Australian Native Plants Selector
A Program for PCs

NEW! APSquery (Win-7 Compatible V2013.4.1.8 (mod))
UpLoaded: Thursday 2nd May 2013

Go to APSquery Download

 (Note: data is now included in APSquery - no separate data file.)


Quick Jumps
 = Recent Updates
Guides
APSquery Help
APSquery
APSquery Beta
APSdict
Photographs
APSsaver
Genus/Family XRef
The 2012 APS-SA Spring Flower Display and Plant Sale
was held at the Adelaide Showgrounds on 6-7/October/2012.
 Click here for the List of Plants!


APSquery: I have developed a program called APSquery which allows me to find Australian Native Plants to suit specific requirements.

APSquery uses a database created and maintained by the Australian Plants Society (S.A. Region, Inc), which contains descriptions of over 8000 native plants. Many are proper species, but the list also includes a growing number of common hybrids and cultivars.
The database has been developed with emphasis on plant characteristics in Mediterranean to semi-arid climatic conditions. It will best relate to South Australian conditions, and is reasonably close for Western Australia and Victoria. However, it may be less accurate for eastern seaboard environments.

A program of this nature is of necessity rather complex, given that there are over 40 selection criteria which can be chosen to help find the plant you want.


Using APSquery for the first few times can be likened to using a word processor; you can do basic operations, but practice and frequent use of the help files is essential.
However, APSquery has been written to make it easy to use. It contains a comprehensive help file to explain every function and criteria. There are even six topics in the Help Menu of APSquery to help new users:
     "Quick Start Help"
     "Really Quick Start Help"
     "Names Selection Help"
     "Criteria Option Selection"
     "Marking Information"
     "Photographs Help"

APSquery runs on any standard PC with preferably 1024x768 pixel resolution or more (can be used with 800x600 pixel NetBooks) and 16-bit (64K) or better colour resolution. It is regularly tested with Windows-7, and should run with Windows-XP, Windows-2000 or Windows-Vista.
A Self-installation program provides simple installation of the application and database.

Windows-7 or Vista? Refer to Windows-7 and Vista Note below for status of Windows-7 and Vista compatibility.
Linux? If you are running Linux, you should be able to run APSquery using the WINE Windows Emulator.
Mac? If you are running a Mac, you should be able to run APSquery using the Crossover Windows Emulator.


What does APSquery look like?
Click for a screenshot of the opening menu. Note the criteria in the basic selection page, which are an extraction of the eight most common criteria from 43 criteria on the nine other pages. Click here and here and here for other screenshots in the sequence.

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APSquery features include:
     Extensive suite of search key criteria, divided into categories.
     On-screen view of a Brief Information Page for all plants matching the specified criteria.
     On-screen view of a Plant Clipboard Page for plants selected from the Brief Information Page.
     Ability to save information as files, or to print any selection from either plant list.
     Option preferences are stored in the Windows Registry.
     Font selection (including colour) is independently defined for the Information Pages.
     Integrated Plant Information Page (including photostrip) of any plant in the Brief Information Page.
     Quick Search for a known Genus and species, a Basic criteria selection, or for Keywords.
     Ability to display photographs of selected plants.
     Criteria can be selected as either ANY or ALL options for a match.
     QuickLoad file to speed up loading.
     Directed web links to other sites.
     Advanced Criteria Selection modes.

NEW: V2013.4.1.8:
First major release for 2013

The application is completely self-contained. It does not require on-line access during use. Application and database updates are released as a single installation file, so you only need to check the version/date on the top of this page and compare it with those in the Title Bar of APSquery.

This version of APSquery is FREE for your enjoyment. Your email comments and feedback would be appreciated to make it an even better program.


PHOTOGRAPHS FINALLY AVAILABLE!

A wide range of photographs for many plants listed in APSquery has been released on DVD-ROM for the Full Installation (no expiry, free program support) version of APSquery.

For full details of the available options and purchase prices please visit the APSquery Purchasing Information Site or email APSquery Purchasing Enquiries

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Guides

(Note: these need to be updated.)

To find out more about APSquery, download Guides.zip (89KB) (in PDF, RTF, MSWord-2003, TXT and HTML format).
Alternatively it may be read directly from User Guide.pdf

APSquery Help File
If you are really feeling like a closer look at the capabilities of APSquery you might like to download the APSquery Help File (208KB zipped) (in CHM format) and look through it.
However, be warned that this is a BIG file, 208KB even when compressed, and that's without any images!

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APSquery Version 2013.4.1.8 (mod) application and database only (Uploaded 2nd May 2013) for WinXP, Vista or Windows-7 is FREE here!

Just click on this link: APSquerySetup.zip (2877KB) to commence download. The installation process will assign a Sample registration.

APSquery is now supplied as a unified InnoSetup installation file, for both the application and database. Floppy disk format is no longer supported.

This download may also be used by any purchasers or downloaders of previous V2012.x versions for automatic updates to the latest version of APSquery application and database only, using your existing registration details.

Future updates will also be posted here.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you are upgrading from a previous version of APSquery, you will need to:

If you receive a fatal error during the operation of APSquery, run the program again and perform a resynchronisation in the "Options|Resynchronise Tables" menu. On restart this should correct any problems.


Note:
This version combines both application and data in a single installation file. If you have any previous versions of APSquery you may need to uninstall both the application (APSquery) and the Data (APSdata) prior to installing the new release.
The entire folder structure has also been completely reorganised. System-level folders (e.g. "Program files") are no longer used so user access is easier.
If you have uninstalled versions prior to V1.10.0, some fragments will still remain in the "C:\Program Files\APS" structure and can be deleted using administrator access privileges.

Plant Linking
APSquery incorporates plant descriptor and photograph linking: This version of APSquery is similar to the one which was used at the 2012 APS-SA Spring Flower Display and Plant Sale.

Don't forget to revisit to check for updates of APSquery.


APSquery Beta application and database (V2013.5.0.8 Uploaded 17th May 2013).
* Option to control viewing of Sales Plants
* Other minor modifications
This is for beta testers only - no guarantees! Click this link: APSquerySetupBeta.zip to commence download.

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APSdict 2012/10/11a is also free here! This is a set of two dictionaries:
  1. A general botany/gardening dictionary with about 2500 entries
  2. A Latin species derivation dictionary with about 4500 entries
The dictionaries may be accessed either via the Help menu in APSquery, or independently via the All Programs APS Menu.
This is a new capability and is subject to rapid revision.

Just click on this link: APSdictSetup.zip (581KB) to commence download.


Windows-7 or Vista?
Failure to show Help files in Vista was solved in V1.9.4, now uses the more modern CHM help file format.
APSquery is regularly tested with Windows-7 and no longer violates UAC rights.
There appear to be no other real problems except that all APSquery files must be installed by a user with Administrator access privileges.

Sample Photographs: You now have two choices for Sample Photographs:
  1. Purchase the DVD-ROM version of APSquery which includes a 200-photograph Sample set, with some photographs up to 800x800 pixel resolution.
  2. For those not intending to proceed to Full Install status, obtain a basic sample of about 100 photographs at 400x400 pixel resolution by clicking on this link: APSphoto.zip (3253KB) to commence download. This is a self-installation process which places the photographs in the selected folder. By default this will be "C:\APS-SA\Photos\Sample".


ScreenSaver: Do you want APSsaver, a screensaver that uses these photographs?
Download APSsaver.zip (339KB), unzip it and and follow the directions in the text file.
You will have a screensaver like the bouncing ball, except it will use photographs of plants.

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If you are looking for a dictionary of about 23,600 botanical names targetting Australian Native Plants, look no further than my Australian native flora dictionary.

This dictionary is actually 7 separate files, designed to work in most common word processors, including:
     Microsoft Word for Windows (Word95, Word97, Word2000, Word2003, Word2007)
     Microsoft Word for the MacIntosh
     Microsoft Works for Windows (to V3.0)
     Word Perfect 8 for Windows
     Lotus WordPro
     Adobe Pagemaker V6.5


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Genus/Family Table
Now Available (Updated 13/December/2011) - a cross reference table showing the genus/family association for over 5000 Australian Native Plants. This table has been developed to improve the performance of my free Australian Native Plants Selector, but can also be used independently if you only want a table of association.

Just click Here to find the TAB delimited list.


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Howard

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You can contact me at hjharvey@tpg.com.au

This page has been accessed times since 16th September 2009



DISCLAIMER:TPG, as my Internet Service Provider, is not responsible for the maintenance or content of these pages.

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Last Update Friday 17th May 2013 at 1120 AU-CST
© Copyright 2002-2013 Howard Harvey