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VGS 4.0 User Guide
DRAFT 10/20/17
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VGS
Vegetation/GIS Data System
© 2007-2017 All rights reserved.
Developed by
Arizona Cooperative Rangeland Monitoring Program
A cooperative effort between
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
USDA Forest Service
USDI Bureau of Land Management
For more information:
Arizona Cooperative Rangeland Monitoring Program
School of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of Arizona
PO Box 210043
Tucson, AZ 85721
__________________________________________
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30 1914, in cooperation
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College
of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal
opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs
and activities.
DRAFT 10/20/17
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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 3
About VGS ............................................................................................................................................. 4
Terms of Use ......................................................................................................................................... 5
System Requirements ........................................................................................................................... 6
Installation .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Using a Tablet ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Sites ......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Organizing Sites/Locations .................................................................................................................. 11
Main Toolbar ........................................................................................................................................ 13
Manage Folders ................................................................................................................................... 16
Manage Locations ............................................................................................................................... 19
Site Information Form .......................................................................................................................... 21
Data Forms .............................................................................................................................................. 31
Data Form Structure ............................................................................................................................ 32
Tabular View ........................................................................................................................................ 38
New Data Form .................................................................................................................................... 40
Species Lookup ................................................................................................................................... 44
Creating and Editing Species Template Lists .......................................................................................... 48
Other Data Input Lists and Templates ..................................................................................................... 54
Category Lists ...................................................................................................................................... 56
Category Names .................................................................................................................................. 57
Species Group Lists ............................................................................................................................. 58
Reporting ................................................................................................................................................. 59
General Reports .................................................................................................................................. 61
Area Reports ........................................................................................................................................ 64
Site Reports ......................................................................................................................................... 66
Form Summary Reports ...................................................................................................................... 70
Study Summary Reports ...................................................................................................................... 74
Data Backup ............................................................................................................................................ 78
Appendix A: New Protocol ....................................................................................................................... 79
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Introduction
About VGS
Terms of Use
System Requirements
Installation
Using a Tablet
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About VGS
VGS is a software application for recording and managing vegetation and other ecosystem related data.
The application provides:
1. A data repository for organizing and managing data, photos, documents, positional coordinates
and other information associated with an unlimited number of study sites or locations.
2. Electronic tools for recording data in the field (using tablet PCs) as well as historical data in the
office.
3. Reports and tools for summary and presentation of results in the field and in the office.
Widespread interest in VGS has been generated because the software generally meets the needs of both
field personnel and administrative level managers. One reason for the success of VGS is that both office
and field data entry forms are designed to fit specific combinations of sampling methods and forms in
the most efficient manner for a particular sampling protocol. Data entry forms are designed to minimize
the amount of writing, clicking and scrolling involved in entering data and navigating a form. Additional
field and/or office modules for VGS to support your specific protocols and specifications can be
developed.
For vegetation data, VGS implements the entire USDA NRCS Plants Database, but allows the user to
create their own more limited template species lists. Users may also use their own common names and
functional categories for species as desired.
Specific Features
1. SQL (Structured Query Language) database for use both in the office and in the field.
2. Ability to organize and filter study areas or sites based on as many hierarchical classification
systems as desired (such as management responsibility or vegetation classifications) using a
folder paradigm similar to organizing files on a computer.
3. Data entry modules for a variety of vegetation sampling methods.
4. Data forms designed for your specific protocols and needs.
5. Data forms for entering existing historical data.
6. Integrated GPS capabilities.
7. Ability to synchronize data among field tablets and with central office database.
8. Reports for summarizing and presenting data in the field.
9. Species names and symbols are those provided by the national level USDA-NRCS PLANTS
Database.
10. Species can be qualified in any manner desired. For example species can be separated by age or
size class.
11. All categorical lists are user configurable.
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Terms of Use
End User License Agreement
Vegetation/GIS Data System (VGS) software is provided as-is with no actual or implied warranty. Use of
this software is at your own risk. The University of Arizona and developers of this software are not
responsible for any liabilities, loss of data, damages, losses, costs or expenses (including reasonable
attorney fees) arising from, or related to, any claim, action, proceeding or allegation that arises or results,
either directly or indirectly, from the use of this software. This includes the use of any summary routines,
analysis algorithms or reports included in the software. The user accepts full responsibility for any and all
conclusions or decisions based on data recorded and/or summarized using this software.
VGS software may not be reverse-engineered, or de-compiled in any manner.
The following actions may not be taken without the express consent of University of Arizona Cooperative
Extension:
• VGS software or any components thereof may not be modified and may not be included as part
of any other software.
• Documentation, either electronic or hard-copy, provided with VGS software may be copied, but
the documentation or any portion thereof may not be published or included in any other
documents.
• VGS software or any documentation provided therewith may not be posted for on-line
distribution or download.
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System Requirements
Currently, VGS is available only for the Microsoft WindowsTM operating system. It will work on tablet,
laptop, and desktop computers using:
• Windows 7
• Windows 8 Pro (Windows 8RT is NOT supported)
• Windows 10
• Windows Server 2003 or later
There is currently no version of VGS available for iPad or Android tablets.
For more information:
https://vgs.arizona.edu/download/shopping-field-tablet-some-recommendations
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Installation
Prerequisites
Prerequisites needed for VGS software Version 4.0. are installed by the VGS installation program if not
already available on the target computer and are distributed under public license from Microsoft.
• Microsoft .NET Framework Version 4.5.1
• Microsoft SQL Server:
o Compact Edition 3.5 SP1+, or
o 2008 (or later) Express or Server Editions.
Installation
NOTE: Provided screenshots follow the sequence of installation on a desktop computer with Windows 10
operating system.
Installation places VGS shortcuts to the desktop and Windows Start Menu.
The default install location is C:\Program Files(x86)\VGS4
1. Locate the root directory for the installation source files for the VGS software and run VGS vx.x
Setup.exe.
2. Accept any user agreements (EULA) that appear. Depending on which prerequisites are installed,
you may be asked to reboot before continuing. Installation will continue automatically following
the reboot.
3. Accept the default installation path or change to the desired path when requested.
4. Wait for the install wizard to run and click Finish when it's done.
If the computer on which VGS is installed has a restrictive security environment, attempt to run VGS after
installation is complete. If the message "Unable to load database" appears, then there may be issues with
access permissions that must be resolved:
• The VGS folder where the software is installed must have read/execute permissions.
• The folder where the VGS database is located must have read/write/modify privileges. The
location of this folder depends on the operating system. In general, the default locations for the
data is C:\ProgramData\VGSData
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Using a Tablet
VGS can be used on any desktop/laptop computer with a Windows operating system but is most
commonly used on tablet PC computers. Here are some tips for using VGS on a tablet PC:
• Using a stylus with VGS is more accurate and preferable to touch. Be careful not to tip the stylus
too much on its side, else Windows may not recognize a tap or selection.
• Although the risk of losing a stylus is increased, remove stylus tethers that may come with your
tablet. A tethered stylus is usually more cumbersome to use. Tying a brightly colored ribbon or
applying a bright piece of tape to your stylus will help prevent losing it.
• Always have an extra stylus available in case the stylus is lost or quits working.
• A right-click mouse action is generated on a Windows tablet by pressing and holding the stylus
down. As soon as the circular graphic appears around the stylus screen location, releasing the
stylus will bring up the right-click menu if applicable. Many styluses have a button on the side
which, when pressed and held while clicking, will also trigger a right-click.
• For best visibility in sunlight:
o Set the desktop and on-screen keyboard background to a plain, light color. Especially
avoid a busy pattern or photo for the background.
o Use a theme with light colors. The "Windows Classic" theme is a good choice.
o Setting the tablet screen as bright as possible is helpful in direct sunlight, but be aware
that screen brightness affects battery life.
o Enlarge the on-screen keyboard to a favored size using the stylus or a mouse. You can
experiment with other keyboard settings by clicking the "Options" key.
• Periodically follow the instructions for your tablet to "calibrate" the stylus. Calibrating the stylus
helps keep the screen pointer aligned with the stylus. Calibration may also be necessary when
changing users, especially between right- and left-handed users.
• When using a stylus, watch the screen pointer, not the end of the stylus, since the two may vary
based on whether or not the stylus has been calibrated to the tablet. The position of the screen
pointer determines where a mouse-click will occur.
• Turn the sound on for the tablet. VGS uses sound to indicate selections and steps during
sampling. This is helpful to the recorder to know that a stylus or touch selection was received and
to the observer by making them aware when the recorder is ready to receive more information.
(For example, knowing when the recorder has navigated to the next quadrat or sampling point).
Also, depending on the options selected, the on-screen keyboard uses sound for key-clicks.
• VGS saves data on every navigation between samples and at each data entry step where sampling
navigation does not apply. This minimizes the opportunity for data loss should a battery become
exhausted or should the tablet crash while collecting data in the field.
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• Always backup the VGS database when moving between locations and before leaving the field.
• Consider keeping all your backups rather than overwriting older backups. Depending on the type
of data and circumstances, sometimes the only way to recover lost data is to go back to the
original field data.
• Always carry extra batteries.
• Recharge the tablet whenever possible during a field day.
See also
Data Backup
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Sites
Everything in VGS revolves around the concept of sites. In the abstract sense, a site is the container
where data from studies are stored. In practice, a site is usually a physical location or area. A particular
location or site can represent a piece of landscape of any size or shape, but all data from any and all
studies associated with that location are stored within the site. When deciding what a site represents,
separate out any differences in treatment or management into separate sites. For example, if vegetation
sampling will be conducted on adjacent burned and unburned areas, a separate site should be created
for the burned area and for the unburned area. An enclosure should be a different site than areas outside
the enclosure. These distinctions are important in order to avoid data from sites with several treatments
to not be merged or compared inappropriately during analysis. Another way to look at it - only data
sampled from the same piece of ground (the same site) should be stored in a particular VGS site.
See also
Organizing Sites/Locations | Site Information Form
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Organizing Sites/Locations
The VGS interface for organizing and locating sites/locations is very similar to Windows File Explorer in a
Microsoft Windows operating system with all sites placed within a hierarchical structure of folders. The
main difference is that when you copy and paste sites to various folders in VGS, you are duplicating
references to the same site or piece of ground rather than physically duplicating the site as you would a
file in Windows Explorer. Like a physical site or location in the real world, a site in VGS can occur only
once. However, it may be referenced in any number of ways. Think of a site like a single book in a library.
There is only one book, but you can locate the book by author, title, or subject references. Likewise, you
may reference a site by land ownership, soil type, vegetation type, or any other classification scheme
desired.
The application interface consists of three main panels: Folders, Contents, and Information.
The "Folders" panel on the left side of the screen displays the folder structure for the classification
systems created to reference sites. The structure is usually hierarchical, but this is not required. In the
example above, sites are categorized by management responsibility, but the sites can be categorized any
way desired, such as by vegetation classification schemes, soil types, climate, etc. The number and type
of categories or classifications is not limited. Folders can be expanded to view sub-folders by clicking the
"+" symbol next to a folder name or by using the toolbar as described below. The “Contents” panel at
the top-right displays the contents of the currently selected folder in the folders panel. This may include
child folders and/or locations. Double-clicking a folder in this panel will open the folder and display its
contents. Contents displayed depend on the current view mode.
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There are two view modes:
1. Normal View - The first level of contents of the currently selected item in the folders panel which
may include child folders and/or locations; and
2. Drill Down View - All locations and descendant locations of the currently selected item in the
folders panel. Use the toolbar button as described below to toggle between view modes.
The Information panel at the bottom-right displays a brief summary description of the currently selected
item (either folder or location) in the contents panel. The relative size of the three panels may be
adjusted by clicking and dragging the dividers between panels.
See also
Main Toolbar | Manage Folders | Manage Locations
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Main Toolbar
The main toolbar provides for common actions. Most actions can be done with a mouse using right-click
context menus, but because context menus are sometimes more difficult to work with in the field using a
stylus, buttons have been provided as an alternative way to accomplish many tasks. Hovering over a
toolbar button with the mouse or an active stylus will bring up the name or function of each button in
the toolbar. The function of each button is described below.
Expand All
Expands or opens all folders in all structures to their deepest levels.
Collapse All
Collapses or closes all folders in all structures to their root levels.
Expand/Collapse Selected Folder
In the diagram above, this button expands the currently selected folder one level. This is the same as
clicking on the "+" symbol for a folder, but it is sometimes easier when using a stylus. However, if the
folder selected is already expanded, this button displays an up-arrow instead of the down-arrow as
displayed above and clicking on the button will collapse the selected folder. This button functions only
on the folder currently selected in the folders panel.
View All Descendant Locations for Selected Folder
Clicking this button toggles the current display mode for the contents panel.
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Edit Folder
This button functions for folders only, in either the folder or contents panels. It opens a dialog for
entering information about the selected folder:
A name, description, and site ID number can be given in this dialog window. Also, a list of contacts and
temporal history of these contacts associated with the current item can be created, along with their
associated project roles.
Open Selected Folder/Location
Clicking this button expands/opens the currently selected folder or site. It operates on the primary
selected item in either the folder panel or the contents panel. This is the same as either double-clicking
on a folder or site, or right-clicking a folder or site and choosing "Open...", but it is sometimes easier
when using a stylus.
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Edit Schema
Clicking this button places the main VGS window into edit mode allowing the user to make changes to
the schema of folders and to add or delete sites. See Manage Folders and Manage Locations for
details.
See also
Manage Folders | Manage Locations
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Manage Folders
Folders are managed using either the folders panel on the left-hand side of the main VGS window, or the
contents panel on the upper right-hand side of the main window. Before adding or editing folders, you
must click on the "Edit schema" button in the main toolbar. This step is required to avoid accidental
editing during normal use of the software. Clicking the Edit Schema button displays the Edit Toolbar:
Save All Schema Edits -button saves all pending changes and exits edit mode.
Add New Folder
To add a top-level folder to the folder panel at the root level (represented by a box) do one of the
following:
• Make sure no items are selected in the folders panel by clicking in the white space below existing
folders and click on the "New Folder" button in the toolbar. When a new folder is added, the
default name is highlighted for immediate editing.
• In the folder panel, right-click anywhere on empty space below existing folders and choose "Add
new root folder" from the drop-down menu.
Add Child Folder
To add a folder as a child of any node in a hierarchical tree, do one of the following:
• In either the folder panel or the contents panel, select the desired parent folder by clicking on it.
Then click on the "New Folder" button in the toolbar.
• In either the folder panel or the contents panel, right-click on the desired parent folder and
choose "New folder" from the drop-down menu.
• Select the parent folder in the folders panel on the left side of the screen by clicking on it. Then in
the contents panel on the right-hand side of the screen, right-click on the empty space below the
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listed sites and folders and choose "New Folder" from the drop-down menu. When a new folder is
added, the default name is highlighted for immediate editing.
Edit Folder Name
To edit folder names after the folder already exists, do one of the following:
• Right-click on the folder to be changed and choose "Rename" from the drop-down menu.
• Select the folder by clicking on it, pause (so next click is not interpreted as a double-click) and
then click the folder again.
Copy Folder
To copy a folder, copy and paste the folder using any combination of the following:
• Right-click on the folder to be copied and choose "Copy" from the drop-down menu, or select
the folder to be copied by clicking on it and then clicking on the "Copy" button in the toolbar.
• Right-click on the parent folder in the new location and choose "Paste" from the drop-down
menu, or select the new parent folder and then click the "Paste" button in the toolbar.
Move Folder
To move a folder, do one of the following:
• Drag and Drop by clicking and holding on to the folder/location, then drag and drop it on the
folder (either folders panel or contents panel) that you want to move it to. Target folder must be
visible to use this method.
• Cut and Paste using the same methods as described above for copy-pasting but use the ‘Cut’
option in the drop-down menu or using the “Cut” icon in the toolbar instead. Paste by right-
clicking on the folder that will contain the duplicate site reference and choose "Paste" from the
drop-down menu, or select the folder by clicking on it and then click the "Paste" button in the
toolbar, or in the folders panel, select the folder then right-click anywhere in the blank space
below items in the contents folder and choose "Paste" from either the drop-down menu or click
the “Paste” button on the toolbar.
Delete Folder
To delete a folder, in either the folders panel or the contents panel:
• Right-click the folder to be deleted and choose "Delete" from the drop-down menu.
NOTE: Deleting a folder also deletes all child folders. However, any sites contained within those folders
are not deleted, but rather are moved to the "Unassigned" container. The "Unassigned" container cannot
be deleted. Sites may be permanently deleted only through the process as described in the Manage
Locations section.
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Cancel All Schema Edits
Cancels all pending changes that are not yet saved.
See also
Main Toolbar | Manage Locations
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Manage Locations
Locations are managed using the contents panel on the upper right-hand side of the main VGS window.
Before adding or editing locations, you must click on the "Edit schema" button in the toolbar (See
Main Toolbar). This step is required to avoid accidental editing during normal use of the software.
Clicking the "Edit schema" button displays the Edit Toolbar:
Save All Schema Edits
Saves all pending changes and exits edit mode.
Add Location
To create a new site, go in either the folders panel or the contents panel, and:
1. Select the parent folder where the new location is to be added by clicking on it. Then click the
"New Location" button on the toolbar.
2. Select the parent folder where the new location is to be added by clicking on it, then in the
contents panel right-click on the empty space and choose "New Location" from the drop-down
menu.
Edit Location Name
To edit location names:
1. Right-click on the location and choose "Rename" from the drop-down menu.
2. Select the site to be changed by clicking on it, pause (so next click is not interpreted as a double-
click) and then click the folder again.
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Copy Location Reference
To copy a location reference (remember, you are copying references to the location - not creating a
duplicate location), copy and paste the location using any combination of the following:
1. Right-click on the intended location and choose "Copy" from the drop-down menu, or select the
location to be copied by clicking on it and then click on the "Copy" button in the toolbar.
2. Right-click on the target folder and choose "Paste" from the drop-down menu, or select the
target folder (either in the folders panel or the contents panel) by clicking on it and then click the
"Paste" button in the toolbar, or after selecting the target folder in the folders panel, either right-
click in the blank space below items in the contents panel and choose "Paste" from the drop-
down menu or click in the blank space below items in the contents panel and click on the "Paste"
button in the toolbar.
Move Location
To move a location, do one of the following:
• Drag and Drop by clicking and holding on to the target location, then drag and drop it on the
target folder (in either the folders panel or the contents panel). The target folder must be visible
to use this method.
• Cut and Paste by right-clicking on the target location and choose "Cut" from the drop-down
menu, or select the target location by clicking on it and then click on the "Cut" button in the
toolbar. Paste location by right-clicking on the intended folder destination and choose "Paste"
from the drop-down menu, or by selecting the folder by clicking on it once and then clicking the
"Paste" button in the toolbar. You can also select the folder and then right-click in the blank space
below items in the contents folder and either choose "Paste" from the drop-down menu or click
on the "Paste" button in the toolbar.
Delete Location
To delete a location, do one of the following:
1. Select the location to be deleted by clicking on it and then click the "Delete" button in the
toolbar.
2. Right-click the site to be deleted and choose "Remove" from the drop-down menu.
See also
Main Toolbar | Manage Folders
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Site Information Form
All the information and data associated with a given site/location, its description, portfolios, and
protocols are entered and managed using the "Site information" form. To open the site information
form, do one of the following:
• Select a site by clicking on it and then click on the "Open selected folder/location" button on the
toolbar.
• Right-click on a site and choose “Open...” from the drop-down menu.
Only one site information form may be edited at a time while several can be open simultaneously. The
top of the form displays the classification path from which the form was opened and the name of the
site. The name of the site may be edited here in addition to the main VGS window. The remainder of the
form displays one of the four tabs:
1. General
2. Description
3. Portfolios
4. Log
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1. General
When a site or location is first opened, the "General" information tab is displayed. In addition to the Site
Type, Status, and Establishment Date, other information can be added to the notes section. Type and
Status have a dropdown menu where you can choose the correct option for your site. Notes about
specific point-in-time measures or studies done at the site should not be entered here but should be
entered within the information about the studies themselves. In general, only information that pertains
to the site itself should go here because studies, protocols and so forth may change over time and
become outdated. At the bottom of the "General" tab page is a listing of all classification reference paths
assigned to the site. The top of the form only displays the path from which the form was opened but the
list at the bottom shows all paths. This provides an overview of characteristics and/or ownership of the
site and is unlimited in scope, since the site may be assigned to as many classes or schema as desired.
Changes to class assignments cannot be made here but are made on the main form as described in
Organizing Sites.
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2. Description
Information that describes the site in various ways is entered on this page including GPS location
coordinates, % Slope, Slope Aspect (in degrees), and Elevation.
On the bottom of the “Description" tab are the site locators. There is no limit to the number of locators
that may be entered. Where stakes or posts are used to mark sites or sampling layouts, it is
recommended that coordinates be entered for more than one marker to facilitate relocating the site
even if a stake or post is pushed over or removed.
To enter a new locator, click the “New” button in the Locators section. This will create a new line in the
list of locators. The following items may be entered:
1. Locator Type - Click on the drop-down list of types and choose the desired type.
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2. Primary - Check the box for the locator considered the primary locator for the site. Only one
locator may be marked as primary. This field is used when study locations are exported or linked
to a GIS layer to indicate which coordinates to use for plotting on a map, etc.
3. UTM Coordinates - This is where GPS coordinates are entered. Click on the button with the
pushpin icon to bring up the GPS dialog.
4. Notes - Click the button with the pencil icon to bring up a dialog where notes can be entered
about the locator, such as notes about a marker or hints on how to find it.
Entering Locator Coordinates
To add a new locator coordinate click on the button with the pushpin icon:
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This will open the GPS Module:
Once the GPS dialog appears, coordinates may be entered manually or, if a compatible GPS was
detected, by clicking on the "Acquire Position" button. This button will only be enabled if a GPS unit was
detected and the minimum accuracy requirements are met. Once the coordinates have been entered,
click on the "Select" button to accept the coordinates for entry into the locator record. Clicking the
"Acquire Position" button again will reread the current location and replace the existing entry. The
"Clear" button will clear the coordinates which is useful largely during manual entry, the "Clear Position"
button will also clear the coordinates when using a GPS receiver. Clicking "Cancel" at any time will stop
detection and return the user to the site information form.
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3. Portfolios
Under the "portfolio" tab you can save images, photos, figures and documents related to a site.
This tab gives a preview of the supporting documents listed for the location including a thumbnail, date,
ID, File Details, and a description of the document. There is no limit to the amount of supporting
documentation that can be added to a location.
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By clicking the “New Portfolio” button you will be taken to a menu to add content. You can choose the
name of your portfolio(s) and add them by clicking the “Browse” button. Then you can choose if you
want to store the uploaded content within the VGS data folder or if you want to reference the current file
location.
Any upload you make can be cleared by clicking the “Clear” button. You can remove items by clicking the
“Remove” button on the top right of the portfolio window. You may open and close your portfolios,
change the display size with the slider control and view the content with the folder
icons on the left side of the “Portfolios” window. To edit the content of an open portfolio, click the pencil
icon on the left top of the portfolio window. To view the content of an open portfolio click the
magnifying glass icon.
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4. Log
The "Log" tab of the site information form lists all events stored in a VGS database related to a particular
location. Whether the data were imported, recorded using field data forms, or added to the database
using an office input form, the event will be listed here. The list is grouped by the form used to enter or
display the data and by the date of the event with the most recent date listed first by default.
An event is a particular set of sample data for one point-in-time at a single location or site for one
particular characteristic. A data form is the form on which one or more events are recorded concurrently.
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Data forms may be created for the field or for the office depending on data entry needs. Each form
contains panels specific to the events to be recorded and are laid out according to the sampling protocol
associated with those events.
To edit the data for a single form (i.e. one group of events), highlight any row in the list and click the
"Edit" button at the top of the list.
To delete a protocol, form, or event from the database, select the item to be deleted and click the
"Delete" button at the top of the list. The selected item currently highlighted in the list will be deleted
along with its child items. If the item or one or more children contain data, a warning will be displayed
listing the data items that will be deleted. An option to cancel the deletion is provided. Deletion is
permanent, so use it with care.
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To add events to a site click the "New" button. See New Data Form for more details on how to create a
new data form.
See New Protocol for more details on how to create, edit and use protocols.
See also
Organizing Sites/Locations | New Data Form | Appendix A: New Protocol
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Data Forms
In VGS, Data Forms are the configurable interface that the user most often interacts with while entering
data. Data forms in turn contain one or more data modules, each of which provide a mechanism for
entering and displaying data during the sampling process. Information on creating, configuring, and
using Data Forms is described in the sections below.
Data Form Structure
Tabular View
New Data Form
Species Lookup
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Data Form Structure
There are currently two types of data forms available in VGS: "Field" forms and "Office" forms. Field forms
are designed to be used when recording data in the field, usually using repetitive sampling procedures.
Office forms are more suited to entering data which has been previously recorded on paper data forms
or electronic spreadsheets. For information about office forms see the Tabular View section of this
manual.
Field Forms
A field data form consists of up to four sections:
1. Header
2. Navigation Control
3. Display Panel
4. Input Panel
Header
The Header contains the following buttons:
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Under the “Protocol Setting” button you may choose either:
• Protocol Settings or
• “Enable touch adjustment of spacing”. The size of individual panels in the “Display” section of a
data form are adjustable by clicking and dragging on the margins with the mouse/stylus as shown
below. However, making these adjustments on certain tablets or with a finger can be difficult.
Clicking this option temporarily widens the space surrounding each panel to make it easier to
make these changes. When finished adjusting the panels, click the same option to toggle the
spacing between panels back to normal.
The various panels are adjustable by clicking and dragging on the margins with the mouse/stylus as
shown below. This way any one data box can be made bigger or smaller depending on the needs of the
user. Panel size can be adjusted vertically in a similar manner by clicking and dragging along the bottom
margin.
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By clicking the “Form information” button you can add/change the following parameters:
• Event Date - This field defaults to current date which is almost always appropriate if using a field
form. If using an office form to enter previously collected data, change the date to the date of the
original events for which data will be entered. The date provided will apply to all events on the
data form.
• Observer/Recorder/Others - Here the names of those taking part in the event(s) may be entered.
This is a free-form field so there is no particular format that must be used. It is somewhat limited
in length, but it is longer than the size displayed. The names provided will apply to all events on
the form.
• Notes - Notes entered here should refer to the specific events for which the data form is being
generated or to conditions and so forth that are pertinent only to the day of the event. Notes
about the site (things that don't change over time) would better fit in the site notes on the Site
Information Form. Event notes are propagated to every event on the form for consistency, even
though specific comments may not apply to every event.
Click the "Apply" button to apply the changes to the particular transect or the "Apply All" button to apply
changes to all the transects. Click "cancel" to undo changes.
The “Tabular View” button may be used if data needs to be manipulated manually. Refer to the Tabular
View section of this manual for details regarding using tabular view to input data.
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In the field, the "Close" button is often easier to use rather than the small Windows TM "x" button in the
corner of the screen, though either will close the form.
Navigation Control
A panel with a navigation control is visible at the top of a data form whenever the sampling scheme for
the data form involves repetitive sampling. The following navigation control is most common.
If the sampling scheme involves transects, a band is located at the top of the control sub-divided into
equal portions representing each transect to be used in the sampling scheme. If the number of transects
required varies among the events or studies for a particular data form, this band will show the largest
number of transects required among the various events. The current transect actively receiving data
input is highlighted in orange. The slider bar below the transect band indicates the number of individual
samples to be recorded along each transect. The current sample for which data is being entered is
indicated along the transect by a larger orange number. In the example above, the current position is
sample 7 on Transect 1.
To move to the next sample during sampling, click on the "Forward" button. When the last sample in the
current transect has been completed and the forward button is clicked, it moves on to the first sample of
the next transect. The "Back" button moves backwards from sample to sample. The current transect can
be changed manually by clicking on the desired transect in the transect band. When changing transects,
the current sample indicator always jumps to sample number 1. The slider can be used to move to any
sample within a transect by clicking and dragging the slider to the desired position.
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Display Panel
The central panel on a field data form is called the "display" panel. Modules for each event or type of
measurement or data input are shown sequentially in the order in which data input flows as set in the
protocol. In the example below there are two modules, the first for point intercept and the second for
plant height and shape.
A display module shows the data entered for the current sample unit (quadrat, point, point cluster,
measurement, etc.) only and are not usually used for direct data entry. The currently active event, or the
event currently receiving data, is highlighted. In the above example, the point intercept module is the
active event and is highlighted orange. Any data entered applies to the active module only. The active
module can be changed by clicking on the desired module. For those events or studies where it is
possible to know when sampling has been completed for the current sample unit, the next module to the
right is automatically made active and ready to sample.
Input Panel
The panel at the bottom of the form contains data input controls as they apply to the currently active
event panel. Most data entry occurs here. The input panel displayed depends on which event form and
tab is active. Examples of Input/Data Entry Panels Include a species and/or category input panel and a
numeric input panel.
In this example the species/category input panel has includes two sections: the top section includes a list
of categories that apply to the sampling scheme and the bottom section displays a list of species which
are selected for input by clicking on the desired item.
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More about how to use the species dialog to look up or add species see the Species Lookup and
Creating and Editing Species Template Lists sections of the manual. To make corrections, click on the
incorrect item i.e. the plant species code in “Plant Species” window and it will disappear from the
recording form. The icons from left to right allow the user to define how the data entry labels are viewed.
The A icon allows the user to view the data labels as:
1. Species Codes (as in the example above)
2. As Common Names (that are listed in the plants database) or
3. As Latin Names
The A-Z icon allows the user to alphabetize the labels at any time.
Checking the "Site Species" check box allows the user to recall every species with data previously
sampled on the site.
The dropdown menu is populated by the user’s species template lists. To set up species template lists,
see Creating and Editing Species Template Lists.
See also
Species Lookup | Creating and Editing Species Template Lists | Other Data Input Lists and Templates |
Tabular View
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Tabular View
There are currently two types of data forms available in VGS: "Field" forms and "Office" forms. Field forms
are designed to be used when recording data in the field, usually using repetitive sampling procedures.
For information about Field forms see the Data Form Structure section of this manual. Office forms are
more suited to entering data which has been previously recorded on paper data forms or electronic
spreadsheets.
Tabular View input is often used for inputting data in the office from previously collected field data
sheets. To access tabular view from a field data form click the "Tabular View" button in the top right of
the screen.
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This will open a tabular view input window like the one shown below.
Tabular view is not as convenient for entering data in the field but it has advantages in other cases. After
recording data, the user can switch to tabular view in order to export data as a .csv or MicrosoftTM Excel
file. To export data in one of these formats click the "export" drop down in the top right corner and
choose which file type you would like to create.
See also
Data Form Structure
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New Data Form
In order to create a new data form, do the following:
1. click the “New” button in the “Log” tab of a Site Information Form.
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The following “Create Forms and Events” dialog will open:
2. Choose Protocol: A default protocol will already be chosen when this dialog opens but you can
choose a different protocol to be used from the drop down menu.
If protocols have already been set up for your specific organization or group you will simply
choose the appropriate protocol. Refer to the New Protocol section of the manual in the event
that it is necessary to import or generate a new protocol.
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3. Protocol/Visit Name: A name can be entered for the protocol/visit if desired. Otherwise the
default will display the name of the protocol in this box. This Protocol/Visit Name is sometimes
useful for describing the purpose of the data collection event.
4. Configure Forms and Events: Once the protocol form has been chosen and expanded, a list of all
the available forms and modular events is displayed with the option to change settings:
These options allow you to make changes to settings such as the number of transects, number of
samples per transect, and sampling event settings. In most cases you will not need to adjust these
settings if you have chosen a pre-configured protocol from your organization. For more
information on form and event settings refer to the New Protocol section of the manual.
CAUTION: Avoid making changes to parameters and settings after data entry due to the risk of losing
data already recorded. For example, if data have already been collected on transect 3 and the "Number
of Transects" parameter is changed to 2, all data on transect three will be lost. A similar situation could
occur when changing the number of nested quadrats, ground cover points per quadrat etc.
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5. When you are finished configuring the forms and events select "Create Forms" to open your new
data form. Refer to the Data Form Structure section of this manual for more information on
using data forms.
See also
Appendix A: New Protocol | Data Form Structure | Site Information Form
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Species Lookup
There are two locations in VGS from which a species dialog can be invoked:
1. Click on a blank tile in a species input panel on a data form.
2. From the "Species Search" menu on the main panel of VGS.
In VGS it is usually necessary to search for a species in order to add it to a species input panel on a data
form but it is also sometimes useful to look up a species to find their names or codes at times other than
during specific data collection tasks. The species available for entry are based on the complete NRCS
Plants Database or alternatively on list or lists created by the users. For more about how to create and
edit species template lists see Creating and Editing Species Template Lists.
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When the species dialog first opens it appears in one of two states:
1. Species entry box is blank and the species list is empty. This will be the case when opening the
dialog from the main VGS window or from an input panel when adding a new species.
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2. Species entry box contains a species and the species list contains a list of all species that match
the text in the entry space. This occurs when a species exists and the dialog is opened to change
the species or to get information about the species.
A species is entered by typing into the “Search For” box on the top of the “Select Species” dialog. The
dialog searches on the characters entered (a minimum of two characters) and finds all species in the
database that either start with or contain what is entered depending on the setting. Search result appear
in the window below. The search column can be changed by clicking the different column headers.
Searches can be made based on the “Code”, “Common Name”, and “Species Name” (Latin) columns.
The “Current” column displays the code for the currently accepted species name for any items in the
“Code” column whose name has officially changed.
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Clicking the “Info” button at the end of each species row takes you to a species info sheet.
Clicking the “Select” button in the species dialog returns control to the input panel, from which the
species dialog was called from, displaying the results.
To change a species on the input panel (an option when you entered the species dialog from the site
information form), right-click on the species in the input panel to be changed and choose "Change
Species" from the context menu. When a species is changed, the name of that species is changed
throughout all data collected previously for all methods on the form.
Species Qualifiers
In VGS all species stored in the database actually consist of two parts - the species and a qualifier. This
allows a further division of species beyond the species name. For example, it may be important to
separate out seedlings from mature plants as shown below. The qualifier field is where this occurs. Enter
any brief text desired here and it will become part of the displayed species name. When qualifiers are
used, the same species may be added to a species input list more than once.
Species Notes
Notes may be entered regarding a species when it is selected for use. Typical use of species notes is to
indicate identification issues, noting combined species when distinguishing them is difficult, etc. The
appended notes become part of the event notes, so for consistency they are propagated to all events
along with the rest of the event notes whether an event uses species or not.
See also
Creating and Editing Species Template Lists | Other Data Input Lists and Templates |
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Creating and Editing Species Template Lists
Species template lists can help facilitate data entry in the field when sampling at a location where data
does not yet exist in VGS from previous visits. Although species can and usually must be added on the fly
during sampling, having a template list ready to go can be helpful. Generally, it is recommended that a
template list include only the most common species for a particular type of vegetation or location as well
as those species that are almost always encountered even if in small numbers. Less ubiquitous species
should be added on the fly during sampling. That way, each list can be used for multiple locations. Any
number of template lists may be created to accommodate various community types.
Template lists may also be created to facilitate specific sampling schemes. For example, if sampling is to
be restricted to a predetermined group of species, a template list can be created with only those specific
species included. If desired, the user can be restricted from entering any species other than those
included in the list.
Experience suggests that lists are most effective when limited to no more than 25-30 species. At this
time, it is not possible to automatically add species to a template list directly from the data form during
sampling without closing the form. Lists may be edited only through the list manager as shown below.
New List
1. Close all secondary windows, such as site windows. If the “Setup” menu is grayed out and
disabled, then check for open hidden windows from the VGS icon in the Windows Taskbar.
2. Click on the “Setup” menu and choose the “Lists” option. This will open the list setup manager.
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3. On the left side of the panel, select the “Species Input” option. To the right, any existing template
lists for species will be listed.
4. Click the “New” button. This will create a new record in the list panel.
5. Type in a name for the list.
6. Describe the list as desired in the “Description” column. Clicking in the description field will
display a small button to the right which, when clicked, will open a larger, resizable window to
provide space for entering a long description.
7. Click the “Save” button in the top left-hand corner.
Adding Species to a List
1. If not already selected, select the new list created above by clicking anywhere in the row for the
list.
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2. Click the “Members” tab at the bottom of the panel.
3. Click in the first column (labeled “Species Code”) of the first row to activate it.
4. Enter a species in one of two ways:
o Type in the standard species code (as per NRCS PLANTS database codes) for the species
desired. Be very careful because an incorrect code will result in an incorrect entry if a
species exists which owns the incorrect code. If there is any question at all about the exact
code (including numbers) for the species, use option b for entering the species code.
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o Click on the button to the right of the species code. This button appears when the species
code cell is active. This will bring up the species search and selection dialog. The entire
PLANTS database is available from which to search and select a species. Species may be
searched for by code, common name, or Latin name. Once the correct species has been
located and highlighted, click the “Select” button.
5. When a species is selected or filled in, the “Species Name” and “Common Name” columns will be
automatically filled.
6. A qualifier may be added in the “Qualifier” field as necessary for certain sampling schemes if
desired. Otherwise, leave this cell blank.
7. Once a species has been entered, another line will be added to the list for entering the next
species. Repeat the process for each species to be added to the list.
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8. When all species to be included in the list have been entered, be sure to click on the “Save”
button in the top-left corner of the window.
9. The list manager may be closed at this point, or clicking the “List” tab at the bottom of the panel
will return to the list window where more lists may be created.
Editing a List
1. Open the list manager as described above.
2. Select the list to be edited in the list manager.
3. Click on the “Members” tab at the bottom of the panel.
4. Add, edit or delete species as desired:
o Add species as described above
o Edit species by simply changing the species code. Clicking the button in a cell that already
has a species entered will bring up the species selection dialog. Selecting a different
species from the selection dialog will replace the existing species.
o Delete species using the “Delete” button located above and to the right of the list.
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Using a Template List
When a data form is open and a data module that records species is active, a species selection panel
appears in the lower part of the form. To add species in a template list to the selection panel:
1. Select the desired template list from the dropdown located at the top of the selection panel.
2. Check the box next to the list and all species in the list will be added to the selection panel.
3. Unchecking the box will toggle the list off, except any species for which data have been entered
will remain as well as any species added to the selection panel that do not occur in the template
list.
Template lists may be exported and imported as desired to facilitate copying lists among tablets and
users. This is done via the Export/Import buttons located to the right above the lists.
1. To export, simply select the list to be exported, click the "Export" button and choose the location
and name of the list exchange file that will be created.
2. To Import, simply click the Import button and choose the exchange file to be imported.
By default, list exchange files have an extension of “.vgss”.
See also
Species Lookup | Other Data Input Lists and Templates |
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Other Data Input Lists and Templates
Other data input lists and templates include:
Category Lists
Category Names
Species Groups
In order to create one of these data input lists or templates, go to “Setup” and click on “Lists”.
A new list is created by first clicking on and selecting the type of list to be created as described for the
species input list. Then click the "New" button to give the new list a name. A description of the list may
be added as well. When finished, click the "Save" button.
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To add members to a list, select the list to be edited and then click on the "Members" tab. Members may
not be added to a list until the list has been saved for the first time. Any list with an image of a padlock in
the "Locked" column may be viewed but may not be edited. For specific instructions see the individual
sections.
Note: You Can also select the check mark next to a list to make it the default list.
See also
Category Lists | Category Names | Species Group Lists
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Category Lists
Category lists are used throughout VGS for various types of data input other than plant species. You can
either choose from a default list of categories to add or import your own list. The exact spelling of a
category that is used during data entry and reporting can be adjusted using a "Category Names" list.
Members are added to or removed from a list by selecting an item in either the "Available" or "Selected"
panels and then clicking buttons located between the two panels to move the item from one side to the
other as desired. The buttons with a double arrow or chevron will move all items whereas buttons with a
single arrow or chevron will move only the selected item. In the end, the items remaining in the
"Selected" panel will comprise the members of the input list.
See also
Category Names | Species Group Lists |
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Category Names
Category name lists allow you to change the spelling of a category name that is displayed during data
entry and reporting. Category name lists work much the same as Category lists. All available categories
are included in the list. Simply select the item to be altered and type in the preferred spelling in the
"Category Name" column.
NOTE: Do not completely change a category in an attempt to create a category not included in the list!
The category will still be the same and will still combine with other data of the same category during
reporting and analysis regardless of the wording or spelling.
See also
Category Lists | Species Group Lists
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Species Group Lists
Species group lists are for categorizing species into logical groups for reporting purposes. For example,
a default list is provided with VGS that categorizes most of the species included in the USDA PLANTS
Database into four simple groups: Annuals, Forbs - Perennial, Grass - Perennial, and Woody Species.
Currently, species group lists are only used in a couple of standard VGS reports.
Members are added to a species group list using a species lookup by clicking below the column header
"Species Code." After selecting a species, simply enter a desired category into the "Categories" column.
NOTE: Enter categories with consistent spelling and spacing to avoid misspelled categories appearing as
distinct groups during reporting.
See also
Creating and Editing Species Template Lists | Species Lookup | Category Lists | Category Names |
Reporting
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Reporting
All VGS reports can be exported and some specific types of data exports are included under report
menus, so for the purposes of this guide, reporting and exporting are interchangeable and will simply be
referred to as reports.
Reporting in VGS follows a paradigm that is the reverse of many applications. Many applications require
the user to select a report, and then choose the data to include in the report. However, data are often
unique or specific in nature and are not appropriate for use with every type of report. Therefore, to assist
with finding appropriate reports for given sets of data, VGS users are generally required to first select the
set of data on which to report, at which point the list of reports available appropriate to the data are
presented to the user for selection.
Reporting in VGS is available at five levels:
1. General Reports
General reports don’t usually involve sample data, but simply provide summary information about
sites or locations sampled, the types of data available and so forth. Many of the reports however
can be restricted to subsets of information by selecting a folder to indicate the level of
information to be reported. This is similar to the multi-site reports below. General reports are
available from the main VGS menu and/or from the menu on Site Information Forms.
2. Area Reports
Area reports summarize various types of data, but do so across multiple sites. The area or groups
of sites to be reported are chosen by selecting a folder to indicate the level of reporting to be
performed. Once a folder is chosen, the general reports or data exports available are listed in the
Reports menu on the main VGS menu bar.
3. Site Reports
Reports of this type are available from the Reports menu on the Site Information Form and report
on site specific information or summarize data across multiple dates and/or events.
4. Form Summary Reports
Form summary reports will summarize data for a single data form for more than one event or
type of data on the form. Few of these reports are available because since they include more than
one kind of data, they are usually very specific or custom in nature.
5. Study Summary Reports
Study summary reports summarize data for a single event.
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Report Preview
All VGS reports will initially open with a report preview screen. From this preview screen the report can
be saved as a PDF, Excel file, etc. using the drop down function as shown below:
The Report Preview toolbar functions are:
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General Reports
General reports don’t usually involve sample data, but simply provide summary information about sites
or locations sampled, the types of data available and so forth. Many of the reports however can be
restricted to subsets of information by selecting a folder to indicate the level of information to be
reported. This is similar to other multi-site reports. General reports are available from the main VGS
menu and/or from the menu on Site Information Forms.
Data Scope
A Data Scope is a general report that lists all the Events and Methods used on a particular site or
location. In order to produce a Data Scope Report do the following:
1. Browse to the site or location you want the data scope on and double click to open the Site
Information Form and go to the “Log” tab.
2. Click on "Reports" drop-down menu
3. Select "General"
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4. Select "Data Scope"
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5. Save or export the report as a PDF, Excel file, etc. as shown below.
See also
Site Information Form |
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Area Reports
Area reports summarize various types of data, but do so across multiple sites. To create an area report,
do the following:
1. Select the folders representing the sites that you would like to run a report for. In the example
below a report is generated for all data collected at the sites within "Big Gulch Allotment".
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2. Select "Reports" from the main window of VGS.
3. Choose the type of Report you would like from the available drop down list.
4. Configure and export or save your report.
See also
General Reports | Study Summary Reports
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Site Reports
Reports of this type are available from the Reports menu on the Site Information Form and report on site
specific information or summarize data across multiple dates and/or events.
Follow these steps to generate a comparison report:
1. Browse to the correct site or location and go to the “Log” tab of the Site Information Form
2. Click the Reports drop-down menu at the top
3. Click Compare Events
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4. Select the event to be compared (e.g. Compare – Frequency)
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5. Check the boxes (radio buttons) for all the information you would like displayed on the report
from the dialog:
o Display species as common names: The common names as listed in the USDA Plants
Database will be displayed on the report. To generate a custom list of common names go
to Category Names.
o Group by species group: This will display the data in plant form groups such as perennial
grasses, perennial forbs, shrubs and trees, etc. (e.g. only group by species group is
selected).
o Show zeros in empty cells: Depending on user preference empty spaces can be left blank
of filled with the value 0.
o Configure species: Shows species configuration.
o All events for the current site will be compared: Compares all events to each other or
alternatively the user can define which events to compare by clicking the "Choose" drop-
down menu and selecting the events to be compared.
o Select the probability value in Statistical Information:
▪ Show binomial margin of error (based on samples)
▪ Show t-Statistic margin of error (based on transects)
▪ Show confidence interval overlap indicators
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6. Click “Save as Defaults” button to save selected options as defaults.
7. Click the Run Report button.
8. Save or export the report as a PDF, Excel file, etc. as shown below.
See also
Site Information Form | Category Names | Species Group Lists
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Form Summary Reports
Form summary reports will summarize data for a single data form for more than one event or type of
data on the form. Few of these reports are available because since they include more than one kind of
data, they are usually very specific or custom in nature.
To generate a form summary report for a single visit or study report:
1. Browse to the site/location and the desired event or visit in the "Log” tab of the Site Information
Form.
2. Expand the event by clicking the plus symbol.
3. Select the single Form or Study to be reported.
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4. Click the "Reports" drop-down menu at the top
5. Browse to "Form Summary" or "Study Summary"
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6. Check the boxes (radio buttons) in the dialog for all the information needed to be displayed on
the report:
o Display alternate ground cover category names if any. See Category Names to generate
custom lists.
o Display species as common names. The common names as listed in the USDA Plants
Database will be displayed on the report.
o Group by species group. This will display the data in plant form groups such as perennial
grasses, perennial forbs, shrubs and trees, etc. (e.g. only group by species group is
selected). To generate a custom list of Species Groups, see Species Groups.
7. Click “Save as Defaults” button to save selected options as defaults.
8. Click "Run Report" button.
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9. Save or export the report as a PDF, Excel file, etc. as shown below.
See also
Site Information Form | Category Names | Species Group Lists
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Study Summary Reports
Study summary reports summarize data for a single event.
Follow these steps to generate a summary report:
1. Browse to the correct site or location and go to the “Log” tab of the Site Information Form.
2. Select the specific event to be reported. In the example below the trend monitoring event that
took place on 09/17/2015 is selected for a frequency comparison report.
3. Click the Reports drop-down menu at the top
4. Click Compare Events
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5. Select the event to be compared (e.g. Compare – Frequency)
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6. Check the boxes (radio buttons) for all the information you would like displayed on the report
from the dialog. See Site Reports for more information on configuring report options.
7. Click “Save as Defaults” button to save selected options as defaults.
8. Click the Run Report button.
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9. Save or export the report as a PDF, Excel file, etc. as shown below.
See also
Site Information Form | Site Reports
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Data Backup
Data should always be backed up regularly, at the very least at the end of a day of data entry. In the field,
a good practice is to always back up the VGS database before shutting down the tablet PC. However,
VGS writes data to the database on the physical storage device after every sample and when closing the
data form itself. So the most data you can lose due to a sudden shutdown of an exhausted battery or
other failure (other than failure of the storage device itself) is the current sample (e.g. the current
quadrat).
To back up the VGS database:
1. Click on the "File" menu of the main VGS window
2. Choose "Database"
3. Click on "Backup" from the drop-down menu. The following dialog will appear:
4. Enter the path to the desired backup location or click on the "Browse" button and choose the
backup location from the computer. The default location when the dialog opens is the
"DataBackups" directory within the VGS install space. However, best practice is to back up to a
thumb drive, a network drive, or other external device in case the device used to collect data is
lost or damaged.
5. Enter a name for the data backup.
Note: By default VGS will generate a name that includes date and time stamps as follows:
VGS_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.sdf. However it is often a good practice to enter the name of the recorders
or the name of the device used to the end of the file name in order to facilitate any merges that need to
be made or to remember when and why the backup was made. For Example:
VGS_20170822_143624_Team2Tablet.sdf.
6. Click on the "Start Backup..." button. Once a backup is complete, the backup dialog remains in
place in case a second backup is desired.
7. Close the dialog (this returns control to the main VGS window).
Note: Consider keeping all your backups rather than overwriting older backups. Depending on the type
of data and circumstances, sometimes the only way to recover lost data is to go back to the original field
data
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Appendix A: New Protocol
Protocols are managed through the "Protocol Manager Window." In order to create a new protocol or
edit an existing one follow these steps:
1. Open the window by going to Setup – Protocols - Forms.
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The “Protocol Manager” window will open. In this window there are options to configure a new
protocol or import an already existing protocol.
In order to import or export a protocol choose the "Export/Import" button and pick which
command you would like to do. Protocols can be created and saved on one computer or tablet
and transferred to another using an external USB storage device in this manner.
2. Create a New Protocol: In order to configure a new protocol choose new protocol and either build
one from scratch by choosing "New Protocol", or base it off of a pre-existing protocol by
choosing "Duplicate Selected Protocol."
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3. Select Protocol Options: The upper portion of the window will allow you to view, name, and add
or delete the available protocols, as well as give them a description. The window also contains a
check box to choose a default protocol, if desired.
4. Configure Forms: In the bottom window the configurable forms are displayed for the selected
protocol. This windows contains options to add or delete forms and events.
To add a new form to the protocol click the "Add Form" button. The new form will appear at the
bottom of the window. Use the "Delete Form" button to delete the selected form. Click on "Form
Type" to display a drop down. This will allow you to specify a field or office form.
Change the form name by clicking on the box below the title "Form Name" and typing in the new
name.
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Change the order in which the form is presented by changing the number below "Order". Choose
the pencil icon to open the "Edit Parameters" dialog for that form.
From the dialog you can change settings such as the number of transects included in each form,
etc. In the example above, 5 transects are selected, each transect is set to 100 feet by 6 feet, 10
samples are taken at each transect, and each sample is taken at the labeled distances: 6, 40, 70,
88, 130, 145, etc...
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5. Configure Events: Events are the sampling methods that will take place at each sample. Event
types available include options for composition, cover, density, frequency, qualitative, residue,
structure, utilization, and weight measurements. To add a new event choose the "Add Event"
button. Similarly, choose the "Remove Event" button to remove the selected event. A newly
added event will appear in the bottom window as shown below.
From this window event type, name, active status, page number, entry order, and settings can all
be adjusted. Select the pencil icon below an event to open the "Edit Parameters" dialog for
that event:
Any parameters that cannot be changed are shown for reference. Parameters or secondary
columns that are not editable have a light yellow background. Event parameters may be changed
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after the form is generated by selecting the "Edit" tab of a data form. Select "Accept" in the top
right corner after making your selection.
6. When you are finished configuring the forms and events for you new protocol select save in the
top right corner of the protocol manager, the new protocol will now be available for collecting
data.
See also
Site Information Form | Data Form Structure