In my opinion, adding a numerical "system" cannot improve anything for a
collection, but only adds more complication. If the purpose is to
physically locate specimens, like in a library Dewey decimal system, that
can be accomplished with a single added field.
The beauty of computerized databases is that they can easily follow changes
in taxonomy and can be used to search for (and replace) any word in an
entire collection, while also able to make printouts at any time.

At 01:00 AM 1/9/02 +0100, you wrote:
>Hello,
>
>It looks like a good system.
>
>However I am seriously doubtful about its usability beyond a private
>collection, and the reason is obviously the current stage of Moluscan
>Systematics.
>
>It is a good idea indeed to keep place for futures families, species or
>other taxons: they will undoubtely come. When it happens you could
>accomodate, for example, old species into a new family (once you know wich
>species have been transferred for sure to new family, of course). This
>could means a lot of work, but it can be done.

[snip]

Alfonso Pina
>Malaga, Spain
><http://www.eumed.net/malakos>www.eumed.net/malakos
>

John Wolff
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