Australian Biological Resources Study
Is there a user manual?
Getting started is easy if you follow the basic instructions in the Readme.txt file copied into your Platypus directory. Platypus also has a comprehensive Help facility which, together with the Demo database and the Readme.txt file, acts as a user manual. To open Help, select Help from the Menu bar or for context-sensitive Help press the F1 key on your keyboard. See also the Level 1 Introductory text in the Demo database and the Readme.txt file.
How do I define limital areas?
Platypus ships with two lookup databases. The file lookup.zcl, where no areas are defined as limital, is loaded automatically during setup. The table defining the limital areas can be set or changed using MS Access.
Also shipped with Platypus is another lookup database, lookupoz.zcl, where Australia and its areas of political responsibility are set as limital. All other entries are set as extralimital. If the Australian distribution is required, go to File/Options and change the file name to lookupoz.zcl.
How do I add more ecological keywords?
User-defined ecological keywords can be added in Platypus; select Admin/Ecodes from the Menu bar.
Alternatively, the ecological keywords are held in a Microsoft Access database (as is all data used by Platypus). This table is in the Lookup databases that ship with Platypus. To add, delete or change ecological keywords, you will need to open the Lookup databases with Access. This will allow the ecological keywords table to be manipulated directly. Once this table is changed and saved, it will be available to all Platypus databases that use this Lookup database.
When I open an RTF report, I get the following error message. What causes this and how do I fix it?
This message may be displayed when there is a mismatch in the markup code for italics or bold commands. These commands are placed before and after text in italics or bold font. Their presence is usually only visible by characters in italics or bold. The italics command, for example, consists of the capital letter I enclosed in angle brackets and /I enclosed in angle brackets either side of the italicised text. If these do not match (i.e. a closing italics command is missing or vice versa), this may cause an error message and the RTF report cannot be opened without fixing the italics command in the database.
The closing italic command may be accidently omitted missing when text is cut and pasted, e.g. in references. When the command is missing, the remainder of the paragraph will also be displayed in italics format. For example the text: "Platypus, a database package for taxonomists" would appear as "Platpus, a database package for taxonomists". To fix this problem, the italics commands must match. Missing italics commands may be located by searching the text for areas where the remainder of the paragraph is italicised. This can be done by:
How do I add areas to the distribution lists?
The distribution terms and hierarchy are held in a Microsoft Access database (as is all data used by Platypus). This table is in the Lookup database that ships with Platypus. To add, delete or change the distribution, you will need to open the Lookup database with Access. This will allow the distribution terms and their relationships to be manipulated directly. Once this table is changed and saved, it will be available to all Platypus databases that use this Lookup database. See also the Platypus Help section: Lookup Database. Before making changes, you are advised to make copies of the Lookup databases that are provided with Platypus.
Can I print the taxa names found in the Checklist without the detailed information found in the Preview?
Yes. Select the parent of the taxa you would like to print and select the Reports-Output Checklist command from the Edit menu.
Can I modify the Preview format?
Currently, only a single report format is supported by Platypus (with output to screen, RTF files and MIF files). Platypus uses the Microsoft Jet Database Engine to store all data. This is the same system used by Microsoft Access. Because of this, Access and many third-party report writers can be used to access Platypus databases.
How do I change the Standard Phrases?
The Standard Phrases used for Available names are held in a Microsoft Access database (as is all data used by Platypus). These tables are in the Lookup databases that ship with Platypus. To add, delete or change the Standard Phrases, you will need to open the Lookup databases with Access. This will allow the individual phrases to be manipulated directly. Once this table is changed and saved, it will be available to all Platypus databases that use these Lookup databases. Before making changes, you are advised to make copies of the two lookup databases that are provided with Platypus.
Can I add more point-and-click distribution maps?
No. The problem that arises is that the maps must be tied to the underlying database table that contains the distribution information. This is a complex relationship and requires a considerable amount of work.
We welcome any suggestions or enquiries that you may have about Platypus. Suggestions and queries concerning this site can be sent to abrs@environment.gov.au
