Lucid Phoenix Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to install to see a Lucid Phoenix key within a web page?
Does Lucid Phoenix run on a Macintosh?
What are the system requirements for Lucid Phoenix?
I have the latest version of Java installed – why is Lucid Phoenix still not working?
Where do I get support for Lucid Phoenix?
What is the domain licence for the Lucid Phoenix Applet?
Can I view keys without a web server?
Can I distribute the Phoenix Player on CD ROM or similar media?
What kind of paper based keys can I import in the Lucid Phoenix Builder?
Can I have pictures and multimedia within my key?
How do I check what version of Java I have installed, if any?
What is a key?
What is a dichotomous key?
What is a multi-access key?
Q. What do I need to install to see a Lucid Phoenix key within a web page?
A. Lucid Phoenix is a full cross platform application written in Java. To see the Lucid Phoenix Player within a web page you need to have the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed. Lucid Phoenix needs JVM 1.4.2 or greater to work correctly. This is available free of charge from Sun Microsystems at http://www.java.com.
Note: Macintosh users need to use their system update utility or visit the Apple website to obtain the JVM.
The web browser you choose to view the page containing the Lucid Phoenix Player needs to be compatible with the JVM, fortunately this includes most modern versions of web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Netscape and Mozilla, Safari and Opera. (Create links to each)
Q. Does Lucid Phoenix run on a Macintosh?
A. Yes. See the System requirements FAQ for more details.
Q. What are the system requirements for Lucid Phoenix?
A. The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) v1.4.2 or greater needs to be installed on your computer. The JVM is provided with the CD ROM edition of Lucid Phoenix. To obtain the latest version of the JVM for free, go to www.java.com. Users who want to download the demonstration version of Lucid Phoenix or who want to view the Lucid Phoenix player will need to download it from www.java.com, if not already installed. To check if you have the JVM installed or what version you may already have. See the following FAQ.
To install the JVM, your computer needs to meet one of the following.
Windows OS
• 98/ME/NT(SP6a)/2000(SP3)/XP(SP1)
• Pentium 166MHz
• HD: 75MB
• RAM: 64MB
Please note: The JVM no longer supports Windows 95.
Macintosh OS
• OS X 10.2.6 or greater
• HD: 51MB
• RAM: 128MB
Linux OS
• A flavour of Linux that supports J2RE, such as: Red Hat 7.3/8.0 SuSE 8.0, TurboLinux 7.0 or SLEC 8
• Pentium 166MHz
• HD: 85MB
• RAM: 64MB
Solaris OS: 7, 8 or 9
• RAM: 128MB
• HD: Up to 70MB
Top
Q. I have the latest version of Java installed – why is Lucid Phoenix still not working?
A. In most cases this will be caused by you having older versions of Java installed on your computer. Uninstalling these older versions should fix the problem. To uninstall older versions of the Java Runtime Environment under Microsoft Windows, go to the Control Panel, and select Add/Remove Programs. If you still cannot get the applet to appear, check your browsers security settings and ensure that Java applets have permission to run. For Internet Explorer users this can be done through the ‘Internet Options’ under the ‘Tools’ menu. You will need to contact your network administrator if this is the problem.
Top
Q. Where do I get support for Lucid Phoenix?
A. First check the Lucidcentral website – there is a section devoted to Lucid Phoenix - for the latest information and updates. If you can not find a solution, then please email support@lucidcentral.org and we will endeavour to answer your questions as soon as possible.
Top
Q. What is the domain licence for the Lucid Phoenix Applet?
A. When you purchase a copy of Lucid Phoenix, you are licensed to host the Lucid Phoenix Player on a single publicly accessible domain. A domain for example is www.lucidcentral.org. If you wanted to host the Lucid Phoenix player on more than one domain you need to purchase one or more domain licences. This is also the case when the same server is hosting multiple domains.
Domain licences can be purchased for $99.00AUD.
Hosting the Lucid Phoenix Player on an unregistered domain is in breach of licence. If you are unsure about your registered domain or need further information please contact us (support@lucidcentral.org).
Top
Q. Can I view keys without a web server?
A. Yes, Lucid Phoenix keys can be viewed via web pages loaded directly from your local hard drive or CD ROM. The only requirement is to have the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) v1.4.2 or greater installed on your computer. The can be obtained free from www.java.com.
Note: Macintosh users need to use their system update utility or visit the Apple website to obtain the JVM.
Top
Q. Can I distribute the Phoenix Player on CD ROM or similar media?
A. Yes, the Lucid Phoenix Player maybe distributed free of charge for non-commercial purposes on CD ROM. You must also include our Lucid Phoenix Player licence on the CD, which can be found in the Lucid Phoenix Licence file on your CD ROM. At the time of writing this FAQ it is also possible to distribute a copy of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) on your CD. To find out more information on this option please refer to Sun Microsystems Java website (www.java.sun.com or www.java.com). You must also you must meet the Phoenix logo requirements (PDF. refer to your CD for the actual logo graphic files).
For the purpose of this FAQ the definition of ‘non-commercial’ is no income will be derived or sort when distributing the Lucid Phoenix Player. If you are unsure of your situation when distributing the Lucid Phoenix Player, then please contact us (support@lucidcentral.org).
If you do wish to distribute your key with a Lucid Phoenix Player on a commercial basis then this will attract a licence fee. Before distributing the Lucid Phoenix Player with a key(s) on this basis you must contact us (support@lucidcentral.org) to arrange an appropriate licence and payment.
Top
Q. What kind of paper based keys can I import in the Lucid Phoenix Builder?
A. A hard copy or paper based key must first be transformed into an electronic text version before the Lucid Phoenix Builder can import it. The Lucid Phoenix Builder does not scan or perform Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This function must be performed prior to the import. The electronic version of a ‘paper based’ key should be formatted in plain text.
The Phoenix importer can handle the following dichotomous key structures.
Top
Q. Can I have pictures and multimedia within my key?
A. Yes, Phoenix supports attaching JPEG, GIF and PNG graphic formats to couplet questions and entities (taxa). HTML pages or Internet URLs can be also attached to entities. Any graphics that are attached into a key should be sized appropriately before adding to the key as the Lucid Phoenix Builder and Player do not resize or resample graphics. Graphics that are to appear with the Phoenix Player interface should be kept as small as possible, this has the advantage of faster load speeds, especially across the Internet and allows users running lower screen resolutions more “interface space.. If required, higher resolution images can be easily included in the HTML pages that are attached into the key.
To view an example key with full multimedia click here. (Add link to Insect Orders)
Top
Q. How do I check what version of Java I have installed, if any?
A. To run Lucid Phoenix, you need to install Java Virtual Machine version 1.4.2 or greater on your computer. To check if you have the correct Java Virtual Machine (JVM) type the following command at a command prompt or terminal window.
java -version
If you receive an error message stating 'java' is an unknown command then you need to download the Java Virtual Machine.
If you receive a response to the command that states a Java version number less than 1.4.2, such as version 1.2, 1.3 or 1.4.1, then you need to download a newer version of the Java Virtual Machine.
At the time of Lucid Phoenix release the current Java Virtual Machine version is 1.4.2_03.
To download the latest Java Virtual Machine go to: http://www.java.com
Note: Macintosh users need to use the system update utility or visit the Apple website to obtain the JVM.
Top
Q. What is a key?
A. A key is a tool that, figuratively speaking, unlocks the door to identification of an unknown object or organism. Keys can be built to identify any group of things: the pieces of apparatus in a laboratory, the parts of a car, the species of termites in Africa, the types of stars in our galaxy. Typically, an expert in the relevant field puts together the information and builds the key. Keys are useful in any biological field where large numbers of taxa are difficult to distinguish just by using the naked eye and memory.
The builder of a key must choose characters that best distinguish between taxa to be included. Each character has a number of character states e.g. pink, yellow, blue - for the character "colour of petals". Clearly defining the character states is crucial to the efficient working of a key. Subjective decision making on the part of the user should be avoided e.g. character states "dark pink" and "red" could be interpreted differently by different users.
Top
Q. What is a dichotomous key?
A. Dichotomous keys are the most common keys encountered. They may be laid out in various ways, but usually form a series of numbered questions arranged in "couplets" as shown below
1. Bark on trunk smooth.................................. 2
Bark on trunk rough.................................... 3
2. Bark mostly white....................................... 4
Bark other colours....................................... 7
Each time a question is answered, the user is directed to the number of a new question-couplet and the key continues to do this until instead of a number, the name of the species (or other taxon) is given. This type of key is called a "dichotomous" key because the meaning of the word is "two branching". The structure of the key is such that each question is actually like a tree branch that has two smaller branches proceeding from it as demonstrated on the next page.
Despite their wide use, dichotomous keys suffer from one very bad problem – you have no choice about the order in which characters are presented. For instance, suppose you are trying to identify a plant and the next couplet is about the colour of the flowers, but the material you have only has fruits. You can go no further with any confidence. Lucid Phoenix can help overcome this problem by allowing you to skip couple questions and help manage your selected path through the key.
Top
Q. What is a multi-access key?
A. Multi-access Keys, such as those built using Lucid Matrix, do not suffer from the unanswerable couplet problem encountered in a traditional dichotomous key (Lucid Phoenix helps to over come this problem) because multi-access keys allow you to start at any point you choose and to proceed in any order you choose. Computers are ideal to handle these keys. In its database, the key contains all the information about the taxa that are to be identified. The user chooses a character state of a selected character in the key and the multi-access key retains taxa that have the character state; taxa that have a different character state for the selected character are discarded. Next another character is chosen, and again the same process is repeated with the remaining taxa. You can avoid characters that are difficult for you or not appropriate for your specimen.
Download trial 
FAQs