Recording Data with the Pilot System
Partner farms and CCPs can record data on the pilot database. Partner farms can register here. CCPs should contact support@scoteid.com.
There are currently several methods available for recording data with the pilot database. The most suitable method will depend on individual circumstance and the volume of animals moved. It is the Pilot's intention to make the process of recording data as inclusive as practically possible.
- File Upload to the website
- Suitable for uploading the output files from most software
- Recording Moves using the website
- Suitable for recording the movement of a continuous run of tags or moving a previously recorded lot
- ScotEID Desktop Application
- A software program for recording all the movement data which should work with virtually any reader
- Digital Pen and Paper
- These are undergoing trial in some of the more remote areas
- 3rd Party Software connected to the ScotEID web services
- Farm management or CCP software are most likely to use this method
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1. File Upload to the website
Files can be uploaded by partner farms or area co-ordinators through the ScotEID website (File upload page).
Most RFID readers bundle software which will allow the output of plain text and csv files. The problem with these text files are that they tend to use different user configurable output formats and they usually only contain the tag data with none of the additional lot information required. To cope with the different file data formats the website script uses pattern recognition to try and recognise and extract the relevant data from the uploaded data file. This has been successfully tested on many different files but, there is no guarantee it will work on all files. If you find a problem with your file format contact support@scoteid.com. Once a file has been uploaded the file is kept in a list of incomplete lots until the additional movement information has been recorded.
Experience has demonstrated that many times the uploaded tag groups need to be split/merged/deleted, often this can best be done by sorting the tags by either the UK number (so that the change in flock no can be seen) or by timestamp (so the gap in time between lots can be seen). The Table of reads can be sorted by clicking on the table column titles.
Once the user has finished adjusting the groups and has completed the lot information the data is added to the complete lots. The farms concerned in the movement will then be able to see the lot details.
More information on uploading a file can be found here. If you need help please with this please phone the Huntly office for advice(01466794323).
2. Recording Movements on the ScotEID website
Pilot members can record information against their flock using the online flock register. All the information for an online flock register can currently be recorded using the online flock register except replacement tags.
Any previously recorded lot can easily be recorded as having moved again (view recorded lots). This enables a lot of sheep to be read once and then moved several times without needing to read them again.
Previously the website allowed a user to specify a range of his issued tags and assign an action/move to them. Due to the absence of tag buckets from the manufacturers this function has been suspended whilst alternatives are being investigated.
3. ScotEID Desktop Application
The ScotEID team have produced a Java application for interfacing to EID readers which captures the data required by the pilot. Click to run the ScotEID app or read the manual/instruction. The application uploads data directly to the website and interfaces with a number of readers meaning that only one application needs to be supported by the pilot team. The application has been made available to all partner farms.
Information for developers
The configuration file allows a number of options to be set including default values, automatic start and multiple simultaneous readers (for situations such as a race reader with multiple readers). More details about the configuration file can be found here
The source is available under the terms of the GNU general public license and we would welcome all contributions to the code especially support for different readers. We hope to add further functionality to the software soon. If you would like to access the SVN repository please email support@scoteid.com to get the details.
4. Digital Pen and Paper
The Digital Pen is being researched as a method for updating the database for keepers who do not have access to a computer. The digital pen and paper uses a sheet of paper similar to the current movement document but, with additional space for recording individual IDs or a continuous run of tags. The digital pen and paper is used in a similar fashion to normal pen and paper. The digital pen interprets the characters being written to the paper and sends the data to the database after the form has been completed via a mobile phone.
The pens are currently undergoing testing for suitability in outlying areas.
5. 3rd Party Software connected to the ScotEID web services
The Pilot have provided interfaces to the ScotEID database for 3rd party software developers. It is intended that the farm management and CCP software developers will use these web services to update the Pilot Database. To minimise costs smaller CCPs may prefer to use the website file upload facility or the ScotEID desktop applicaiton instead.
For information about the ScotEID web services click here.
