Alma System Numbers
In Alma, each record has a system ID number called the MMS ID (short for Metadata Management System ID), which uniquely identifies each record and can be used to link related records together.
Components of an MMS ID
An Alma MMS ID is made up of three parts. For example, the record number 99125388579206421 breaks out in the following manner:
part | example |
|---|---|
Two-digit prefix code | 99 |
Unique part of the record number | 12538857920 |
Four-digit institution code for PUL | 6421 |
Two-digit prefix code
Each record starts with a two-digit code that indicates the record type. Below is a partial list.
Prefix code | Type of record | Label in repository search results | Name of search index | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
99 | Bibliographic | MMS ID | MMS ID | 99110316513506421 |
22 | Holdings record | Holdings ID | Holdings PID* | 2229670740006421 |
23 | Item record | Item ID | Item PID | 2329670710006421 |
61 | Electronic collection | Collection ID | Electronic Collection PID | 61470709990006421 |
53 | Electronic portfolio | Portfolio ID | Portfolio PID | 53478169920006421 |
*PID: Alma system number for an inventory entity.
Additionally, Alma has other system numbers such as Analytics IEP (Intellectual Entity Physical) beginning with "21". IEP is useful for making itemized sets of physical titles, for which MMS ID and Holdings ID are not valid column headers. The IEP is a unique identifier for all physical inventory associated with a record. It is found in Analytics under Physical Items / Physical Item Details. See Analytics documentation. N.B. To make a set the header must be changed from "IEP" to "PID". See How to create a 'Physical Titles' itemized set using a list of MMS IDs.
Data migration from Voyager to Alma
The MMS ID of bib records that migrated from Voyager to Alma (in July 2021) follows the pattern of 99VoyagerbibID3506421.
Note that the pattern applies to bib records only, not to the Voyager ID of holdings or item records.
The legacy Voyager bib ID is stored in the 035 field and searchable by Originating System ID available in Advanced search.
Convert Voyager Bib ID to Alma MMS ID
Use this Google Sheets Tool to convert Voyager Bib ID to Alma MMS ID.
Alternatively, download to convert Voyager Bib IDs in a batch.
Source
Ex Libris Knowledge Center > Record Numbers