Tutorial 3: Compiling or Building the Key
1. The key is now ready to be built/compiled. Note that the key is presently in skeleton format with only the taxa, characters, states and scores inserted. Nevertheless, the key will operate and sort the taxa, even if there is no attached information. There are two ways of starting the key building process. You can select the Launch Key in Player icon from the tool bar (a small right pointing arrow near the right hand end of the tool bar) or you can select Key on the main menu bar, followed by Compile Key from the drop down menu.
If you select the tool bar icon, the Builder will follow precisely the same steps as will result from selecting the sequence of Key and Compile Key from the main menu, but in addition, the tool bar icon will then open the Lucid Player with the key automatically selected and ready to run. Selecting the main menu option does not start the Player and after compilation of the key, you are returned to the working screen of the Builder. For this initial demonstration, the menu bar option will be used.
2. Select Key from the main menu bar, followed by Compile Key from the drop down menu. You will notice that the Builder does a key file check and then opens a Compile Key Checklist information panel. This panel is divided into two sections: the top section contains user inserted data which is essential to the Builder before it can compile a key. The lower section contains non-essential items; these do not have to be completed before the Builder will compile a key. Notice that a red cross is shown against the item Front Page Settings. This indicates that additional information must be inserted before the Builder will compile the key.
3. To add the required information, select the red cross and the data entry panel Key Front Page Settings will open. Select the Main Text entry area and insert a suitable title for the key, e.g. Test Key for Banksia Species. Then close the Key Front Page Settings panel by selecting the green tick. Cancel the Compile Key Checklist and save the key.
Alternately, select Cancel in the Compile Key Checklist panel and return to the Builder main screen. Now select Key from the main menu bar followed by Front Page from the drop-down menu. When this is done, the Key Front Page Settings data entry panel will open and display the fact that the key title is essential and missing. Save the key.
4. Select Key from the main menu bar, followed by Compile Key from the drop down menu. Notice this time that the red cross has disappeared and the selection of Compile Key is now active. Select Compile Key. A series of panels will open displaying where the Builder is working as the compilation process occurs, followed by an archival program which sets the key files into a suitable format for the Player to use. When the process is completed, the Builder will return to the main key building screen.
5. Try the alternative procedure of selecting the arrow icon (Launch Key in Player) on the tool bar. The Builder will rapidly compile the key and the Player will automatically open with the key ready to run. You must however select the Key/GO flashing icon to actually start the key in the Player.
NOTE: The Builder automatically inserts the correct language and help files during the compilation. These files can be changed by selecting Key from the main menu bar followed by Settings from the drop down menu. It is strongly suggested that the default settings are retained. The language file is only altered if special text is required in a key or if a language other than English is to be used.