• Recorder-6 is no longer based in MS-Access, as was the previous Recorder-2000 and Recorder-2002 versions, but has MS SQL Server as its underlying database engine.
• Computerisation of the paper data held and passed to RECORD is undertaken from the most recent data backwards, unless the data is applicable to specific projects (e.g. Unlocking The Past).
• RECORD uses Recorder-6 as its main data storage software as this is the industry standard and provides excellent mechanisms for data validation and database integrity, as well as for reporting.
• MapInfo Geographical Information System (GIS), which is used by many of the Local Authority partners, is used by RECORD for faster spatial manipulation of the data when answering enquiries and also to provide more detailed mapping products from the species and habitat data.
• All paper data (e.g. notebooks, journals, e-mails, etc.) will be archived with Liverpool Museum once the data has been entered into the Recorder-2002 database, and all their backlog of paper data within the Biological Data Bank will be passed to rECOrd for computerisation and usage.
• Data from most modern databases and spreadsheet programs can now be accepted for direct import into Recorder-6 via its Import Wizard which takes data in in spreadsheet (*.csv) file format.
• We moved to Recorder-6 as a replacement database as soon as it became available in a final non-beta-test format (March 2007). This database has the ability to hold hundreds of millions of records - enough for the foreseeable future.
• Data can be sent to us on paper, by mail, for keying into the database at the RECORD centre. However, even better, is data in electronic format which can be sent via e-mail or on disk. Even if you do not hold your data in a database or spreadsheet you can still e-mail it to us.
• Recorders and the general public are allowed to enter their data/records online from their own computers connected to the Internet at home or work. This system is RODIS - RECORD Online Data Input System - which not only allows data to be input but also checks formatting, record duplication, and grid refs against location names as it goes.
• Please do talk to us about how we can take your data in and automate and/or simplify this mechanism for both you and ourselves. The majority of modern spreadsheet and database programs can export data in this format.
• RECORD has, as from the end of April 2006, allowed visitors to its website to access and search the database and then to map the data on-line. This data and mapping is at 2 kilometre square (tetrad) level for non-protected species and at 5 kilometre square level for protected species. Please note: This facility is NOT for the use of commercial users. Commercial use is prohibited under copyright conditions and commercial users should contact RECORD for higher resolution data than is provided here - See our Contact page.
• Please note: the database and the online maps are only as complete and as accurate as the data provided to RECORD. If data has not been provided we cannot show those records via the data search or via the mapping facility.
  
  Please: if you have data or know of sources of data, let us know so that we can talk about bringing that information in to RECORD to improve the services and the usage of the records.




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Recorder-6 is no longer based in MS-Access, as was the previous Recorder-2000 and Recorder-2002 versions, but has MS SQL Server as its underlying database engine.