[NHCOLL-L:1216] RE: Specify Database Program

[Paul Valentich Scott]

We have been using Specify for several years for molluscan and general
invertebrate collections.

Good points: 
1. An attempt to make this a universal program used for a wide variety of
biological collections.
2. Customization, by the Specify folks, to meet your particular needs.
3. Ability to use and import "standardized" taxonomic and geographic
dictionaries and lexicons.
4. Specify staff will assist in importing records from other databases.
5. Once the system is setup, it can be very quick to enter and edit records.
6. It is easily used in a multi-user environment on Win NT servers.
7. The Specify staff quickly responds to queries and problems.
8. It is essentially free for institutions in the US.
9. It has a long history of NSF support.

Start-up problems
1. The learning curve for users, and especially the database administrators,
is very steep.
2. Specify folks will customize any reports you might need (labels, loan
forms, etc.), but it is difficult to make your own reports.
3. Specify works well in a Win2000 environment, but not particularly well in
Win98 (frequent system crashes). (We use Win2000 exclusively).

Hope this helps!

Paul

Paul Valentich Scott, Senior Associate Curator
Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
2559 Puesta del Sol Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 USA
805-682-4711, ext. 319 (voice)
805-563-0574 (fax)
pvscott at sbnature2.org
www.sbnature.org

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	CHARLES F STURM [mailto:csturmjr+ at PITT.EDU] 
Sent:	September 24, 2001 8:40 AM
To:	molluscalist; nh coll
Subject:	Specify Database Program

Folks,
  Have any of you used the Specify Database program for molluscan
collections?  If so would you be able to send me a line or two with your
experiences.  Good points, start-up problems, etc. General comments from
others using it with different taxonomic groups would also be appreciated. 
 Thanks.

Regards,
Charlie
****************************************************************************
**
Charlie Sturm, Jr
Research Associate - Section of Invertebrate Zoology
                     Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA
Assistant Professor - Family Medicine

csturmjr at pitt.edu