Checklist Editor

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This is an advanced feature of Birder's Diary. Use this window to maintain Checklist data in Birder's Diary.

This window was designed with all the features required to make it as quick and simple as possible to maintain an entire World's worth of checklist data for many species and subspecies covering many different disciplines. Sometimes you want to work with all Birds for a state. Other times, you want to work all locations for a given species or subspecies. Many times you want to further restrict the data set you are working with to only your area or taxonomy of knowledge. This window has the features to allow you to do that.

This window is divided into two halves:

Location Checklist
Use this half to maintain what things are attached to a location.
Thing Checklist
Use this half to maintain what locations a particular thing is attached to.

Location Checklist

You would use this half of the checklist editor to maintain what things are attached to a location. Specify the location to work with by typing a location name into the Location field and clicking the Load button.

You can further restrict or expand the things shown by the following methods:

Specify a taxonomic list
Specify a taxonomic list when you want to work within a specific set of things for the selected location. If you don't then you will be working with whatever things are in your database and attached to the selected location - e.g. birds, butterflies, mammals, trees, etc.
When you do this, you limit the things that appear in the checklist grid to those things defined by the selected taxonomic list.
In addition, the names shown will be the selected taxonomic list's common names in taxonomic order. Without a taxonomic list selected, the names shown are the Birder's Diary internal thing names and they are listed in alphabetical order.
When you specify a taxonomic list, you must click the Set button for it to take effect.
Check the "Ssp." checkbox
Leave this feature unchecked when you only want to work with the checklist data for the species of the selected tax list and leave subspecies data alone.
You must select a taxonomic list for this checkbox to have any effect.
By selecting this checkbox, the checklist grid will be populated with any subspecies defined by the selected taxonomic list. By leaving this unchecked, even if the selected taxonomic list has subspecies they will not be shown or acted upon in your editing session.
Check the "All" checkbox
Use this feature when you want to view the whole list of things defined by the selected taxonomic list. Otherwise, only those things found at this location will be displayed in the grid. It can be quicker to add many things to a location by placing the cursor in the grid and using the Arrow Keys to go up and down the grid and use the Space Bar to check/uncheck the Found or Common columns.
You must select a taxonomic list for this to have any effect.
By selecting this checkbox, the checklist grid will be populated with all things defined by the selected taxonomic list - not just those things that occur at the selected location. Those things that are defined by the selected tax list but do not occur at the specified location will have their Found column unchecked. For example:
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Thing Checklist

You would use this half of the checklist editor to maintain what locations are attached to a specific thing. Specify the thing to work on by typing its common or scientific name into the Name field and clicking the Load button.

You can further restrict the locations shown by the following method:

Specify a Location Filter
By typing a location into the Location Filter field, you restrict the locations that will appear in the Location Checklist grid to those that are descendants of the specified location. You would do this because you only want to work on known locations for a thing in an area that you are knowledgeable for. Any actions you take will only act upon those locations in the grid.

$image\IMG00084.gif$ As you type in any of the SmartSearch text fields on this window, depending on which field you are typing in, one of the command buttons will be highlighted with a black square around it. This indicates that this is the default button and that pressing the ENTER key on your keyboard will activate this button. For example, while typing in the Name field in the Location Checklist you will notice that the binocular button is set off from the other buttons by having a thing black outline around it. That means that if your now press the ENTER key on your keyboard, this button's function will be activated and the grid will be searched for the name you have typed.

Do not maintain data for areas higher than the state/province or country level in Birder's Diary. If things are associated at the state/province level in a country, then do not also populate the country or level above them. Checklist data in Birder's Diary rolls up the ancestor lineage. To illustrate, if a Blue Jay is known for the state of Colorado, it will also be known for the United States, North America and World. Currently in v3.7, in Birder's Diary, only the United States and Canada have checklist data defined at the state/province level beneath the country level.

Close

$image\what.gif$ Use this button to close the Checklist Editor.

Taxonomy

$image\what.gif$ This field selects a taxonomic list for filtering the things displayed for the selected location in the checklist grid. Selecting a taxonomic list changes the checklist grid from displaying thing names in alphabetical order to displaying taxonomic common names in taxonomic order.

$image\why.gif$ You would use this when you want to work with, for example, just birds, or just butterflies and the selected location. If you do not specify a taxonomic list, then all things in your database (birds, butterflies, trees, mammals, etc) will be displayed for the selected location.

Ssp.

$image\what.gif$ Valid only when a taxonomy is selected and the Set button is clicked. Checking this checkbox will display subspecies if the selected taxonomic list contains subspecies. Else, no subspecies will be displayed. If this is unchecked and you update data, subspecies checklist data will be unaltered.

$image\why.gif$ Use this when you are working with a taxonomic list that contains subspecies but you only want to update the data for the species.

Set

$image\what.gif$ This button will apply (or clear if the taxonomy field is blank) the taxonomy to be used to the grid. It must be clicked after selecting a taxonomic list from the Taxonomy field or else it will not be applied.

$image\why.gif$ Use this after selecting a taxonomic list or clearing the taxonomy field.

Location (Location Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ Enter the location (must already be defined in Birder's Diary) for which you want to maintain checklist data for. Click the Load button to populate the checklist grid with things attached to this location. If no taxonomy has been specified, then all things in your database (birds, trees, butterflies, etc) will be displayed in alphabetical order by thing name. If a taxonomic list has been specified (must click the Set button for the taxonomy to take effect), then common names for all things defined by that taxonomic list will be displayed in taxonomic order.

All

$image\what.gif$ Only valid when a taxonomy is selected. If this checkbox is checked, then all things defined by the selected taxonomic list will be displayed. Otherwise, only those things defined by the selected taxonomic list and attached to this location will be displayed. You can still add things to the grid in either case.

$image\why.gif$ Check this when you want to work with the entire taxonomic list and scroll the entire list looking for things that should be marked as found or things that are marked as found but should not be.

Load (Location Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ This button will load the checklist grid with things attached to the selected location. See other components in the Location Checklist frame that affect the items loaded into the checklist grid.

$image\why.gif$ Use this after you have selected a location from the Location field.

Name (Location Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ Use this field to find, add or remove things from the checklist grid. It will accept common, alias or scientific names. Type any name into this field and the find button $image\IMG00089.gif$ will become the default button. After you have gotten the name you want, just press ENTER on your keyboard and it will activate the default (Find) button. If the name you have entered is

in the grid, then the grid will be scrolled to bring that name into view. The row will be highlighted, and the Remove button will now become the default button. By pressing ENTER again, you will be marking that row as not found.
not in the grid, the Add button will now become the default button. Pressing ENTER again will add the name to the bottom of the gird and mark it as found!

$image\why.gif$ You would use this field to rapidly maintain checklist data for any location. By typing names in this field you can rapidly remove or add any thing to the location. For example, say I wanted to add Limpkin to Colorado and remove Blue Jay. By typing Limpkin in this field and pressing Enter (activates Find button), it would not find it in the list and the Add button would become the default button. By pressing Enter again, I have just added Limpkin to the list. Now clear this field by pressing the Delete key and type in Blue Jay. Pressing Enter activates the Find button. Blue Jay is found in the Grid and highlighted. The Remove button now becomes the default button. Pressing Enter again marks the Blue Jay as not found! It is very, very quick!

$image\IMG00089.gif$ (Find Name)

$image\what.gif$ Use this button to find the name you have typed into the Name field. If the name is found, the grid will be positioned to display it and the row will be highlighted. After pressing this button, if the name is found, the Remove button will be the default button; else the Add button will be the default button.

$image\why.gif$ Use this button after typing a name into the name field in order to determine if the typed name is already in the checklist grid. Note: while typing in the name field, this is the default button. That means that pressing ENTER on your keyboard will activate this button.

$image\IMG00091.gif$ (Add Name)

$image\what.gif$ This will add the typed name to the grid and mark it as found. If the typed name is already in the grid, it will mark it as found.

$image\why.gif$ Use this button in combination with the Name Field and Find button to quickly add names to the checklist and mark them as found.

$image\IMG00092.gif$ - Remove Name

$image\what.gif$ This will mark the typed name as not found if that name appears in the grid.

$image\why.gif$ Use this button in combination with the Name field and Find button to quickly type names and mark them as not found in the checklist grid.

Location Grid

$image\what.gif$ This grid/table shows you which things are found at the specified location for the settings chosen. The first column will be common names if a taxonomic list has been chosen and the Set button clicked. Else, the first column will contain Thing names in alphabetical order.

The F column is a yes/no column that indicates if the name is found at this location.

The C column is a yes/no column that indicates if the name is common at this location. This is only valid if the Found column is checked.

The ? column is a button. Clicking this button will display a cross-reference window that will show which taxonomic lists in your database reference this thing along with the common and scientific name they use.
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$image\why.gif$ You use this grid to maintain checklist data for a specified location.

Location Filter

$image\what.gif$ This field is optional. Selecting a location here will only show locations in the Thing Checklist grid which are descendants of the specified location.

$image\why.gif$ Use this when you only want to work on a subset of locations for a given thing.

Name (Thing Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ Enter the name of the thing that you want to maintain location/checklist data for. This field will accept any common name, thing name or scientific name. If the name you enter could refer to more than one thing, then you will be asked to choose between the possible matches. A new window will appear which will have information to help you decide.

Load (Thing Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ This button will load the Thing Checklist grid with the locations attached to the specified name.

$image\why.gif$ Use this after you have specified a name from the Name field.

Location (Thing Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ Use this field to find, add or remove locations from the Location grid. It will accept any currently defined location in Birder's Diary. Type any location into this field and the find button $image\IMG00089.gif$ will become the default button. After you have gotten the location you want, just press ENTER on your keyboard and it will activate the default (Find) button. If the location you have entered is

in the grid, then the grid will be scrolled to bring that row into view. The row will be highlighted, and the Remove button will now become the default button. By pressing ENTER again, you will be marking that row as not found.
not in the grid, the Add button will now become the default button. Pressing ENTER again will add the location to the bottom of the gird and mark it as found!

$image\why.gif$ You would use this field to rapidly maintain checklist data for any thing. By typing locations in this field you can rapidly remove or add any location to the thing. It is very, very quick!

$image\IMG00089.gif$ (Find Location)

$image\what.gif$ Use this button to find the location you have typed into the Location field. If the location is found, the grid will be positioned to display it and the row will be highlighted. After pressing this button, if the location is found, the Remove button will be the default button; else the Add button will be the default button.

$image\why.gif$ Use this button after typing a location into the Location field in order to determine if the typed location is already in the checklist grid. Note: while typing in the location field, this is the default button. That means that pressing ENTER on your keyboard will activate this button.

$image\IMG00091.gif$ (Add Location)

$image\what.gif$ This will add the typed location to the grid and mark it as found. If the typed location is already in the grid, it will mark it as found.

$image\why.gif$ Use this button in combination with the Location Field and Find button to quickly add locations to the checklist and mark them as found.

$image\IMG00092.gif$ - Remove Location

$image\what.gif$ This will mark the typed location as not found if that location appears in the grid.

$image\why.gif$ Use this button in combination with the Location field and Find button to quickly type locations and mark them as not found in the checklist grid.

Thing Grid

$image\what.gif$ This grid/table shows you the locations where the specified thing can be found. The grid is sorted alphabetically by location.

The F column is a yes/no column that indicates if the thing is found at this location.

The C column is a yes/no column that indicates if the thing is common at this location. This is only valid if the Found column is checked.

$image\why.gif$ You use this grid to maintain checklist data for the specified thing.

$image\IMG00093.gif$ - Found

$image\what.gif$ These two buttons mark all currently selected rows as either found or not found.

$image\why.gif$ Use these buttons to quickly mark a group of rows as found or not found.

$image\IMG00094.gif$ - Common

$image\what.gif$ These two buttons mark all currently selected rows as either Common or Not Common.

$image\why.gif$ Use these buttons to quickly mark a group of rows as common or not common.

$image\IMG00095.gif$ - Select

$image\what.gif$ These two buttons will quickly select or clear all rows in the grid.

Copy (Location Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ This button will copy all selected names in the grid to another location.

$image\why.gif$ Use this button to quickly populate another location from an existing location with data.

Copy (Thing Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ This button will copy all selected locations in the grid to another thing.

$image\why.gif$ Use this button to quickly populate another thing with locations from this thing.

Sightings (Location Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ This will add names to the grid that are not currently there based on sightings you have recorded against this location. If you have specified a taxonomic list, then only those things you have recorded sightings against for this location that occur in that taxonomic list will be added.

$image\why.gif$ Use this to quickly build a checklist for locations such as a county or your home for which you have recorded sightings against.

Sightings (Thing Checklist)

$image\what.gif$ This will add locations to the grid that are not currently there based on sightings you have recorded against this thing.

$image\why.gif$ Use this to quickly build a checklist for things for which you have recorded sightings against.

Update

$image\what.gif$ This will update the checklist data based on the data in the grid. This is an overwrite update. It will overwrite all existing data, based on exclusions by any filters specified.

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$image\what.gif$ This will populate the Thing Checklist grid with the selected thing from the Location Checklist grid. This will only work when you have exactly one item selected in the Location Checklist grid.

$image\why.gif$ You would use this to quickly populate the Thing Checklist grid from a thing/name in the Location Checklist grid.

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$image\what.gif$ This will populate the Location Checklist grid with the selected location from the Thing Checklist grid. This will only work when you have exactly one row selected in the Thing Checklist grid.

$image\why.gif$ You would use this to quickly populate the Location Checklist grid from a location in the Thing Checklist grid.