TaxaLibrary.MDB Updates

Latest version: 14 February 2026

Please read the whole page before continuing with the download and update process.

It is assumed that:

• The user has a basic understanding of Microsoft Windows file management and MapMate.
• The latest version of MapMate 2.4.0e and Replicator 243 are installed. If not, it is strongly recommended that you update MapMate and the Replicator to the latest versions. The instructions and installation utilities are still available here.

The MapMate Taxa Library table is a repository for all taxa recorded in the British Isles. From this table via the My Configuration utility, users preferred taxonomic (and site) interests are selected and stored in the Taxa table.

Please address any questions or support issues via the MapMate Users Facebook group (preferred) or via email to Les Evans-Hill.

The following updates are included in the latest version:

• A new checklist of Insecta: Thysanoptera (Thrips). Many thanks to Andy Marquis.
• Some minor updates to Lepidoptera.
• Other minor housekeeping.

Known issues:

There are currently no known issues.

How to update your Taxa Library

Your My MapMate folder will be located in either:

• C:\Users\{your_windows_username}\OneDrive\Documents\My MapMate\Data
• C:\Users\{your_windows_username}\Documents\My MapMate\Data

You MUST ABSOLUTELY make a copy of your original TaxaLibrary table for backup purposes and ideally a full Mapmate backup via the Replicator.

Filters: After applying a new Taxa Library, you may need to apply a Filter patch before running My Configuration. Please visit Table Updates, Filters for the available filters. If a new filter is available for a taxonomic group of interest, it is recommended that you run it. It will do no harm to reapply the latest filter patches after every Taxa Library Update, if a taxonomic group of interest has changed.

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Latest version

Download Taxa Library v2 (14 February 2026)

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Previous versions

Download Taxa Library v1 (05 February 2026)

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• Right-click the link above and select Save Link As... to download the update file into the Documents\My MapMate\Data\Taxa folder. Some browsers may prompt you to make sure you want to download the file.
• Navigate to the Documents\My MapMate\Data\Taxa folder

Depending on how your Windows File Explorer is configured, you may or may not see the .MDB filename extension.

If you can see the .MDB extension:

• Rename TaxaLibrary.MDB to TaxaLibrary-Old.MDB
• Rename TaxaLibrary-v{version_number}.MDB to TaxaLibrary.MDB

If you cannot see the .MDB extension:

• Rename TaxaLibrary to TaxaLibrary-Old
• Rename TaxaLibrary-v{version_number} to TaxaLibrary

Then run My Configuration:

• Open MapMate and run from the top menu View, My Configuration .
• Check your predefined Taxa and click Next .
• Check your Site filters and click
• Ensure you select Optimise my Species Checklist to chosen taxa .
• Select Include synonyms if you require synonyms, i.e. old names (junior synonyms), sub-species, forms and aberrants.
• After running My Configuration, it is useful to compact your database. Do this by clicking Dataset in the MapMate toolbar (next to 'Records' top right) and choose Tools > Compact .

To revert back to the previous working copy of the TaxaLibrary file:

• Navigate to My MapMate\Data\Taxa .

If you can see the .MDB extension:

• Rename TaxaLibrary.MDB to TaxaLibrary-v{version_number}.MDB
• Rename TaxaLibrary-Old.MDB to TaxaLibrary.MDB

If you cannot see the .MDB extension:

• Rename TaxaLibrary to TaxaLibrary-v{version_number}
• Rename TaxaLibrary-Old to TaxaLibrary
• Run My Configuration.

Taxa synonymy

In some instances where a taxonomic name has changed, a new record may have been added instead of just overwriting to old name. As a result, it may be necessary to update your records with the new taxa name before you can use it in atlases and reports. The affected species in this update:

• Change Trifurcula headleyella to Glaucolepis headleyella.
• Change Apodia bifractella to Apodia martinii.
• Change Scrobipalpa pauperella to Scrobipalpa freyii.
• Change Matilella fusca to Pyla fusca.
• Change Acontia trabealis to Emmelia trabealis.

Where this affects many records, a new user SQL query can be created to automate the update on a single taxa in your Records table.

You MUST ABSOLUTELY take a system backup via the replicator, or at the very least make a copy of your Records table in your My MapMate\Data\Records folder before running this query. If you choose to copy the Records table to "Records - Copy", it will be easy to revert it back to "Records", if required..

To create the new query:

• Open the Analysis tab in MapMate and select User queries .
• Double-click <new user query> .
• Enter the new query name UPDATE #Taxon2 with #Taxon1 .
• Overwrite the default query text with:

UPDATE Records SET [*Taxon] = [#Taxon1], Records.[_gen] = -val([thisgen]) WHERE [*Taxon] = [#Taxon2] AND Right(Records.[_guk], 3) = [thiscuk];

• Save the new query.

When the query is run, you will be prompted to:

• Enter and select the name of the new taxa name [#Taxon1].
• Enter and select the name of the old taxa name [#Taxon2]. Note, synonyms will have the '=' symbol in front of the taxa name.
• You will then be advised how many records are affected by this change, and the option to continue or cancel.
• You will need to rebuild atlases to effect the changes.

Note: A user query that updates ALL synonyms to the accepted binomial is available here.

To confirm changes:

• Select View, Species Checklist (or just type Ctrl-T).
• Select the My Taxa tab.
• Click on the binocular icon and type in the species name you wish to check and click OK .
• In turn, right-click on the species binomial and synonym below it, and select Show records .