The program acts on a data table carrying data for BONAP taxa - BONAP98a.ITB. Starting with the first record, it proceeds to move through the data table, keying on internal BONAP code fields and name strings to produce appropriate HTML code to provide a rough replication of BONAP listings as they appear in the original hardcopy (1994 - Volume 1 - Checklist). These listings form the foundation for placement of additional information within a structured context via links to other information sources.
A 'data layer' is produced by programmed reference to a data table (taesall6.ITB) that contains information present in the Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1990). This information on Texas plants, now being updated and proofed, allows mapped distribution by Texas vegetaton zones, inclusion of local names, and some information on differences among plant names used by national vs. Texas checklists. We are currently working to refine this last item. Another data layer for the current version of BONOUT5.IPF involves the data tables and indices derived from delimited ASCII files available through the U.S. FWS server. These data are 'registered' to the BONAP system and thereby tapped when a matching taxon id code is encountered as the program moves through the primary nomenclatural table, BONAP98a.ITB. The program links to a full text index mapping system, created in July of 1998, that employs BONAP distribution data to display distribution maps via links from the name. Systems under development for distribution and diversity mapping of the California flora (see the CalFlora Database - Full Text Index) are also referenced for taxa recorded as present in California and images of California plants available at the Brousseau California Flora Pictures website (Berkeley Digital Library Project) are referenced via links to the source.
The program, written by Hugh Wilson, is designed to allow access to additional data sources as they become available for open internet access. Functions now under development will allow diversity mapping for vascular plant divisions or phyla, flowering plant classes, subclasses, orders, families, genera, and species with subspecific entities.
Systems for indexed searching and HTML/map production have been developed by Erich Schneider at the Texas A&M Center for the Study of Digital Libraries. This involves the use of 'Managing Gigabytes', a public domain indexing/retrieval program that creates index files, as well as 'cgi' programming to manage both query and output.