Formats for data records

If you choose to keep a data book, it is a good idea to start each new entry on the next free right hand page of the book. The data for some compounds will not fill the space allocated, but it is best to allow a reasonable space, because some compounds will require a large amount of spectroscopic data for characterization. 

Data sheets are an alternative to a data book. These can be of a standardized design, as shown in Fig. 3.2, with spaces for each type of data to be filled in. The advantage of this system is that it is easy to see at a glance whether a particular piece of data has been obtained for a compound. However, two disadvantages of the fixed format data sheet are it does not provide the flexibility which is often required to record diverse types of data used to characterize any particular compound and it tends to encourage the mistaken idea that every compound requires the same characterization data. 

A system we prefer for data records is to have a computerized standard blank data sheet. The grid shown in Fig. 3.2 can be used, but a more simple and flexible format is shown in Fig. 3.3. Either of these can easily be constructed in a word-processing package. 

When a new compound is synthesized a blank data sheet is modified with the data of the compound and the data record is tailored to the needs of that particular compound. Any of the data types which are inappropriate for characterization of a particular compound can be removed, and any additional data types can be added. The data blank shown is designed so that data can be added in the exact style required for publication or for experimental entries for theses (it can easily be adjusted to other formats). Am example of a completed data record is shown in Fig. 3.4 (see Section 3.4.3 for details of how this type of data record can be transformed into an experimental section entry). 

Once the data sheets have been printed out they are kept in a ring file, to make a very flexible data book. Similar non-computerized record systems can also be devised but the advantage of using a computer is that the record can easily be updated at any time. If a researcher is conscientious about keeping these data records up to date, much of the tedious hard work is done when it comes to writing reports or theses. 

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