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CWHR Frequently Asked Questions and Software Troubleshooting

Is Version 8.1 an update of Version 8.0 or does it completely replace it?

It completely replaces it.  We recommend you uninstall Version 8.0 from your computer and go through a Version 8.1 installation.

 

What is the difference between the California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System (CWHR) and the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB/RareFind)?

CWHR is a predictive model -- it lists species predicted to occur in a given location under certain habitat conditions.  It also predicts the suitability of those conditions for reproduction, cover, and feeding for each modelled species.  CNDDB is a database of positive sitings -- it tracks detailed information on the locations where the state's rarest species and natural communities have been identified.

CWHR only includes terrestrial vertebrates; however, it does include all regularly-occurring species which fit this category, including those accidentally or intentionally introduced.  CNDDB only includes native special-status elements; but, unlike CWHR, it contains information on plants, fish, invertebrates and rare natural communities.

 

How do I cite CWHR?

Suggested citation for CWHR is:

California Department of Fish and Game.  California Interagency Wildlife Task Group.  2005.  CWHR version 8.1 personal computer program.  Sacramento, CA.

 

CWHR is running slow.  How can I speed it up?

First, make certain you have the minimum system requirements to run CWHR.  These include Windows 98, NT, 2000 or XP;  32 mb of RAM;  and, 700 mb of disk space for the full install.

Second, be sure you aren't trying to run a query with too many parameters (eg. selecting all counties or all habitats).  This tends to bog down the free memory in your system and freeze it up.  If you want a query that includes every county, select nothing in the Location Selection window.  If you want to include every habitat, select nothing in the Habitat Selection window.  Selecting nothing simply means you will not restrict the criteria to any particular set of parameters.  It is the same as selecting everything but it will not bog down your system searching for records that meet your criteria.  If you have several location or habitat selections, another option is to run several successive queries, save each output as a table, and append the talbes to one another.  You have the option to do this in the final window of a query.

Third, try reindexing the data tables;  they tend to get out of order after successive queries and searching them becomes slower.  To do this, select "Index Tables" under the File menu on the upper left hand corner of your screen.  Select the "Reindex" button on the form.

Finally, practice using the "Close" button when exiting a form, rather than the "X" in the upper right hand corner of a window.  Using the "X" does not really free up system resources as if you had truly closed the form.

 

Is there anything I can do to clean up the spacing on the report?

You can save your report to a *.txt file.  This is an option at the end of every query process.  A *.txt file can be imported into any word processing program for editing.

 

Can I place a weight greater than 100 on a 2 condition Weighted Habitat Value Comparison Report?

No.  The values were designed to represent a percentage of the total (100% or 100) project area.  For example, if your study area is covered by 1/4 of a habitat type than the weight for that habitat would be 25% or 25;  1/2 would be 50% or 50, etc.

 

I see special status codes (eg. Federal Endangered) on my report for species that I know do not have special status.

Special status is documented at the subspecies level but reported at the species level.  For example, the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is coded as "California Endangered" on reports because the San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) is listed this way.  One way to find out which subspecies is responsible for the special status code on a report is to check the "Activity/Status" window, an option under the "Species Information" form off the main menu.  You can then make a notation on the text report to this effect.  We are working on subspecies distribution maps to help you determine if a special status subspecies could potentially be in your location of interest.

 

How do I report what I think is a data error in a CWHR model prediction?

You can call us at (916) 327-8822 or e-mail us directly at mparisi@dfg.ca.gov to identify the problem you see.  We need to know your query parameters so we can duplicate your query.  For example, what locations, habitats, seasons, etc. did you select?  Did you exclude any habitat elements?  We also need to know the source of your data (eg. field observation, published validation study).  We then evaluate and document the proposed error.  If it results in a change to a data table, the source of the change will be documented and the change will become part of an update.

 

I am getting an error message within the program.

Below are some of the more common errors and error messages in California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) Version 8.1.   Several of these cannot be fixed in the current version, programmed in Visual Dbase.   However, they do have workaround solutions.   We thank you for your patience.

Program Alert:   Windows print file name longer than 31 characters.

Visual Dbase was not designed to be used with network printers, and so does not recognize long pathways.   You can solve this problem by creating a local print alias for your default printer.

Assuming that the network printer drivers have been properly installed (see your network manager) follow these steps:

  1. From Start Menu, choose Settings then Printers.
  2. From the list of printers that are displayed, write down the name of your default printer or printer desired (e.g. hp55).
  3. Double click on Add Printer.
  4. Double click on Next.
  5. Choose Network Printer.
  6. For Network Path or Queue Name, type in the name from step 2.
  7. Select No at the "Do you print from MS-DOS based programs?" prompt.
  8. Click Next.
  9. If you observe an error message about the printer being off-line, click Back and check the spelling of the Network Path or Queue Name from step 6.
  10. Choose Keep existing driver (recommended).
  11. Click on Next.
  12. For Printer Name , type in your desired alias for the printer (e.g. hp55s1 or 2, etc.)
  13. Choose Set as the default printer.
  14. Click on Next.
  15. Choose Print a test page.
  16. Click on Finish.
  17. If your test page prints correctly you are on your way!

Solution by: Don Yasuda, USDA Forest Service

 

Program Alert of Illegal File Name

Visual Dbase does not accept long file pathways and will report an illegal file name if the program files have been installed within too many different folders.   The easiest solution to this problem is to install the program to its default directory -cwhr81 - or to choose or name a default directory no more than one level below the root drive.   Examples are d:\cwhr81 or c:\mycwhr.

 

Program Alert in HVNUMA

This error occurs in the Habitat Suitability window of Species Information when the user makes a selection to calculate average suitability value for a species before selecting a habitat from the list.   Be certain to select a habitat first, let it calculate an average suitability for your selected species among the classes of that habitat, and then let the program recalculate suitability only for classes with ratings.

 

DB55RUN Error

A DB55RUN error is a fatal error internal to Visual Dbase.   We know of no solution except to let the program shut down. If you continue to get this message, it is possible your program files are corrupted.  Try downloading the files again and reinstalling the program.  If you ordered a CD-ROM from us, please contact us for another copy.

 

Miscellaneous Line Errors

Such errors still crop up from time to time and are usually not fatal.   If you are able to recreate the query selections you made before receiving the error, we can often correct it for the next version.   If not, clicking "Ignore", sometimes a few times, often helps the program get past the error and continue without affecting the output.   Any other option usually boots you completely out of the program.

 

Bioview Returning Only One Record

The program returns only one file when the user's input file is longer than 30,000 records.   Bioview may have to be run on successive input files.