Starting a new project > Starting a new project (Access Version)

In the Access version the data for a single site is typically stored in a single database. This database may be further expanded if additional projects are undertaken at the same site. This has the advantage that projects are seperate, and customisations can easily be made to individual projects to meet specific needs.

General instructions for starting a new project are as follows, you may like to expand this with internal proceedures:

1. Starting Project

•Start ESdat. Click on the ‘New’ icon,

•Type the project name in the Identification Code;

•Select ‘Hydrology and Environmental’,

•Specify the location for the new database, this will generally be your project directory on the server (click the box). Click OK.

•The "Add data" form for the Project table will appear.

•The Project Number will already be entered based on your file name, but can be edited. Add a Project Name, Manager, Office and other appropriate Project attributes.

2. Loading Location data (optional)

•Select the "Locations" data-type on the main screen, and select Import - Locations.

(Alternatively, select Import – Templates - Data Tables - Locations),

•A template will open in Excel. Enter the data.

•In Excel, select the Import button () on the toolbar, click Import.

•Fix any problems and reimport.

3. Loading Lab Data

•Select Import, Laboratory File.

•Navigate to the laboratory file. (The laboratory file must be in the ESdat format)

•Select the ‘Sample’ file. The file should then open up in Excel.

•Specify the field duplicates and blanks and import as described in the tutorials

*When a field duplicate is imported, it is important that the sample type is changed from Normal to Field_D under the Sample Type column, similarly Interlab Duplicates must be changed to Interlab_D. The parent sample will need to be assigned in the Parent Sample column. Details on this can be obtained from the field person/sampler.

4. Loading Environmental Standards

•select Import, Environmental Standards.

•Navigate to the Environmental Standards file. (The file must be in an ESdat format),

•Select the file that relates to the standards you want. The file should then open up in Excel.

•Review the file and any comments, if provided. The file may contain multiple sheets as well a combined compounds functionality..