Sightings Query Parameters

When a workspace is opened to display trips and sightings or a sightings query is run you will be given the opportunity to supply parameters which will filter the trips and sightings so that only a subset of them is displayed.

When a workspace is opened the filter values are initialised to allow filtering on Date, Trip location and species names. You can add additional filters by clicking on the Add Filter button and then choosing the required field from the drop-down list.

The selected field will be added to the search field grid.

To remove a field from the grid select the row and press the Del key or press the Delete button .

Map references and altitudes can be obtained either from those actually entered in a trip record, or, can be inherited from those defined for the trip's location. To allow inheritance of the location values check the box "Inherit Mapref and Altitude from the Trip location". If this option is not selected then only map references or altitudes actually entered for a trip will be shown in the results.

When a sightings query is run the search fields displayed are those defined by the query and it is not possible to change them.

The Filter grid has the following 3 column headings:

Field

The name of the field to be filtered.

Comparison

The way in which the filter value is to be used in filtering the data in the field

Comparison operators determine the way in which the filtering is carried out. The following operators are available (N.B. Not all operators are available for all fields. The valid operators for any given field will be shown in a drop-down list in the comparison column.

Comparison operators are selected from a drop-down list which can be shown by clicking the arrow at the right of the Operator cell in the grid,

Between	Records will be accepted if the filtered field is between an upper and lower value specified in the Value column.
Not between	Records will be rejected if the filtered field is between an upper and lower value specified in the Value column.
Contains any of	Records will be accepted if the filtered field contains any of the multiple options specified in the Value column.
Does not contain of	Records will be rejected if the filtered field contains any of the multiple options specified in the Value column.
Contains all of	Records will be accepted if the filtered field contains all of the multiple options specified in the Value column.
Equals	Records will be accepted if the filtered field exactly matches the value entered in the Value column.
Not equal	Records will be rejected if the filtered field exactly matches the value entered in the Value column.
Less than	Records will be accepted if the filtered field is less than the value entered in the Value column.
Greater than	Records will be accepted if the filtered field is greater than the value entered in the Value column.
Contains	Records will be accepted if the filtered field matches the mask entered in the Value column. The mask is comprised of the value you want to find and percent characters which mean "any character" Examples: %gull would match "common gull" gull% would match "gull-billed tern" %gull% would match both "common gull" and "gull-billed tern"
Does not contaon	Records will be rejected if the filtered field matches the mask entered in the Value column.
Is not present	Records will be accepted if the selected field contains no data.
Is present	Records will be accepted if the selected field contains any data.

Value

The following table gives instructions for entering filter values for every Parameter

Parameters	Rules
Date First Date Last Date	Enter a single date or a range of dates (use your local date format e.g. dd/mm/yyyy, mm/dd/yyyy). If entering a range of dates enter the early date followed by the later date separate the dates with a hyphen e.g. 01/01/2003-14/09/2004. The date can be selected from a drop-down date entry control, click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display. :
Location	Allows searching for a location regardless of type. Enter the exact name of any country, state, county or site. The location can be selected from a drop-down, click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the location search tool. : You can search for a location by using the edit box at the top of the tree.
WorkspaceLocation	In a Sighting Query allows the search results to be limited to those geographic locations defined by an existing Trips Workspace. The Workspace can be selected from a drop-down:
ListSightings	In a Sightings Query this parameter allows you to select the name of an existing list. When the query is run only sightings which have been summarised into the selected list will be processed. The desired list can be selected from a drop-down: The list can be selected from the List Selection tool. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
SpeciesName	Allows searching for a species name. For operator Contains or Does not contain enter a search mask e.g. %thrush% will find any name with thrush somewhere in it. For operator Equals or Not equal enter the exact common name of the species or sub-species If an exact species name is required can be selected using the Species Search tool. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
OrderName	Allows searching for a species order name. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
FamilyName	Allows searching for a species family name. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
GenusName	Allows searching for a species genus name. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
FaunalZone	Enter one or more Faunal Zones separated by commas, e.g. Nearctic,Neotropical. The faunal zones can be selected from a drop-down. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
Continent	Enter one or more Continents separated by commas, e.g. North America,South America. The continents can be selected from a drop-down. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
Map Reference	Enter the map references for the north-west corner and the south-east corner of the area required. Separate the values with a - (hyphen) e.g. TM125085-TM145040. See Rules for entering Map References. The geographic co-ordinates can be retrieved from Google Maps by clicking the Locate button. See Selecting map coordinates. The Map References can be selected from a drop-down. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
Altitude	Enter a single numeric altitude or a high low pair of altitudes separated by a : (colon) e.g. 100:1000 The Altitudes can be selected from a drop-down. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
Habitat	Enter one or more valid habitat names separated by commas. e.g. Lake,Reservoir The Habitats can be selected from a drop-down:
StatusCodes	Enter one or more valid status names separated by commas. e.g. Breeding,Possible breeding The Status Codes can be selected from a drop-down. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
TripMedia	In a sightings query, specifying TRUE or 1 in this parameter will return only those sightings for those trips to which media is attached.
SightingMedia	In a sightings query, specifying TRUE or 1 in this parameter will return only those sightings to which media is attached.
NewCount TotalCount	For Operators = , NOT =, > and < enter a single numeric value or an abundance indicator (e.g. common). For operators BETWEEN and NOT BETWEEN enter a low, high pair of numeric values separated by a : (colon). e.g. 10:20
Observers	Enter one or more observer initials separated by commas. e.g. ZF,JP The observers may be selected from a drop-down. Click on the button at the right of the cell or press Ctrl+E to display the selection tool.
TripNotes Weather SightingNotes SiteNotes	These notes fields can be searched sightings will be accepted if the filtered field matches the mask entered in the Value column. The mask is comprised of the value you want to find and percent characters which mean "any character" Examples: %clouds would match "Sunny with a few clouds" clouds% would match "Clouds and drizzle" %clouds% would match both "Thick clouds then clear"