Create or Update a Qwidget for Your Library Website

Create or Update a Qwidget for Your Library Website
Use the following steps to create or update an AskAway Qwidget for use on your library
website.
1. Login to QuestionPoint using an Administrator account (9 digit)
2. Use the drop-down Select Service menu in the top right-hand corner to go to the
Administration module
3. Select Forms > Forms Manager > Create Qwidget
4. Select English from the menu of languages, and click Submit
5. Choose the following settings:
Very important settings!
a) Type the Qwidget Name, e.g. “AskAway: Chat with a BC Librarian” (or whatever
phrase you prefer) – this will appear at the top of the Qwidget.
b) Enter an offline message that users will see when AskAway is closed. The
following is an example of the kind of message you could use:
AskAway is currently closed. Please try again during service hours:
Sun - Thurs 10 AM - 9 PM
Fri - Sat 11 AM - 5 PM<br><br>
To send your question by email, please click on the following link: [enter your
own library email reference address mailto link here]
c) Leave the Customise “librarian is typing” field blank.
d) Choose the Qwidget size that you prefer. Choosing Fill means the Qwidget will fill
whatever frame it is given on your webpage.
e) Choose the Qwidget colour that you prefer.
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f) Select "Do not Offer Email Service when Chat is not available". **Please note: not
only does AskAway not subscribe to the email feature of QuestionPoint (rendering
this useless), it is illegal for us to collect email addresses from patrons. It is very
important that this setting be set correctly.
g) For Mask Patron IP addresses, choose “Yes”. This is another essential setting that
will protect patron privacy.
h) For Require Email for Patron Chat, choose “No”.
i) For Nudge Patron to Enter Email Address, choose “No”.
6. Customise the Qwidget Patron Waiting Messages Configuration. Below is one suggested
configuration:
7. Once you are satisfied with your selections, click on Submit.
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8. If you wish, test your Qwidget by clicking Test.
Please note:
The Qwidget can only be tested when someone is staffing the 'live' queue, not the
practise queue. Please perform tests during regular service hours if possible.
When you are testing the Qwidget during AskAway open hours, the "AskAway closed"
message that you set earlier will not be displayed.
As a courtesy to any other colleagues who are online, please alert them that you are
testing.
9. After you have clicked Submit, copy and paste the Qwidget code into the code for the
library website pages you wish to have the Qwidget on. (If your CMS makes this difficult,
contact Sunni.)
It is helpful to insert some wording near the Qwidget on the webpage so that users know
what it is for. For example, with a Qwidget on a Article Databases page, you might put:
"Don't know which database to choose? Ask a Librarian."
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Some examples of Qwidget installations:
If you have any questions about the Qwidget, please contact Sunni Nishimura, AskAway
Coordinator: [email protected]/778.782.6937.
Change the Qwidget Message When AskAway is Closed Between Terms
To change the text of the Qwidget when AskAway is closed between terms:
1. Log into the AskAway Admin account (9 digit login).
2. From the drop-down menu in the top-right corner, choose Administration.
3. In the red navigation bar, click on Forms and then Forms Manager.
4. Click on Create Qwidget. Choose English and then click Submit.
5. You can change the text of the Offline message here and click Submit to save the
changes. The Qwidgets on your library webpages will now show the updated text.
(You do not have to copy any updated code to your webpages.)
A suggested text might be: “AskAway is now closed for the holidays/intersession. The
service will reopen on [date]. Try <a
href="http://www.eln.bc.ca/askaway/email_ref.html"> sending your question in by
email.</a>”
If you have any questions about the Qwidget, please contact Sunni Nishimura, AskAway
Coordinator: [email protected]/778.782.6937.
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