Option D and O User Guide

Overview

Pesticide Reporting Software Option D is a set of four formatted Microsoft Excel workbooks designed to assist you in electronically recording Pesticide Reporting Law (PRL) information and reporting it to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.  This option is recommended only for users who have expertise with Excel but cannot use any of the other Options (e.g., users who cannot run Windows-based programs or Excel workbooks with VBA Macros).  These workbooks provide little assistance to the user except for formatting the PRL spreadsheets and Excel-based validation. There is no built-in assistance for uploading a PRL report to the NYSDEC.

Pesticide Reporting Software Option O is a nearly identical set of workbooks that can be used  with Excel-compatible spreadsheet programs such as Apple’s Numbers or OpenOffice.org’s Calc.  In order to work with Excel-compatible applications, Option O does not use Excel-based validation and there is no worksheet protection.

Option D runs under Microsoft Windows^® and Macintosh OS.  Microsoft Excel is required.

Option O runs under Microsoft Windows^® and Macintosh OS.  A spreadsheet application which can edit Microsoft Excel workbooks is required.

Neither option requires installation; just download the Option D or Option O workbooks you require.  Note that the workbook for each form type must be downloaded separately.

If you need further assistance, contact the Pesticide Reporting Service Bureau.

Using the Workbooks

Form Header

Each form has one or more identification numbers in the header area appropriate to the form type.  These identification numbers are used to associate your report with the correct applicator(s) or organization.  If you are required to fill out a particular form type, you must also fill out the identification numbers and associated name field in the header area.

All applicators and pesticide sales businesses are required to report even if they did not make any applications or sales.  See No Applications or Sales for more information.

The forms also include a report year field in the header area.  This field is also required.  In addition, links to this documentation in three different formats are included.

Data Entry Grid

Both Option D and O contain descriptions for each column in the column heading comments.  Click in the cell and the cell comment will appear.  Option D also contains the column descriptions in small popup windows that appear when you click in a cell.

In Option D some columns are validated.  If the data you enter does not conform to the criteria for the column, Excel will display a descriptive error message.  You will need to correct (or delete) the data in the cell before moving to the next cell.  If you need more information about a particular column, complete field descriptions can be found in the Option D and O User Guide section or the Data Dictionary.

Report Forms

Each form is used to report a particular type of pesticide-related activity.