Contents
- Environmental Protection
-
Water & Air Monitoring & Reporting
- Climate Related Monitoring Program (CRMP)
- Provincial Meteorological Networks Data Key
- Sampling, Methods and Quality Assurance
- Environmental Databases
Water and Air Monitoring and Reporting
Online User Guide: Environmental Monitoring System Web Reporting (EMS WR)
2.5 Entering Information
This section discusses how to enter information into EMS WR. Topics include:
2.5.1 Fields and the ENTER key
When using a browser other than Internet Explorer, avoid striking the ENTER key after typing information into fields. This can lead to errors or unintended screens. Instead, carry out actions by clicking an EMS WR button (e.g. search).
2.5.2 Date and time format
EMS WR has many date fields. Some of these fields are mandatory and must be filled out to search the EMS database. Fields requiring date and time (24-hour clock) must be in this format:
yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm
Fields requiring only the date must be in this format:
yyyy-mm-dd
These examples illustrate how to format regular dates and times for EMS WR:
-
3:15 p.m., March 12, 1995 = 1995-03-12 15:15
-
7:52 a.m., November 24, 1998 = 1998-11-24 07:52
Users can simplify date and time entry by leaving out:
-
the time, if it is not important (it defaults to 00:00, or 12:00 AM)
- separators between years, months, days, and hours (e.g. 199811240752)
Tip: pressing TAB or leaving a date field will display the date and time in the correct format.
2.5.3 Mandatory fields and drop-down lists
Some EMS WR screens contain mandatory fields and drop-down lists clearly labeled with bold red text: 
This screen has a mandatory drop-down list (Health Region) and two mandatory fields (Time Period - To and Time Period - From). You must enter information into page items that are labeled mandatory.
! Caution: if you do not enter information into mandatory page items, you will receive an error message prompting you to enter the information.
2.5.4 Multi selection lists
Multi selection lists allow you to choose information to enter into fields. For example, you can use a multi selection list to enter office codes into an Office field.
You can access these lists by clicking on the row of dots (...) — called a multi selection symbol in EMS WR — to the right of many fields:
In this case, clicking on the multi selection symbol leads to the Parameter Multi Selection page, which includes the multi selection list:
By following these steps, you can select one or more list items you want to include in the Parameter field:
1. To select:
-
a single list item, click on a list item
-
a block of items, hold down the SHIFT key and click the first and last items in the block
-
separated items, hold down the CTRL key and click the desired items
Tip: use the scrollbar to see all the list items.
2. Click Select:
-
The field's page appears and the field now contains the selected item(s):
2.5.5 Looking up watershed codes
Some EMS WR screens have a Watershed Code field:
Clicking the globe image to the right of the field opens the Watershed Dictionary - Standard Watershed Code Query page:
You can use this search tool to find watershed codes for B.C. streams, lakes, wetlands, and coastlines.
This is the basic procedure for using the Watershed Dictionary:
1. Enter information into at least one field or drop-down list marked with an asterisk (*).
2. Click NEXT.
The Fisheries Data Warehouse - Watershed Code Report page opens. For example, if you select Beaver River from the Watershed Group drop-down list, clicking NEXT opens this page (partial image):
3. Make note of the desired code from the Watershed Code column. You might need to scroll down to do this.
-
For example, the watershed code for Beaver River is 213.
Tip: experienced computer users might want to copy the number from the report page and paste it into the Watershed Code field in the relevant Criteria page.
4. Close the Fisheries Data Warehouse and Watershed Dictionary pages.
5. Return to your search criteria screen (e.g. the Detailed Results Report - Criteria page).
6. Enter the code from step 3 into the Watershed Code field.
Tip: if you require further information on how to use the Watershed Dictionary, click the Help button on the Watershed Dictionary page to read documentation for this tool.
2.5.6 Session timeout
Each logon to EMS WR is called a session. After 60 minutes without user input, the system will automatically log off the user from the session for security purposes. This is called a session timeout. If you still want to use EMS WR after this session timeout, you must begin a new session by going through the logon process again (for details, see Logon).
>> Back to Getting Started