Finding your way around the new database software

The new software will inevitably seem very unfamiliar to those who have become used to using earlier versions, but we believe that, subject to a few inevitable 'teething problems', it will ultimately prove better in all respects. It is also important to make the point that we had no choice but to move to a new software supplier, as the original supplier had ceased trading, and their code had, through progressive obsolescence, become so unstable that we were in danger of losing valuable data. The purpose of the present article is to help everyone find their way around the new software.

The Menus
There are basically three main menus available to navigate around the website: the top (header) menu, the bottom (footer) menu, and the account menu, which is a drop-down menu, accessed by clicking your user name. We have placed links to the main pages of the website in the top menu, information about the UKDFD more generally in the bottom menu, and personal information in the accounts menu. Unregistered visitors to the website are able to view the home page and use (most of) the links on the bottom menu, registered members are able to use all the links on the top and bottom menus, and each member is able to view their own personal information by using the links in the accounts menu.

Searching the Database
The home page has a simple keyword search box and a drop-down search-by-category box at the top of the page. The two searches are independent of each other, and most users will find it more convenient to use the dedicated Search page, accessible from the top menu. The Search page permits simple and advanced searches of coins and artefacts, as well as multiple-choice keyword searches. Other searches available on the dedicated Search page, and elsewhere, are Search by Distance, and Record number look-up. Search on Map is yet another facility, available from the top menu, so present on all pages. Please note that the two map searches, Search by Distance and Search on Map will display a limited number of 'hits', so it will often be necessary to restrict the searches by criteria or area to be searched.

Browsing the Records
As indicated above, there is a drop-down  search-by-category box at the top of the home page, but because of the long titles and multi-level nature of many UKDFD categories, it is usually easier and quicker to use the Category Tree on the home page to select and browse particular objects. e.g. 'COINS/Medieval/Henry III and Edward I (Long Cross Coinage)/Pennies and cut fractions (Canterbury)' can only be read fully if the selection is made via the Category Tree.

Research Tools
Each record viewed has three icons above it, the left-most one of which depicts two opposing arrows. If this icon is clicked, it adds the record to a Comparison Table. Further records can be added to the table in the same way, and when ready, all of those selected can be viewed together by clicking the Comparison Table box at the lower right side of  any page. If you wish to save your selection for later, it can be named and will appear in your personal account menu. When you have finished with a particular saved selection, you can simply delete it. Multiple selections can be saved for various uses and are available until you delete them. If you simply want to save a collection of your favourite records, click the right-most, heart-shaped icon in the group of three. The central icon prints the page you are viewing, but you may prefer to create a pdf file, as described below, and print from that.

Creating a PDF (portable document format) file
You may wish to create personal files of your records (or any particular record), independent of the database, which can be stored on your own device or printed out to give to others. To do this, click on the icon below the record with the annotation Save as PDF.

There is a great deal more to learn about the database, particularly regarding the integration of maps and records, and how the two can be used together, but hopefully the basic details outlined above will help you navigate the website and explore it for yourself. Remember, if you have any queries or comments, or wish to report any problems, please use the dedicated thread on the 'old' UKDFD forum, as this is where we will be looking for, and responding to, your feedback.