===Texas A&M University Bioinformatics Working Group===
Program Description: TPWWWOB.IPF
TPWWWOB.IPF, written in a PC database (KnowledgeMan-Kman) programming language, manipulates Kman data tables to produce a two HTML files that present taxa listed as endemic to Texas in family order, families A to F, and families F-Z. The program 'walks' through the Kman table TPWDEND2.ITB, which carries data provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Natural Heritage Program as a WordPerfect document file; 'NO PLACE BUT TEXAS: PLANT TAXA ENDEMIC TO THE LONE STAR STATE'. The data table in this document was converted from WordPerfect to MS Word for Windows format; conversion from 'table to text' for the main listing and subsequent editing to produce a delimited ASCII file (TPWDEND2.TXT) for attachment to a Kman table (TPWDEND2.ITB). Other elements of the original Heritage Program document were converted to 'draft' HTML using CU_HTML with final hand-editing.

The Kman program TPENDCR1.IPF uses a Kman table of Texas County names and codes (ENDCOUNT.ITB) as a source of strings to 'match' county names listed for each endemic taxon in the 'distribution' fields of TPWDEND2.ITB. These two fields (dist, dist2) carry either a listing of counties or a 'distribution statement' (see listing page), such as 'Edwards Plateau' or 'eastern Texas'. The latter are 'translated' to a series of county codes for each listed taxon by TPENDCR1.IPF. Data produced by TPENDCR1.IPF are output to an ASCII file and transferred to Erich Schneider of the Texas A&M Center for the Study of Digital Libraries for inclusion into a distribution/diversity mapping system based on a similar system recently developed for the Flora of Arkansas which offers a diversity map for all Texas endemics and, from this, a 'clickable' checklist for all endemic taxa.

Output from TPWWWOB.IPF, including distribution/diversity mapping links, represents the base 'foundation' for a dynamic data set. This is developed further by an 'annotation' option on all single-taxon distribution maps. Registered users - members of the Flora of Texas Consortium and other taxonomic specialists - can 'annotate' distribution maps using documentation (herbarium specimens) present in their collections. This involves a simple confirmation with input of voucher specimen data. Specialist knowledge of regional floristics or specific taxa also allows FTC members and other registered users to refute a given county record if the taxon is not known from that county. On-line annotations for individual taxa and their distributions in Texas is tracked by the system and evident on distribution maps via color-coded county markers: base (Heritage Program) data, confirmed county records, and refuted county records (the latter not included in diversity mapping). This system is prototypic and under constant revision. It currently functions as a test bed for development of dynamic, 'interactive' on-line databases by the FTC and other specialists with an interest in the Texas flora. Once a fully functional system is in place for Texas endemics, this will form the foundation for a similar system that deals with Texas 'critical' taxa as defined by the U.S. Fish and Service, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Organization for Endangered Species, and the Flora of Texas Consortium.

Questions or comments regarding this system can be directed to Hugh Wilson.

Last run of TPWWWOB.IPF: 06/12/96

Taxa listed: 326
Start run: 13:55:10
End run: 13:55:26
Return to the Flora of Texas Consortium homepage or the Texas A&M Bioinformatics Working Group homepage (use browser 'back' button for return to prior page.
This page produced by tpwwwob.ipf on: 06/12/96