1 (edited by stevemcbill 08-10-2007 13:21:40)

Re: Workings of the Import Wizard, Taxon Dictionaries and the Name Server

Dear All,

Hopefully someone can provide me with an answer to the below:

A few years ago now, at a meeting in Peterborough, JNCC were asked to ensure that a 'Master Dictionary' building on the Recorder-3 dictionary was developed. As I understand it the problems associated with this in terms of maintenance etc. led to the development of the Name Server to ensure that the 'correct' name was brought up for reporting even when a record had been put in under a different taxon dictionary.

However, what I don't know is whether the Import Wizard also uses the name server to allow data input using different dictionaries. For me this is at least as important an issue, if not more important, than the reporting aspect. What I need (and I am sure others do too) is for the Import Wizard to allow data with names which can be found in any of the available dictionaries. As an example: the Recorder-3 dictionary does NOT have an entry for Muscovy Duck but I assume as Muscovy Duck is shown on the NBN Species dictionary that it is available in another taxon dictionary in Recorder-6.

SO, if I have a spreadsheet of mixed bird and plant data to import via the Import Wizard and most of the species are available in the Recorder-3 dictionary will the Import Wizard still identify the Muscovy Duck in another dictionary and substitute that dictionary entry (key) for this one record in the spreadsheet ?? If not what will it do - stop altogether ??

I'm afraid I don't have a copy of Rec-6 here at the moment or I would make attempts to check this myself. If anyone could clear up my understanding here I would be grateful.

If the Import Wizard does not accomplish the above I would like to request that such a mechanism is added to the list of required changes as I don't see how any one, or any organisation, receiving large amounts of mixed data on spreadsheets can manage to simply input the records which are split across dictionaries (back to the old master dictionary call again).

Cheers and thanks

Steve J. McWilliam  :|

Steve J. McWilliam
www.rECOrd-LRC.co.uk
www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/

2

Re: Workings of the Import Wizard, Taxon Dictionaries and the Name Server

At the moment you have to choose the dictionary against which to search. So if you have a list of mixed birds and plants, you'd have to first search against a list that contains the birds, then the plants. Unfortunately there's currently no way of searching across lists, but this is a planned feature for the next version.

Charles Roper
Digital Development Manager | Field Studies Council
http://www.field-studies-council.org | https://twitter.com/charlesroper | https://twitter.com/fsc_digital

3 (edited by stevemcbill 09-10-2007 10:27:34)

Re: Workings of the Import Wizard, Taxon Dictionaries and the Name Server

Charles,

Many thanks for that. However, it still leaves me with a question:

The Import Wizard in Rec-2K only allowed one taxon dictionary to be applied to a complete spreadsheet. Consequently, if the species name entered as a species record in the sheet was not contained within the chosen taxon dictionary then the record had to be removed from the sheet for the Wizard to finish and allow the data to be imported into Recorder.

You seem to be suggesting that the Import Wizard in Recorder-6 has been updated to allow it to search multiple times and for the Taxon Dictionary to be changed on each search (all without coming out of the Import Wizard) ?? Perhaps I am misreading your content here ?! I hope I have not mis-read you as if it is possible to re-search and change the taxon dictionary against which the search is run then that would be a big step forward.

The only problem then would be Record Centre Staff's understanding of which dictionary to use if they didn't recognise the species in question.

Cheers and thanks again.

Steve

Steve J. McWilliam
www.rECOrd-LRC.co.uk
www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/

4

Re: Workings of the Import Wizard, Taxon Dictionaries and the Name Server

Yes, that's exactly right, you can choose the dictionary you want to search against and search multiple times without coming out of the import wizard. You're also spot on when you say that the problem with this is not knowing which dictionary to choose if you're unsure of a species. But as I say, this should be addressed in a coming upgrade with any luck.

Charles Roper
Digital Development Manager | Field Studies Council
http://www.field-studies-council.org | https://twitter.com/charlesroper | https://twitter.com/fsc_digital