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Step 1:
Download and Install CyberTracker
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See the page Installation for
instructions on how to install and download CyberTracker. When you
download CyberTracker 3, both the Standard and Professional versions
are included.
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You also need to install the Windows Mobile and
ActiveSync software that comes with the PocketPC.
Step 2: Open CyberTracker
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For the majority of users, the Standard version will be sufficient.
Your Database can be viewed in either version at any time. You should
find CyberTracker in the Start menu under:
Start - Programs - CyberTracker Software - CyberTracker 3 - CyberTracker Standard
Step 3: Create a New
Database
You can use and/or modify any of the Sample Databases
that accompany CyberTracker. These may be sufficient for your needs.
You may just want to change the choices on the screens, by following
Step 5: Add
Elements. Click on the large Open Sample Database
button, also found under File - Open Sample Database. Double-click on a
Database to view it. To see what the sequence looks like on a handheld
computer in the field, click on the Test Run button (also see
Step 7: Test Screen
Sequence).
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To create a Database, click on “New Database” (also under File - New
Database). A database is a single file that contains all of the
information about a project. This includes the Screen Sequences, all
the data collected, Elements and Reports.
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To save your Database, go to “File” - “Save Database as...” Databases
are stored by default in My Documents\My CyberTracker Databases, but
you can save them in any location. Databases can be deleted with
Windows Explorer.
Step 4: Create Screens
Screens are the pages on a handheld computer that a user
scrolls through, selecting choices from each screen called Elements.
Elements are the data you want to record in the field, and appear as
choices on a screen.
For example, you make a screen for “Water Level,” your Elements might be
“Full,” “Half-Full,” and “Empty.” Elements can appear on the
screen as text, icons, or images. Touching an icon or image
reveals the text.
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The left-hand drop-down menu on the Navigation Bar allows you to
switch between Sequences and Reports. Choose Sequences. If you also
see Elements as a choice, you are in the CyberTracker Professional
version. You may continue in that version, but for less confusion,
exit CyberTracker and open up the Standard version according to
Step 2: Open CyberTracker above.
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To create a new screen, click on New Screen in the Toolbar.
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A
window will pop up for you to choose a screen template; the appearance
of your screen. There are two folders: Icon Screens and Text
Screens. Click on the “+” beside each folder to view the templates
inside. Click on a template to view it. Double-click on the
template, or click OK, to select it. Note that the sample Elements in
the template (such as Rhino, Bird, Reptile) will not appear when you
select a template.
Screen
Template Designs
Text Only Screens:
screens that display choices as text only. Instead of the History List,
which uses icons, Text Only screens show a caption, or title, at the top
of the screen.
Icon and Text Screens:
screens
that display Elements as icons (pictures), or icons with text. All Icon
and Text screens show the History List at the top of the screen. This
is a series of the most recent 32 x 32 size icons chosen from the previous screens.
Large Icon:
Large icon screens are best if you are going to create larger, 50 x 50
icons. The other screens look best with 32 x 32 icons. CyberTracker
version 2 used 32 x 32 icons, but you may find it easier to draw icons
that are larger. Note that you need a designated 32 x 32 icon for an
Element to show its icon in the History List. See
Appendix B: To Create Icons
below.
Radio List:
only one
choice may be selected from the list, for mutually exclusive choices.
Check List:
more than
one choice may be selected from the list, for options which can occur
simultaneously.
Number List:
for each Element on the screen, a number may be entered. Numbers are
entered by tapping the top or bottom of the integer. For example,
touching the top of a zero twice brings it to 2, and touching the bottom
of a zero once brings it to 9.
Number Keypad:
a number may be entered by tapping the keypad on the screen. You
specify the number of decimal places to allow, default is at zero. Use
the “<” key to delete mistakes.
Field Notes:
touching the notes screen brings up a keyboard for users to write a note
on in the field. The caption can be used as a screen title or to ask a
question. The Short Question and Long Question vary in the amount of
space they designate for the fixed message.
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After you have selected a template, give the screen a name. Without
clicking anywhere, type the name of the screen and hit return.
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To rename a screen later, click on a screen to display the Properties,
and click on Name to change the name. A sub-screen will appear as a
subfolder under another screen in the column of screens. You may find
this a useful way to visually organize your screens. However, when you
delete a screen, any sub-screen of that screen will also be deleted.
Move screens and sub-screens by dragging them with your cursor.
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Click on a screen name to view the Properties. The Properties column
is the place to customize a screen.
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Click on a property to edit it. Not all screen templates have the
same properties. The properties are described below. You will
probably want to leave blank the Attribute field until you read
Step
5: Add Elements. Leave blank the properties that involve linking
screens until you have made all or most of your screens and read
Step
6: Link Screen Sequence (or you will have no screens to link
together).
Screen
Properties
Name:
The name of the screen as shown under the Screen column. Does not
appear on the screen.
Panel
or Memo
Caption:
In a Text Only or Field Note Screen, the words that appear at the top of
the screen, which can be used to explain the category, such as “Name of
User,” or ask a question, such as, “How many individuals are there?” In
a Short Question or Long Question Field Note Screen, this is a large
Memo space to write a question that will
appear on the screen, below which users can write a note in the field.
Element List
Attribute:
In some
Icon Screens, this asks you to display icons or images in addition to
text, or only text (“none”). For information on creating icons, see
Step 5: Add
Elements below.
Elements:
A
 means that you must add
Elements to the screen. Click on the blank space to the right and then
on the ellipsis button “[...]”
to add Elements.
For information on this, see
Step 5: Add Elements
and
Appendix A:
To Add
Icons
below.
If an
icon accompanies the Element, it will appear in the History List.
(Element name:) After you add Elements, each Element will show up
under Properties with an arrow beside it. When you link up screens in a sequence, this
field allows you to specify a different Next Screen link for each
Element. For example, if the screen is “Type of Animal” and the
Elements in the screen are “Mammal”, “Reptile”, etc. you might want the
Element “Mammal” to go to a screen titled “Mammals”, etc. If you fill
in this field for only some of the Elements, the other Elements with
blank fields will go to the “Next Screen” you specified under
Navigator. See
Step 6: Link Screen Sequence
below.
Element
Text Edit
Element:
In a Field
Note Screen, the Element field is a single Element
that allows notes to be queried in Reports. The Element is usually the
same as the Name of the screen, such as “Mammal Notes” or simply
“Notes.”
Element
Keypad
Decimals:
In a Number
Keypad Screen, this designates the maximum decimal places you will
allow. The default setting is zero.
Digits:
In a Number Keypad Screen, this designates the maximum digit places you
will allow.
Element:
A Number
Keypad Screen must have a single Element which allows the numbers
entered to be queried in Reports.
The Element is usually the same as the Name of the
screen, such as “Number of Females.”
Navigator
 Show Back:
The Back
button allows the user to go back to the previous screens in the
sequence before saving the data point or taking a GPS reading, erasing
the entry in the present screen.
 Show
Save 1:
The Save 1 button is an optional button that saves the data point
(and takes a GPS reading if enabled), then takes the user back to a
previous screen in the sequence that you designate below
under
"
Save 1 Target."
 Show
Save 2:
The Save 2 button is a second optional button that saves the data point (and
takes a GPS reading if enabled), then takes the user back to a previous
screen that you designate. The Save 2 destination screen is
usually not as far back in the sequence as the Save 1.
 Show Options:
The Options button allows users to edit data points in the field,
changing entries.
 Show GPS:
The Show GPS button allows you to view the GPS position, signal strength
and satellite positions. It is not the button you press to take a GPS
reading; if "Take GPS Reading" is checked for the screen, then pressing
Save 1 or Save 2 will record a GPS reading. If you are not using a GPS, uncheck this.
 Show Next:
The Next button takes the user forward to the next screen, to continue
to add information to the data point before saving it. The last screen
in a sequence should not have a Next button.
Take GPS Reading:
If a GPS will be used, check Take GPS Reading to record a geo-referenced
point each time the Save 1 or
Save 2 buttons are pressed on the current screen.
Save
1 Target: If you have checked "Show Save 1" above, click
on the empty space
to the right of this field twice to choose a destination screen
for
the Save 1 button. This button saves the current sighting and
takes the user back to the screen specified by "Save 1 Target". If this
link is blank, it returns to the first screen. You may have more than
one Save 1 Target in the sequence.
Save
2 Target: If you have checked "Show Save 2" above, click
on the empty space
to the right of this field twice to choose a destination screen for the
Save 2 button. This button saves the current sighting and takes the user
back to the screen specified by "Save 2 Target". If this link is
blank, it returns to the first screen. You may have more than one Save 2 Target in the sequence.
Next Screen: Double-click on the bland space to the right to choose
a destination
screen for the Next button. You may leave this blank if you have
specified a different Next Screen for every Element above, next to the
Element names. (Note: If the Next Screen designated by an Element does
not have a Next Screen itself, the computer remembers the previous Next
Screen and goes there. For example, if on an “Animals” screen you
specify a link for the "Reptile" Element to the “Reptile Species”
screen, as well as general link for all animals to an "Activity" screen,
and the “Reptile Species” screen has no Next Screen designated, then the
"Activity" screen will be the next screen after “Reptile Species”.)
Using a GPS
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A GPS is not needed to gather data,
however it is needed to geo-reference and map your data.
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After data is collected by scrolling
through the screens selecting Elements, save the data by pressing Save 1 or
Save 2. If "Take GPS Reading" was checked for that
screen, a GPS reading will be taken at this point. The large triangle
will appear in the middle of the screen to confirm the GPS position has
been saved.
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The first GPS point you record may take
a while, because the GPS needs to acquire a signal from satellites. The
GPS may have more difficulty acquiring a signal under trees, on very
cloudy days, or if is stored in your pocket - any time it does not have
a direct line of sight with satellites.
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On the Navigator bar at the bottom of
the PDA screen, the "Show GPS" triangle allows you to view Position
(your current coordinates), Sky View (a map of the satellites above you
at the moment), and Signal (whether your GPS has acquired a signal yet,
and how strong that signal is). When you have acquired a signal, the
"Show GPS" triangle will turn black.
Step 5: Add Elements
Elements are the data you want to record in the field, and appear as
choices on a screen. For example, you make a screen for “Water Level,”
your Elements might be “Full,” “Half-Full,” and “Empty.” Elements can
appear on the screen as text, icons, or images. Touching an icon or
image reveals the text.
- To
add an Element, click on the Screen to which it will belong. The
Properties column will appear. Click on the field called “Elements,”
and
then click on the ellipsis button “[...]” The Edit Element
List window will pop up. Note that you cannot minimize CyberTracker
while a pop-up window is open. Close the window to minimize
CyberTracker.
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Click on the blank row below “Name”, where it says "Click here to
quickly create a new Element". Type the name of the Element. Hit
Enter to save the Element and type a new Element. To add
Icons, see
Appendix A: To Add Icons below.
Hit “OK” to exit the Edit Element List.
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You do not need to retype Elements if you have already created them for
another screen. Just click on the “Add Elements” button.
Double-click on an Element to select it, or on a Screen name to select
the whole list of Elements within that screen. If you have imported a
database of Elements, you can select an Element within a folder or a
list of Elements by selecting a folder from the database. You can also
add Elements from more than one folder to a screen.
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Sometimes a Conflicting Elements window pops up stating that an
Element with a similar name already exists. Generally you do NOT
want to create a new Element with the same name as another. If you
queried Fox in a Table, for example, you'd need two columns to show
all data on foxes -- one for each Element named Fox.
Step 6: Link Screen
Sequence
You may find it helpful at first to design a flow chart
of your sequence on paper, so you can visualize how you want your
screens to link up.
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Linking screens in a sequence is simply a matter of specifying the
Next Screen for every screen, except the last screen(s). To specify a
next screen, under the Properties column, make sure that “Show Next”
is checked. Click twice on the blank space to the right of the field "Next
Screen". A drop down menu will appear, where you can
choose the screen you want to follow the current screen, and hit
“OK.” The following are types of screens that you are likely to
create:
Screen Positions
Start
Screen
(First Screen) In the first screen typically:
State Screen
A State
Screen is used to record information that does not change often, but
which should be recorded with every sighting. It is a branch off of
the Start Screen which loops back to the Start Screen. An example of a
State Screen is “Name of Person Recording Data” - the name is entered
once at the beginning and linked to every observation made without the
name being recorded every time. When the Field Computer is switched off
and then on again, the previous Elements selected from the State Screens
will still be recorded in the data. A State Screen typically:
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Is reached by a link from a single Element on the Start Screen
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"Next Screen" is the Start Screen
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"Show Save 1" is unchecked
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"Show Save 2" is unchecked
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"Save
1 Target" is blank
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"Save
2 Target" is blank
Branched Screens
In a branched screen, choosing a different Element leads to a different
Next Screen. If an Element has no Next Screen link designated,
selecting that Element will lead to the screen that has been
designated in the general
"Next Screen" field. In a branched screen:
- Some,
but not necessarily all, Elements must have a Next Screen link
designated to the right of the Element’s name;
- “Show
Next” must be checked;
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"Next Screen" is
blank only if all Elements have Next Screens designated.
Save 1
Target Screen
The first
few screens are often general information that should accompany each
observation made during the day, but that the user wouldn’t want to have
to re-enter each time they make an observation, such as “Name of User”
and “Type of Patrol.” The Save 1 Target screen is usually either the
Start Screen or the first screen after those general screens, so that
after each observation, the user can hit the Save 1 button and go
back to begin at that screen. All the information selected in the
screens before the Save 1 Target screen will persist and be recorded as
part of the new data point.
Save 2 Target Screen
Sometimes detailed information will need to be entered repeatedly, in
which case a Save 2 should be specified. For example, a tracker
following footprints might record a data point “User: Jessica,” “Patrol
Type: Tracking,” “Sighting Type: Tracks,” “Animal: Rhino,” “Activity:
Browsing,” and then further down the trail wants to record “User:
Jessica,” “Patrol Type: Tracking,” “Sighting Type: Tracks,” “Animal:
Rhino,” “Activity: Running.” In this case, under the Properties
column for the Activity screen, the Save 2 destination should be the
Activity screen. The only new information the user has to add for the
next data point is the Activity.
Last Screens
If any of
your screens specify a different Next Screen for each Element, instead
of a single Next Screen, your Sequence will branch out, and therefore
have more than one last screen. The last screens are often Field Notes
screens, so that any extra information without a space to record earlier
can be written in for the data point. Last screens usually have:
Additional Rules
for linking screens:
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There can be multiple
Save 1 and Save 2 Target screens within the sequence;
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Two screens can have the
same Next Screen, rejoining two branches;
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If
the sequence splits off into two branches, the Save 1 or Save 2
of a screen in one branch cannot be a screen in the other branch; it
must be screen along the path that was followed to reach that screen;
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The
Save 1 or Save 2 of a screen cannot be a screen ahead of that
screen in the sequence.
Step 7: Test Screen
Sequence
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To see what your sequence will look like on a handheld
computer, and make sure that you haven’t made any errors in linking up
your sequence, click on the large “Test Run” button.
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Click on an Element to select it from the screen, and
then click Next button to advance to the next screen. The buttons
appear at the bottom of the screen:
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If the phrase “Press to Reset: No Next Screen” appears,
it means you forgot to designate a Next Screen for that screen or
Element.
Step 8:
Upload Sequence onto Handheld Computer
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Install the software that came with your Pocket PC.
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Place the PocketPC in its cradle, and attach the cradle to the
computer.
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Under the Sequences view, click on the Synchronize button and follow
the instructions.
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Install
the CyberTracker application onto CompactFlash or SD memory card to
safeguard against data loss.
Appendix A: To Add Icons
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To add Icons to your Elements, click on the Screen, and then under the
Screen Properties column, click
on the blank space to the right of “Elements” and then on the ellipsis
button “[...]”
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This takes you to the Edit Element List. To add Icons to
Elements, click on the Element and then on the ellipsis in the Icon 32x32 or Icon
50x50 column.
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The numbers such as 32 x 32 refer to the size of the
icon in pixels. The size 32 x 32 is the best size for old Palm
screens that are 160 x 160 pixels. For new PDA’s with higher
resolution, when using Large Icon screens, create icons that are 50 x
50 pixels.
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You may use the icons found in the Icon Library, alter them, or create
your own. Click on the
 ellipsis to import an icon. The
 button shows a
preview of the icon or image. (If you do not see the icon you want,
you can create your own according to
Appendix B: To Create
Icons
below.) Click OK and then OK in Edit Element List.
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You must select the type of icon you used (i.e. Icon32
or Icon50) from the Attribute field in the Properties column. If you still
do not see the icon on the screen, return to the Edit Element List
window and make sure you clicked OK after you chose an icon and not
Cancel.
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Note that you can use
an icon of size 32x32 as an Icon50, or you can use an icon of size
50x50 as an Icon32, since CyberTracker will automatically resize them
to fit. But icons will look better if they are the correct size.
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To show Icons in the
History List, you must add an Icon32 to the Element. So if you are
using Icon50 on the screen, and therefore select the Attribute field
in Screen Properties column as Icon50, the Element must have both
Icon32 and Icon50.
Appendix B: To Create Icons
Within Paint, you can open an
icon from the Icon Library and modify it or follow the steps below:
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Select
Start, Programs, Accessories, Paint
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Select
Image, Attributes
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For a
50
x
50
icon, select
Width:
50,
Height:
50
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Select
Units: Pixels
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Select
Colors: Black and White or
Colors
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Click OK
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Click on the Magnifyer
tool icon to magnify image x 8.
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Click on the Pencil tool
icon to draw icon with your mouse.
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Select
File, Save As, and type in
file name.
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Save
as type:
24-bit
Bitmap
(*.bmp) image.
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Select
Save
Note:
The Erase tool is too large to erase one pixel at a time. To erase a
single pixel, select the color white and use the Pencil tool to draw in
white over the black pixels that need to be erased.
To remove an icon:
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Open "Edit
Element List"
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Click on
the "icon"
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Right click
on image and select delete
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