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Ring Access Software
Written by Vidar
Bakken
History
What it does
Current state (mid 2011)
Installation process
Existing computerised
data
Which schemes are next?
RingAccess Workshop in Malta
History
Ring Access, written and maintained by Vidar Bakken, has been
in use in Norway by ringers and the ringing scheme.
At the EURING General Meeting in Anversa degli Abruzzi, Italy
in 2009, it was decided that this software should be made
available for use by other EURING ringing schemes and their
ringers that do not currently have good computer systems in
place. Vidar kindly agreed to adapt the program for wider
use and to help with installation of the software.
The main alteration needed was to allow the use of different
languages rather than Norwegian. The version in use had hard-coded
text. The EURING version has all text (screen prompts, messages
etc.) held in a separate file. To change to a different language,
only the words and phrases in this file need to be changed;
the program itself is unaltered by translation of these words.
The first test version is in English because this is the most
widely used language within the EURING community.
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What it does
Ring Access allows ringing schemes and ringers to handle
all the operations required for processing ringing data. The
program is modular so that user will have access only to parts
of the software required by them. There are modules for ringing
schemes, ringing groups, group leaders and ringers
The facilities for schemes in the software include data entry
and checking, import of existing computerised data, import
of data from ringers, ringing groups and ringing stations.
There are facilities for routine tabulations, recovery reporting,
recovery information exchange and export of data to the EURING
Data bank in EURING code. The software includes facilities
for ringers to enter their ringing data and perform routine
operations including data submission to the ringing scheme
or group leader.
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Current state (mid 2011)
Translation of the software into English is complete. The
whole process of installation and loading scheme's previously-computerised
data has been tested with the Channel Islands scheme. This
scheme was chosen as the 'guinea pig' because it is an English
speaking scheme, it is relatively small and already has a
good many historic computerised ringing records (ringing,
recapture, recovery records including biometric data).
With the CIJ scheme now operating the software it can be installed
with some confidence in other schemes.
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Installation process
Before the software is installed at a ringing scheme, Vidar
will need to import the scheme's existing computerised data.
He can do this before he visits the scheme. In this stage,
Vidar will check and reformat data into full EURING code before
the loading process. Once the data have been loaded, Vidar
will visit the scheme to install the software and train the
ringing scheme staff. Current experience shows that this will
take about two days of Vidar's time. Vidar has kindly agreed
to do work this at less-than-commercial rates. It is hoped
that schemes will be able to fund Vidar's time and travel.
Once the software is installed, and the ringing scheme is
familiar with it, then it can be given to ringers.
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Existing computerised data
Most schemes have a large number of ringing and recovery
records already computerised. All these records (with or without
biometric data, newly ringed birds, recaptures and recoveries)
can be loaded into RingAccess although Vidar will need to
do some reformatting and checking if the data format is not
yet in full EURING code. Schemes which intend to use RingAccess
and which already have a system for computerising data are
advised to continue with this system until RingAccess is installed.
It is far easier for Vidar to import data in one format than
to have to deal with several formats.
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Which schemes are next?
It is anticipated that Vidar will be able to install software
at the rate of 3 or 4 schemes per year. This rate might be
increased depending on the success of the first schemes. There
will be opportunity to discuss possible dates of installation
at the EURING General Meeting in Malta.
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RingAccess Workshop in Malta
There will be a one-day workshop on the day before the start
of the EURING General Meeting, run by Vidar. Schemes which
are hoping to use the software are invited to attend this
workshop. Details of arrangements will be found with the booking
details for the EGM.
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