A microcomputer efficiently replaces the pencil and notepad by the microscope. The same reports produced by hand are produced in less time at lower cost by computer. System components are the Checklist II program, a microcomputer, two disk drives, and a dot-matrix printer. Advantages over manual methods include multiple data use without reentry, automated drafting, more complex capabilities, and no transcription errors. Advantages over mainframe implementation include ease of use, same-day reports, work station mobility, and cost savings.

A computer system should be as easy to use as the manual system it replaces. This ease is achieved by using menus rather than memorized commands, and by duplicating manual procedures already in use. Data are stored by project; each file contains abundances for species in a related group of samples. This speeds program use by keeping all species information in active memory. Completed data files can be fed into a mainframe data base if desired. Various abundance formats are accepted, including specimen counts, relative abundance, presence/absence, and free form. Interpretive information can be entered as comments.

Data can be displayed as a variety of range of charts. Sample can be sorted. Species can be ordered alphabetically, by highest or lowest appearance, or manually. Abundances can be an entered, or converted to percent, presence/absence, total range, relative abundance, or graphic characters. Other analyses such as diversity calculations, cluster analysis, histograms, and graphic correlation can use the same data set.

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