Tutorials
Tutorial 2: Scoring the Key
1. With the Banksia species key file loaded in the Builder, select the Open all Characters icon at the top of the central column of the Builder screen. All characters will now open and show their states. You can close them all by selecting the lower of the two icons (Close all Characters). Alternatively, you can open or close an individual character by repeatedly selecting the + icon at the start of the character.
2. With all characters open to display their states and Banksia integrifolia highlighted, select the top blue tick (Turn Score Mode On) icon approximately half way down the screen; alternatively, use the keyboard by pressing Ctrl-K (it will also toggle the scoring mode off). The Characters panel will now become greyed and boxes will appear beside each state; a blue hash mark will appear in each state requiring a numeric score. The scoring ticks will also be activated as indicated by their colours.
3. You are now ready to score the taxon Banksia integrifolia. Because a simple key is being built here, only the first two scoring states will be used. The large blue tick indicates that this is the most common (or only) state, while the small green tick indicates that the state is rare but still occurs. If you look at the description of Banksia integrifolia, you will see that it is a tree up to 25 metres tall. Place the cursor in the box beside the state tree in the character Growth habit and select it. A blue tick will appear to indicate that the taxon has that particular character state. Alternately, you can score a state for a particular taxon by using the toggle icon located beneath the Turn Score Mode On icon. Select the toggle icon which will change to Character Score Mode and select the same state as above. You will see a blue tick against the taxon Banksia integrifolia.
Spread sheet scoring: the method described in steps 2 and 3 is NOT the only way to score the taxa: you may wish to use the Spread sheet scoring feature. Close the scoring screen in step 2 above by re-selecting the blue tick - Turn Score Mode On icon or Ctrl-K on the keyboard. Now select the lowest icon (a blue tick with a cross hatch mark - Spread Sheet Scoring) and a spread sheet method of scoring will become available, i.e. character states appear along the top of the screen and the list of taxa appear along the side of the screen.
Numeric States
4. To score a numeric state select the blue hash mark beside the state metres of the character Height. A data entry box will appear which allows you to insert the numeric parameters for the tree. Because the information for this species is limited to up to 25 metres, the assumption will be made for convenience that the outsize minimum and normal minimum values of height for this species will be 0 metres, and the maximums will both be 25 metres. Enter these values in the appropriate boxes - you must press Enter after each numeric score has been inserted and especially after the final score so that the program knows the scores have been completed. Finally, select the blue tick - OK to return to the main scoring window. A blue N in the box indicates a correctly scored numeric character.
Multiple Character States
5. Continue to score the various states for Banksia integrifolia. For leaf length, use 4 cm as the outside minimum and normal minimum, and 45 cm as the outside maximum and normal maximum. You can score more than one state in a selection of states - for example, Qld, NSW and Vic must all be scored for the character of State distribution.
Less Common States
6. The other species are scored in precisely the same way. The only variation will be for the species Banksia seminuda. Here it states that the leaves are often serrate but sometimes even indicating that the margins may be even although this is not the most frequent state. When scoring this character, place a blue tick in the serrate box, then go to the central column of the screen and select the small green tick - then select the box beside the state even to indicate that this state can occur but is less common.
7. After completing the scoring, close the scoring screen by reselecting the Turn Score Mode On icon on the central column. Now save the key file.
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