this query.

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Technical Insight: Table-Level Filtering If you set a Search Expression here, the system will apply it exclusively to this table. This allows you to create comparative reports in a single dashboard (e.g., Table A shows "Records Created in 2026" while Table B shows "Records Edited in 2026"), even when they are generated simultaneously.

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3. Defining Processes (proc_cfg.php)

A "Process" is a collection of tables grouped together. Instead of making the operator generate ten different tables one by one, you can group them into a single "Monthly Report" process.

1. Click on Processes Configuration.
2. Click Add Process.
3. Title: Name the routine (e.g., Team Production Dashboard).
4. Table List: Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click to select multiple tables from the list of previously created tables.
5. Save the configuration.

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Technical Insight: The Multi-Loop Engine In ABCD version 3.7.0+, the statistics module uses a "Multi-Loop Orchestrator". This means that when a Process is executed, the backend engine isolates each table and processes its specific PFT and specific Search Expression independently. This guarantees high-speed performance and zero data conflict between tables.

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4. Generating the Output (The Dashboard)

Once your Variables, Tables, and Processes are configured, operators can easily generate beautiful visual reports.

1. Go to the main Statistics menu.
2. Select your desired output from the accordion menu:
   • 1. Use an existing process (Generates multiple tables at once).
   • 2. Use an existing table (Generates a single predefined table).
3. Choose the Data Source:
   • By MFN range: Processes the entire database (or a specific slice of IDs).
   • By search (Filtered): Allows the operator to type a global search expression (e.g., AU=Smith$).
4. Click GENERATE STATISTICS.

Transparency Feature: The generated charts will display a subtitle indicating exactly which filters (MFN or Search Expressions) were applied to generate that specific graph, ensuring complete data governance and clarity for decision-makers.