1 Topic by Rachel Pateman

  • Rachel Pateman
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-01-2013
  • Posts: 35

Topic: Species dictionary problem

I am using Instant Indicia to set up a recording website for the University of York's campuses. I've got a test Instant Indicia website up and running and have successfully enabled many of the features. I am using the test BRC warehouse at the moment. I have created a survey on the warehouse and a recording form associated with it on the website. I can input records but seem to have a bit of a problem when entering species names. Under the "species" section in the recording form settings I have selected UK Master List as the Extra Species List. When I begin to type a species name when I input a record suggestions appear, but not all that I would expect. For example, if I want to enter a record for a robin (bird) I type the species name but the only suggestions that appear are:

    Robineauella
    insect - true fly (Diptera)
    Robin's Pin-Cushion Gall - Diplolepis rosae
    insect - hymenopteran

I've tried for several other common species and had the same problem - the species that I expect to appear does not. I have ticked the box for cached lookups but the problem seems to persist either way.

Am I missing something in the settings somewhere? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Please let me know if you require any further information.

2 Reply by johnvanbreda

  • johnvanbreda
  • Administrator
  • Offline
  • From: UK
  • Registered: 27-04-2006
  • Posts: 1,237

Re: Species dictionary problem

Hi Rachel
The UK Master list on the test server is not a complete list, but provides enough taxa for testing (about 29000). When you move your survey to the live server the UK Master List contains the full NBN species dictionary. So no need to worry if some species are not coming up!
Best wishes
John

John van Breda
Biodiverse IT

johnvanbreda's Website

3 Reply by Rachel Pateman

  • Rachel Pateman
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-01-2013
  • Posts: 35

Re: Species dictionary problem

Ah, brilliant! Thanks for the very swift response.
Best wishes
Rachel

4 Reply by Jim Bacon

  • Jim Bacon
  • Veteran
  • Offline
  • From: BRC
  • Registered: 03-11-2008
  • Posts: 980

Re: Species dictionary problem

Hi Rachel

Just for further information, there are two other considerations to keep in mind when you are testing this.

The search is for records that begin with what you type so, while Siberian Blue Robin is in the list, typing in 'Robin' won't find it. It is like this to maximise the speed of the search.

To circumvent this you can enter '*Robin'. However, now the list of suggestions, on the live server at least, is so long that half of them are missing as the suggestions list is limited to 10 species.

Both of these factors might lead you to think that a species is missing from the list when, in fact, it is present.

Jim Bacon