Importing data (sample plots)

• Iptim is now designed to handle stand registers and sample plot inventories separately.
• This tutorial will show how to import both sample plots.

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File to use in this tutorial

We strongly suggest the use of the following file in this tutorial.

• sampleplots.xls  (100 KB)

• The 'stand' worksheet includes the following data: estate, stand_id, area, soil_class, soil_preparation, tree_especies, planting_date, and inventory_date.
• The 'sample plot' worksheet includes the following data: estate, stand_id, plot_id and plot_size.
• The 'tree' worksheet includes the following data: estate, stand_id, plot_id, tree_id, tree_diameter, tree_height.

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Importing data from an Excel file

Importing the data into the system

To import the data into the system:

1. Click on the Project browser window in the Project module.
   
2. Select a project and a dataset 
   1. Important: If you want to import stand register data, you need to select a dataset with a stand register structure. If you want to import sample plot data, you need to select a dataset with a sample plot structure (for more info go to Project Browser).
3. Click on more on the right-hand side.
4. Select import.
5. Choose the data type. For this example we will select Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Worksheet (xls).
6. Press the button + to add a new archive at the right-hand side of your screen.
7. Select the file and open it.
8. Click on Next. 

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Mapping of data sheets to data levels (sample plot)

It is time to tell Iptim what kind of information is included on each worksheet of the Excel file. As you can see, there are two windows:

• The window at the left shows the predetermined data levels of the template chosen when creating the project and data set that we are using in this example.
• The window at the right shows the name of the worksheets of the Excel file that is being imported.
• In this example we will map the sample plot and tree data in the Excel file (on the right) with the "sample plot" and "tree" data level of the template (on the left).

1. Click on the sample plot on the window at the left (the template's data levels) and click on sample plot on the window at the right (the worksheet in the Excel file).
2. Click on Map (or double-click in any of the two above selections). On the left-hand window, you will see that the field will change to "sample plot : sample plot" indicating that the data in the worksheet 'sample plot' has been mapped to the sample plot level of the template.
3. Click on the tree on the window at the left (the template's data levels) and click on tree on the window at the right (the worksheet in the Excel file).
4. Click on Map (or double-click in any of the two above selections). 
5. Click on Next.

1. Click on the tree to sample plot in the Data level mapping window on the left hand side. You will now see the right side of the screen light up and will find two groups of windows:
   
   1. Windows related to the tree level data in the Excel file. You can see this because the options under the window "tree" are the name of the columns of the tree worksheet.
   2. Windows related to the sample plot data in the Excel file.
2. Under the window tree select the name of the column corresponding to the sample plot ID. In this example it is "plot_id".
3. Click on Add.
4. Under the window sample plot select the name of the column corresponding to the sample plot ID. In this example it is once again "plot_id".
   
   IMPORTANT: Each sample plot must have a unique ID. If you have sample plots with the same ID in two or more stands, you can create a unique ID by adding a new variable in steps (2) and (4). This can be done, for example, by adding the sample plot ID and the stand ID in these steps (if the stand ID is available in both datasets).
   
   
5. Click on Next. 

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1. If you want to map a variable, select the variable on the right window that you want to map, and then select the corresponding variable on the left window.
2. Click on Map (or double click).
3. After you have mapped all variables, press Next.

What if my worksheet variable doesnt have a corresponding predetermined variable?

1. Select the variable of the worksheet that you want to add (e.g. "estate").
2. Press New Property.
3. Select the type of variable
   1. Numeric variable
   2. Text variable
   3. Date variable
   4. Category variable
   5. Option variable
4. Add a Display name.
5. Add a name.
6. Depending on the type of variable you might have additional options to consider.
7. Press Accept.