The Recorder 6 version 6.17 standalone and network installation DVDs have modifications that enable the system to be installed more easily with the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of SQL Server 2008 Express. Modifications also enable it to be installed with Windows Server 2008.

Recorder 6 version 6.17 is compatible with the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. It includes changes to accommodate the more rigorous security requirements of Windows 7, and the standalone and network installation DVDs for this version have been modified to make installation with Windows 7 more straight forward. Different elements of the system are stored in more appropriate locations to avoid the permissions problems that arose when all the application files and folders were all placed in C:\Program Files.

The unhandled error handling has been modified. The style of the error messages is similar to those in recent releases but the text files that contain the messages are stored in a different location. Information at the top of a message specifies where they will be saved. Multiple files can be saved with names like Error-73448034840937.txt and the system automatically deletes any over 7 days old. With Windows XP, a typical location is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Recorder 6\Errors; with Windows 7, C:\Users\Public\Documents\Recorder 6\Errors.

When using a Recording card to enter data, the sample comment in the heading of the Recording card is no longer preserved after saving a set of observations as it is more likely to be different for each sample.

The Import Wizard will now import -, *, +, # etc. as abundance data or taxon occurrence data, but not $.

Partial name searching for taxa can now be used to select taxa for inclusion in a Report Wizard report.

When a filter is applied to a window, using the [Show All] button (usually bottom right) to remove the filter makes all data in the window accessible again via the hierarchy, or list, in the left-hand panel, but now, the item that was selected when the [Show All] button was clicked will be highlighted. This applies, for example, when viewing a taxon occurrence (species observation) from the filter result in the report wizard. Also when using the [Related Data] button, the simple filter, the Go To (key) add-in, via Tools - Go To, or when loading a filter.

If the [Get]  button next to a prompt for a spatial reference is used to obtain a spatial reference from the map, then when the pointer tool is used in the map window to select a spatial reference,a small red marker will now appear, temporarily, representing the spatial reference generated, along with a label containing the spatial reference.

Various changes have been implemented to improve the use of Recorder D, the German version of Recorder 6, e.g. further text strings have been internationalised so that more information appears in German and access to the spatial reference control via COM interfaces has been allowed.