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RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

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Joseph Moore, modified 4 Years ago.

Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 30 Join Date: 11/1/13 Recent Posts

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!

BN
Brittany Newman, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 3 Join Date: 9/13/18 Recent Posts
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist
ML
Michael Lewis, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 6 Join Date: 11/12/13 Recent Posts

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness

GA
Gwen Akom, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 6 Join Date: 6/5/13 Recent Posts
https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/-/importing-exporting-contacts?selectedFolder=810362 You can also contact a member of the IRIS team if you need assistance. 

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Gwen Akom
ITO WFO DTX
9200 White Lake Road
White Lake, MI, 48386 
248-625-3309 x486
BN
Brittany Newman, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 3 Join Date: 9/13/18 Recent Posts
I will work to get it from my WCM. If it is okay with everyone, I will clean it up and send it out this week.

Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist
BN
Brittany Newman, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 3 Join Date: 9/13/18 Recent Posts
I should also mention, if you can figure it out from the IRIS VLab instructions, there is a preformatted CSV file that you can organize your spotters into IRIS format in the link Gwen sent. The key is to then combine every column per row on the excel sheet and separate the info with a comma so contack_type,is nws employee, etc... for each contact. Even if a column is empty for a contact, a comma still is needed to represent that column in IRIS. 

The final output should have as many lines as spotters that look like the below depending on what information you gather from them:
CATEGORIES: contact_type,is_nws_employee,is_national,is_state,state,name,partner_status,area_of_responsibility,job_title,point_of_contact,storm_reports_source,categories,organizations,primary_address_1,primary_address_2,primary_city,primary_state,primary_zip_code,primary_latitude,primary_longitude,primary_elevation,secondary_address_1,secondary_address_2,secondary_city,secondary_state,secondary_zip_code,secondary_latitude,secondary_longitude,secondary_elevation,phones,email,facebook,twitter,website,is_coop,coop_station_id,is_ham_radio_op,ham_radio_callsign,is_trained_spotter,spotter_id,spotter_training_date,location,has_anemometer,has_barometer,has_rain_gauge,has_river_gauge,river,has_snow,has_thermometer,has_wx_station,notes
Spotter 1: Person,f,f,f,State abbreviation,Name,Not a Core Partner,,,,Trained Spotter,Spotter,,Primary Address Line 1,Primary Address Line 2,City,State Abbreviation,Zipcode,,,,,,,,,,,,"home,,,,,,,f,f,f|cell,xxx-xxx-xxxx,,,,,,t,t,f","home,Email,,,,t",,,,f,,,,t,,,,f,,t,,,,t,,

No spaces. One spotter contact per row. The t (True) and f (False)  represent answers to different column categories. Thanks for sending that information Chris!

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:57 AM Brittany Newman <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
I will work to get it from my WCM. If it is okay with everyone, I will clean it up and send it out this week.

Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983729 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist
DN
Daniel Noah, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 1 Join Date: 12/19/13 Recent Posts

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
 
Daniel Noah

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service – Tampa Bay Area

2525 14th Ave SE, Ruskin, FL   33570

(813) 645-2323 x223

Daniel.noah@noaa.gov

http://weather.gov/tampabay

 

Become an Ambassador for a Weather Ready Nation
JM
Joseph Moore, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 30 Join Date: 11/1/13 Recent Posts
All,

Thank you for sharing the responses!

Gwen, I'm aware of the import instructions, but the format is incredibly complex. One our forecasters here who has written numerous software packages in the past struggled to get our database in the right format for uploading.  Are there any plans to improve the data entry aspect of IRIS? I'd really love to be able to sit down and tab-tab-tab my way through entering spotters during or after a class, but the current interface is not feasible for this.

Dan and Chris, thank you for sharing the Partner Sign Up Forms project! (Brittany, I think this might be what you're using at GLD since I see GLD is registered to get Partner Sign Up Forms updates.) This is beyond what I was evening hoping for and is a really slick application that helps solve a number of issues. I was hoping for something that was all one page (i.e. so I or something else could easily tab through it to enter all the fields), but I can work with this! I might either try to modify the style of the form, or borrow the IRIS-formatting part of the Google Script code - I'd rather not reinvent the wheel, though, because you have some duplicate-checking code in there. Did you start fresh with this code or did you have a way to remove/update contacts that were in your database before using this?

-Joe

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:12 AM Daniel Noah <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
 
Daniel Noah

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service – Tampa Bay Area

2525 14th Ave SE, Ruskin, FL   33570

(813) 645-2323 x223

Daniel.noah@noaa.gov

http://weather.gov/tampabay

 

Become an Ambassador for a Weather Ready Nation

--
Daniel Noah IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8984330 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Joseph J. Moore
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NOAA/National Weather Service Duluth, MN
Office: 218-729-6483 x726 | Operations: 218-729-0653
RH
Ryan Husted, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 3 Join Date: 10/7/16 Recent Posts
Hey Joe,

Yes, the system developed by Columbia, SC (Chris in the earlier email) is what we use.

To go with your other thread, there is also a core partner portion of the project. Great for managing contacts!

Ryan

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 12:35 PM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
All,

Thank you for sharing the responses!

Gwen, I'm aware of the import instructions, but the format is incredibly complex. One our forecasters here who has written numerous software packages in the past struggled to get our database in the right format for uploading.  Are there any plans to improve the data entry aspect of IRIS? I'd really love to be able to sit down and tab-tab-tab my way through entering spotters during or after a class, but the current interface is not feasible for this.

Dan and Chris, thank you for sharing the Partner Sign Up Forms project! (Brittany, I think this might be what you're using at GLD since I see GLD is registered to get Partner Sign Up Forms updates.) This is beyond what I was evening hoping for and is a really slick application that helps solve a number of issues. I was hoping for something that was all one page (i.e. so I or something else could easily tab through it to enter all the fields), but I can work with this! I might either try to modify the style of the form, or borrow the IRIS-formatting part of the Google Script code - I'd rather not reinvent the wheel, though, because you have some duplicate-checking code in there. Did you start fresh with this code or did you have a way to remove/update contacts that were in your database before using this?

-Joe

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:12 AM Daniel Noah <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
 
Daniel Noah

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service – Tampa Bay Area

2525 14th Ave SE, Ruskin, FL   33570

(813) 645-2323 x223

Daniel.noah@noaa.gov

http://weather.gov/tampabay

 

Become an Ambassador for a Weather Ready Nation

--
Daniel Noah IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8984330 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Joseph J. Moore
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NOAA/National Weather Service Duluth, MN
Office: 218-729-6483 x726 | Operations: 218-729-0653

--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8985777 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Ryan Husted
NWS WFO Goodland, KS
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
Kansas Interagency Wildfire Council
Office: 785-899-7119
Cell: 817-526-4896

GA
Gwen Akom, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 6 Join Date: 6/5/13 Recent Posts
The entry of spotters will be changing, and we will be looking at better ways of incorporating files into the database.  Your tab-tab-tab way of entry is coming with version 7.0 slated for 2021.  Otherwise, if you would like assistance with inputting a csv or xls file of spotters let us know and we will do our best to assist you.

Gwen

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 2:35 PM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
All,

Thank you for sharing the responses!

Gwen, I'm aware of the import instructions, but the format is incredibly complex. One our forecasters here who has written numerous software packages in the past struggled to get our database in the right format for uploading.  Are there any plans to improve the data entry aspect of IRIS? I'd really love to be able to sit down and tab-tab-tab my way through entering spotters during or after a class, but the current interface is not feasible for this.

Dan and Chris, thank you for sharing the Partner Sign Up Forms project! (Brittany, I think this might be what you're using at GLD since I see GLD is registered to get Partner Sign Up Forms updates.) This is beyond what I was evening hoping for and is a really slick application that helps solve a number of issues. I was hoping for something that was all one page (i.e. so I or something else could easily tab through it to enter all the fields), but I can work with this! I might either try to modify the style of the form, or borrow the IRIS-formatting part of the Google Script code - I'd rather not reinvent the wheel, though, because you have some duplicate-checking code in there. Did you start fresh with this code or did you have a way to remove/update contacts that were in your database before using this?

-Joe

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:12 AM Daniel Noah <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
 
Daniel Noah

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service – Tampa Bay Area

2525 14th Ave SE, Ruskin, FL   33570

(813) 645-2323 x223

Daniel.noah@noaa.gov

http://weather.gov/tampabay

 

Become an Ambassador for a Weather Ready Nation

--
Daniel Noah IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8984330 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Joseph J. Moore
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NOAA/National Weather Service Duluth, MN
Office: 218-729-6483 x726 | Operations: 218-729-0653

--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8985777 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Gwen Akom
ITO WFO DTX
9200 White Lake Road
White Lake, MI, 48386 
248-625-3309 x486
JW
Jacob Wimberley, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 20 Join Date: 9/16/14 Recent Posts
We used to keep up with our spotters in a MySQL database.  I wrote a PHP script to export the database in the CSV format expected by IRIS.  I'm sure something similar could be done with the Access data.

Jake

On Tue, Feb 11, 2020 at 8:06 AM Gwen Akom <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
The entry of spotters will be changing, and we will be looking at better ways of incorporating files into the database.  Your tab-tab-tab way of entry is coming with version 7.0 slated for 2021.  Otherwise, if you would like assistance with inputting a csv or xls file of spotters let us know and we will do our best to assist you.

Gwen

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 2:35 PM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
All,

Thank you for sharing the responses!

Gwen, I'm aware of the import instructions, but the format is incredibly complex. One our forecasters here who has written numerous software packages in the past struggled to get our database in the right format for uploading.  Are there any plans to improve the data entry aspect of IRIS? I'd really love to be able to sit down and tab-tab-tab my way through entering spotters during or after a class, but the current interface is not feasible for this.

Dan and Chris, thank you for sharing the Partner Sign Up Forms project! (Brittany, I think this might be what you're using at GLD since I see GLD is registered to get Partner Sign Up Forms updates.) This is beyond what I was evening hoping for and is a really slick application that helps solve a number of issues. I was hoping for something that was all one page (i.e. so I or something else could easily tab through it to enter all the fields), but I can work with this! I might either try to modify the style of the form, or borrow the IRIS-formatting part of the Google Script code - I'd rather not reinvent the wheel, though, because you have some duplicate-checking code in there. Did you start fresh with this code or did you have a way to remove/update contacts that were in your database before using this?

-Joe

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:12 AM Daniel Noah <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
 
Daniel Noah

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service – Tampa Bay Area

2525 14th Ave SE, Ruskin, FL   33570

(813) 645-2323 x223

Daniel.noah@noaa.gov

http://weather.gov/tampabay

 

Become an Ambassador for a Weather Ready Nation

--
Daniel Noah IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8984330 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Joseph J. Moore
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NOAA/National Weather Service Duluth, MN
Office: 218-729-6483 x726 | Operations: 218-729-0653

--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8985777 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Gwen Akom
ITO WFO DTX
9200 White Lake Road
White Lake, MI, 48386 
248-625-3309 x486

--
Gwen Akom IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8991838 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Jake Wimberley
Meteorologist - DSS Team Leader - AWIPS Focal Point - Amateur Radio Focal Point
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

"Nature is a language--can't you read?"
                                    --Morrissey
BG
Barry S Goldsmith, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 2 Join Date: 12/16/13 Recent Posts
Thanks for this thread, everyone!

Great to see that this wheel does not need to be re-invented.  And, lets the partners (and spotters) do a lot of the work for us...great job to the developers 👏👍.

Going to get on this for our office this week...we've been using spreadsheets and MS word mail merge to create the spotter certs.  But even better is the core partner form which can be easily managed better than the whitepages versions we've been using.

Regards,

Barry

On Tue, Feb 11, 2020 at 2:52 PM Jacob Wimberley <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
We used to keep up with our spotters in a MySQL database.  I wrote a PHP script to export the database in the CSV format expected by IRIS.  I'm sure something similar could be done with the Access data.

Jake

On Tue, Feb 11, 2020 at 8:06 AM Gwen Akom <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
The entry of spotters will be changing, and we will be looking at better ways of incorporating files into the database.  Your tab-tab-tab way of entry is coming with version 7.0 slated for 2021.  Otherwise, if you would like assistance with inputting a csv or xls file of spotters let us know and we will do our best to assist you.

Gwen

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 2:35 PM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
All,

Thank you for sharing the responses!

Gwen, I'm aware of the import instructions, but the format is incredibly complex. One our forecasters here who has written numerous software packages in the past struggled to get our database in the right format for uploading.  Are there any plans to improve the data entry aspect of IRIS? I'd really love to be able to sit down and tab-tab-tab my way through entering spotters during or after a class, but the current interface is not feasible for this.

Dan and Chris, thank you for sharing the Partner Sign Up Forms project! (Brittany, I think this might be what you're using at GLD since I see GLD is registered to get Partner Sign Up Forms updates.) This is beyond what I was evening hoping for and is a really slick application that helps solve a number of issues. I was hoping for something that was all one page (i.e. so I or something else could easily tab through it to enter all the fields), but I can work with this! I might either try to modify the style of the form, or borrow the IRIS-formatting part of the Google Script code - I'd rather not reinvent the wheel, though, because you have some duplicate-checking code in there. Did you start fresh with this code or did you have a way to remove/update contacts that were in your database before using this?

-Joe

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:12 AM Daniel Noah <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:51 AM Michael Lewis <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Brittany,

Can you share the spreadsheet that puts the data into IRIS format?

I have had very limited success importing data into IRIS, usually because I am not sure what fields (and the exact naming convention necessary) for this to succeed. 

I'd appreciate the assistance.

Michael

On 2/10/2020 11:31 AM, Brittany Newman wrote:
We use a Google form that our spotters fill out at the talks that then go into an excel sheet. We ask for their name, email, phone number, and address at minimum. Our WCM has another spreadsheet that saves all the info in IRIS format. From there, you can copy and paste all the spotters into IRIS using the Import button in the Contacts tab on IRIS. Our system isn't perfect yet but we definitely don't enter each spotter in individually.

Sincerely,
Brittany Newman
NWS Goodland, KS

On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 9:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Brittany Newman

NWS Goodland, KS
Meteorologist

--
Brittany Newman IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8982152 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
--
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ

Phone: 574-834-1104 ext. 726
Fax: 574-834-3492

If It's Weather You Love - Visit Weather Dot Gov

Become an Ambassador - Click the Image details:

Strength Finders: Strategic, Input, Futuristic, Ideation, Connectedness


--
Michael Lewis IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8983294 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
 
Daniel Noah

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service – Tampa Bay Area

2525 14th Ave SE, Ruskin, FL   33570

(813) 645-2323 x223

Daniel.noah@noaa.gov

http://weather.gov/tampabay

 

Become an Ambassador for a Weather Ready Nation

--
Daniel Noah IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8984330 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Joseph J. Moore
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NOAA/National Weather Service Duluth, MN
Office: 218-729-6483 x726 | Operations: 218-729-0653

--
Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8985777 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Gwen Akom
ITO WFO DTX
9200 White Lake Road
White Lake, MI, 48386 
248-625-3309 x486

--
Gwen Akom IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8991838 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Jake Wimberley
Meteorologist - DSS Team Leader - AWIPS Focal Point - Amateur Radio Focal Point
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

"Nature is a language--can't you read?"
                                    --Morrissey

--
Jacob Wimberley IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8995764 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Barry S. Goldsmith | Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley, TX
956-572-1492 
Office Twitter: @NWSBrownsville
Office YouTube:  NWSBrownsville
 
CR
Chris Rohrbach, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 2 Join Date: 5/1/15 Recent Posts
Hi Joseph,

I created a system of Google Forms and Sheets that does exactly what you have mentioned. Take a look at the vLab Page for the project "Partner Sign Up Forms".  When we do a spotter course, our new spotters enter their info into a Google Form which automatically sends them a certificate of completion and adds them to your office's Google Contacts App as well. The system also pre-formats the contact info for easy upload into IRIS.


Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions,
Chris Rohrbach

Chris Rohrbach
Meteorologist
National Weather Service (NWS) Columbia, SC
Office Phone: (803) 822-8135


On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 11:13 AM Joseph Moore <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

I'd like to transition our office to use IRIS as our primary "spotter database," since IRIS has the great capability of exporting all of the other data formats we need, and it allows any forecaster to update/remove/add a spotter to the database in an instant. I'm curious, for those who use IRIS for their Spotter contacts, how do you enter the data into IRIS after spotter classes?

In the past we used a local database (Access) which the ASA would enter data in and then figure out a spotter number while the spotter class was going on so that everyone got their number at the end of the class. We're going to abandon the spotter ID number thing since it seems most offices have done the same, it's a lot of work to manage, and in the end we always have to ask the spotter where they are anyway. (It's easy enough to query by name or other fields.) I'd like to be able to enter the spotter contact data while at the spotter talk (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards, and I was hoping to enter the data directly into IRIS. However, entering single contacts into IRIS is very labor intensive requiring dozens of manual clicks, making it impossible to be able to enter spotters quickly compared to a form that could be navigating using the keyboard. Does anyone have a better solution they are using to enter lots of contacts in quickly?

The best idea I could think of is to create a Google Form for data entry, then format that spreadsheet to be able to import the data into IRIS easily. However, I'd much prefer a quicker data entry interface so the spotters could be in the database in less time. If I need to use an intermediary to enter the data, we might as well go back to using our Access database method!

Thank you!


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Joseph Moore IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/8981451 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
TK
Todd Krause, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 2 Join Date: 5/27/16 Recent Posts

Hi Chris. I'm also interested in this. Thanks for your work. You wrote "When we do a spotter course, our new spotters enter their info into a Google Form." 

1) Do you have a screen shot of what the form looks like?  I checked https://vlab.noaa.gov/redmine/projects/partner-sign-up-forms/wiki/Form_System_Screenshots

2) Do they enter their info while at the class?  Do they enter it on their own smartphone or do they use a laptop you have there?  And how do you deal with the scenario when 80-100 people want to sign up to be a spotter at a class without very long lines?

 

Thanks.

Todd Krause

WCM, Minneapolis/Chanhassen MN 

JQ
John Quagliariello, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 1 Join Date: 1/3/14 Recent Posts
Hi Todd,

I'll answer for Chris since he's out of the office on leave. Don't have a screen shot of the form, but you can take a look at it for yourself at weather.gov/cae/register. The questions on the form allow us to populate many of the available fields in IRIS. 

We provide spotters taking the class with a Quick Reference Guide that has the link to register, and we also include the link in the last slide of the presentation. Most people enter their information into the form once they get home, some enter their information using their smartphone during the class and only a few will use our laptop or iPad. As you can imagine, not everyone that attends ends up registering, but I don't feel this is necessarily a bad thing. We sacrifice quantity for quality as those that are willing to take the one or two minutes to fill out the form seem to be more active participants in the program from our experience. 

Having the form populate our database and email lists, generate/send certificates automatically, and allow for easy import into IRIS and AWIPS is a huge time saver! Hope that helps.

John Q.

--

John Quagliariello
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NOAA/National Weather Service - Columbia, SC 

Office: (803) 765-5501 x223
Cell: (803) 563-1146
http://www.facebook.com/NWSColumbia     



On Fri, Feb 21, 2020 at 6:02 PM Todd Krause <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

Hi Chris. I'm also interested in this. Thanks for your work. You wrote "When we do a spotter course, our new spotters enter their info into a Google Form." 

1) Do you have a screen shot of what the form looks like?  I checked https://vlab.noaa.gov/redmine/projects/partner-sign-up-forms/wiki/Form_System_Screenshots

2) Do they enter their info while at the class?  Do they enter it on their own smartphone or do they use a laptop you have there?  And how do you deal with the scenario when 80-100 people want to sign up to be a spotter at a class without very long lines?

 

Thanks.

Todd Krause

WCM, Minneapolis/Chanhassen MN 


--
Todd Krause IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/9095546 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
KS
Kevin M. Smith, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 9 Join Date: 6/13/17 Recent Posts

All - Great thread! Thank you everyone for the sharing and collaboration. Here at NWS Pocatello (PIH), we have always used paper registration forms at the SKYWARN talks, and then had one meteorologist in charge of entering everything manually into IRIS, and then exporting their contact information from IRIS into Google Contacts so that we can send them a welcome e-mail, reporting reminders, certificate if they requested one, etc. We are going to try the Google Form method this year and see if it makes our jobs easier for IRIS entry. It helps that a great turnout for one of our SKYWARN talks is 10 people (we are a more rural CWA), but this may still make things easier.

 

We're definitely nervous about letting people leave and then hoping they will complete the form from home...we are going to try giving everyone the option of either filling out the paper form or the Google Form while they are still at the training. 

 

-Kevin Smith

NF
Nicholas Fenner, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 8 Join Date: 11/1/12 Recent Posts
If I remember correctly, at WFO AMA, they had a Google Form that could be filled out on an IPad or the laptop brought to the Spotter training.

-Nicholas Fenner

On Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 1:19 PM Kevin M. Smith <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

All - Great thread! Thank you everyone for the sharing and collaboration. Here at NWS Pocatello (PIH), we have always used paper registration forms at the SKYWARN talks, and then had one meteorologist in charge of entering everything manually into IRIS, and then exporting their contact information from IRIS into Google Contacts so that we can send them a welcome e-mail, reporting reminders, certificate if they requested one, etc. We are going to try the Google Form method this year and see if it makes our jobs easier for IRIS entry. It helps that a great turnout for one of our SKYWARN talks is 10 people (we are a more rural CWA), but this may still make things easier.

 

We're definitely nervous about letting people leave and then hoping they will complete the form from home...we are going to try giving everyone the option of either filling out the paper form or the Google Form while they are still at the training. 

 

-Kevin Smith


--
Kevin M. Smith IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/9222845 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Nicholas Fenner
National Weather Service
WFO Jackson, MS
CD
Craig Donahue, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 9 Join Date: 9/3/15 Recent Posts
Might want to re-consider using a shared device given the current events.


cd

Craig Donahue Sr.
MBA Candidate
WCCIS Systems Team Lead

Team Lead for:: 
  • MADIS Help Desk
  • IDP Tier 2 Application Onboarding.
  • WCOSS SPA
  • DataFlow
NOAA Affiliate
(Voice,SMS) 410-635-HELP (4357)





On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 9:23 AM Nicholas Fenner <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
If I remember correctly, at WFO AMA, they had a Google Form that could be filled out on an IPad or the laptop brought to the Spotter training.

-Nicholas Fenner

On Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 1:19 PM Kevin M. Smith <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

All - Great thread! Thank you everyone for the sharing and collaboration. Here at NWS Pocatello (PIH), we have always used paper registration forms at the SKYWARN talks, and then had one meteorologist in charge of entering everything manually into IRIS, and then exporting their contact information from IRIS into Google Contacts so that we can send them a welcome e-mail, reporting reminders, certificate if they requested one, etc. We are going to try the Google Form method this year and see if it makes our jobs easier for IRIS entry. It helps that a great turnout for one of our SKYWARN talks is 10 people (we are a more rural CWA), but this may still make things easier.

 

We're definitely nervous about letting people leave and then hoping they will complete the form from home...we are going to try giving everyone the option of either filling out the paper form or the Google Form while they are still at the training. 

 

-Kevin Smith


--
Kevin M. Smith IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/9222845 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Nicholas Fenner
National Weather Service
WFO Jackson, MS

--
Nicholas Fenner IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/9230117 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov
JM
Joseph Moore, modified 4 Years ago.

RE: Mass Data Entry for Contacts (Entering Skywarn Spotters)

Youngling Posts: 30 Join Date: 11/1/13 Recent Posts
Could you please elaborate on your concern, Craig? 

One option I was considering was bringing a [gov] laptop for people to use to enter their data into a Google Form, which might make it easier for some who don't want to enter data on their smartphone at the event but are still comfortable using a keyboard. (For those who aren't, we could probably still have a paper alternative.)

Thanks,
Joe

On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 9:24 AM Craig Donahue <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
Might want to re-consider using a shared device given the current events.


cd

Craig Donahue Sr.
MBA Candidate
WCCIS Systems Team Lead

Team Lead for:: 
  • MADIS Help Desk
  • IDP Tier 2 Application Onboarding.
  • WCOSS SPA
  • DataFlow
NOAA Affiliate
(Voice,SMS) 410-635-HELP (4357)





On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 9:23 AM Nicholas Fenner <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:
If I remember correctly, at WFO AMA, they had a Google Form that could be filled out on an IPad or the laptop brought to the Spotter training.

-Nicholas Fenner

On Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 1:19 PM Kevin M. Smith <VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov> wrote:

All - Great thread! Thank you everyone for the sharing and collaboration. Here at NWS Pocatello (PIH), we have always used paper registration forms at the SKYWARN talks, and then had one meteorologist in charge of entering everything manually into IRIS, and then exporting their contact information from IRIS into Google Contacts so that we can send them a welcome e-mail, reporting reminders, certificate if they requested one, etc. We are going to try the Google Form method this year and see if it makes our jobs easier for IRIS entry. It helps that a great turnout for one of our SKYWARN talks is 10 people (we are a more rural CWA), but this may still make things easier.

 

We're definitely nervous about letting people leave and then hoping they will complete the form from home...we are going to try giving everyone the option of either filling out the paper form or the Google Form while they are still at the training. 

 

-Kevin Smith


--
Kevin M. Smith IRIS Virtual Lab Forum https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/9222845 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Nicholas Fenner
National Weather Service
WFO Jackson, MS

--
Nicholas Fenner IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/9230117 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov

--
Craig Donahue IRIS Virtual Lab Forum http://vlab.noaa.gov/web/iris/iris-forum/-/message_boards/view_message/9230783 VLab.Notifications@noaa.gov


--
Joseph J. Moore
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NOAA/National Weather Service Duluth, MN
Office: 218-729-6483 x726 | Operations: 218-729-0653