Definitions for ASF KID

This document was created from the ASF KID on Fri Apr 19, 2024

This is the current list of the data fields in the ASF's KID. They are identical with the draft data fields of the Informatics Commission (UISIC) of the International Union of Speleology. The definitions below are arranged in UISIC Field ID (FID) order. The FID and field name are shown first, followed by the other details. If the field has coded values a link to the available codes for that field will be provided.

The full list of all definitions is here: Field Definitions.    The full list of all field value codes is here: Field Value Codes.
Also see the Notes at the end for the meanings of the various abbreviations used here.

To find a field name in this list use your browsers search facility to search for the text or partial text. If you know the FID, you can go straight to the field by adding #fid to the URL in your browser window and pressing <Return>.

Total number of FIDs: 6

Definition: The database internal record ID for a batch of updates received from an information provider by this database site. Comment: (1) The updates can be in any form, e.g. paper or computerised. (2) One update batch can include more than one entity, e.g. caves and maps. (3) This field is normally not filled in by a user but by the system on this database site.

Definition: The internal record ID from the Person database identifying the person supplying a batch of updates to the database site. Comment: (1) This is not necessarily the same as the person originally generating the information, or the person filling in a data form, or the person who keyed the data into the database. Usage: Normally the value for this field would be entered via a lookup table on the Person database.

Definition: The internal record ID from the Organisation database for the organisation which supplied a batch of updates to this site, usually the organisation of the person supplying the update batch. Comment: (1) It is this organisation which will be credited with supplying the updates contained in this Update batch. Usage: (1) This field is auto-filled upon an entry in field 426[Update - org code].

Definition: The date at which a batch of update information was supplied to the database site, as opposed to when it was entered into the database or when any of the information in individual fields was valid. The date must be a valid date. Comment: (1) Individual field data dates may be given in fields 472-475. (2) The key-in date is recorded in fields 429 and 449. Usage: (1) If the exact date is unknown, enter a best guess, including the day, because this entry must be a complete valid date.

Definition: The full name of the person supplying a batch of update information to the database site, as opposed to the person who generated the original data or the person who keyed it into the database. The format is Familyname comma space Givenname. Example: Smith, John Comment: (1) This field would normally be included in a table only when the person's name could not be shown via a link to their Person ID in the Person database. Usage: (1) The value would normally be auto-filled at the same time as performing a lookup for 422[Update - person ID] via the person database. (2) If there is no Person database, or the person's name is not yet in the Person Database, enter the person's full name in this field, observing the correct format, e.g. Smith, John. This format helps with later identification and processing of this name when adding it to a Person database.

Definition: The standard 3-letter organisation code for an organisation supplying a batch of update information to the database site. Comment: (1) This field is normally physically present in a table only when it cannot be shown via a link to the Organisation ID. In this case, it is then normally easier for the user to enter this Org Code rather than the Org ID.

Notes

   AR = Article in a publication
   AT = Field or attribute
   AV = Field value
   CA = Cave or karst feature
   EN = Entity
   JN = Journal
   OR = Organisation
   PA = Land parcel
   PE = Person
   PH = Photograph
   PL = Plan or map
   PM = Marker (Permanent mark)
   PS = Map series
   RE = Region or area
   RP = Report
   SM = Specimen
   SP = Species
   ST = Site
   SU = Subject
   SV = Survey
   SY = System field
   XK = A key-in batch
   XL = An upload batch
   XU = An update batch

Data type:

   A = Alphanumeric
   N = Numeric; A "real" number allowing decimal places and many significant digits, typically around 15.
   D = Date
   L = Logical; True or False.
   I = Integer (short); A whole number in the range -32,767 to +32,768.
   M = Memo; A variable-length free-text field.
   B = BLOB; A Binary Large Object, e.g. a photo image.

Codes for field coding:

   I = International coding   U = Uncoded   L = Locally coded

   S = Single-valued   M = Multi-valued