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NAHPU Documentation

Setting up specimen records

The NAHPU default lists for Specimen parts and Treatments are intentionally short. Before entering a large batch of specimens, configure the project lists that your team will use in the field or collection room.

  1. Navigate to the dashboard.

  2. Tap/click the hamburger menu in the top left corner.

  3. Select Settings.

  4. Select Specimens.

  5. Configure the Use project ID toggle. It is off by default, which uses a cataloger's initials and field number. At least one Cataloger must have personal field-number registration enabled and a current number.

    Turn on Use project ID to configure a prefix, the next catalog number, and a suffix. NAHPU concatenates those values directly. Turn on auto-increment to assign and advance the project number when a new specimen uses this mode.

    This choice is only the default. Open a specimen's field-ID editor to choose Personnel or Project for that specimen. A project can contain both types, but one specimen cannot have both identifiers.

  6. Add Tissue ID (optional).

    Some museums assign separate tissue numbers for the same voucher specimen. You can set up a prefix, the next number, and a suffix here. Leading zeros in the number are kept, so M0042-T is followed by M0043-T. NAHPU can then generate the next tissue number when you add a specimen part.

    For the Ichthyology catalog format, Individual tag ID sets the same kind of numbering for individuals in a fish lot.

  7. Add Specimen types.

    Add all preparation and tissue types you expect to use, including types you may only collect occasionally.

  8. Add Treatments.

    Treatments are used on specimen parts. Examples include None, ETOH, Formalin, LN2, and DMSO.