FishBC 3.0
Fisheries Age and Growth Software
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Back		 Overview of FishBC 3.0
What is FishBC 3.0?
Overview of FishBC 3.0
Entering HPM Data By Hand
Entering HPM Data Through Image Analysis
Entering HPM Data Through Digitizers
Performing Back-Calculated Lengths
Creating and Using Age-Length Keys
FishBC 3.0 Help

Forward
     FishBC 3.0 was designed to relieve the tedium that is sometimes involved with performing back-calculated lengths, aging fish through a variety of methods, and creating age-length keys.  We also strive to provide you with an affordable option for all your age and growth analysis needs. 

     Typically back-calculated lengths are ran either in old DOS based software or custom macros written in popular spreadsheets.  While these methods serve their purpose they sometimes lack a user-friendly atmosphere.  Recently other popular fisheries applications have added modules to perform back-calculated lengths and age-length keys, they do not provide the means of data entry that comes with FishBC.

 The Main FishBC 3.0 Window
     FishBC 3.0 incorporates familiar fully functional spreadsheets that allow you to enter data, copy/paste data from Excel®, and import data from Excel® just to name a few of the functions.  Data is saved into unique FishBC 3.0 data files alleviating the need for third party software.  There are no other required software packages to use all of FishBC 3.0 features. 

     The variety of data entry methods available within FishBC 3.0 are the most desirable features.  If you currently use a microfiche reader and measure your scale annuli by hand, the data can easily be typed into the FishBC 3.0 spreadsheets. 

     If you currently are or planning to capture images and digitally measure your annuli FishBC 3.0 can easily capture images through any TWAIN compatible image capture device and measure your annuli on the screen.  FishBC 3.0 is compatible with .JPG .BMP images. 

     If you have an old serial port digitizer that is not compatible with any of the new software, FishBC 3.0 can easily communicate with it.  FishBC 3.0 is also compatible with USB digitizers that are based on the Wintab32.dll driver. You can read more about this in the digitizer entry section.

     Performing back-calculated lengths is very easy in FishBC 3.0.  You are provided with several accepted y-intercept values that will automatically be selected for you if you wish.  You can also add species, structures that you age, and the y-intercept value you specify.  If you don't currently have a y-intercept you can run a regression analysis to determine your intercept value and use that value simultaneously.  The output is displayed in spreadsheets which can be saved in a FishBC 3.0 data file with a .bcl suffix.

     The age-length key section of FishBC 3.0 incorporates a user-friendly environment to enter aged fish to create the age-length key and length data to apply your age-length key.  The output is percentage of age for a specified length category, average length at age, variance, and number at age.

     The help facility shipped with FishBC 3.0 is designed as a familiar html based format typically used by most Windows® based software packages.

     Some options mentioned above (.JPG and USB digitizer compatibility) are part of a "patch" that is currently available.  If you purchase FishBC 3.0 after it's availability, the "patch" may already be incorporated.  You can check to see if your version has this patch through the main window by clicking "Help" >> "About FishBC...".  If you don't have the patch your version will be be "3.0", if you do have the patch your version will be "3.0.1".  You can click here to read more about the bugs and additions that will be incorporated with the patch.