Thanks for the feedback Ian,

We are aware that the RODiS locations list is in need of a thorough overhaul for the whole of Greater Manchester, thanks for your patience with this. The location is used to determine the Vice County and district that the observation took place in as the grid reference alone could include one or more districts / sites (in particular the 4 figure and 6 figure grid references). As a work around we advise recorders to select the most suitable option and then type the actual name of the site or area in the 'full location' text box below. As we import the records from RODiS into our core database system we check these tally up and then create new sites in RODiS as required. We are planning a review of all sites as soon as we get time in order to make RODiS more intuitive to use.

As for sharing records we are currently developing a search tool for the website. This will allow members of the public to search all of the wildlife records the local record centre has available (including records received via RODiS). Protected / significant species records will be available but only at 10km resolution to prevent people using our site to harm the wildlife. The search tool is still early in development but we aim to have a prototype available in March this year at www.gmwildlife.org.uk/grey_to_green. At the moment there is a placeholder page with an interactive map that allows you to obtain grid references, plan survey routes (including the grid references of several points and the distance in metres between each point) etc.


Regards

Paul Barrington
0161 342 3123

On the whole RODIS works really well however a few suggestions:

Records have a habit of randomly duplicating themselves.

The "Our Location" Find data entry box needs a bit of work. Whilst I appreciate its impossible to list every site it seems odd that when recording a sighting just outside the main entrance to Chorlton Water Park I have a choice of a 2 mile long stretch of riverbank or Southern Cemetery to select as the nearest location. Ultimately it probably doesn't matter but in the future if somebody looks back at the sightings for Southern Cemetery they may have a few surprises.

A link to the various listed sites again would be helpfull. Despite living in the area for 20+ years I'm unsure of exactly where the boundaries of the listed sites are eg. Barlow Eye SBI. If a layer of the various sites could be added to the Google Maps tool it'd be very useful.

Is there an easy way to share sightings/records with other users. At the moment record submission seems to be for the benefit of the local record centre only (and hopefully the wildlife). If other users records could be accessed it'd help the establishment of a network of recorders. Personally I quite like the idea that in a few years time another recorder may want to revisit the sites I've visited and compare their sightings with what I've seen.

Thanks for introducing RODIS it's a very good system and relatively easy to use.

Thanks for that infomy rodis account has changed overnight I am now the proud submitter of 10 records,is there normally a delay before the status is updated?

New users might find these hints helpful,I used the county report to quickly find the OS reference and kept a note of my local patch
Use the sticky star it saves a lot of work
Observer = you Determiner = you



cheers geoff

Hi Geoff,

We're pleased to hear that you're giving RODIS a try. Have you done the following?

Log in and create a new file (or opened an existing one)

Input the details of your first record into the data entry screen

Click on the Sticky button at the top of the screen and tick each box you want to keep for the next record e.g. Date, Observer, Determiner

Click on Add Record button on the left hand side of the screen

You should then see your record in the grid below the data entry screen. If not it means your browser has been set to view at more than 100%. To alter this in IE will need to click on View/Zoom and make sure 100% is ticked.

Don't click on the Submit File button until you've finished inputting all the records for the week/month. Once a file has been submitted you won't be able to add any more records to it. If you'd like to enter a small batch of records from say a day's birding and submit to us, we'll check them out and let you know whether you're on the right track.

If you need any further help just drop us an email with your phone no. and best time to catch you in. We can give you a ring and go through inputting a few records. RODIS is easy to use once you've got the hang of it. However, we know that there are a few basic mistakes that people make when they first try it out.

Steve

-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Thursday 17th of January 2013 01:49:41 PM

Oh boy,Here we go I,m a little confused,i,ve signed up for rodis and have I think submitted several records to the system

It recognises my log in details,I,ve sussed(or maybe not) the submisson page and then I press send,upto now the system still says zero records am I missing a step
or not saving something ,I,m using the link from here.Probably my ineptness but any help would be nice.

cheers geoff

I'm using the link from here (Manchester Birding) as I don't have an android phone. I am a killer and loser of mobile phones so I just buy cheap 20 quid ones, as long as you can make and receive phone calls and texts they'll do me haha!

That's great Michael. We look forward to receiving your records in due course.

Are you using the RODIS link on Manchester Birding or the mobile app? We've been informed that an update to the app will be released shortly which will fix the bug which blocks files from being sent to certain email accounts. We'll post on here when it's available.

Steve

Signed up and opened a RODiS account. Time to start submitting my sightings!

If you're currently trialling the RODIS android app please read the following:

Once you've input your first batch of records and clicked on Export you will be asked for an email address. It's just been identified that certain email providers will block the zip file, including hotmail due to the presence of unidentified file types . We are in contact with the RODIS app developers and will post as soon as the issue has been resolved. In the meantime, the best way to get round this problem is as follows:
1) If you don't already have one, set up a Gmail email account
2) Email your files to your Gmail account
3) Unzip the folder and email the CSV file only (this contains your records) to info@gmwildlife.org.uk
4) If you don't receive an acknowledgement within 2 working days then please send a pm to GM Local Record Centre

Please note this technical issue only effects the RODIS android app. There is no problem with records submitted via the RODIS link at the bottom of this page.

Apart from this glitch with submitting records, continued testing has shown the app works fine when inputting records.

If anyone has any questions regarding it's use feel free to post on this thread.

If your New Year's resolutions include submitting your records to the GM Bird Recording Group and you're an android phone user then your prayers have been answered.

Following the recent launch of RODIS on Manchester Birding there is now an android app available which has been developed by the Cheshire Local Record Centre. This has been field tested during the past two months by the GM Local Record Centre and we can recommend it whole heartedly. It's really easy to use:

It takes a few seconds to create a file for your records.

Species can be called up from the inbuilt dictionary by just typing the first few letters of the bird's English name e.g. bull brings up Bullfinch

The date is automatically inserted by your phone. The site and recorder's name are entered manually and can then be locked for all subsequent records.

The app makes use of your phone's GPS to provide an accurate grid ref for your location and for those of us who can't walk on water, Bing hybrid maps are included. If you see a grebe in the middle of Scotman's Flash you can click on the location and the grid ref is added automatically.

What's also great is that you can view any records entered via the maps and also generate stats showing the number of species recorded at a site. It also has the advantage that you don't have to lose valuable birding time sitting in front of a computer inputting your sightings as you are doing it whilst you are out and about.

Once you're ready to submit a file of records these can be emailed to info@gmwildlife.org.uk who will process them and supply them to GMBRG. They will also be made available for the GM Ecology Unit's work which includes selecting and reviewing Sites of Biological Importance across GM.

So as Ian stated in his recent New Year's message there are now no reasons not to submit your records.

You can download the app on a 14 day trial basis from Google Play
If you decide to continue using it then it costs a mere £7.99 per annum.

For anyone who doesn't have an android phone then you can submit your records via the RODIS link at the bottom of the page. Any questions then please contact GMLRC. Our contact details are on the RODIS log-on screen.

Happy New Year.





-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Friday 4th of January 2013 02:38:52 PM

Any ecological records can be easily submitted and with the relaxation of planning regulation even further identified records need to be submitted to ensure wildlife is taken into account in planning consulation as it is the Greater Manchester Ecological Unit that is often consulted. Its also a good tool to keep your own records.

Cheers, will give that a go.

Unfortunately, it uses Flash, so doesn't support iPad, will try tomorrow from my PC

Thanks, Ian. I think I speak for most when I say that I appreciate your efforts in trying to get out all-important records out of us - I shall give this a look (after I have submitted a record I had been meaning to do!)

In our endeavour to offer Greater Manchester birders the most convenient and comprehensive methods of bird record submission, I am happy to introduce an on-line submission method via RODiS.

I hope that the large volume of users of this forum who do not submit their records (and as such their valuable sightings go to waste) will perhaps now begin to submit them via RODiS. If this is not to your taste then there are plenty of other methods available as Greater Manchester now offers the most complete methods of submission you will find anywhere

Please take a look at RODiS on the link below and read the help manual available.

ANY QUERIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE RODIS THREAD ON THE 'GREAT MANCHESTER NEEDS YOUR BIRD SIGHTINGS SECTION' OF THE COUNTY BIRD SIGHTINGS FORUM.

Please click the link below for the RODiS logon page and note that in the coming days the RODiS logo will appear on the Manchester Birding footer (at the very bottom of the forum) and users can utilise this to navigate to the RODiS page to submit their sightings.

I would urge all users of this forum to please submit their sightings so they can be put to good use protecting the birds we enjoy seeing

RODIS BIRD RECORD SUBMISSION




-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 02:08:13 PM