Images

The Images feature allows researchers to attach photographs and other visual files to records in selected modules. Images are essential for documenting taxa, fieldwork, specimens, nests, eggs, and other ecological evidence. By linking images directly to records, Xolmis ensures that multimedia data is organized, traceable, and available for future analysis.

Open the images side panel by clicking the image icon on the right toolbar (if available in the module).

Toolbar

Icon	Button	Function
	Add image	Insert new images from files
	View and edit image info	Edit the selected image info
	View image	Opens the selected image in the image viewer
	Delete image	Delete the selected image

Adding images

You can add images in two ways:

1. Using the add button
   • Click the Add button at the top toolbar of the images side panel.
   • Select one or more image files to attach to the current record.
   • Click Open to confirm.
   • The system will show the progress of adding the images.

2. Drag and drop

   • Drag image files from your file explorer.
   • Drop them directly into the images side panel.
   • The system will show the progress of adding the images.

3. Edit metadata

   • If metadata is present (e.g., creation date, GPS coordinates), it will be automatically extracted.
   • Link the images to records using the dialog that opened.
   • Other information must be edited manually afterwards.

This flexibility allows quick integration of field photographs into the database.

Editing image info

To edit image information:

1. Select the image in the side panel.
2. Click the Edit button in the toolbar.
3. A dialog will open with editable fields.

Field	Required	Description
Subtitle		Short description of the image
Author		Person who created the image
Image date	Yes	Date when the image was taken
Image time		Time when the image was taken
Image type		Category of the image (see below)
Locality		Site where the image was taken
Coordinates precision		Precision of the geographical coordinates
Longitude		Longitude coordinate of the image
Latitude		Latitude coordinate of the image
Taxon		Taxon represented in the image
License type		Type of image license
License year		Year the image was licensed
License owner		Rights holder of the image
License notes		Additional notes about licensing
License URL		Link to the license text

Image types

Images can be classified into categories that describe their content:

• Bird in hand – flank, belly, back, wing spread, tail spread, head, feet/bands
• Free bird – perched, flying, swimming, foraging/feeding, copulating, building nest, displaying, in nest, vocalizing, agonistic behavior
• Dead bird
• Flock
• Nest
• Egg
• Nestling
• Ectoparasite
• Footprint
• Feather
• Feces
• Food
• Environment
• Fieldwork
• Team

These categories help standardize image classification and facilitate searches and reports.

Coordinates precision

• Exact – Coordinates are precise, generally obtained using GPS or similar devices.
• Approximated – Coordinates are less precise, usually estimated from maps.
• Reference coordinate – Coordinates are very imprecise, representing a central point of a larger area (e.g., farmyard, municipality center).

License types

Licensing ensures proper use and sharing of images:

• Copyright – All rights reserved.
• CC BY – Creative Commons with attribution.
• CC BY-SA – Creative Commons with attribution and derivatives under the same license.
• CC BY-ND – Creative Commons with attribution and no derivatives.
• CC BY-NC – Creative Commons with attribution and no commercial use.
• CC BY-NC-SA – Creative Commons with attribution, no commercial use, and derivatives under the same license.
• CC BY-NC-ND – Creative Commons with attribution, no commercial use, and no derivatives.
• CC0 – Public domain (Creative Commons).
• Commercial – Custom license with contractual terms.

Image viewer

The Image viewer allows you to preview and interact with images attached to records in Xolmis. It provides several options to adjust visualization, perform quick edits, and manage images directly from the system.

Available options

Icon	Button	Function
	Zoom in	Increases the zoom level of the image.
	Zoom out	Decreases the zoom level of the image.
	Zoom to fit	Zoom level to fit image to window size.
	Zoom to real size	Zoom level to image real size.
	Open in default editor	Opens the image in the default image editor of your operating system.
	Rotate right	Rotates the image clockwise.
	Rotate left	Rotates the image counterclockwise.
	Flip horizontally	Flips the image horizontally.
	Flip vertically	Flips the image vertically.
	Copy to clipboard	Copies the image to the clipboard for use in other applications.
	Save as	Saves the image to a chosen location with a new filename.
	Next image	Advances to the next image in the record.
	Previous image	Returns to the previous image in the record.

How it works

• The viewer opens when you select an image from a record.
• You can navigate between multiple images attached to the same record using the Next and Previous buttons.
• Quick actions like Rotate and Flip are applied only to the visualization, not to the stored file, unless you explicitly save the image again.
• The Open in default editor option allows you to perform advanced edits using external software.

Best practices

• Set the images location first: Avoid broken links by configuring the storage path before adding files.
• Use descriptive subtitles: Helps identify images quickly in lists and reports.
• Record metadata in the field: Note taxon, locality, and context during image capture to minimize manual editing later.
• Respect licensing: Always define license type and owner to ensure compliance with copyright.
• Link to taxa and locality: Strengthens the ecological value of images by connecting them to species and habitats.
• Standardize image types: Use the predefined categories to ensure consistency across datasets.

Relation to other modules

Images can be attached in several modules:

• Sightings – Document observed individuals.
• Captures – Record morphological details of captured birds.
• Individuals – Associate images with specific banded birds.
• Nests and Eggs – Document breeding evidence and nest structures.
• Surveys – Attach supporting photographs.

By managing images in Xolmis, researchers integrate visual evidence into ornithological studies, enriching datasets with multimedia content and supporting long-term ecological monitoring.