In This Issue

Welcome to the First Electronic UserLetter
BG-Map Website Users Area is Launched
Bug Alert - QUAD_UP - Revised Software is Available to Download
BG-Map for Windows Successfully Launched
Coming Soon to BG-Map
Contacting Other BG-Map Users
The BG-Map Software Maintenance Program


Welcome to the First Electronic UserLetter

Welcome to the first electronic edition of the BG-Map UserLetter.  The BG-Map 
UserLetter will henceforth be distributed only by e-mail.  It's been about 
a year since the last user newsletter was issued.  Much has happened in the 
interim.  The complete rewrite of BG-Map for the Windows platform has been 
completed successfully.  The number of BG-Map user institutions has grown to 20 
with a 21st already scheduled, and many new features have been introduced. 
Hopefully, electronic distribution of this newsletter via e-mail will help to 
make it easier to keep you informed of changes, new features and - OK it is 
possible... bugs - on a timely basis.


BG-Map Website Users Area is Launched

www.bg-map.com/userdata

This new area of the BG-Map website is just for BG-Map users.  It's the place to 
go for BG-Map TechNotes, Software Downloads, contacts with other BG-Map users, 
and news.  Check it out.


Bug Alert - QUAD_UP - Revised Software is Available to Download

Problems with the QUAD_UP program have been corrected by a new software update 
available for download from the BG-Map Website Users Area at 
WWW.bg-map.com/USERDATA  The updated software correctly repeats 
previous values stored in BG-BASE for LOCATION, PLANTING DATE, AND NUMBER OF 
PLANTS.  If the program file $QUAD_UP located in your BGBASE folder is dated 
earlier than 9/25/98, please download and install this update.


BG-Map for Windows Successfully Launched

BG-Map is now "All Windows - All the Time".  After a yearlong rewrite the first 
installation of the new BG-Map for Windows was completed at The Morris Arboretum 
of The University of Pennsylvania in January, 1998.  To date, 18 of 20 BG-Map 
installations are now using BG-Map for Windows.  BG-Map runs on Windows 95, 
Windows 98, and Windows NT Workstation.  If you can remember those pesky 
critters - DESQVIEW and QEMM, and the dreaded MS-DOS MODE, you will appreciate 
the wonderful improvement provided courtesy of Windows.  If you can't remember 
them - lucky you!


Coming Soon to BG-Map

BG-Map version 4.5 was to have been released by the end of summer.  The date has 
slipped a bit to November.  The good news is that it will contain even more new 
features and improvements, including:

Text Length Override - You can override the default text length 
settings for defined view and site maps - so, for example you can 
show plant names on site maps, and large defined views.  Thanks to 
Ethan Johnson of The Holden Arboretum for this suggestion.

Large Book Maps - You can print book maps in 2 sizes - the current 
8-1/2" x 11"/A4 plus 11" x 17"/A3.  In the larger size, book maps 
will show plant names on quadrant maps with no text overlap.  You 
will need a large size inkjet printer such as the HP 1120CE to use 
this feature.  Thanks again to Ethan Johnson.

Standard Field Override - You can prevent the printing of selected 
"Standard Fields" on plant lists - so, for example, you can create a 
plant list without the accession numbers or coordinates.  Thanks to 
Kunso Kim, formerly of Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and now with The 
Morton Arboretum, for this suggestion.

Plant List Export - You can export plant lists to a text file so 
that they can be used in other documents.  Thanks again to Kunso 
Kim.

Type In Quadrant Names - When generating a map, you can type in the 
name of a quadrant or defined view as well as pick it from a list.  
Thanks to Elinor Goff of The Morris Arboretum and John Morse of 
Cornell Plantations for suggesting this.

"Pseudo-TCL" - a command line that will give you capabilities 
similar to the TCL feature provided by Advanced Revelation.  Thanks 
again to John Morse for suggesting this.

Retention of Plant History - When you move a plant to a different 
quadrant, its map history is no longer deleted.  Thanks to George 
Gann and Dianne Lennon of Gemini Gardens for pointing this out.

Recording of Survey Dates - BG-Map will record not only the date a 
plant was placed into the map but also the date it was surveyed 
using a total station or GPS.  Thanks again to George Gann and 
Dianne Lennon for this idea.

"Non-Plant Object" Mapping - Support for mapping various types of 
"Non-Plant Objects" using a Total Station or GPS.  You can enter 
codes in the field for objects such as utilities, roads, and fences, 
and BG-Map will automatically insert the corresponding symbols into 
the map.

Plus…

Jan.-Feb., 1999 - a completely new BG-Map Users Manual covering all 
the features of BG-Map for Windows.

May-June, 1999 - BG-Map version 5.0 with "Create a Tour", a new 
feature for Visitors QUICKFinder! that will allow visitors to custom 
tailor a map to guide them from plant to plant.

If you can think of a new feature or other improvement - CONTACT BG-MAP!


Contacting Other BG-Map Users

Would you like to contact other BG-Map users, but don't know where to find their 
e-mail addresses or telephone numbers?  Go to the BG-Map Users Contact List at 
WWW.bg-map.com/USERS.HTML  This list is continuously updated and also 
includes mailing addresses and websites for BG-Map user institutions.


The BG-Map Software Maintenance Program - Help Keep Your BG-Map Humming!

Would you like to have a part time assistant working for your institution who is 
extremely knowledgeable about BG-Map - who, in fact, is privy to the innermost 
workings of this very complex piece of software?  Suppose, you could employ this 
assistant for the very modest sum of about $10.00 per week!  Wouldn't you jump 
at the chance?

Well, you can.  Simply renew your BG-Map Software Maintenance Contract.  This 
will provide you with technical support as well as software and documentation 
updates for an entire year.  Support renewal forms will be mailed out soon to 
cover the 1999 calendar year.  Don't forget to renew.


Don't forget to visit the new BG-Map Website Users Area at 
WWW.bg-map.com/USERDATA