Basic operations

- Making backups of your data

Computers can fail !!! Hard discs can crash !!! And sooner or later they will !!!

Making a backup, or safety copy, of your data is very important. This is also true for Trilobase. All the data and images of your fossils is stored in several databases on your computer. Making a backup is just making a copy of these databases.



When your computer fails, you can restore your precious data from your most recent backup.

XP users : This is the list of files and folders you have to backup :
1. c:\program files\trilobase_70\trilobase.fdb : This is the database with all your fossils and images.
2. c:\program files\trilobase_70\bibliography.fdb : This is the database with the bibliography.
3. c:\program files\trilobase_70\sites.fdb : This is the database with the description of the fossil collecting sites.
4. c:\program files\trilobase_70\sites : This folder AND ALL THE SUBFOLDERS contains the documents, photos, maps etc... of the fossil collecting sites.

VISTA and Windows7 users : This is the list of files and folders you have to backup :
1. c:\users\public\trilobase_70\trilobase.fdb : This is the database with all your fossils and images.
2. c:\users\public\trilobase_70\bibliography.fdb : This is the database with the bibliography.
3. c:\users\public\trilobase_70\sites.fdb : This is the database with the description of the fossil collecting sites.
4. c:\users\public\trilobase_70\sites : This folder AND ALL THE SUBFOLDERS contains the documents, photos, maps etc... of the fossil collecting sites.

Stop the Trilobase program (the files may not be in use) and copy all the above files and folders to a CD, DVD, another hard drive (internal or external), a ZIP drive or any other backup device.



Be sure to store this copy in a safe place. It is a good practice to make backups on a regular base (every week) and to keep the 2 or 3 last copies.

When you need to restore your computer, first install the Trilobase program from the CD or from the trilobase website. Secondly, copy the above files from your most recent backup to their original location. When you start Trilobase, you will find your data again.



DO NOT FORGET TO MAKE BACKUPS OF YOUR DATA !!!

- Installing Trilobase on a new computer (migrate)

Installing Trilobase on a new computer is very easy :


1. Make a final backup of the data from your "old" computer. Store this data in a safe way.
2. Install the Trilobase program from your CD or from the trilobase website on your "new" computer. Do not yet start Trilobase.
3. Copy the backup files to their destination. These are the files and destinations :
   
   XP users : This is the list of files and destinations :
   1. c:\program files\trilobase_70\trilobase.fdb : This is the database with all your fossils and images.
   2. c:\program files\trilobase_70\bibliography.fdb : This is the database with the bibliography.
   3. c:\program files\trilobase_70\sites.fdb : This is the database with the description of the fossil collecting sites.
   4. c:\program files\trilobase_70\sites : This folder AND ALL THE SUBFOLDERS contains the documents, photos, maps etc... of the fossil collecting sites.
   
   VISTA and Windows7 users : This is the list of files and destinations :
   1. c:\users\public\trilobase_70\trilobase.fdb : This is the database with all your fossils and images.
   2. c:\users\public\trilobase_70\bibliography.fdb : This is the database with the bibliography.
   3. c:\users\public\trilobase_70\sites.fdb : This is the database with the description of the fossil collecting sites.
   4. c:\users\public\trilobase_70\sites : This folder AND ALL THE SUBFOLDERS contains the documents, photos, maps etc... of the fossil collecting sites.
   
   
4. Start Trilobase. You will find all your data. You don't have to enter the access code.

- Zoom, save and print

 

The images of the fossils are stored inside the database. Little images or previews are shown on the main screen.
When you click the icon or doubleclick the image itself, a new window is opened.



 

 

The image is fitted on the screen. It is possible to zoom in using the slider below the image or by scrolling the mouse scrollbutton (when available). When the image is too big, you can use the scrollbars to move the image horizontally and vertically.

 

The "Save as..." button allows the user to save the image in JPG format on the computer.
The "Print" button prints the image on the connected printer.

 

- Brightness and contrast

 

You can change the brightness and contrast of the image. The brightness and contrast are increased/decreased each time you click the button.
The "UNDO" button reloads the original image.
The "SAVE" button saves the image in the database. You can't UNDO the SAVE action.

 

- Crop image

 

You can crop or cut-out a portion of the image. Draw a rectangle (with the mouse) around the area that you want to keep and hit the "CROP" button.

 





 

The first image shows a photo that is too big. The second image shows the same photo after the "CROP" operation.
The "UNDO" button reloads the original image.
The "SAVE" button saves the image in the database. You can't UNDO the SAVE action.

 

- Searching fossils

 

The "SEARCH" function allows the user to make a selection of fossils that matches 1 or more criteria.



The fossils that match the search criteria are displayed in the "Results" box. When you select a fossil of the result box, the fossil is also displayed in the main window.

 

- Print the selected fossils

 

Click the "Print..." button to print the selected fossils. the print window will open where the user can select the desired print format.

 

- Export the selected fossils

 

Click the "Export CSV..." button to export the data of the selected fossils in a CSV file. A CSV file is a text file where all the data of 1 fossil is written in 1 line. The columns are seprated with the semicolumn.
CSV files can be used to export data to other computer systems.