Jeff,

Here we go again on checklists. Problem 1) I have successfully added, so to speak, Bunting Sp. to my New Mexico Checklist. I would like it to appear after the genus Passerina. Instead, it has repeatedly appeared after the family of Tanagers. I have set the "The Thing" editor to sort it after the genus of buntings. How can I get it to  move?? 2) I tried to add Red-necked Phalarope to the New Mexico checklist. I can add it, update the list, but it doesn't appear on the list. Any suggestions??

Last time I just mentioned your name and the problem was solved, hopefully this will happen agian!!

The best,

Roland

Hi Roland,

Good stuff!

#1

There are two steps here:  a) create the thing, and b) add that thing to a tax list and classify and sort it.

Assuming you created the thing and then added it to a tax list by specifying Kingdom through genus (leaving species and subspecies blank [correct method]) - then this new thing will always sort at the head of that genus; e.g. before any species in that genus. No way around this.

If this is not what you are seeing, please tell me how you classified this new thing "Bunting Sp.". Exactly, from Kingdom through Genus and which tax list you are using.

#2

When you say you added red-necked phalarope to the New Mexico checklist, I assume you did this by using the Checklist Editor. And if you bring back up the checklist editor, using the left hand side, and specify the tax list and New Mexico as the location, you will see red-necked phalarope in the grid. Correct? (Note: see the instructions for the Checklist Editor window in the Online Users Guide on this site.)

If the above is correct, then what do you mean by "it doesn't appear on the list"? What exactly are you doing in BD that does not show this bird?

Let's start here and I am sure we will get to the bottom of both.

Jeff

Jeff,

Thanks for the quick reply.

Problem 1) In Thing editor I created Bunting Sp. and clicked on update. Then to Tax Editor using AOU 2008 as the taxonomy. I filled in all the categories down to genus Passerina.  I would like it to appear after Black-headed Grosbeak in the genus Pheucticus but that choice was not avialable. I then went to checklist using AOU 2008 taxonomy with the location New Mexico and using Bunting Sp. I loaded the New Mexico checklist and added Bunting Sp. and then clicked on update. Since I didn't select a choice in Tax editor to sort after, Bunting Sp. was sorted at the begining of the family containing the Buntings et al. and right after the Tanagers.

Problem 2) In Tax editor I added Red-necked Phalarope for the AOU 2008 checklist. I filled in down to species and it was to sort after the specific name tricolor. All is well to this point. I went to the Checklist editor and used AOU 2008 and New Mexico. I clicked on load, the add Red-necked Phalarope and then update. When I go to add sightings in BD, location New Mexico, Red-necked Phalorope does not appear. The only phalarope is Wilson's.

The other "things" I have added seem to sort correctly.

Roland

Then to Tax Editor using AOU 2008 as the taxonomy. I filled in all the categories down to genus Passerina.  I would like it to appear after Black-headed Grosbeak in the genus Pheucticus but that choice was not avialable.
Not possible. The genus-level thing you just classified will be sorted at the head of the Passerina genus.

I then went to checklist using AOU 2008 taxonomy with the location New Mexico...
Do you mean you are in the Checklist Editor? I assume so. And I assume the rest of that sentence means you added this thing to the New Mexico location in the checklist editor.

Since I didn't select a choice in Tax editor to sort after, Bunting Sp. was sorted at the begining of the family containing the Buntings et al. and right after the Tanagers.
Where are you seeing this? Exactly how?

I created the "Bunting Sp." thing as shown in the first screen shot below. One problem you are running into is that the term bunting is rather generic and is represented by three or more genera. It might be better if you created a "Passerina sp." thing. This would be more representative of the true meaning of this. Because I doubt you are mistaking a Snow Bunting for a Lazuli Bunting.

But to continue the example, then I added it to AOU tax list, using the taxonomy editor, as shown in the second screen shot below. Now you can see how it sorts in the 3rd screen shot below.

Let's stop here and make sure we have problem #1 defined and resolved. Then we can move onto #2. Ok?

Jeff

Let me go ahead and jump on #2 from above.

Why did you add red-necked phalarope to the AOU 2008 taoxnomic list (it is not a checklist; checklist associates a thing to a location, whereas a taxonomic list serves to classify, name and sort things) it is already there.

Are you really editing it, and trying to change its sorting? This is supported. You use the Tax Editor and specify RNPH and AOU 2008, then modify the sort after field and then click Update. Red-necked Phalarope should already be on the NM checklist.

The quick solution to all of this is to reimport your AOU 2008 taxonomic list and the associated checklist file. This will correct everything.

Would it be better if I got onto your system and checked this out for you?

Jeff

Jeff,

Let me start another way. I use AOU 2008 taxonomy to add sightings to BD. I also use New Mexico as the location on the Sightings Entry Setup. The "association' between AOU 2008 and New Mexico does not include Red-necked Phalarope, so I therefore want to add it. I went to Taxomonic Editor, called Red-necked Phalarope a "Thing," selected AOU 2008, selected the appropriate taxonomic categories. The Taxonomic Editor  indicated that Red-necked Phalarope will be sorted after the specific name tricolor. All is well to this point. I updated the Taxonomic Editor. I then went to location Checklist (left-side of view), selected AOU 2008, New Mexico for the location, Red-necked Phalarope for the "Thing," loaded AOU 2008, added Red-necked Phalarope, clicked on update, and ...... I now go to add sightings to BD. I select AOU 2008 for the taxonomy, New Mexico for the location, load the checklist and Red-necked Phalarope is nowhere to be found, only Wilson's Phalarope. My question is how do I make it appear?

Your suggestion about Passerina sp. makes a whole lot of sense. I will work on it after I find out about the above.

Roland

Hi Roland,

There is no association between the AOU 2008 taxonomic list (or any tax list) and any location. The association is between things and locations. It is very important to understand this distinction. You are missing an association between the thing 'red-necked phalarope' and the location 'New Mexico'. There are two ways to fix this, a) using the Checklist Editor or, b) importing the AOU 2008 Checklist file. The latter has less chance of unexpected consequences.

In the Taxonomy Editor, if you entered 'red-necked phalarope' into the Thing field and then selected the AOU 2008 taxonomic list from the Taxonomic List dropdown, then Kingdom through Species fields should have been auto-filled for you. If they weren't, then you have a bigger issue. And my recommendation is to delete the AOU 2008 tax list using the Tax Viewer and reimport both it and the associated checklist file. Let me know if you need further help with this. I have attached a downloadable video that walks you through the import process.

Now - to answer your question specifically. There is a glitch in the Checklist Editor such that if you don't follow these steps in this order exactly as specified, things may not work as you expect. This has been fixed in v3.7.

1. Open the Checklist Editor
2. In the Location Checklist on the left side.
3. Select AOU 2008 from the drop down
4. Click the Set button (I this or #6 below is the step you are missing)
5. Type "New Mexico" into the Location field
6. Click the Load button
7. Type "red-necked phalarope" into the Name field
8. Click on the Search button (binocular)
9. Does it find and highlight "red-necked phalarope" in the grid? Let me know...
10. If not, Click the Plus button
11. Click the Update button

Now go see if it shows up in the Checklist Entry window.

If this doesn't work, I will need to get onto your system over the internet. I am gone for the next hour but then back.

Jeff

Jeff,

The sweater begins to unravel!! I got to the step when I clicked on Load and I got a checklist of about 10 names, all of which I had previously added. I played the video but the file I saved as AOU 2008 did not have the checklist part just the tax cvs file, therefore I thought I would download the whole thing again. I downloaded an AOU-2008.exe file from BD and ran it. It asked for a password during installation. I went to the online store but could not find the password associated with AOU 2008. The password I used to get in the online store would not work.

Suggestions.

Roland

Hi Roland,

Yep - the whole tax list thingy changed back in Jan, after you purchased. I am emailing you the installation password that you need to re-download and import AOU 2008 again. (Be sure to delete the AOU 2008 tax list first using the Tax Viewer.) There is no need to reactivate any licenses. Just be sure to import both the tax list and the associated checklist file per the video. That will fix all your woes.

Let me know please.

Jeff

Jeff,

All went well by following the video through importing the AOU-2008 tax file. When I went to import the checklist file, I selected AOU-2008, I unchecked analyze data, I checked override locations and then clicked on import. The message received was "you must specify a location that this import applies to." This is not in the video, instead the video proceeds to locate the AOU-2008 checklist file. I again deleted the AOU-2008 file (I originally did this before downloading the AOU-2008 taxonomy as per your instructions), carefully went through the video with the corresponding steps with the same results.

Roland

Hi Roland,

Pay close attention to the Import button used in the video. There are two: one at the bottom and one above it. You are clicking on the bottom one, when you should be clicking on the top Import button.

That will solve this problem.

Jeff

Jeff,

Thanks, now its back to the future and adding a few previous designations (via your instructions) to the entry checklist.

Roland

Excellent. I can see how easy it is to just look up and click the first Import button you see. Sorry for that confusion.

Let me know if anything else comes up.

Jeff

Jeff,

With everything there is good news and bad news. The good news is that I added 9 "things," from Duck sp. to Goldfinch sp. via your instructions and they are now found in the BD entry checklist. All is well, except that Passerina sp. and Red-necked Phalarope (the original problem) are seen in the checklist editor in their proper position but are not seen in the entry checklist even when the checklist editor is updated.

Roland

Jeff,

Please, I am in the library on a wireless net work but it seems to be working ok, so go ahead and sent the instructions. If necessary you have my email address

Roland