U.S. NTFP Website Species Database:

HELP PAGE and SEARCH TIPS

 

 

SEARCH ENGINE STRUCTURE and USER TIPS
The U.S. NTFP Product Database may be searched in three ways. The List All Records function allows users to view the entire database sorted alphabetically by the current Genus species scientific name. The List New Records function allows users to view records added to the database within the last 30 day interval. The Search Engine allows a wide variety of search parameters as described below.

  • All searches are Boolean AND. That means that only entries which match all the information you supply in your search will be successfully retrieved. Thus, the best strategy is to supply only what information is absolutely needed for your search; e.g. a few title keywords, an author's last name, and perhaps a date or date range (see below). You can always narrow the search down later if you get too many hits.
  • Searches are case insensitive.
  • Searches will match partial entry information. E.g., "branch" will return results with branches" so entering a complete title or a full name is not necessary. However, partial keywords or information will sometimes slow the search engine's speed for returning results.
  • Boolean Search Options: The "Exact Match" Boolean search option is seldom needed.  Check the box when you want to when you want the keyword to be matched exactly with what is typed.  It was included in the database to assist with exact code matches which will be needed for future database search features, but "Exact Match" is also useful for narrowing results when you are confident in the exact spelling of a search entry.



SEARCH ENGINE LEGEND/HEADINGS EXPLANATION

Scientific Name(s) Indicates the scientific name used to identify a product. Other past and present scientific synonyms in Latin or other languages may be listed in parenthesis.
Common Name(s) Indicates non-scientific names commonly used to refer to the product. High variability occurs for common names and should only be used to identify species in conjunction with the current scientific name. 
Family Indicates the Latin scientific Family name.
Product Use(s) Indicates a general category of use(s) for the product.
Parts Used Refers to the part of the species harvested.
State Range & Distribution Indicates geographic area by U.S. State or Territory where a species is typically found. The two-digit U.S. Post Office state abbreviations are used in this database. To see a list of states and their abbreviations see the State Range & Distribution Code List and Entry Steps on this page.
Currently Commercially Harvested? Indicates if the listing is or has been commercially harvested. On the search engine form the check box should only be checked if you want to invoke the commercially harvested variable, otherwise leave it unchecked.



DATA OUTPUT STRUCTURE
You can search using any column variable (e.g., Bark)., but the search results found in each row apply to the first species listed in the first column cell (i.e., Current and Other Scientific Synonyms) of each row.


PRINTING OPTIONS and TIPS
On small monitors scrolling to see the right portion of the search results table is normal. To print all the columns you may need to change your print settings from portrait to landscape.