Fw: [Babase] Statdate revisited -- Was: Re: Request for
Susan'sinput on SCI5 (fwd)
Amboseli Baboon Research Project
babase@www.eco.princeton.edu
Thu, 21 Jul 2005 12:29:47 +0300
Hi all,
In response to Karl's comments:
>
> While Status _is_ the state of the animal on last sighting,
> Statdate is _not_ the date of last sighting. It is the
> date of last sighting only when the individual is alive.
> When the individual is dead, it's the death date and is
> uncertain. Of course everybody does not wind up dead,
> (lucky them)
> but for those who do you might need some uncertainty
> indications.
....
>
> So, Status is really describing one of two different
> things, the state of the animal when last seen
> alive, and whatever elaboration on date of death
> is required. Because they never both occur at
> the same time it all works out ok.
I understand, thanks for clarification. I guess my concern is about the
labor involved in using this system -- given, for instance, how we have
gotten stuck on dcauses. However, I also understand that implementing in the
database so that it is POSSIBLE to do doesn't bear one way or another on
whether we actually do it I guess. So, I am OK with this and agree is
others do as well -- as I said earlier in principle this is a good thing for
us to do.
>Susan