Library

You can use Ham to book library seats easily.

Note

The new version removes captcha recognition. If you are using the new version of Ham, you can ignore the "captcha recognition" notes below.

Preparation

Before using the library features, you need:

• Library account / Information portal account
• Tencent Cloud OCR

Prepare your library account / information portal account

By default, you should have a library account set up in the first weeks of the semester. The default password is the last 6 digits of your ID number. If you forget your library account, please report it at the library desk.

### Prepare a Tencent Cloud OCR accountThe library seat booking provider added captchas. To enable auto-booking, Ham added automatic captcha recognition.

Captcha recognition uses Tencent Cloud OCR. For authentication, you must enter your Tencent Cloud OCR credentials before using library features. Each user has 1000 free recognitions per month. If you are not abusing reservations, that is more than enough.

Notice

Ham does not and will not collect your information, including your Tencent Cloud account. While Ham uses multiple protections for sensitive data, you still need to protect your own accounts.

How to enable Tencent Cloud OCR?

Click the links below for details:

How to enable Tencent Cloud OCR

Get Secret ID and Secret Key

Important

If you have never used Tencent Cloud OCR, make sure you complete the console profile and enable the service.

If you do not fill any profile info, the service is not enabled and OCR will not work.

Seat map booking

Seat map booking lets you view availability by library, room, and seat, and book directly.

Seat map booking is suitable when:

• You want to go to the library today but have no reservation
• You do not care which room or seat you get

Seat map booking is the first tab in the library section (it was called "Reservation" in older versions).

Note

Seat map booking does not re-check availability before confirming. If another student books the seat after you select it, Ham will not automatically choose a nearby seat.

Quick booking

You can save favorite seats and book them directly.

Quick booking is suitable when:

• You often go to the library and prefer a fixed seat
• You need automation booking
• You want to go to a specific room on short notice

After you have booked a seat in Ham or selected a "preferred seat," the quick booking tab appears on the library home page. You can also tap the seat or time to temporarily change the seat and time.

Note

Quick booking tries to match your preferred seat settings. If the preferred seat fails, Ham will immediately select a nearby seat.

Preferred seat

The default seat used in quick booking.

You can preselect the time, seat, and preferences. Each time you open the library page, quick booking will use your settings.

Preferred seat settings are in "Library Settings."

Reservation status

When Ham finds an active reservation, it will be shown on the library home page and the status page.

You can change the reservation time or cancel it from the status card.

If you booked a long session and need to leave for a while (longer than the library allows), you can change the reservation time before leaving so you can keep the seat when you return.

After Ham fetches your reservation status, it automatically adds the event to iOS Calendar and reminds you 10 minutes before entry.

Reservation status supports LiveActivity. Active reservations will be pinned in the notification area (iOS).

History

You can view your library reservation history.

Widgets

You can place a widget on the home screen to remind you of the reservation location and time, or your temporary leave time.

You can set the widget refresh interval, but if it is too frequent, it may trigger a temporary library ban (15 minutes is generally recommended).

Other library settings

### Use captcha bookingHam needs time to recognize captchas with Tencent Cloud OCR. If the library does not require captchas but you enable this option, you will waste your quota and reservation time.

Whether captcha booking is required depends on the library mini app. Enable or disable based on the actual requirement.

In the new version, captcha booking is disabled by default.

Update base data

Generally, when you enter the reservation page, Ham uses local room data to reduce network requests and speed up booking. Each time you enter "Library," Ham tries to update the base data.

• Update from the library system

This option logs in to the library system on the device to fetch base data.

Reset

If the library feature behaves abnormally, tap "Reset."

Automation (Android)

First, set your preferred seat in Ham. Automation settings are in "Me" -> "Automation." After enabling it, Ham will book the preferred seat at the scheduled time. It uses the system time to decide whether to book for tomorrow.

Automation (iOS)

First, set your preferred seat in Ham, then create a Personal Automation in Shortcuts: select a time, add the action "App" -> "Ham" -> "Quick book library," and disable "Ask Before Running." Ham will then book your preferred seat at the scheduled time. It uses the system time to decide whether to book for tomorrow.

Dynamic Island / LiveActivity

Eligible reservations will appear on the Dynamic Island at the appropriate time.

Required permissions

Automation

• Android: Auto-start

Widgets

• Android: Auto-start