Howdy --
Can anyone explain how to take advantage of the auto-assign incremental catalog number function while importing legacy data through the workbench? When I work from the Collection Object data screen, I can use the cataloging function to automatically assign a new number to a new record. But within Workbench, it appears that all fields must be defined prior to verification and committed inclusion.
Is this possible? How do you assign automatic catalog numbers during legacy import?
Thanks. == Alexandra
Including auto-increment catalog numbers with Workbench import
The current version does not support automatic catalog numbers in WorkBench. Until/unless this changes, you will need to determine what the correct starting number is, enter it manually in the first spreadsheet row, and then use an Excel function to number the remaining rows in your spreadsheet.
To submit a feature request, send email to the Specify Help Desk (specify@ku.edu).
It IS possible to use
It IS possible to use automatic catalog number assignment in the workbench. Simply add a column mapped to Catalog Number. Leave the catatlog number blank for the rows you want to be automatically numbered. The uploader will use the auto-increment function when the rows are uploaded.
Thanks!
This was successful. I had not previously assigned a blank (empty) column for this field, but it worked perfectly once I made the adjustment.
WorkBench 6.3.02 auto-increment catalog numbers
We just tried this with a small set of data using WB 6.3.02 and failed. Any ideas?
WorkBench 6.3.02 auto-increment catalog numbers
In a post to an unrelated thread, you referred to "leaving the cells blank (under header "catalog number") for the row(s) that we wanted to be automatically numbered". If you mean by this that some rows do have catalog numbers and others do not, that could be your problem. I would suggest retrying the upload with a data set that only contains records that do not have a catalog number.
auto-increment catalog number in WB 6.3.02
One of our columns had the header "Catalog Number" all cells in this column were blank; no rows had data in this column.