The AviSys 6 Main Screen

First off, let's get something straight. As you go through these web pages you'll see a whole lot of screen shots with a whole lot of stuff on them. Don't let that confuse you into thinking AviSys is complicated. In fact, AviSys is a snap to use. Yes, AviSys literally ripples with power and functionality, but if you don't want to use all that stuff, don't worry about it. You enter sightings and run reports with just a few straightforward mouse clicks. Fundamentally, AviSys works just like you think it should. And remember our philosophy: "Software is a tool -- it shouldn't be as difficult as your VCR."

Above is the screen that appears when you start AviSys. You simply double-click a bird name to record a sighting.

The screen illustrated above has theArizona Checklist invoked, showing only the birds of Arizona. In North America mode, the birds of the ABA North America Checklist would be shown. In World mode, the Clements Birds of the World would be shown. Note that the number of species seen in Arizona is displayed at the bottom. The birds seen in the checklist area (Arizona in this case) are marked '' and those seen anywhere else are marked ' (note the Wood Stork). You can instantly rotate through the three checklist modes by clicking the "Switch" button.

Note that the bird list in AviSys is in "snaking" newspaper column form. This is an AviSys exclusive which maximizes the number of birds you see at a time and significantly improves the "scrollability" and "pageability" of the master list.

The Latin name of the highlighted bird is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the window. By tapping the "L" or F12 key you can instantly switch the display to show all Latin names, with the English name in the status bar. "L" or F12 again returns it to normal. Another AviSys Exclusive!

Let's look at the buttons:

For example, to enter sightings you double-click on a bird, enter the Date in the dialog that's presented, select the Place from the Places Tables that are presented to you, and type a comment and/or Field Note if necessary.

After that sighting is confirmed, you can then "fix" any of those elements by clicking these buttons and you don't have to enter the fixed elements in subsequent sighting entries. Thus, you could just go forward entering sightings by simply clicking on bird names. The fixed buttons light up, so you know which ones are "on." There is even a process to "fix" only part of the comment, including Key Words and Attributes, so it is always repeated, but the comment dialog is presented for additional comments for the current sighting.

You can change the fixed elements at any time, with the option of starting a new "trip" with the change. Another AviSys Exclusive!

The Main Menu items at the top of the window:

You surely noticed, above, all the different ways to get to a bird or bird family. This is probably the most important single feature in birding software, and AviSys has an unequalled variety of easy ways to get to birds. Our Jump Tables, Band Codes, and Hot Keys are AviSys Exclusives and, for ease and flexibility, our Find/Next operation is unmatched.

Another thing to notice here: this window, and the others you will see at this site, demonstrate the AviSys design philosophy.
The windows are clean and uncluttered; all buttons are large (easy to hit); buttons always have their purpose plainly stated, even if they also have a helpful graphic; we don't use cryptic tool bars; we provide multiple methods of paging and scrolling; the "Quit/Cancel" button is always clearly marked with a big red X (the main screen doesn't need one); the cursor is always pre-positioned where you will most likely need it next.

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