In the next few posts, I will show you how you can use a simple specimens database in Excel and how it can be used to generate labels in EntomoLabels.
Each collection of specimens grows over time. It is then necessary to create a database that will allow for quick information retrieval. A quick, easy and effective way is to create such a database in Excel. In the database you can store all information about specimens, if necessary, to expand it by adding new columns.
Below is a description of the structure of such a database and a file with sample data.
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DATABASE structure:
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SpecimenID – unique specimen number, if you have a specimen
SlideID – a unique slide number, if any
SlidePrep – name of the person who made the slide
Medium – slide medium
Stain – slide stain
WetID – unique number of the wet specimen (alcohol, glycerin, lactic acid, etc.)
Family
Sex – M – male / F – female / empty – unrecognized
Genus
Species
Author
Det – the name of the person who determined the specimen
Country
UTM
Place
CollStage – at what stage the specimen was collected Larva / Pupa / Ovo / Empty – imago
CollDate – colleced data
Legit – the collector’s name
Plant – the food plant on which the specimen was grown
Ex -the stage at which the specimen was grown e.l. – ex larva / e.p. – ex pupa / e.o. – exovo
HatchingDate – hatching date
Cult – breeder’s name
Note – additional information about the specimen, physical condition, need to verification, etc.
LoanFrom – from whom / where the specimen was loaned from
LoanDate – when the specimen was loaned
LoanTo – to whom the specimen was loaned
BackDate – when the specimen was returned
LoanNote – return date agreed, specimen condition etc.
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Sample database:
Sample Lepidoptera collection database
Create Macro to ease export data:
On Menu click View (1) and Macro (2)
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In dialog windows insert macro name (1) and press button Create (2)
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Copy and paste code below, press Save (1) and close window (2)
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Macro source code:
Sub ExportEntomoLabels_CSV()
Dim el_filename As String
Dim nwb As Object, slcn As Range
On Error Resume Next
Set slcn = Application.Selection
On Error GoTo 0
If slcn Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
el_filename = Application.GetSaveAsFilename(Environ$(„USERPROFILE”) & „\Documents\” & „EntomoLabels\Data\” & CSVfileName, filefilter:=”Comma Separated Text (*.csv), *.csv”)
If el_filename = „False” Then Exit Sub
el_filename = LCase(Trim(el_filename))
If Len(el_filename) = 0 Then Exit Sub
Set slcn = Intersect(Union(Rows(1), slcn.EntireRow), slcn.EntireColumn)
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Set nwb = Workbooks.Add
slcn.Copy nwb.Sheets(1).Range(„A1”)
Application.CutCopyMode = False
nwb.SaveAs FileName:=el_filename, FileFormat:=xlCSV, Local:=True
nwb.Close False
Set nwb = Nothing
Set slcn = Nothing
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
MsgBox „The selected data has been saved in : ” & el_filename, vbInformation
End Sub