Getting Started With BIOS

Navigate to the BIOS web site: http://bios.dfg.ca.gov/

Click the "BIOS Data Viewer" button     to start the Viewer:

Log in using your Username (e.g., jsmith) and Password.
[NOTE: You will receive an error message if you have pop-ups blocked; Click the "Retry here" link to continue]

The BIOS Viewer interface:

• Across the top are the Function Buttons .
  
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  [NOTE: placing your cursor on a button will bring up the text description of the function, last button is HELP]
• The Layers and Legend tabs (left vertical panel) provide the list of layers that have been added and can be turned on in the map (by checking the box next to the name), as well as the symbology legend for all layers that are turned on.
  
• To add BIOS layers to the map, click the "Add BIOS Layers" function button.
• The BIOS Data Catalog window will appear.
  [NOTE: HELP is available in this window]
  
  
• Scroll through the list of available layers (upper left panel) to locate a layer of interest.
• To view additional information about a layer, click the Layer Details button .
• In the Layer Details, click the Spatial Metadata link to view the metadata for that dataset.
• Click the Layer Groups button to show layers that are grouped with the layer of interest.
• To select layers based on criteria, click the Filter Available Layers pull-down menu (center of window) to view the Fields that can be used to filter the layers. Select the field, then select or type a search term. Click the Add Filter button. Available Layers list will contain only those layers that meet the filtered criteria. To return to the complete list of Available Layers, click the Remove Filter button.
• For each layer that you'd like to see on the map, click the check box next to the layer name to move the layer to the Checked Layers list on the right, and then click the Add Checked Layers to Map button.

Once in the map, turn a layer on by clicking the check box next to the layer name, and then click the Click to Refresh Map button to view the layer.

Many of the function buttons (Identify, Query, Metadata, etc.) require an Active Layer. To make a layer Active, click on the layer name in the Layer List to make it highlighted in blue:

Contact the BIOS Staff — if you have any questions.