View source for Data Entry Assistant (DEA) Procedures

'''Introduction'''

This section contains information on the practices for preparing specimens for entry into the Ohio State University Insect Collecting (OSUC) specimen database using the Data Entry Assistant (DEA). The DEA web program requires that specimen records be present in a properly formatted data entry template ([[File:Data_Entry_Template_20-Feb-2007.xls]] file according to the [[Data Transcription Procedures]] protocol.


== Initial Preparation ==
=== Copy Labels / Comments Formula ===
Since the OSUC specimen database does not support storing label information in a discrete manner, the transcription of the labels must be merged with the ''comments'' column of the data entry template to form a new amalgamated column known as ''new_comments''.

Open up the Excel spreadsheet that is to be entered into the database. Copy the formula in the first cell under the ''new_comments (formula)'' column down through the rest of the rows so all of the label data is merged into a single cell. Multiple cells can be selected in Excel by dragging from the start cell to the destination cell; or by clicking on the start cell, holding down the shift key, and clicking the destination cell. After the selection of the cells is made, right click and select ''paste''. The ''new_comments (formula)'' column is the extreme-right column within the Raw Data worksheet.


[[Category:Data Entry Assistant]]