Here is one example.

Take two before bedtime.

Thank you Anupam but what is "OKD wrap around"?

Hi Randall, if you happen to be using an iPad, I'd recommend Tap Forms. Its a records database program that is modifiable (unlike FileMaker Go on iPad). You can attach pics to records, everything exports as csv files, and you can sync with dropbox provided you have an internet connection. I use it for all my fieldwork and its been great. Good luck!

Dr. McGuire, 

It depends on how fancy you want to get. I was involved in a project where we utilized this simple database designed for lithic analysis, and re-coded it to fit the needs of our historic project. http://www.oldstoneage.com/software/e4.shtml The code is extremely simple to modify, and the program is free. 

We used Microsoft Surface tablets, which are nice because they run Windows 8 just like a desktop. Another option would be to upload SHARD, or some other database onto the tablet, and use that in the field. 

I have used and know of many others that use the FAIMS database system (Federated Archaeological Information Management System). It is android based but I think they have or are working on and apple ios app. The system is specifically designed for archaeological fieldwork including: survey, excavation, salvage etc. It has had extensive testing at a range of site types including: tell excavations in Turkey, survey work and rockshelter work in Australia etc. This is a link to couple of websites that maybe useful:

https://www.nectar.org.au/federated-archaeological-information-management-system

https://www.fedarch.org/wordpress/

I know Dr Andrew Fairbairn at the University of Queensland has extensive experience with the system so it may also be worth contacting him.

Randall,

My project has used iPads and FileMaker Pro for the past three seasons, and I have been pleased with the results. I've got a couple of chapters in project interim reports that describe our system in general and the problems we've encountered. I've also pasted a link to another article that might be helpful.

Good luck!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ho8k7dftyz7hp4q/ccap-2012-interim-report-web-version.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aj3cn8kwm7x5x31/ccap-2014-interim-report-web.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hgekg0e0th6lorm/2014_aap_austin_mobilizing-archaeologists.pdf?dl=0

Hi Randall,

I can only talk from my experience. I have built my own app (Field Notes) for Android and following some friends suggestion I put it (with restrictions due to licence matters) on the Play Store: 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pt.flmconsult.fieldnotes_arch

It is not fancy and I am now solving some problems, but it works really well with an SqLite database. At first some colleagues were very sceptic about it but soon they started to ask for new features.

In my case the main problem is, however, the database. To build a powerful and versatile database is not easy: we work in different expertise fields, in different countries and use multiple methodologies. If you need to customize a database, my App wouldn't be a preferential choice. However, for those who need an easy tool to record information, Field Notes could fit perfectly.

I invite you to take a look at Field Notes and give some feedback,

Francisco

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pt.flmconsult.fieldnotes_arch

Randall,

I have used IPads to record information in the field on two archaeological large survey projects so far. In one case we used "IFORMS" software, which lets you sort of build your own form, fill it out in the field, and upload it to the cloud whenever you have access to the internet. We integrate a spot for pictures into the form as well. In the end I think the quality of work is higher using a tablet rather than taking hand notes, in part because you are prompted not to forget any important details. On the other hand, seeing the screen in the field can be incredibly hard. Between the sun creating glare or making the screen to hard to see and the tablet overheating (in the case of a hot desert survey), sometimes we wish for the good old days of paper and pencil. Good Luck!

Meg

I'd also look at FileMaker, for rolling your own database, and GiSkit for roll your own GIS (can do it in the field as you use it). Both are iPad apps  

Martin

http://www.txstate.edu/discover/eagle-nest?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=discovereaglenest

Hello Randall,

There was a most interesting paper given at the CAA meetings last year.  Here's the citation and my notes from the paper.  Ruth is at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmacdoug

Macdougall, Ruth

2014 The Mouse that Roared: iPads in a CRM Context. Annual Meeting, Canadian Archaeological Association. London, Ontario, Canada.

Had to excavate a huge multi-component, stratified site, in a short period of time.

iPad versus Tablet comparisons

app suggestions from other archaeologists, similar costs, large screen size is good, very helpful Apple Store

APPS: Numbers, GoodNotes, PDF Expert, iDRAW

Apps could be "pushed" to the Cloud, so that there was updating and synching capabilities, for NUMBERS, (3G wifi available at the site)

GOODNOTES: can rite in the rain, option to type or hand-write, bookmark pages, and insert or move pages as need, various pen and highlight options, can copy/paste text, and sketches, exports as a PDF file. Ability to use photographs and use colorful notes and comments and edits about the photo.

With various features and people all working in a small area. GOODNOTES works best for Stage 3 and 4 projects, not so useful in smaller scale work or surveys.

Drawing in the Field iDRAW versus Paper. Conversion to a polished publishable could take some time, and edits are often difficult. But generally works well.

Apple iPAD is smaller than 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, and some of the screen is taken up by toolbars around the screen. Cons: not efficient in field, difficult to teach beginners.

Recording + with PDF Exxpert.

Access to previous reports without bringing paper copies.

Easy to use editing functions

Works with fillable PDF forms and regular pdfs

other benefits

CORELDraw back at the office to convert to publishable profiles, or plan views.

iPAD hard to use for beginners in field, and with small screen and glare.

THEODOLITE app. Take a photograph and write metadata and other information to the photo.

also worked well to take photos of features on the site, eg. hearths, soil changes, post-molds, etc.

All iPADs on same account, so calendars and other information was synched and everyone was in the loop.

Communication - annotate photos, update office, and client with information.

Back in office provide a work station, and improves file sharing and project tracking.

Best wishes, Richard Stern (Ph.D. SUNY-Binghamton 1980)　

Hi Randall,

I have developed and managed paperless recording systems using iPads on several archaeological projects. I have a publication about some of this work here: https://www.academia.edu/6432193/Paperless_Recording_at_the_Sangro_Valley_Project

I'd also point you to this blog: http://paperlessarchaeology.com

There was a conference this spring about this very topic (http://uwm.edu/mobilizing-the-past/program/), and videos of all the sessions are available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksyZN6pWY8k

And I'd be happy to talk more about the many options for digital field recording over email or skype.  My email is [email protected]

Chris

If the battery dies at a site where there is no facility for recharging, then they are very handy for taping sketches to the screen so they don't blow away. I particularly like the more modern, lighter, thinner models, which, alas, have shorter battery life, but make better sketch-boards, and are less tiresome on the wrists! Just kidding (mostly) ... the tablets are WONDERFUL for drawing digital sketches thru a multitude of software packages that are available. One thing I particularly like is the ability to "pinch" the ultra-high resolution digital photos (for example, of an excavation profile) and zoom-in, then use a stylus (or my finger-tip) to write a note directly onto the image regarding a protruding artifact or a soil-layer, etc. Then "pinch-zoom-out" and continue along the profile making such direct notes at other points. It's hard to make any mistakes in correlating notes to profiles using that method. I also like to have my digital voice recorder running SIMULTANEOUSLY, so that I'm able to also mumble a running commentary of notes as I'm making the written notations (the inevitable extraneous comments and jibberish are easy to ignore).

I have just concluded an article that points this use in a very simple but, I believe, in a very useful way. The text is in Portuguese, thou..  

Anyway, I´ve been using it not much as a quantitative file, but for a variety of qualitative recordings, including the use of small videos about technical information of the excavation process, interviews or spontaneous conversation with the public, ethnographical recordings associated with archaeological field work, etc.

At the end, this constitutes a database as an usual photo database of fieldwork. But the qualities of the image and the potential information of the video make it a very useful and interesting material. For technical analyses and doubts that emerge in the Lab, or even for the future production of documentaries or public material.

Example of this last use in the video edition in http://conversadehistoriadoras.com/page/5/  post of July 21 2014 

Bonjour

il existe un logiciel libre qui s'appelle Syslat Terminal (à télécharger sur Forum Syslat) qui est un logiciel d'enregistrement de données archéologiques qui permet les éditions automatisés d'inventaire, qui gère toute la documentation graphique et qui fonctionne sur n'importe quelle interface. Il permet d'éditer les tables directement exploitable sur SIG. C'est un outil qui permet le travail en équipe et qui peut s'appuyer sur différents dictionnaires de mobilier (Céramique, objet divers, monnaies)

Hi Randall,

If it's still of your interest, I have just published a small piece of software for field data management in Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.eu.archaeologica.ilium

Feel free to try it. Any feedback will be really welcome.