version 2.2.6
by Michael Lee and Forbes Boyle
June 9, 2009
Don't have a copy of the tool? Get it here: http://cvs.bio.unc.edu/methods.htm

• We'll go through each part of the Entry Tool for
Level 1 Sampling Protocol: Planted Woody
Stems
– Explanation of the Data Entry Tool
– Setting up the Data Entry Tool
• Data Entry Steps:
– Step 1: Project Planning
– Step 2: Level Protocol Choice
– Step 3: Data Entry

• A Microsoft Access* database.
• Don't be intimidated! It doesn't feel like a database.
• Based on VegBank (www.vegbank.org) data structure.
• Modified to fit our needs – we continue modification as the protocol evolves.
• It is a single file on your computer, with the extension .mdb. This file can be downloaded, copied as a backup, and sent to others so that they can see or use your data.
*Designed in Access version 2003, works also in 2007, 2002 (XP) and 2000. Not supported in Access 97 or earlier.

• Organizes the entry process with the Main Menu.
• Forms that allow efficient data entry – lookup data quickly and avoid redundant typing.
• Data validation ensures that problems are flagged and then resolved.
• Reports summarize the final data.
• Reports also are printed to provide a basis for Monitoring
(VMD).
• Download template data from CVS - plots, communities.
ALL THIS SAVES TIME AND MONEY AND DELIVERS
BETTER QUALITY DATA!

• Download the zipped Entry Tool from the CVS website:
• http://cvs.bio.unc.edu/methods.htm
– cvs-eep-entrytool-v2.2.6
Unzip the downloaded file with WinZip,
Windows Compressed
Folders, 7-Zip or whatever other compression utility you like.

• You may get up to two dialog messages:
• Do you want to open a file with Macros?
– CLICK "OPEN"
• Do you want to block unsafe expressions?
– CLICK "NO"
• These can be turned off, see Access help on security.

• If Access is new on your computer, it may ask for your name as part of the Office setup.
• Confirmation Messages are a part of Access that asks you to be sure you want to edit data in certain ways.
– e.g., deleting rows, updating a lot of data at once.
• These need to be turned off to use the entry tool.
• Click "Yes, turn off confirmation messages" if prompted.
• Messages will be turned back on after closing the entry tool.

• The Entry Tool keeps track of when records are added or updated, and by whom.
• This can help track down what happened with data that may not make sense.
• Select your name if it's in the list, or enter your initials and name.
• You can check the box to log you in automatically next time.
• Make sure the date and time are correct.

Main Menu How to find this form
• Shows who is logged in
• Message Center
• Shows Entry Tool version
• Links to CVS and EEP
Websites
• Step 1: Project
Planning
• Step 2: CVS Level
• Step 3: Data Entry
• Step 4: Extras
• Step 5: Reports
• Options

Main Menu
• Messages are consolidated at the top of the Main Menu.
• Click a message for more information.
• Click "x" to delete a message.
• Click "xx" if you don't want to see this message again.

Main Menu > Messages

Main Menu > Planning > View Existing Projects
• View projects or add project manually
– Calculate required number of plots
• Delete project or year(s) of project
• Download projects and plots to monitor
NOT
TODAY

Main Menu > Planning > Calculate Required Number of Plots
• Fill in data for a single project.
– Or use as a calculator.
• Enter standard units
(ft).
– Or use alternate units.
– Or specify area.
• Press "calculate!"
– rules for calculation are available.
****For riparian projects only, wetlands are different.****

Main Menu > Planning > View Existing Projects

Main Menu > CVS Level
• The level chosen will change the appearance of later forms and the
Main Menu options.
• More information about the five levels is available with the link at the bottom of the tab.
• Choose Level 1 and go to the next tab.

Main Menu > Data Entry
• Plot Data
• Planted Woody Stems
• You can also check for and view logical errors on this tab.
• The "extras" tab can be used to enter people, projects, references, species, etc.
• Click "Plot Data"

Main Menu > Data Entry > Plot Data Entry
• Click "Make new plot(s)" to add new plots to your project.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Plot Data Entry > Make new plots
• You must specify project, team, plot, plot level, and year number.
– Fills in next plot number and current plot level.
– Add a few plots.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Plot Data Entry
• The Plot Form matches the Plot Data Sheets closely.
• Tab between boxes
(Ctrl-Tab out of big ones).
• Use Alt-Down Arrow on your keyboard to see the contents of a picklist without the mouse.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Plot Data Entry
Picklist: Just start
Asterick: New record entered.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Plot Data Entry
• Press escape once to cancel editing one field.
• Press escape twice to cancel editing the full row or plot.
• Help is available at the bottom of most forms.
• Add a party or place name just by typing the new name -- the entry tool does the rest.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Plot Data Entry
• For some picklists in the Plot Data form, you can select more than one option.
– Soil Drainage, Plot Placement, Salinity, Topography, Hydrology,
Homogeneity, Stand Size, Season, Physiognomy
• Initially, double-click in the picklist or select [multiple].
• Then in a pop-up white box, use ctrl on your keyboard and click any number of values.
• Press Escape on your keyboard to cancel.
• Press Enter, Tab, or click another field to save selected values.
• The field will show [multiple] after you are finished entering, but if you double click that field again, it will show you which values are selected.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Plot Data Entry
• Parties
• Places
• Location
• Methods
• Size
• Shape
• Environment
• Multiple values picklist
• Try help feature

Main Menu > Data Entry > Planted Woody Stem Entry
• There's a link directly from the Plot Data
– Or you can link from the Main Menu (Data
Entry tab)
• Click "planted stems>>" on the Plot
Data form or the Main
Menu

Main Menu > Data Entry > Planted Woody Stem Entry
• You can add new stems on the blank bottom line
• Fields are truncated to correct number of digits.
• Notes are available for uncertainty and internal comments
• Use keyboard arrow keys, and the "Enter" key.
• Help is available at the bottom of the form.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Planted Woody Stem Entry
• Species names are difficult in picklists:
– Many species names.
– The names are often quite similar (e.g., same genus).
• The entry tool uses "Magic
Species Picklists" which limit the species based on the first two letters of genus and 2 letters of species (and one letter variety, if applicable).
• Enter 2 letters of the genus name and 2 letters of the species name and then arrow keys or mouse to select your species.
• If only one species matches, it is selected for you.
• Use CAPITAL LETTERS to disable this feature.
• Enter "*" to reset the list.
• Configurable in Main Menu >
Options > Advanced Features

Main Menu > Data Entry > Natural Woody Stem Entry
• What if S. alba was recorded in the field? Genus?
Press "Search for species" and search the full list of species.
The next version of the entry tool will allow search by common name too.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Planted Woody Stem Entry
• There are three "unknown species" scenarios:
– 1) Genus or family is known, but not the species.
• Fill in "sp." "sp. #2" or "sp. #3" etc. in the "unknown species" column. This separates distinct unknown species within the same genus (e.g. "Carya sp." "Carya sp. #2")
– 2) The data enterer can't understand what's written on the form (e.g., common name or unreadable)
• Use the species "DONTKNOW" which is a flag for a project director to make a determination later. Use notes field.
– 3) The species was not known in the field.
• Use the "unknown" species.
• Applies to all forms where you enter species.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Planted Woody Stem Entry
• Sometimes stems are added in the Planted
Stems Form, but later someone determines that it should be included as a natural stem instead.
• Previously, you had to delete this stem and add it in the Natural Stems Form.
• Now, you can change a stem to "natural" with a couple of clicks….

Main Menu > Data Entry > Planted Woody Stem Entry
• Bottom of the Planted Stems Form, click: Change stems to
"natural"…
• A new green box appears with "N" (natural stems) or "P" (planted).
• Double-click to toggle current state.
• Click the button again to change all stems on the plot to natural or planted.
• Natural stems will be flagged "Natural STEM: NOT PLANTED" and will not be included in planted stem density in Excel reports, when printing monitoring reports, or in next year's resampling data.

Main Menu > Data Entry > Plot Data Entry / Planted Woody Stem Entry
• Turn on help at the bottom of the main forms, move mouse over something and you’ll see more information about it (orange box).
• Check for errors (optionally after each plot, see
Main Menu > options)

Main Menu > Data Entry > Planted Woody Stem Entry
• Select a species
• Magic species picklist
• Search for species
• Fill in source, X, Y, ddh, Height, DBH
– Vigor, Damage, Notes
• Mark stems "natural"
– toggle back to planted, switch entire plot
• Check for errors
– fix errors, ignore errors, check for errors again