Having had another play over lunch it seems it does work and quite well too - no idea what I was thinking on Sunday. I did also try over lunch to have two adult [Data] entries with a gap in the date bands but this failed.

...
[Data]
Stage=Adult
StartDate=0401
EndDate=0531

Stage=Adult
StartDate=0801
EndDate=0931

I suspect here I will need to create separate rules for each flight period.

Many thanks for have a look. I'll keep playing; if it does appear not to be applying the rule correctly I'll advise here with practical examples.

Best wishes,

I am not aware of any of the current rules on the NBN Record Cleaner that includes multiple stages though Stuart Ball wrote an example rule back in 2009

[Metadata]
TestType=PeriodWithinYear
Group=Hoverflies
ShortName=Volucella bombylans: check date is during flight period
Description=Check date is during the known flight period for Volucella bombylans
tvk=NBNSYS0000007094
ErrorMsg=Date is outside flight period for Volucella bombylans
DataFieldName=SpeciesStage
StartDate=0131
EndDate=1218
LastChanged=20090615
[EndMetadata]

[Data]
Stage=All
startDate=0131
endDate=1218

Stage=Adult,Adult Male,Adult Female,Male,Female
startDate=0131
endDate=1218

Comparing this hoverfly example, your example looks OK and I can't see any issues. It looks like it should work in the NBN Record Cleaner

Best wishes

Graham

Section 3.2.4 of the Rule Guide I cannot get to work if I incorporate a [Data] section. In fact the examples confuse the issue as opposed to helping (sorry!)

I want to create a single species rule that incorporates multiple stages. My species has an adult phenology of 1 April to 31 May and larval phenology is 1 May to 31 July; therefore, all stages span from 1 April to 31 July but I want records for a specific stage to fail outside their specific and total phenology span.

I've tried all morning to get this to work and failed so I'm assuming this doesn't work.

Has anyone tried this and succeeded or can anyone provide a template rule that will work?

Here's my code:

[Metadata]
TestType=PeriodWithinYear
Group=Moths Phenology
ShortName=Dyseriocrania subpurpurella
Description=Checks date is within known phenology of Dyseriocrania subpurpurella
ErrorMsg=Date is outside known phenology of Dyseriocrania subpurpurella
Tvk=NHMSYS0021142333
DataFieldName=Stage
StartDate=0401
EndDate=0731
LastChanged=20160515
[EndMetadata]

[Data]
Stage=Adult
StartDate=0401
EndDate=0531

Stage=Larval
StartDate=0501
EndDate=0731

Any help appreciated to show me where I'm clearly misunderstanding the issue.