Trying out Hortis
If you are trying out Hortis, you’ll find an empty database. While it may seem a bit sparse at first, following a few simple steps will help bring your collection to life in no time. Here’s what we recommend:
1. Add Your First Accessions
Start by following the steps in the first onboarding video below to create three accessions with associated plant material:
Begin with a simple record.
For the next two, try adding more detail: tags, number of plants, rich text descriptions (including links), and photos.
Don’t forget to map the plant locations.
2. Record Observations
- Once your plants are mapped, use the interactive map to record a few observations. This will give you a feel for how fieldwork integrates with your database.
3. Invite Team Members
- Invite a few colleagues to join the trial. Hortis is designed for collaboration, and it’s more useful when you can work together.
4. Explore Data Views
With just a few records, you can:
Sort and filter lists
Export lists to CSV
Try out different views
5. Test Across Devices
Try using Hortis on a desktop, tablet, and phone to see how it adapts to different workflows and environments.
Want to Go Further?
If you’re ready to explore more features, here are some ideas:
Use Batch Actions to update multiple records at once
Delete a record and restore it from the trash
Make your collection public to share with others
Visit the dashboard to explore your activity log and visual graphs
Play around with filters and tags to organize data your way
Test editing and version history to see how changes are tracked