Ten Easy Steps to Report Creation

Step #1: Click on the 'Characterization Data' link on the menu located in the top left hand corner of the page. This link loads the NSSC SSL Characterization Data Query Interface which can be used to search the available data using one or more of over fifty search criteria.

Step #2: Once the page is fully loaded, the user can both include or exclude criteria from a search using the check boxes located next to each item. If a box is checked, the item will be included in the query.

Note: Upon first entering or selecting data for an item, the check box will automatically be turned on.

Step #3: Select or enter the search criteria for the categories desired.

Notes concerning search criteria entry:

* For the SSL Project Information section, the selection of a different Country will reload the page with a revised list located in the State Admin Div containing only state administrative divisions from the selected country. In the Site Information section, the selection of a different Country will reload the page with a revised list of State Admin Div, County, and Soil Survey Area items. The selection of a County within the same section will reload the page as well. All data entered will be retained when the page is reloaded.

** For all date criteria, at least one year must be provided. If only one year is provided on the left side of the date range, the search will return all data with date values greater then January 1st of the year provided. If the year provided is on the right side, the search will return all data matching the criteria with dates less then December 31st of the year provided. Also, if a month is provided without an exact day, the search engine will assume either the first day of the month for the left side of the range or the last day of the month for the right side.

*** All text entry fields are automatically considered to be wildcard searches. For example: If searching for a project with the Submitted Name "Urban Soils Study Part 2", the entry of "Urban Soils" would result in a positive match. However, the search will also return "Urban Soils Study Part 1". All text fields are case insensitive.

Step #4: Once all the desired criteria are entered, click the Execute Query button located at the bottom of the page to retrieve a list of pedons from the database.

Step #5: If the query does not return any pedons, or does not result in the desired list of pedons, use the <<Back button located at the top of the page to return to the query interface and attempt to modify the criteria selected. All the previously selected criteria will be retained by the interface.

Step #6: Use the Check All or Uncheck All button located at the top of page to select or unselected the entire list of pedons returned from the search. Pedons can be included or excluded individually by clicking on or off the check boxes located next to the pedon identifiers.

Step #7: When the selection of pedons to be included is complete, select Generate Report from the list located at the bottom of the page and click Continue >>

Step #8: Select the desired report from the list.  To generate multiple reports, hold the Cntrl key while making the desired selections.

Step #9: Click on the Get Report button. If this is the first time you have run a report please read the Required Reading - User Responsibility information when it appears. This form will appear every time a report is run. To avoid interruption while running multiple reports, simply minimize the form.

Step #10: Print the report: Most of the reports are created to be printed in landscape mode. Refer to your internet browser's documentation for instructions on printing in landscape mode.