Platypus Features
Contents
- Overview
- Details
- Summary of New Features: Version 3
- A comprehensive relational database programme for biodiversity data
- Manages taxonomic, geographic, ecological, palaeontological, bibliographic and graphic information, and specimen collections
- Information is organised around a graphically displayed Checklist
- Data is managed directly from the Checklist, including the classification
- High data quality is ensured by rigorous built-in logic and data validation
- Handles all major taxonomic ranks down to subspecies
- Supports incertae sedis, species inquirenda and Unplaced categories
- Handles Specimen (Museum) Collections
- Handles Etymology data
- Includes a sophisticated and versatile bibliographic reference package, with biography and keyword options
- Includes a comprehensive graphics databasing package
- Contains powerful facilities to integrate and preview data; automatic error reports
- Facilities to import existing checklists, bibliographies and graphic collections
- Comprehensive picklists for geographic areas, over 170 ecological keywords, and over 400 Museum and over 1200 Journal names
- Comprehensive and context-sensitive help facility
- Glossaries for ecological descriptors, nomenclature and common abbreviations
- Export reports to word processor and desk-top publishing facilities
- Reports include Checklist, Catalogue, Bibliography, Statistics and Graphics
- Automatic listing of museums, ecological descriptors and host-taxon associations recorded in each database
- Database tracker and facility to compare databases
2. Details
2.1 Checklist
- Accepts taxonomic ranks of Family, Subfamily, Supertribe, Tribe, Subtribe, Genus, Subgenus, Species Aggregate, Species and Subspecies, as well as 9 user-defined ranks above Family
- Records information on Valid Names, Available Names and, if required, Unavailable Names
- Supports incertae sedis, species inquirenda and Unplaced entries
- Supports botanical names
- Select user-defined or alphabetic order of taxa
- Drag and drop allows easy modification of classifications
- Built-in logic and validation encourages accurate data entry
- Output complete or partial Checklist to word processing packages
- Easily access taxa statistics for the entire Checklist or a subset of taxa
- Import an existing Checklist
- Transfer taxa and all their data between Platypus databases
- Option to shadow taxa
2.2 Taxon-based Information
- Comprehensive taxonomic and biological information for each taxon
- A wide range of nomenclatural information, including primary literature, type species and type specimen data
- References to the literature on taxonomy, ecology and distribution
- References to taxonomic events such as synonymy, alternative taxonomic arrangements and changes of combination
- Picklists of phrases for common taxonomic events to assist in data collection and recording
- User-defined text fields for data not directly supported by Platypus can be created and optionally reported
- Entry of complex data is made easy with clearly labelled fields and picklists
- Options include Common Names and Biocodes at all levels
- Options include Palaeontology, Etymology and Diagnosis
- Comprehensive facility to compile Specimen Collection data
- Built-in logic follows the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
2.3 Collection Information
- A comprehensive facility to record collection data
- Habitat and Museums picklists
- Options to report individual records
- Search by one or a combination of locality, museum, accession number, habitat, political, collector and host fields
- Coordinates may be exported using MS Access to mapping programmes
2.4 References
- A central reference list that is accessible throughout Platypus
- Reference styles for Journals, Journal Sections, Books, Book Sections, Miscellaneous and "This Work"
- References identified by up to 14 character, user-defined or system-generated code which incorporates author and year, e.g. SMITHJ1950A
- Search by Author, Year, Keywords, Reference Code, or combinations of these
- Central catalogue of over 1200 abbreviated and full Journal names
- Import references from a comma delimited file
- Import references from another Platypus database
- Create user-defined bibliographies for subsets of the Reference List
- Include biography data in the user-defined bibliographies
- Automatic validation of page range against selected page
- Automatic validation of year of primary reference and available name
- Output references to word processing packages
2.5 Distribution
- Distribution information for each Genus and Species may be recorded by Region, Country, State/Province and Zones
- Geographic terms are held centrally to ensure consistent and rapid use
- Point-and-click Map to allow easy entry for Australian distributions
- Automatic collation of distribution data from species group to genus group
- Distribution tables and limital area may be user-defined
2.6 Graphics
- Database your graphic collections
- Options include graphic descriptions, captions, picklists for nature of graphic, provider details, copyright details, file name and citations
- Search collections to find graphics with certain characteristics
- Link graphics to your checklist data
- Create different collections of graphics
- Export graphic information to a Microsoft Word document
- Choose the format for a graphic from a predefined list, or create your own format
2.7 Reports
- Options include checklists, statistics, ecological descriptors, host-taxon association, museums, references and a comprehensive catalogue style report
- Create a report for an element selected from the checklist, that element and the taxa it contains, or the entire subtree of taxa underneath that element
- Export the reports in Framemaker format or Rich Text format
- Preview a report on screen
- Error messages included in report
2.8 Technical Information
Minimum Operating Requirements for Platypus v3 (32 bit)
- Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 2000
- Pentium and up (Pentium II recommended)
- 32 MB of memory (64 MB recommended)
- 45 MB of disk space (65 MB during installation from the Net)
Application Specifications
- User-interface developed in Microsoft Visual Basic ver. 6.0
- Database engine Microsoft DAO 3.6
3. Summary of New Features: Version 3.3
Users are advised to upgrade to the latest version.
18 September 2002, Platypus 3.3 Download
Significant upgrade, includes improved import functions and graphic database enhancements; and dropdown lists that maintain the search history of Museum, Journal and Search fields.
20 April 2002, Platypus v. 3.2.6 plus patch
This version resolves the problems some users reported with Level 1 preview and map function.
22 March 2002, Platypus v. 3.2.6
A significant upgrade to incorporate a specimen (museums) collections facility, minor enhancements and bug fixes. Minor enhancements include the option to embed graphic codes and display graphic captions. The graphics are not included in the preview but are included in the web files.
10 January 2002, Platypus v. 3.2.5
A minor upgrade to incorporate an etymology field, and changes to the ecology and museum forms.
27 November 2001, Platypus v. 3.2.3
A minor upgrade to incorporate bug fixes, including problems encountered by some users of Windows 95. Various minor enhancements are also included, such as the option to list and report the history of all combinations used for species level taxa.
May 2001, Platypus v. 3.2.1
Major upgrade from version 2 (16-bit) to 32-bit. New features include:
Checklist
- nine user-defined taxon levels above family
- supertribe, subtribe and species aggregate options included
- available names and associated taxonomic and nomenclatural data can be included at all levels
- botanical names now supported
- place and report taxa in alphabetical or user-defined order
- search facility improved
- checklist import facility expanded
Reports
- host-taxon associations, ecological descriptors and museums used in the database are automatically listed at Level 1, all with additional text option
- automatic generation of a table of species numbers established per year and cumulative totals
- graphical display of cumulative number of species established per year
- all reports now available from one drop down box
- enhanced RTF format
- additional web file options
References
- rapid method to select and preview references
- additional validation
- journal picklist upgraded and expanded
- journal picklist search facility improved
- field for ISBN entries
- addition of a comprehensive facility for author biographies
- option to include ISBN, Keywords, Abstract and Biography in report
- import references from another Platypus database
Diagnosis
- diagnosis for all group names
- option to list associated references
- optional field for keys
Biocode
- option to enter and report Biocodes and associated data
Distribution
- facility upgraded, especially the method of data entry by map for Australian distributions
Ecology
- facility enhanced
- automatic generation of picklist of 'used in database' and 'user-defined' descriptors
- form for details of user-defined descriptors
- host-taxon associations automatically collated and listed at Level 1 and in preview
Palaeontology
- palaeontology for genus and species group names is another new significant feature
- time scales are defined by a five-level hierarchical table, each level can be user-defined
- separate fields for Formation and Biogeography, each with user-defined picklists
- optional comments field and reference links
- option to include palaeontology data in report
Graphics
- a comprehensive facility to database graphics is now incorporated in Platypus
- database full graphics details, such as taxon name, file size, format and nature of graphic, provider, copyright, notes, multiple captions and multiple citations
- run simple or boolean searches
- import graphics records from other databases
- collate and export separate graphic collections
- generate previews or export graphics reports
- illustration forms, linked to Graphics, now available at all taxon levels
Type Data
- forms upgraded
- handles split primary types
- record latitude-longitude
- additional type data qualification fields
- a 'not required' override option included
Museums and Journals
- picklists upgraded and expanded
- search facility improved
Custom tabs
- facility enhanced
- insert tab globally and/or at a taxon level only
- user-defined headings
- option to report contents
Help
- major upgrade
- additional context-sensitive links
- Readme / How to Get Started file updated
Instruction Manual
- The Demonstration database, together with the Readme file and Help, act as the Platypus instruction manual. They have been extensively revised to assist users take full advantage of the power of Platypus
Miscellaneous
- Platypus is now compatible with MS Access 2000
- method to convert text to italics and bold format, to index text, and to insert special characters and references improved
- numerous minor enhancements have been made throughout the programme
- speed of operation, especially previews, are greatly enhanced
