DwC Export - map minimumDepthInMeters and verbatimDepth [Was: Depth (DWC term) needed in Collecting Event model]

[tmcelrath]

As a curator, I need to record depth as defined here: http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/minimumDepthInMeters and here: http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/maximumDepthInMeters

It would also be helpful to have verbatimDepth: http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/verbatimDepth

This will be needed for freshwater biodiversity studies as well as marine.

[mjy]

@tmcelrath Please add this as a custom Predicate. I will add the mapping to the export.

[tmcelrath]

Added. Looks pretty clunky though (e.g. verbatimDepth not in verbatim column)

[mjy]

I suppose we could examine the label and move the field over. Not sure if that would feel that much less clunky though. Maybe ultimately we need a seperate custom fields column all-together if they reach a certain size.

[mjy]

Reopening because some people are being crabby. :crab:

[rlasleyjr]

I'm not a programmer. I'm a taxonomist. Soooo... I have no idea how to add a custom predicate...

[debpaul]

I'm not a programmer. I'm a taxonomist. Soooo... I have no idea how to add a custom predicate...

Greetings @rlasleyjr I can walk you through that. It's partially covered (needs more info) in the current documentation. I'm not a programmer either ... :-D

Briefly, for most records in TaxonWorks you can:

• add a property (a field you need) and then add and store the value that goes with it.
• even nicer, you can (if it exists) add a URL to point to the property as it exists in a given standard. This allows your data to be aggregated meaningfully / clearly in places like GBIF.

Here's an example for you.

1. Find the Task called Manage controlled vocabulary terms

2. You'll see the following when you open this task. (You'll note you can add other things, in a similar manner).

3. For your exact case here using minimumDepthInMeters Note I had to click Create to make the new predicate. It's now going to be available for you to use where you need it in TaxonWorks (see next).

4. Once you've added your Predicates, you'll want to use them. Here's an example.

• For a given CollectingEvent (see below) you want to specify the minimumDepthInMeters.
• Click to open the Radial Annotator

5.Select the Data Attributes option. You'll see all the data attributes (properties, predicates) you've added.

• Click on the Predicate you want
• Enter the value for the Predicate (in this case some number indicating the minimum depth in meters
• Click Create

6. These can then be mapped so that when you export your data (say, to GBIF) these Predicates along with their declared values, go out too.

Lemme know if you have questions.

[debpaul]

@rlasleyjr please also see our online documentation for more about what you can do with the entirety of the Manage controlled vocabulary task

And, you will discover, that you can modify your data entry forms (say, for CollectingEvent or CollectionObject) to show the desired attributes so that you can add values there. To figure this out (AFTER you've added your desired data attributes):

• go to the header menu

• click on Project

• on the left side of the screen, click Preferences

• you'll see Project: customize attributes

• there you can select the data model (e. g. Collecting Event) and the data attributes (aka fields) you want to appear on your Edit Collecting Event form.

[rlasleyjr]

Excellent! Sorry for being crabby (again). That was very helpful.

One thing... I created the predicate minimumDepthInMeters first and then maximumDepthInMeters. This resulted in maxDepth being above minDepth in Custom Attributes in Collecting Event. Checking the "Reorder fields" box did not allow me to put minDepth above maxDepth. Eventually, I solved it by deleting both, and creating maxDepth first. It was important to me that minDepth gets entered before maxDepth, to avoid confusion or entering the wrong value first. Maybe I don't know how to otherwise reorder Custom attributes? Anyway, thanks again, and I'll do a better job of checking the online doc next time.

[proceps]

If you go to Project preferences (top right button), you can select preferences, and reorder predicates there.

[rlasleyjr]

Thank you