Specimen Description Image Map
Legend

Specimen Description and Preparation

These tables track the specimen as a physical object, its processing, conservation and fate.

Specimen

The main specimen table.

Field Name Description1º Key 2º Index Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
Section Section of Institution (Vertebrates, Plants etc.)
*
Alpha, 3 characters
SpecimenNo
*
 Long Integer
LocPrefix
*
Locality Alpha, 2 characters
LocalityNo Locality where specimen was collected
*
LocalityLong Integer
AccessionNo
*
Accession Long Integer
NoObjects Alpha, 10 characters
FieldNo
*
Alpha, 15 characters
Type? Logical

Microfossil Slides

Information specific to microfossil and pollen slides.

Field Name Description1º Key Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
SpecimenNo Specimen number
*
SpecimenLong Integer
SlideType Alpha, 25 characters
MountMaterial Alpha, 25 characters
MountedBy Person Long Integer
Condition Memo, 20 characters displayed

Histological Slides

Information specific to histological slide preparations of hard or soft tissues.

Field Name Description1º Key 2º Index Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
SpecimenNo Specimen number
*
 SpecimenLong Integer
ObjectNoIndividual object used
*
 ElementsShort Integer
SlideSetNoIdentifies slide set when there are multiple sets from a specimen
*
 Long Integer
TissueType Hard or soft tissue, etc.
*
Alpha, 25 characters
Orientation Plane of section Alpha, 3 characters
TotalSlides Number of slides in the set Short Integer
Embedding Embedding material used Alpha, 25 characters
Thickness Thickness of section Alpha, 5 characters
MountedBy Person Long Integer
StainsNotes Stains used on the material and any other notes on the set Memo, 20 characters displayed

Slide Coordinate Locations

This table is used to keep track of the coordinate locations of individual microfossils on a slide.

Field Name Description1º Key Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
Section Section of Institution (Vertebrates, Plants etc.)
*
Specimen Alpha, 3 characters
SpecimenNo
*
Specimen Long Integer
IndividualNo Allows multiple taxa/individuals in a specimen number assigned (slides, slabs, bulk lots)
*
Short Integer
XCoord X coordinate location of specimen on slide Alpha, 10 characters
YCoord Y coordinate location of specimen on slide Alpha, 10 characters

Elements

These tables are specific to each section, used to track the types of objects in a specimen number (e.g. cranial, shell, compaction).

Field Name Description1º Key Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
Section Section of Institution (Vertebrates, Plants etc.)
*
Specimen Alpha, 3 characters
SpecimenNo
*
Specimen Long Integer
ObjectNoUsed to track multiple elements in a specimen (part and counterpart, skull and jaws, etc.)
*
 Short Integer
Element This will vary by collection. For Vertebrates: jaws, cranial, postcranial; Plants: part, counterpart, pollen, compaction etc.; Invertebrates: shell, carapace, radula, tests etc. Alpha, 20 characters

Jaws

This table is used only for the Vertebrate section, to track which teeth are preserved in when a specimen consists of dental material.

Field Name Description1º Key Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
SpecimenNo
*
Specimen Long Integer
ObjectNoUsed to track multiple elements in a specimen
*
 Short Integer
TeethPresent Alpha, 30 characters

Processing

This table is used to track processing of bulk lots.

Field Name Description1º Key Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
Section Section of Institution (Vertebrates, Plants etc.)
*
Specimen Alpha, 3 characters
SpecimenNo Specimen number representing a split of a bulk sample
*
Specimen Long Integer
Processing Alpha, 30 characters
ProcNotes Notes on bulk sample processing Memo, 10 characters

Conservation

This table is used to keep track of conservation of a specimen.

Field Name Description1º Key Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
Section Section of Institution (Vertebrates, Plants etc.)
*
Specimen Alpha, 3 characters
SpecimenNo
*
Specimen Long Integer
ObjectNoUsed to track multiple elements in a specimen (part and counterpart, skull and jaws, etc.)
*
 Short Integer
Preservatives Alpha, 25 characters
Procedures Memo, 20 characters displayed

Fate

The ultimate fate of a specimen, used to track missing specimens, or specimens used in a destructive analysis.

Field Name Description1º Key Foreign KeyParadox Field Type
Section Section of Institution (Vertebrates, Plants etc.)
*
Specimen Alpha, 3 characters
SpecimenNo
*
Specimen Long Integer
ObjectNoUsed to track multiple elements in a specimen (part and counterpart, skull and jaws, etc.)
*
 Short Integer
Fate For deaccessioned specimens, missing specimens, destructive analysis, etc. Memo, 20 characters displayed