(formerly “Other Catalog Number”)
In response to requests to associate many numbers (“additional identifiers”) with a given occurrence record, we have released a new field pairing that extends the utility of the old field, Other Catalog Number. Not only can this table be used to associate multiple identifiers–like accession numbers and old catalog numbers–with your specimens, but it also gives you the option to label the identifier to enhance their discoverability.
Where to find it: Occurrence Editor: Occurrence Data tab
How to implement it:
- Use Tag Name to record a category or label for the identifier (no controlled vocabulary, but consistency is highly recommended!)
- Use Additional Identifier Value to record alternate numbers for the specimen, e.g. old collector numbers, accession numbers, legacy catalog numbers, etc.
- These values will be output as a concatenation in otherCatalogNumbers in your Darwin Core Archive and backup files, as well as under Secondary Catalog # in the public display interface, e.g. “accession number: WCD 344; legacy catalog number: ASU 300”.
In summary: Using this table, you can associate as many numbers as you want with a specimen record using the Additional Identifier field. While Tag Name is technically optional, using it in a consistent, controlled way will allow you to more easily search for these numbers in the future.
Related Documentation
Catalog Numbers | Importing & Uploading Data (see “Uploading Tips”)