Getting Started with Specify

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This is the jumping off point for users looking for an overview of Specify!

Welcome to Specify!

About Specify

What is the Specify Collections Consortium? [Specify Collections Consortium Logo] The Specify Collections Consortium (SCC), founded in 2018, is a collaborative, open-source software community of engaged collection institutions with a vision to advance research and education uses of biological specimen and sample information. A Board of Directors, along with Research and Technology Advisory Committees drawn from member institutions, govern the Consortium and determine its software and technical…

Introduction to Specify

• Table of Contents
• About Specify
• Install Specify 7
  • Install Specify 7 with Docker
  • Video: Specify 7 with Docker (macOS & Ubuntu)
• Specify Cloud
  • Remote Access Procedure for Specify Cloud
• Install Specify 6
  • Specify 6 Hardware & Software Compatibility
    • Install Specify 6 on Windows
    • Install Specify 6 on macOS
    • Install Specify 6 on Debian-based Linux
  • Setting Up Specify to Use on a Network Server
  • Previous Versions of Specify 6
• Create a Database
• Add a Collection, Discipline, or Division
• Specify Schema
• Organizational Model
• Institutional Scoping

Specify Setup & Configuration Checklist

Specify Configuration Checklist Read the documentation and learn about Specify See the above section – Introduction to Specify Learn about the Specify Data Model: Download and install Specify. Specify 6 and 7 are interoperable, meaning that you can use both applications with the same database. They use the same database and schema, meaning that the two applications are just different front-end applications for the same database. If you have any questions about this, you can create a topic…

Getting Started

• • Webinar: Introduction to Specify
    • Specify 7 Introduction & Demo Database
    • Specify 6 vs. Specify 7 – Feature Comparison
    • Edit a Tree Structure

Using Specify

Click the links to dive deeper into any topic.

Data Entry

• Data Entry
  • Data Entry in Specify 7 guides you through filling out specimen and sample information using customizable form layouts. You’ll learn how to enter text, pick from controlled lists, and validate your entries against existing data.
• Using Forms
  • Forms are the heart of the data-capture workflow. This section shows you how to navigate between tabs and fields and perform data entry.
• Trees
• Form Meta

Interactions

• Interactions
  • Specify’s interactive tools let you link records, drag and drop items in hierarchical “tree” views, and follow relationships between specimens, taxonomy, geography, and more—all without leaving your browser window.

Queries

• Query Builder
  • The Query Builder gives you full access to every table and field in your database. Learn to craft complex, multi-field searches with AND/OR logic, save query templates for reuse, and export results for further analysis.
• Simple Search
• Statistics
  • Quickly generate summary tables and charts from your collection data. Learn to slice and dice by taxon, geography, date ranges, or any other field to uncover trends and support research reports.
• Record Merging

Record Sets

• Record Sets
  • Record Sets are named collections of records that you can gather from searches or queries. Use them to bookmark batches of interest, share work with colleagues, or as the basis for labels, reports, and exports.
  • Query on Record Set

Reports & Labels

• Reports & Labels
  • Print custom reports and specimen labels with the Reports tool. Using Jaspersoft Studio, you can arrange fields, create barcodes, apply styles, and generate printable labels for specimens, cabinets, loans, gifts, and more.
• Create a Report or Label
• Generate a Report or Label
• Examples

Bulk Data

• WorkBench
  • The WorkBench is your bulk-data import and editing environment. Whether you’re typing directly into a spreadsheet view or uploading an Excel file, WorkBench validates entries against existing records to ensure data quality.
• Batch Edit
  • Batch Edit lets you apply the same change—like updating a taxonomy or georeference—to hundreds or thousands of records at once. You’ll walk through selecting target records, choosing fields to update, and reviewing edits before committing.
• Locality Update Tool

Attachments

• Attachments
  • Manage linked media—images, documents, videos, sounds, and more—through Specify’s Attachment Server. This covers uploading, organizing, and retrieving assets so that every specimen record can carry its supporting files.
• Batch Uploader

Customization

• User Tools
• Schema Config
  • Schema Config lets you tailor the underlying data model and form definitions. Here you’ll see how to enable or hide fields, adjust data types, and propagate changes across forms without writing code.
• Security and Accounts
  • Add new users, configure user permissions, and reset or change passwords.
• Edit Data Forms
• Edit Tree Ranks
• Pick Lists
• App Resources
• Date Format
• Table Format & Aggregation
• Collection Relationships

Publishing

• DwCA Data Exporting
• Update Your RSS Feed
• Automate RSS Updates
• Web Portal Exporting

Advanced

• Collection Object Groups
• Collection Object Types

IT Resources

• Specify 7 APIs
• Single Sign-On
• Software Architecture
• Server Requirements
• Self-Hosting Specify 7
• Attachment Server
• Anonymous Access
• Community Integrations