Specify 6 vs. Specify 7 - Feature Comparison

Comparison of Functions, Capabilities, Modules between Specify 6 and Specify 7

Tool/Functionality Specify 6 Specify 7
Data Forms Interface
Required Fields :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Carry Forward :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Auto-numbering on a field-by-field basis :white_check_mark:
Set subview sort order :white_check_mark:
Find pick list and tree usages :white_check_mark:
Configure Carry Forward to Select Fields :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Auto-assign catalog number option :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Clone Record :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Query Combo Box (QCB) Autocomplete :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Query Combo Box Search inside Query Builder :white_check_mark:
Relationships between Collection Objects from different Collections :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Link Collection Objects together using Projects :white_check_mark:
Set usage notes for a field in form field mouseovers :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Create Pick Lists from entire table, a column or user defined items :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Switch subview display format :white_check_mark:
Enable Subforms on Forms :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Display Subform Records in Grid View :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Change sort order for Subforms or Grid View :white_check_mark:
Configure Fonts :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Configure Colors :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
See record edit history from the form :white_check_mark:
Disable field labels temporarily :white_check_mark:
Configure form width :white_check_mark:
Configure date format :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
User Interface for selecting a Date / partial Date :white_check_mark:
Batch Identify :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: Can bulk upload new Determinations in the WorkBench
Hide portions of the form based on Agent type :white_check_mark:
Series Data Entry :white_check_mark:
Query Builder
Sort on one/multiple columns :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Filter criteria :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Multiple filter criteria for a field using union (logical OR) :white_check_mark:
Count records :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Run distinct query (removes duplicates from results) :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Pick List support in Query Builder :white_check_mark:
Save As for queries :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Import/Export Queries :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Export formats for query results XLS, XLSX, CSV CSV
Create KML output file :white_check_mark:
Create Record Set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Create Record Set from a subset of query results :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Show more than one record in form view from result set All records All, or selected only
Always checkbox for field :white_check_mark:
Prompt checkbox for field when running report :white_check_mark:
Series results checkbox :white_check_mark:
Search synonyms checkbox :white_check_mark:
Query on a field that is hidden in schema config :white_check_mark:
Show all attachments for result set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Print reports on selected records from result set :white_check_mark: Can be done though a record set
Simple Search
Wild cards and stemming :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Search multiple tables :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Full text indexing and search :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Simple search configuration dialog :white_check_mark: No User interface for configuration. Inherits Sp6 settings. Can also be configured by editing XML
Select individual records from search result set to create record set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Show all attachments for result set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Show more than one record in form view from result set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Export records from result to Excel :white_check_mark: Exporting to CSV is supported
Print reports on selected records from result set :white_check_mark: Can be done though a record set
Interactions
Create Loan/Gift from Record Set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Create Loan/Gift from CO Prep :white_check_mark:
Create Loan/Gift from uncataloged item :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Ability to Deaccession items :white_check_mark:
Autofill Date :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:, in form definition
Ability to add collection objects to accession from accession form using magnifying glass icon with plus sign. :white_check_mark:
Information requests :white_check_mark: Does not support linking COs
Configure Email Address for autofill Yes, in settings Yes, in form definition
Loan form missing attachment set in Specify 6 prefs
Preparations Based interactions Option (Loan, Gift, Borrow, Exchange In, Exchange Out) :white_check_mark:
Scan barcodes to return Items :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Count fields for entire interaction record :white_check_mark:
Tree-structured data and Interfaces
Move :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Merge :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Synonymize :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Undo synonym :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Add Child :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Delete node :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Synonymize Paleo trees :white_check_mark:
Go to Associated Collection Objects :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: (sets up a query)
Search :white_check_mark: Yes. Also shows rank names
Collapse tree ranks :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Split view mode :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
View mode :white_check_mark: (with restrictions- cannot edit while another user is making changes) :white_check_mark:
Delete node :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Move columns left :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Customize Tree definition :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Syonymize on the form :white_check_mark:
Attachments
Add Attachment via form :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
View attachment in a data form :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Open attachment in external program (like Word, Adobe Acrobat, …) :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
View attachment in web browser :white_check_mark:
Bulk upload of attachments :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Attachment metadata (View, Edit, Query) :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Sort attachments :white_check_mark:
Change attachments grid size :white_check_mark:
Configure attachment location :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
WorkBench Module
Create Data Set from import file formats XLSX, XLS, CSV XLSX, XLS, CSV, TSV, PSV
Create Data Set through keystroke Data Entry :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Choose CSV delimiter upon import :white_check_mark:
Export Data Set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Choose CSV delimiter upon export :white_check_mark:
Export MS Excel template with DB field mappings embedded :white_check_mark: N/A
Importing large Data Sets Up to 7,000 rows Unlimited (limited only by the performance of the server)
Sort :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Undo (reverse) a database upload batch Only until finalized by user action Anytime, until uploaded records are subsequently changed
Sort on multiple columns :white_check_mark:
Remember sort settings :white_check_mark:
Simple Search :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Advanced search (case sensitivity, whole words, regular expressions) :white_check_mark:
Replace / Replace All :white_check_mark:
Cell navigation (navigate between search results/error cells/modified cells) :white_check_mark:
Fill Up :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Fill Down :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Automatic carry forward for new spreadsheet rows :white_check_mark: Can manually fill down
Auto fill catalog number :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Add and delete rows :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Clear cells :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Plot records on a map :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark: – Enhanced support (plotting polygons, error radiuses. Also, can switch/add new base maps or print the map)
GEOLocate :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Change geocoordinate formats :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Attach images to rows :white_check_mark:
Form view :white_check_mark:
Generate reports from WorkBench DataSets :white_check_mark:
Validate data before uploading into db :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Edit and correct invalid cells :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Transfer Data Set ownership :white_check_mark:
Map spreadsheet columns to Specify database fields :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Edit Mapping :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Validate column mappings :white_check_mark:
Automapping of import file columns to Specify db fields Basic Enhanced
Support WB import of all data model fields and tables Partial Full
Support for complicated mappings None Full
Can reuse column mappings from a previous Data Set Only if all columns match :white_check_mark:
Live suggestions for proposed mapping for a column :white_check_mark:
Edit Data Set Metadata :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Create Record Set from results :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Preview summary of the upload :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Import images :white_check_mark:
Batch Edit
Edit multiple records at one time in the Agent, Collecting Event, Collection Object, Locality, and Preparation tables :white_check_mark:
Record Sets
Create from Query Results :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Delete Record Set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Add records to Record Set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Remove single record from Record Set :white_check_mark:
View From Saved Query (as spreadsheet) :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Print output: reports and labels
Refresh :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Create Report from Query :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Run Report from Query :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Limit Report to Record Set :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Prompt :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Print :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Change filetype for export :white_check_mark:
Import/Export reports/labels :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Integration with a report editor iReport Jaspersoft Studio
Scriptlets :white_check_mark: Partial
Print from Data Form :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Documentation
User Embedded Community Forum
Setup and Configuration :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
User Interface Schema Configuration Tool
Editing Query Combo Box format Set and customize Not supported
Record Aggregator Set and customize Set
Formatted tables Set and customize Set
Formatted fields Set and customize Set
WebLinks Set and customize Set
PickLists Set and customize Set and customize
Hide tables/fields :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Set field descriptions :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Set field as required :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Import/Export schema :white_check_mark:
Localize schema fields :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Set field as required :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Statistics
Collection statistics Embedded Via Specify Network Page
Data Form Plugins :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Plot Locality records on a map :white_check_mark: Enhanced support (plotting polygons, error radiuses. Also, can switch/add new base maps or print the map)
PaleoMap :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Support for Collection Object Containers :white_check_mark:
Host Taxon Plugin :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Specify Network Basic support on Taxon and Collection Object form Support on Taxon and Collection Object forms. Can see database collection objects on a Specify Network page
GEOLocate :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Miscellaneous
Collaborative interface language localization on Weblate :white_check_mark:
Support for Hierarchical Data Scoping: Institution/Division/Discipline/Collection :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Screen reader support :white_check_mark:
Dark mode :white_check_mark:
WCAG 2.1 Accessibility compliance :white_check_mark:
Symbiota one-way integration (setup symbiota connector and mapping) :white_check_mark:
Friendly interface :white_check_mark:
Authentication
Single Sign-On (OpenID, Shibboleth) :white_check_mark:
Show Users Logged In :white_check_mark:
Block Logins (Useful when performing maintenance tasks for the Specify database) :white_check_mark:
Permissions
Create Customf User Roles in Role-based Access Control System :white_check_mark:
Customize User Roles :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Different permissions in different collections :white_check_mark:
Multiple roles for a single user :white_check_mark:
Import/Export roles between collections :white_check_mark:
Role library (Role templates with permission profiles for re-use or customizing) :white_check_mark:
Import/Export roles between databases :white_check_mark:
Create users :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Change user passwords :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Customize access to collections :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Preferences
Customize global preferences Some can be set in the preferences menu. Others only via a hidden User Interface feature In the App Resources menu, in Global Prefs file
Set permissions for customizing global preferences :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
User preferences (for customizing the user interface) :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
Set default user preferences :white_check_mark:
Admins can change other user’s preferences :white_check_mark:

Accessory Programs

Tool/Functionality Specify 6 Specify 7
Data Exporter
Field mapper :white_check_mark: Only by editing an XML file
Export for WebPortal :white_check_mark:
Export for DwCA :white_check_mark: :white_check_mark:
RSS export feed :white_check_mark:
SpBackupRestore
Backup a database :white_check_mark: We recommend using the built-in backup and restore functions in MariaDB.
Restore a database :white_check_mark: We recommend using the built-in backup and restore functions in MariaDB.
Specify Setup Wizard
Create an empty Specify MySQL Database :white_check_mark:
Test the connection to MySQL :white_check_mark:
Specify Localizer
Localize the Specify schema to local languages and dialects :white_check_mark: No UI currently. Can be done by editing files in a text editor
1 Like

Hello,
I propose updating this documentation with issues found in GitHub pertaining to things that do not work or are not available in S7 that are found in S6.
Here are two examples focusing on many-to-many [Projects]:

  1. Project is not showing up on Collection Object data entry forms · Issue #1172 · specify/specify7 · GitHub
  2. Support `many-to-many` relationships · Issue #2928 · specify/specify7 · GitHub

Thanks!

1 Like