Data Management About 50% of the institutions have “Snapshot Collections” that provide data on SCAN/LepNet have a primary database for entering and annotating data outside of Symbiota and the portals only display a snapshot of their data. Regular synchronization between the portal snapshot and the central database ensures that the data snapshot is up-to-date within the portal. Many institutions use a Symbiota portal as their central management database (“Live Collections“) with record modifications being reflected in near real time. As Symbiota continues to add functionality in terms of annotating records and images, the live collections are able to realize added value but all collections can utilize visualization modules, make checklists and other reporting functions.
Some “Live Collections” use Excel to enter at least some data and then upload records to SCAN as CSV files. The downside of using Excel is that there is no built in controlled vocabulary for taxonomic names, collectors, locations etc. and it is more likely to make unintended mistakes in Excel or introduce formatting mistakes because of MS-Office.
In order to have any permissions to work with your collection you first need to register as a user on SCAN (right side tab on home page)
Description above adapted from LBCC