Forgot to post this earlier:
The dictionary test server is being updated with a snapshot taken from the main site yesterday morning, then run through the latest versions of the import/repoint scripts. Should be up again soon (although its taking longer than expected)…
I needn’t have bothered posting that - its up again now!
It is and I have written in my projects again. Will we find any errors? 
Is it worth doing this, should we get an opportunity? See my comment 2021 (which should read 2022)
A bit of an aside, but healeygf’s comment here raises a taxonomic puzzle, which I doubt the new dictionary will help with:
Thanks Amadan.
I have put a comment (three) in the Observation.
The Dictionary Test is being refreshed tomorrow - takes more than 24 frustrating hours to load.
I have a few projects and loads of test observations - they are all LOST at each new refresh - there have been several!
Fancy that eh…But I just managed to get this.
All Entomobrya muscorum are updated to E.intermedia
Original Post Springtail | Observation | UK and Ireland | iSpot Nature
The final test version of the new UK species dictionary is now available to view on the test server.
This is the version that will go live so it is your last chance to find any errors that we could sort out.
Please have a go at uploading observations, using species browser, species dictionary and doing all sorts of other interactions on the test site to make sure that the new dictionary works properly. We have carried out extensive tests ourselves and most of the issues have either been corrected or are ‘features’ of the new UKSI taxonomy itself so can’t be altered at this time. However we have not been able to test absolutely everything so there may well be items that you could find.
Your reputation in certain groups of organisms may change in this update of the dictionary but these changes should be small and most people will not notice anything, however it would be good if you do a screen shot of your reputation on the live site then compare this with the version on the test site to confirm. Note the test site will be a few days behind the live site so your most recent activity will be missing.
If you don’t already have access to the test site then send a message to the iSpot inbox
The final version of dictionary will be available for testing between now and Thursday 17 March 2022
Assuming all goes well then the iSpot site will go offline Monday 21- Wed 23 March 2022 to implement the new dictionary on the live site.
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Off we go then…at last
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As noted, the iSpot team is updating the iSpot UK Species dictionary and the website will need to be offline Monday March 21 – Wednesday March 23, 2022, to facilitate full integration.
You may have seem recent front page news and discussions in this iSpot Forum topic as well as @dejayM’s iSpot project about the testing that has been underway (also see older project about earlier testing here).
This downtime is now needed to facilitate the integration required to make this update live! During this ‘downtime’ iSpot will be offline in two phases. Read the full story in the front page news to find out more: iSpot downtime March 21 - 23: Updated UK species dictionary available soon! | News | UK and Ireland | iSpot Nature.
We would like to thank the small team of regular users who have spent time helping us in the testing and development. We are keen to have others involved so if you are interested in helping further test this system, please add message below or contact us.
Thanks Janice
This is the Thread for all New Dictionary Items.
Please don’t go off-thread
Some regular updates will be here https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/project/839172/
I will be CLOSING https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/project/837439/ as it is now off the Home Page
Thanks for clarifying @dejayM . I have adjusted the text above as well as in the news story to include the new project but still link though to the earlier one.
UPDATE: Status of iSpot downtime March 21 - 23: We are making progress integrating updates to the iSpot UK species dictionary.
For Phase1 iSpot was in full maintenance mode during this time the website completely offline and not accessible. Phase 2 is currently underway during which the site is partially offline as we implement final testing and integration of the updated UK species dictionary. Over this phase if you do go to the website it may seem to be online and operational with an additional sign in layer, however, sign in is currently only permitted to a small group as we make the system fully operational.
We do apologise to anyone attempting to access the site and for any inconvenience this downtime may cause. The iSpot Team looks forward to welcoming everyone back on iSpot after March 23rd. We will post further updates about when the site is back up and running.
Janice
Thanks for the update! I called by to see how things are going.
I have the key and I have been in there. It is running slightly slowly but it is otherwise marvellous.
There will be issues, there always are.
PLEASE use the tag test5 if you find a serious problem - someone will get to that quite quickly.
Check your own profile, I have lost one pint in Inverts - poor me!
Look at a few of your recent observations and go right back a couple of years to see if your own Obs are OK.
IF you have a Project, bring it up to date with an edit. If it relies on Taxonomy check that one specially
The dictionary has been fine for months but there are small and significant changes in Taxonomy so some projects might falter. I am trying to fix Slime Moulds taxonomy, for example.
UP and running by 10:30
Good show - thanks
opens and runs slowly and some difficulty opening by 10:45
Tags like taxaonomy1 and test5 are still welcome - please use them sparingly
I’ve contacted you both via email @dejayM @sarahloving - as advised, we will have user testing site offline from 11am in maintenance mode (hopefully just for a few hours) but will update further when it’s been reviewed and next steps. So hold fire on new content till this is done. Thanks both.
Site back up again with an updated database that seems to have fixed the speed issues. Apologies that anything you added yesterday has been lost as a consequence but the speed issues were unacceptable.
I worked for two hours in there yesterday and an hour this morning.
I did 5 Observations and two projects!
But YOU are forgiven - the site and dictionary runs well late this evening.
Still a little sluggish whe renewing the Home page or logging in.
Large galleries still take awhile, But hey, it’s cool!
The site is now available to all with the extra login removed.
The new UK species dictionary is in place but all existing observations have been repointed to the new matching species records.
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It is probably worth looking back at some of your old posts especially if they did not link properly to the dictionary at the time