20220701 - this article is outdated as USU has replaced the bulk of campus store integrations with NetSuite from Oracle. It does however contain some details related to Verba Collect which is still in use. For more information, please reach out to the Enterprise Integrations team in Information Technology.
Verba Software is a company that provides software solutions for university bookstores.
USU has licensed the Verba Collect, Compare, and Connect products.
Collect (hosted as https://coursematerials.usu.edu/) allows a web interface for instructors or departments to submit text requirements for their classes and allows the campus store to work through these requirements to insure material availability.
Compare (hosted as http://usu.verbacompare.com/) allows students/parents to look up classes and their materials to weigh the costs at the USU Campus Store against competitors like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Half.com, etc. (This feature is not actively used).
Connect (hosted as http://usu.verbaconnect.com/) allows the USU Campus Store to match digital materials to Canvas through LMS IDs.
Launch (hosted in Canvas) allows students to opt out of their materials directly in Canvas. This also is the way to see their digital materials that are required for classes. This interface pulls materials directly from Connect through the linked LMS ID.
Information Technology has incorporated integrations with these products and Banner:
BookLink (legacy support as of 2017)
Booklink is an embedded HTML pop-out that can be embedded on any website (as has been added to Self-Service Banner).
To add this functionality, include the Verba Collect JavaScript and CSS file in the <head> section of your HTML document which powers the popup.
Here is the code:
<script></script>
<link href="coursematerials.usu.edu/stylesheets/embed.css" media="all" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
The embed.js file includes the jQuery JavaScript framework, which we use to ensure cross-browser compatibility. If you already include the jQuery framework on your page, you can use the embed-nojq.js file which does not include the jQuery dependency.
Once the JavaScipt and CSS are included, constructing the BookLink for a given section is pretty easy. You identify the section by its Term Name (trm), Course Code Department (cd), Course Code Number (cn) and Section Code (sc). The format is displayed below:
<a href="coursematerials.usu.edu/booklink?trm=201320&cd=ACCT&cn=1010&sc=001" class="bl" target="_blank">BookLink</a>
Make sure to include the "bl" class and to use "_blank" for the target in the link. This ensures that the popup works correctly for
supported browsers and that unsupported browsers receive the information in a new window.
The 'Installing the BookLink.pdf' attachment is for historical purposes only. This Service-Now Knowledge article is more current.
Other Integrations and Webservices Exist
- All class materials for a student based on that student's registrations.
- Direct links to Verba Compare for a given crn or list of crns.
Documentation for these will be added at a later date.
ZPROD
BANINST1.z_bookstore_interface has a plethora of functions and procedures supporting a web of integrations between Banner, Verba Collect/Compare/Connect, and NetSuite.