DKey software is an editor of dichotomous taxonomic keys. It can be used by taxonomic experts to create keys or by users of printed keys to make them more user friendly. DKey is a free alternative to Lucid Phoenix.
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importing existing keys in text format
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combining keys
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moving couplets
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copying couplets
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removing couplets
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renumbering couplets
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making taxonomic keys user friendly
No installation is required just download binaries and unpack them:
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Download the ZIP file: DKey-windows-binaries.zip
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Unpack the ZIP file and copy DKey directory to your hard drive.
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Run the DKey.exe
The key is displayed in a table with couplets represented by rows. There are three columns: the first column displays couplet number, the second column displays first lead and the third column displays the second lead. The table can be used to edit key by inserting, removing, copying and moving couplets. Content of the couplet can also be changed using Edit couplet.
Dichotomous taxonomic key consists of a series of consecutively numbered couplets. Each couplet consist of two parts called leads. At the end of each lead there is a reference, which can be either a number pointing to other couplet or a text indicating a name of a species or other taxonomic group. The two types of reference are called here “pointer” and “endpoint”, respectively. Pointers are numbers indicating the next couplet and endpoints are taxonomic names obtained at the end of identification process. In front of each couplet there is a couplet label consisting of couplet number followed by number of the previous couplet in parentheses. The couplet number uniquely identifies couplet and it can be used as its address. In a dichotomous key all couplets, except the first, should be addressed by at least one pointer in other couplet, which is indicated by the “number of the previous couplet”.
If you want to display images in the key browser ensure that in the key text there is keyword “Fig.” before each figure name. Moreover, in the same directory as the .dk.xml file (containing the key) for each image name there need to be an image with the same file name but pre-appended with “fig-”. For example, if in a couplet there is text “(Fig. 1a, 1b)”, in the same directory there should be two image files: “fig-1a.png” and “fig-1b.png”. Apart from providing the image with appropriate image name, the user does not need to make any action to make the images visible in the key browser. At the moment there are supported two image file extensions “.png” and “.jpg”.
If you find this software useful please cite it:
Tofilski A (2018) DKey software for editing and browsing dichotomous keys. ZooKeys 735: 131-140. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.735.21412