Recommended PO Line Types

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By default, Alma comes with over 3 dozen PO Line types, all them enabled. These PO line types are displayed as option in the pull-down list of PO line types when a PO line is created.
This screenshot shows the out of the box settings with a long list of PO line types offered at the time the PO line is created (a full list can't be captured in screenshot due to the scroll bar). 

Alma PO Line creation screen displaying a long list of PO line types.

To simplify the ordering process, you may consider using fewer PO line types in combination with the Material type designation (e.g. Manuscript, Map, Microfilm, Microfiche, Kit, Book, Issue, Compact Disc, Music Score, DVD, etc.) on the Purchase Order Line Details page to differentiate between different formats.  The PO line type and Material type designation fields will allow you to run Analytics reports. You may also want to use PO Line Templates to streamline the ordering process. 

CARLI recommends enabling the following nine PO line types and disabling all others to maintain consistent practices for ordering and reporting. Your institution may choose to keep other types active if needed.

CARLI recommended PO line types
Enabled ID Description Continuity Inventory Format Acquisition Material Type
Yes ACCESS_SERVICE_CO Access Service - Subscription Continuous Generic Service
Yes ELECTRONIC_COLLECTION_CO Electronic Collection - Subscription Continuous Electronic

Package
Yes ELECTRONIC_COLLECTION_OT Electronic Collection - One Time One-Time Electronic Package
Yes ELECTRONIC_TITLE_CO Electronic Title - Subscription Continuous Electronic Journal
Yes ELECTRONIC_TITLE_OT Electronic Title - One Time One-Time Electronic Book
Yes OTHER_SERVICES_OT Other Service - One Time One-Time Generic

Service
Yes PRINT_CO Physical - Subscription Continuous Physical Journal
Yes PRINT_OT Physical - One Time One-Time Physical Book
Yes PRINT_SO Physical - Standing Order Monograph Standing Order Physical Book

This will result in Alma displaying only these nine selected PO line types when placing an order.  

Alma PO Line creation screen displaying a compact list of PO line types.

Analysis of PO line types by format and continuation

Physical One time order types

Recommendation: Use Physical – One Time for all physical one-time orders 

Physical Continuous order types:   

Recommendation: Use Physical – Subscription for all continuous physical orders

Physical Standing Order types: 

Recommendation: Use Physical - Standing Order Monograph for all physical standing orders

Electronic One-Time orders: 

Recommendation: 

  • Use Electronic Collection – One-Time (e.g. a JSTOR archival collection purchase)]
  • Use Electronic Title – One Time (e.g. an single ebook purchase, one-time payment for a single journal’s backfile)

Electronic Continuous orders: 

Recommendation:

  • Use Electronic Collection – Subscription (e.g. EBSCO Academic Search Complete, Wiley journal package if paid as a package, Project Muse, eDuke journal package)
  • Use Electronic Title – Subscription (e.g. individual online journal subscriptions)

Electronic Standing Orders: 

No recommendation.  This is uncommon for electronic orders. Use as needed. 

Non-inventory, Generic type orders: 

Recommendation:

  • Use Other Services – Subscription (e.g. OCLC annual fees)
  • Use Other Service - One Time (e.g. for purchasing MARC records for a collection)

Reviewing and disabling PO line types in Alma

To review all PO line types go to Alma > Configuration > Acquisitions  > Purchase Orders > PO Line Types and either view them in your browser or click on the export icon on the top right to export and view them in Excel.

The Alma configuration table for active PO Line Types may be exported to Excel with the export icon button.

You can adjust the PO Line Type mapping table and disable unwanted PO line types by following these steps:

Click on the ellipsis on a PO line type row, then click Customize.
Select the ... menu button for a row, then select Customize. 

Toggle the on/off button under the Enabled column (first column).
Enable or disable the row using the button on the left.

If you make a mistake, you can Restore the original setting and enable PO line type by clicking on the ellipsis and selecting Restore.
The ... menu button has the Restore option if the row is customized.

Once you have disabled all POL types as desired, click Save in the upper-right side.

References

Drake, M. (2020). Optimize and Streamline Alma Workflows. ELUNA 2020 Knowledge Days. 

Updated April 13, 2026