Data Entry Template Information

Introduction

This section contains information on the significance of the columns based on the column name within the data entry template for DEA2 (File:Data Entry Template 28-Aug-2014.xls) and the pre-formatted data entry template (File:DEA data entry template-full 28-Aug-2014.xls).

DEA2 Data Template Information

"Raw Data" worksheet columns

Column Name	Description	Required
date	Date the record was recorded	yes
name	Name of the person who recorded the record	yes
order	Order in which the record is identified	no; unless order is the most specific identification
superfamily	Superfamily in which the record is identified	no; unless superfamily is the most specific identification
family	Family in which the record is identified	yes; unless the most specific identification is broader than family (only to order or superfamily)
subfamily	Subfamily in which the record is identified	no; unless subfamily is the most specific identification
genus	Genus in which the record is identified	sometimes; required for genus, species, and subspecies-level identifications
species	Specific epithet in which the record is identified	sometimes; required for species, and subspecies-level identifications
subspecies	Subspecific epithet in which the record is identified	sometimes; required for subspecies-level identifications
cuid	Unique specimen identifier (aka collecting unit identifier) for a record usually in the form 'collection code' 'specimen number' (e.g. 'OSUC 213455')	yes
alt_ids	Alternative specimen identifier for a record. Unlike a cuid, these identifiers do not need to be globally unique but must be used specifically for the record and not a "lot" or group of specimens (e.g. '145a Mitch', 'DNA Specimen #12'). Multiple identifiers must be separated by a semicolon then a space (e.g. '745 platy; Browner #2').	no
inst	Institution code of the depository for the specimen or lot	no; default: OSUC
type	Type status for the record (e.g. 'Holotype', 'Syntype', 'Paratype')	no
life_status	Life stage for the record (e.g. 'nymph', 'larva', 'egg', 'yearling'). See Life Status Terms for available life stages. When specimen groups are defined in spm_num, this column is ignored	no; default: adult
preparations	The storage vessel (preparation type) and contents contained within the vessel (preparation contents) are collectively considered to be a preparation (see this Darwin Core term for additional info). Each preparation in the preparations column must be separated by a semicolon. A preparation can be a preparation type alone (e.g. 'slide', 'slide; jar'), a pipe (|) separated list of number of preparation type items, preparation type, then preparation contents (e.g. '1|jar|ethanol', '|slide|skin; 2|box|partial skeleton'), or a mix of both (e.g. 'slide; 2|jar|ethanol'). When not specified, number of preparation type items defaults to 1. See Preparation Terms for available preparation types and contents. When specimen groups are defined in spm_num, this column is ignored	no
spm_num	Number of specimens associated with the record. When more than one specimen are identified to be of different sexes, this column will contain the number of specimens and their respective sex separated by a space (e.g. '10-F 5-M 1-U'). When a varied set of number of specimens, specimen sexes, life stages and preparations are needed, this will contain those granular specimen groups that must be formatted following the conventions of their respective column names: spm_num|spm_sex|life_status[preparations]. Using this format, the spm_num column must be numeric or blank, and if preparations are not necessary for a specimen group, the brackets can be omitted. Multiple specimen groups must be separated by a semicolon. Examples of specimen groups within spm_num column: '|F|larva;2||nymph[slide;1|jar|ethanol]', '1|M|adult[vial];2|U|egg[vial;slide]', '1|U|deutonymph;2|F|adult;1|M|adult'	no; default: 1
spm_sex	Specimen sex (M = male, F = female, U = unsexed, B = hermaphrodite) for all of the specimens associated with the record. When more than one specimens are determined of different sex, this column is ignored	no; default: U
comments	Comments on the condition of the specimen, additional information not present on the record labels, or any other information that is desired to be associated with the record	yes; may be blank
determiner	Determiner of the record with last name first, a comma, then his/her initials (e.g. 'Johnson, N F')	no
det_date	Determination date of the record (year only)	no; default: 'current year'
Label1-8	Verbatim label data attached to the medium containing the specimen or lot	yes; may be blank
new_comments	Excel formula for concatenating the label data for database entry. Ignore this column!	yes; DO NOT modify this column

Pre-formatted Specimen Data Template Information

"Main" worksheet columns

Column Name	Description	Required
date	Date the record was recorded	yes
name	Name of the person who recorded the record	yes
cuid	Unique specimen identifier (aka collecting unit identifier) for a record usually in the form 'collection code' 'specimen number' (e.g. 'OSUC 213455')	yes
alt_ids	Alternative specimen identifier for a record. Unlike a cuid, these identifiers do not need to be globally unique but must be used specifically for the record and not a "lot" or group of specimens (e.g. '145a Mitch', 'DNA Specimen #12'). Multiple identifiers must be separated by a semicolon then a space (e.g. '745 platy; Browner #2').	no
inst	Institution code of the depository for the specimen or lot	yes
type	Type status for the record (e.g. 'Holotype', 'Syntype', 'Paratype')	no
spm_num	see spm_num notes above under "Raw Data" worksheet columns.	no; default: 1
spm_sex	Specimen sex (M = male, F = female, U = unsexed, B = hermaphrodite) for all of the specimens associated with the record. When multiple sexes or specimen groups are defined in spm_num, this column is ignored	no; default: U
life_status	Life stage for the record (e.g. 'nymph', 'larva', 'egg', 'yearling'). When specimen groups are defined in spm_num, this column is ignored	no; default: adult
preparations	see preparations notes above under "Raw Data" worksheet columns.	no
new_comments	Comments on the condition of the specimen, additional information not present on the record labels, or any other information that is desired to be associated with the record. This column also contains the verbatim specimen labels with the transliteration of each label enclosed within square brackets ([...]) and separated by a space	yes; may be blank
family	Family in which the record is identified	yes; identifications to a rank higher than order must be replaced with the taxon ID in the format 'id=tnid'
subfamily	Subfamily in which the record is identified	no; unless subfamily is the most specific identification
genus	Genus in which the record is identified	sometimes; required for genus, species, and subspecies-level identifications
species	Specific epithet in which the record is identified	sometimes; required for species, and subspecies-level identifications
subspecies	Subspecific epithet in which the record is identified	sometimes; required for subspecies-level identifications
determiner	Determiner of the record with last name first, a comma, then his/her initials (e.g. 'Johnson, N F'). If complete given names are known, they may be included (e.g. 'Johnson, Norman F')	no
det_date	Determination date of the record (year only)	no; default: 'current year'
stated_loc & stated_date	These columns are present for legacy reasons. Ignore these columns	no; deprecated
loc_name	A locality name that exactly matches an existing locality name within the database	yes
coll_date	The specific date (day, month and year) a specimen was collected (in Excel date format). 'start_date', 'end_date', and 'period' must be blank	yes
start_date	The specific starting date (day, month and year) a specimen was collected within a range(in Excel date format). 'coll_date' and 'period' must be blank; 'end_date' must be present and later than 'start_date'	yes
end_date	The specific ending date (day, month and year) a specimen was collected within a range(in Excel date format). 'coll_date' and 'period' must be blank; 'start_date' must be present and earlier than 'end_date'	yes
period	The non-specific date (missing a day, month or year) a specimen was collected (in text format). 'coll_date', 'start_date', and 'end_date' must be blank	yes
coll_method	The collecting method used to collect the specimen (e.g. 'by hand', 'trap', etc.)	yes
collector1	The first collector of the specimen with last name first, a comma, then his/her initials (e.g. 'Johnson, N F'). If complete given names are known, they may be included (e.g. 'Johnson, Norman F')
collector2	The second collector of the specimen with last name first, a comma, then his/her initials (e.g. 'Johnson, N F'). If complete given names are known, they may be included (e.g. 'Johnson, Norman F')
collector3	The third collector of the specimen with last name first, a comma, then his/her initials (e.g. 'Johnson, N F'). If complete given names are known, they may be included (e.g. 'Johnson, Norman F'). If more than three collectors were given, use 'et al.' as the third collector and include the rest of the collecting party within the 'new_comments' column
field_code	The field code, field number, or other term used to define the code that is used to identify a given collecting event (e.g. 'MA-02-18A-10', 'BJZ 2007SEP1a', etc.)	yes
habitat	The habitat in which a specimen was collected. Habitat should omit distinct, definite biological associations for a particular organism which should go into the associations part of this worksheet	yes
assoc_cuid	Unique specimen identifier (aka collecting unit identifier) for the vouchered biological association usually in the form 'collection code' 'specimen number' (e.g. 'OSUC 213455'). Not required for unvouchered associations	yes
assoc_inst	Institution code of the depository for the vouchered biological association. Not required for unvouchered associations	yes
association_type	The type of biological association between the record and the association (e.g. 'collected on / collecting site of')	yes
assoc_order	Order in which the biological association is identified	yes
assoc_family	Family in which the biological association is identified	yes
assoc_genus	Genus in which the biological association is identified	yes
assoc_species	Species in which the biological association is identified	yes
assoc2_cuid	Unique specimen identifier (aka collecting unit identifier) for the second vouchered biological association usually in the form 'collection code' 'specimen number' (e.g. 'OSUC 213455'). Not required for unvouchered associations	yes
assoc2_inst	Institution code of the depository for the second vouchered biological association. Not required for unvouchered associations	yes
association2_type	The type of biological association between the record and the second association (e.g. 'collected on / collecting site of')	yes
assoc2_order	Order in which the second biological association is identified	yes
assoc2_family	Family in which the second biological association is identified	yes
assoc2_genus	Genus in which the second biological association is identified	yes
assoc2_species	Species in which the second biological association is identified	yes