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Topic: Recorder 3.4 import of data into R6.17.1.250

Can anyone throw any light on this one??

I recently imported a dataset from a colleague using the Recorder 3 import Add-In. There were about 60000 records,and these were imported into a separate survey of their own. I received the import data in a Folder containing an EXP file and numerous CSV files. All went well and the import took about an hour and 20 minutes. But since then, one or two curious things are happening in my R6, version 6.17.1.250 Everything seemed to be normal, but yesterday, I had a site of my own to which I wanted to add an Admin area (in the Geo Info tab). I edited the site details. When I clicked on Save I got a message "Unable to add new item in LOCATION_ADMIN_AREAS table". Also, when I tried to create a new site, I found that, having entered the data in the fields in the General tab, there were already strange grid references in the Geo Info fields instead of those being empty as I would have expected. I have given Recorder a good thrashing and I can't find any other anomalies (yet). I then restored the database to as it was before I imported the new dataset. (I have kept a backup of R6 with the "new" dataset included). The conditions described above have returned to normal (thank goodness). I'll buy a pint for anyone who can sort this one out.

Bob
YNU Coleoptera recorder.

Bob Marsh
Doncaster LRC
Coleoptera recorder for YNU

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Re: Recorder 3.4 import of data into R6.17.1.250

Bounce.
I'm wondering whether Atheta's post has been overlooked. Sorry if it's being dealt with.

3 (edited by charliebarnes 23-01-2013 11:08:32)

Re: Recorder 3.4 import of data into R6.17.1.250

I've had similar "unable to add" problems - see http://forums.nbn.org.uk/viewtopic.php?id=1402 - although it appears I never thanked John, his hunch was correct and I believe the addin solved my problems. Try the running "Last Key Update Addin" (you can download it from http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4597)  - I don't think it will cause any problems if everything is already okay, but you might want to back up before hand.

Another possibility is you've reach the maximum size for the database - see http://forums.nbn.org.uk/viewtopic.php?id=2486

Charlie Barnes
Information Officer
Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership

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Re: Recorder 3.4 import of data into R6.17.1.250

Thank you for sending me data to investigate this problem Bob. I imported the Recorder 3 csv files into the database you sent me (upgraded to R6 v6.18.1.260) and it worked as expected. However, I encountered the same problems as you did. I found that these are due to the add-in for importing Recorder 3 data not updating the Last_Key table. This is used to generate new keys for adding data and if it isn’t up to date Recorder 6 will probably generate keys that already exist which causes errors like the ones you describe. Fortunately, as Charlie says, the solution is simple as there is an add-in that updates the Last_Key table. It can be downloaded from http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4597 . After installing and running this add-in the problems you describe no longer occur. Please use the instructions in the accompanying ReadMe.txt file but if you have any problems the suggestions in http://forums.nbn.org.uk/viewtopic.php?pid=16151#p16151 may help. The Update Last Key add-in should always be run after using the JNCC supplied add-in for importing Recorder 3 data.

The problem you describe in your e-mail of not being able to see the imported user added taxa is solved by rebuilding the indexes. The add-in imports the entries for user added taxa into the Taxon, Taxon_Version and Taxon_List_Item tables but it doesn’t update Index_Taxon_Name, etc.

I checked various other aspects of the import but could find no other problems.

Sally Rankin, JNCC Recorder Approved Expert
E-mail: s.rankin@btinternet.com
Telephone: 01491 578633
Mobile: 07941 207687