The left menu provides a direct link to a list of available profiles or, if you are in a project, to the assigned profile. A profile defines, which data entry fields are shown in a project. There are profile templates and profiles belonging to the individual projects. Accordingly, the screen has two tabs, "Templates" and "Assigned".
Template profiles are used for new projects. You can create a new profile by pressing the plus button. Its settings can then be modified as required. One template (called "Default") is always available. It cannot be deleted and can only be saved under a new name after changes have been made. Templates can also be derived from assigned profiles: when you save an assigned profile, you will be asked whether you want to overwrite the profile or save it as a template.
Assigned profiles are created when projects are created or imported. By default they have the same name as their associated project and can only be deleted together with that project. Changes to them affect which input fields are displayed in their respective project, but no existing data is lost when fields are disabled.
Profiles can be exported as XML files, using the menu (Profiles > Export, > Send). Templates can be imported from exported profiles (Profiles > Import).
When editing a profile you can choose from a number of fields or define your own. Add or hide fields for data entry using the check boxes. If you have doubts about the meaning of these fields check out this description. You can also set defaults to avoid entering the same information, such as observer name or date, over and over again when entering plot data.
You can define your own fields for data entry. There is currently a limit of five user-defined fields describing plots and plot observations, five for species and five for individual plants.
To create a custom field, click on the three dots next to an available field (custom fields are located at the bottom of the variable list). This will open the dialogue shown above. Fill it in and tick the box if you want to use the new variable. The available fields are
| Field Name * | The field name | Type * | A pick list of categories that define where the field appears in the plot data entry. This is only relevant for user-defined fields related to plots and plot observations. Also used when exporting to Veg-X. | Level * | Scale level of the new variable (pick list: nominal, ordinal, interval/ratio). Used when exporting to Veg-X. | Units | The unit in which the variable is measured (e.g. m). Only shown with level interval/ratio. Used when exporting to Veg-X. | Method | The method used to collect the data. Used when exporting to Veg-X. | Input * | A variable that affects how the keyboard is opened (numbers or letters). | Default | A value that is preset by default. |
* required