16 more essential features of great botanical software
   compleat botanica    using the software    getting started    Features   
 
 
   

 

 

Tour of features

   7 key features
   Categories
   Spell-checker
   Specimen lists
   Data sharing
   Pictures
   Localization
   Reports
   Family names
   Filters
   Botanical names
   Views
   Labels
   Notes
   Databases
   WYSIWYG
   Checklist
   Colors
   Calendar
   Measurements
   Finding
   Iconic data
   Customizations
   Pathfinder
   Publishing
 
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8

Family names

Automatic family name lookup makes it easy for you to learn more about your specimen.  With 26,334 genus names assigned to 1652 families, the comprehensiveness of the botanical name checklist is impressive.

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9

Filters

Filtering your database to zoom in on just your specimen of interest is a one-step process.  You define custom filters to include or exclude records based on a powerful point-and-click selection process. You choose which columns to display by simply highlighting them from a list. Defining filters requires no special languages or confusing Boolean logic -- everything is in one intuitive window.

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10

Botanical name display

Botanical names are always displayed in a format compliant with the official IAPT rules:  capitalization, italicization, and variety quoting are automatically applied so you can never go wrong.  And the botanical name formatting applies throughout The Compleat Botanica -- entry forms, lists, reports, and labels.

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11

Multiple views


Access to the six major sections of the software is convenient

Specimen
views

Navigate through your plant collection with side-by-side views for listings and details.  Easily switch between full screen views for listings or details -- then switch back to split view for convenient data entry.  Twenty-four different full screen detail views and six separate listing views provides maximum visibility for you to work with your specimen.  And every window grows and shrinks to automatically fit the display resolution of your monitor without annoying scrollbars or clipped sides.

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12

Specimen labels

Preparing specimen labels is an integral part of the software.  New specimen are automatically added to the list of labels needing to be printed.  The sophisticated label generator gives you complete control over the layout and formatting of your labels.

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13

Rich-text notes

Enter descriptive text into three separate areas and record your special notes using fonts, colors, and point sizes using the built in rich-text editors. Notes can contain hyperlinks to other specimen in your database.

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14

Multiple databases

Work with multiple databases to keep special collections separate. All the expected safety features are here -- backup & restore, create & delete, import & export, copy & paste.  No limits and no skimpy features.

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15

WYSIWYG previews

"What you see is what you get"

See your reports on screen and make adjustments before wasting printer ink and paper.  Try out one of the standard report styles or modify one to create your own unique image.

Scale the print preview to see more or less of your report at one time.

Scroll around the print preview to see how the entire report will look.

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16

Checklist
The Checklist of botanical names is a comprehensive hierarchy of the Plantae kingdom.  Twenty-three taxonomic ranks are present including the most used ones:  regnum, divisio, classis, ordo, familia, tribus, genus, species, varietas, and cultivar.  The author and publication of each valid name is included as required by IAPT rules.  Common names are given when known, and the data source cites the origin of the data so that you can check the validity against your own sources.

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17

Precise Colors
Choose colors with precision using the 884 standard colors of the Royal Horticultural Society's Colour Chart.  Recognized the world over as the standard for herbaria the RHS Colour Chart has remained consistent since 1966.

As an alternative, use common color names like almond, blue, cinnamon, daffodil, emerald, and so forth.

More about this . . .

RHS Numbers. . . or . . . popular names

18

Seasonal interest calendar
Build a calendar of seasonal interest when you capture date ranges for planting, harvesting, blooming and other interest.

Bring your calendar alive by recording the colors of leaves, blossoms, accents, bark, dyes, and other interests.

More about this . . .

19

Dimensions

Record the height and spread of each specimen using the multi-purpose dimension tool.  Capture precise dimensions or record approximate ranges using the same window.  Data display and data entry are intuitive and easy.  And you decide whether to use metric or U.S. units.

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20

Finding data within your collection

Looking for something, but can't find it because your collection is too big?  Search your collection with ease.

How about showing all the botanical names in the checklist that begin with the letters "Acer".  No problem.

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21

Iconic data

Categories use icons and colors to enhance the data.  Icons are used consistently on all views, listings, filters, and printed reports making the differences and similarities in each specimen readily apparent.  Customize your data groups to have the icons and colors that make sense to you.

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22

Customized look and feel

Two dozen different customized settings, makes this software look and feel just right for the way you work.

Tired of looking at the same display season after season?  Change the entire color scheme of the software.

Need a little relief from viewing tiny fonts?  Set  the specimen list font size to anything between 8 points and 24 points.

More about this . . .

23

Pathfinder

Use the Pathfinder as an integrated Web browser and on-line help facility.  Tips for getting more out of the software, working with your data, and World Wide Web resources, make the Pathfinder a road map for your research and investigations.

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24

Publishing

Publish your entire data collection to the Web or to paper pre-press.  Use the standard HTML templates and style sheets for fast and easy publishing.

Advanced users can customize their own templates and style sheets for the ultimate in flexibility.

Create hyperlinked table of contents and indexes, labels, tags, placards, reports, and much more.

More about this . . .

For an index to other topics see

   Getting started

 

Last reviewed March 25, 2004   

 

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