Help Topics Index

Clicking on any of these topics will link you to the appropriate section in this document.

Search Help

The type catalog search page may be reached via the “Search the Catalog” link on the navigation bar or the “Search” button on the type home page. The search interface is currently under developement.

Search Capabilities

Current search capabilities are for a whole or partial basionym or family.

To search for a basionym enter as much of the genus and/or specific epithet you seek in the scientific name field. Search strings will match the start of a basionym or embedded characters. Searches are case insensitive.

Examples:

To search for a family enter all or part of a family name. Multiple words entered in the family search field will retrieve all matches for either word. Examples:

Search Tips:

Sorting Search Results

Search results may be sorted in 3 ways: by scientific name (basionym), family and specimen accession number. Choose the radio button for the sort you desire before submitting the search.

Search Details

The search details page provides information on a single type specimen sheet and links to available images. The information provided may include:

Browsing

The browse button on the search form provides a list of all specimens in the type catalog. Results are presented 50 specimens at a time. Page links are provided at the bottom of the listing. Browses may be sorted according to the sort options on the search form.

Working with Images

Links to available images are provided on the type specimen record page. Images are delivered via LizardTech’s MrSID Server software. A link to a MrSid Java Applet viewer is provided with the initial image served.

Changing the zoom setting magnifies or reduces the image, while the window remains the same size. Increasing the zoom setting magnifies the image and reduces the viewing area. Decreasing the zoom setting reduces the image and enlarges the viewing area. To change image zoom setting, select new setting provided in the drop down menu at the bottom of the image, then click on the image. Enlarging an image substantially without changing pixel setting higher may degrade the quality of the image. Clicking on the image without changing settings will zoom the image in to the next level of detail, enlarging the image by a factor of two. The first linked image is provided at 6% zoom.

Image zoom settings available are:
6% 12% 25% 50% 100%

A digital image is a matrix of pixels (a contraction of ‘picture elements’) or DPI (dots per inch). A pixel, the smallest unit of a digital image, is a single dot of color. Pixels can have only one value at a time; they can’t be partly one color and partly another. The more pixels used to encode an image, the sharper it will appear (referred to as the ‘Resolution’). Resolution is the overall measurement of image quality. It is expressed as the number of dots or pixels per inch. The more dots or pixels per inch in an image, the higher its resolution. Higher resolution provides greater image clarity and enlarges the size of the window. To change the resolution, select new settings provided in the drop down menus at the bottom of the image, then click on the image.

Pixel resolution may be set to the following:
256X256 400X400 600X400 640X480

To view the image with Java Applet click on Link at the bottom of the page. The toolbar at the top of the new image has six buttons. The available buttons from left to right are: