Forum — Recorder Troubleshooting and Bug Reports

Recorder 6 mapping problems - new workstation issues

null@example.com (Paul Leonard) — Mon, 18 May 2026 13:42:46 +0000

An 'uninitiated' new user on our networked instance of R6 (6.30.0.291) has attempted to set up mapping on their workstation and as a consequence, the mapping on my workstation now doesn't work! I'm unable to change the file path of the base map to give me access despite having 'system manager' access rights.

The enclosed screenshot shows the mapping admin tab in 'Map options'. Does this give any clues (ignore mark-ups unless relevant)?

Please does anyone have a simple explanation of what to do to redress this as its driving me to distraction?

Many thanks.

Who owns data which I have imported?

null@example.com (Wolfgang) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:39:10 +0000

Hi,
we imported data from Excel spreadsheets into a blank new Recorder database for a volunteer. Now he can't edit them at all in Recorder. I would have expected that the user who imports data gets automatically ownership and custody of the data? Can I do something behind the scenes (edit the tables in the databas directly)? All data in that database should be in ownership of this volunteer.

Thanks for your help,
Wolfgang
HBIC

SQLServer and ARM64 processors

null@example.com (DavidM) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:37:51 +0000

This post may help some but many may not fall for this problem. My laptop was dying so had to get a new one. I've had Recorder on SQLServer 2022 Express for a while so I went to install this on the new laptop only to find that SQLServer 2022 Express does not install on computers with an ARM64 processor which I had rather inadvertendly purchased. I eventually found some installers at https://github.com/jimm98y/MSSQLEXPRESS-M1-Install from a bloke who had knobbled the official Microsoft installers to make it work and it did. My next problem came from my next mistake. I had been on Recorder 6.30 and thought I still had to install 6.28 first and then upgrade to 6.30. The 6.28 install worked fine but the upgrade kept failing due to lack of user permissions despite this using the sa user which I did the installation with. I think this may be an ARM64 issue from googling. I then noticed websites saying SQLServer 2025 Express did install on ARM64 PCs so went this route and the Microsoft installer does work but does also moan about the processor. But the Recorder upgrade still failed. I finally noticed that there is a full standalone installer for 6.30 so didn't need to do the upgrades at all and have done that and now have a full working Recorder again. I'll worry about upgrades another day.

Recorder not opening

null@example.com (PhilippaTomlinson) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:11:00 +0000

Hello
Please help! This is a standalone laptop with Windows 10. It has been working for several years. It holds all the data for the Isle of Man Fungus Group.
Recorder was working fine in December. I have not updated any dictionaries for a long time.
But now we cannot get into Recorder and the error message is:
The Dictionary Path setting is missing or incorrect. Recorder is not installed properly and cannot start.
Help please!
Many thanks
Philippa

Master Checklist

null@example.com (chrisjohnson) — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:43:42 +0000

Our records are normally imported using the Import Wizard and this ensures that taxa are aligned with the Master Checklist.
However, sometimes individual records are added directly to a survey. If the taxon name is entered in an abbreviated form, or the taxon is diverse e.g. has varieties, then the Master Checklist can be selected. However if the complete taxon name is entered or pasted, or the common name is used, the option to select the taxon checklist or the Master Checklist is not always offered.

I had assumed that the Master Checklist would be the default, however, this is not always the case and it is producing some strange results. For example, Forficula auricularia, is appearing under SNH List of Gaelic Names and humming-bird hawk-moth (not sure why hummingbird has to be hyphenated) appears under Checklist of the Lepidoptera.

Perhaps this is not important, but if the Taxon Checklist is included in a list of records produced by the Reports Wizard, the list shows these inconsistencies.

Is it possible to resolve this please?

Thanks

Christine

An essential sheet cannot be found in the current map data set.

null@example.com (BDeed) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:35:58 +0000

I am getting the dreaded "An essential sheet cannot be found in the current map data set." again but this time i am a little stumped.. I'm using a workstation installation of 6.30.

I can add polygons to the map but the error appears then i try to run the wizard with a polygon filter set. I immediately get the error.

The workstation settings are all aligned to the same server. The folder is accessible and writeable (i can create files in it) and i can add polygons to the map as noted above. I have tried resetting the map and creating entirely new ones but nothing is working.

Installation Problem (File activation failure)

null@example.com (EcoRecord_Andy) — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:29:01 +0000

Recently our devices were upgraded to Microsoft 365 as as a result (its a long story!) I need to reinstall Recorder 6.

I’ve hit a snag when trying to reinstall it:

• The version I’m trying to install is a standalone version - I’m using the installation file: R6_630Standalone_2016

• I’ve already reinstalled SQL Server 2017 (the version I was using before).

When I try to install Recorder 6 it get to the point where its attaching the NBN Data File, but then I get an error message (bug report attached):

exception message : File activation failure. The physical file name "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.SQLSERVER2016DEV\MSSQL\DATA\NBNData_log.LDF" may be incorrect.

I’ve checked in my file directory and I don’t have a folder called this (like I said I installed SQL Server 2017, NOT 2016, which is the folder that Recorder 6 seems to be looking for.

I'm assuming this might be a permissions issue.

If anyone could please advise me on how to fix the problem, It'd be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Recorder 6 Wont start following Office 365 Upgrade

null@example.com (EcoRecord_Andy) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 19:05:03 +0000

Hi everyone,

My laptop (along with the rest of the Wildlife Trust) was upgraded to Microsoft 365 this week. I've just tried to open Recorder 6 and I get the following message:

EOleException: Cannot Open database "NBNData" requested by the login. The login failed.

Does anyone have an idea how I can fix this issue?

Thanks!

Problems with importing - Class not registered

null@example.com (Eleanor Knott) — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:09:27 +0000

I am having problems with importing data into Recorder. My laptop was upgraded last week, as we are moving to Office 365, so everything had to be wiped and reinstalled. Recorder appeared to be working fine, until I tried to import some records. Everything was fine until the final stage - it goes through Processing import file and Creating temporary database, then crashes on Validating data. It generates an error report, then I have to close it.

The error report (attached) gives Class not registered as the Exception message. I also get a similar message when I open Recorder, as it says:

The following addins could not be loaded for the specified reasons:
GoToGridControl.Go to spatial ref on map.: Class not registered
NBNExchangeAddinNu.NBN Exchange Format - v6.29 : Class not registered
ShowUnchecked.Display unchecked records: Class not registered

Are the two issues linked?

Cheers
Ellie

Recorder 6 won't start

null@example.com (atheta01) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:49:59 +0000

After a Microsoft update R6 won't start. I'm getting an error message which ends with "Error accessing the OLE Registry". Anyone any ideas of what to do??? B ug report text attached....

Help file not found pop-up when starting Recorder

null@example.com (cmwatts) — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:57:12 +0000

This isn't preventing Recorder from opening or operating just fine, as it is nothing more than a slight irritant, but is there any way of fixing things so I don't have to see the pop-up or close it each time I launch Recorder? I'm assuming something has got deleted during a profile refresh or a systems update from IT.
Thanks,
Claudia

Import Issues - Key conflicts

null@example.com (BDeed) — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:01:30 +0000

Hi,

I have just imported a large number of records. All seemed ok until the final import when a number of errors were thrown (see attached error log). It seems to be rejecting items on key conflicts but i don't know why this should be happening.

Blank dialog when trying to view BIRDS checklist

null@example.com (charliebarnes) — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:54:55 +0000

When trying to select the BIRDS checklist in the Taxon Dictionary Browser it fails to switch to the checklist and presents me with an empty information dialog (attached). If I try and search for a taxon and select it (I can see the taxon in the find taxon dialog) I get the dialog "the specific taxon was not found in the current list". If I go via the Taxon Dictionary Details - all seems fine and I can browse the checklist to my hearts content.

This problem rings a vague bell but my search terms aren't coming up with anything.

Critical data deletion bug in Recorder 6

null@example.com (charliebarnes) — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:22:05 +0000

For a long time I've suspected there has been a critical data deletion bug in Recorder 6 - it occurred the other day so I made some time to see if I could reproduce it. The circumstances are obscure and unlikely to occur on a regular basis but I can confirm Recorder 6 will delete data without warning.

It requires two users to be viewing the same record in the observation hierarchy at the same time. If user one deletes a record, and the user two tries to select the record, user two is presented with a dialog "Unable to access the record. It has been deleted from the database". Recorder 6 on users twos computer then proceeds to move up the hierarchy deleting it.

I've attached an example showing a sequence of screenshots from user twos perspective, with the 7-spot ladybird being the obs that is deleted by user one. This example resulted in an error message, and deleted the 2-spot ladybird and containing sample.

Recorder 6 won't allow import of data

null@example.com (paul.stevens) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:27:31 +0000

Hiya,

I'm having a problem (since this morning) with importing data into Recorder. When I validate the data, if there are no errors, the "next" button would normally be activated (that is, it would stop being greyed out) so that I could then import it. However, today this isn't happening. I have tested the problem using datasets which have already been imported, so I know it isn't the data that's the problem, and importing data into different surveys. Is this a problem with Recorder?

Cheers Jo