TAXOKEY - A UNIVERSAL TAXONOMIC KEY PROGRAM USING DOS TEXT FILES AND GRAPHICS

A program (TAXOKEY.EXE), requiring only a few keystrokes to use, is de scribed as a universal taxonomic key in the identification of plant an d animal species by IBM-compatible personal computers. A DOS text file serves as the database for a key that can be dichotomous or with mult iple choices. TAXOKEY can optionally display colour or. monochrome scr een pictures to illustrate the keys. Additional programs are described that are used to make the keys and check for errors, as well as conve rt .PCX graphic images for use with TAXOKEY. A second text file can be searched by TAXOKEY for information on particular species description s, notes and references.