Issue Description:
At our institution, item record numbers in Sierra are either 8 or 9 characters long, including the check digit. We’ve encountered issues during import/export processes where 8-character item record numbers inadvertently match 9-character ones—particularly when the check digit is excluded—leading to data mismatches and processing errors.

Proposed Solution:
We suggest padding item record numbers with leading zeroes to standardize their length, which would help prevent unintended matches and improve consistency.

Current Workaround:
Our current approach involves separating items into two groups—those with 8-character and those with 9-character item record numbers—then importing them separately and merging the files manually. This method is time-consuming and error-prone, requiring careful validation to ensure accuracy.