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Overview

Inspections are a critical part of beekeeping management. Softbee allows you to create custom inspection questions and record detailed observations for each apiary.

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Accessing Inspection Tools

1

Select Your Apiary

From the main dashboard, select the apiary you want to inspect.
2

Navigate to Monitoring

In the apiary dashboard, tap “Monitoreo” (Monitoring).
3

Access Questions Management

Select the “Preguntas” (Questions) card to manage inspection questions.

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Understanding Inspection Questions

Softbee uses a customizable question system that allows you to:
  • Create apiary-specific inspection checklists
  • Define different question types for various data collection needs
  • Mark questions as required or optional
  • Organize questions by category
  • Set display order for logical workflow

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Question Data Structure

Each inspection question contains:
FieldDatabase NameTypeDescriptionRequired
IDidStringUnique identifierAuto-generated
Apiary IDapiary_idStringAssociated apiaryAuto-set
Question Textquestion_textStringThe question to displayYes
Question Typequestion_typeStringType of response expectedYes
CategorycategoryStringGroup/category for organizationNo
Requiredis_requiredBooleanMust be answeredYes
OptionsoptionsArrayAvailable choices (for select types)Conditional
Min Valuemin_valueIntegerMinimum numeric valueConditional
Max Valuemax_valueIntegerMaximum numeric valueConditional
Display Orderdisplay_orderIntegerSort order in the listYes
Activeis_activeBooleanWhether the question is activeYes

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Question Types

Softbee supports multiple question types to capture different kinds of inspection data:

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Text Questions

Type: texto (text) Use for:
  • Free-form observations
  • Descriptive notes
  • Any narrative information
Example Questions:
  • “Describe the overall hive condition”
  • “Note any unusual bee behavior”
  • “Record queen sighting details”

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Numeric Questions

Type: numero (number) Use for:
  • Counting frames
  • Temperature readings
  • Weight measurements
  • Population estimates (if using numbers)
Example Questions:
  • “How many frames of capped honey?”
  • “Hive weight (kg)”
  • “Temperature inside hive (°C)”
Configuration:
  • Set min_value for the minimum allowed number
  • Set max_value for the maximum allowed number

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Selection Questions

Type: seleccion (select) Use for:
  • Multiple choice questions
  • Standardized responses
  • Categorical data
Example Questions:
  • “Queen seen?” → Options: [“Yes”, “No”, “Not Sure”]
  • “Temperament” → Options: [“Calm”, “Defensive”, “Aggressive”]
  • “Brood pattern” → Options: [“Solid”, “Spotty”, “None”]
Configuration:
  • Define options array with available choices
  • Users select one option from the list

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Yes/No Questions

Type: si_no (yes/no) Use for:
  • Binary decisions
  • Present/absent observations
  • True/false conditions
Example Questions:
  • “Is the queen present?”
  • “Are there signs of disease?”
  • “Did you add a super?”
Configuration:
  • Automatically provides “Sí” (Yes) and “No” (No) options

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Creating Inspection Questions

1

Access Questions Management

Navigate to the Questions Management page for your apiary.
2

Open Question Creation

Click the “Add New Question” or + button.
3

Write the Question Text

Enter a clear, specific question:
  • Be concise and unambiguous
  • Use consistent terminology
  • Consider the beekeeper’s workflow
Good question: “How many frames of capped brood?”Poor question: “Brood?” (too vague)
4

Select Question Type

Choose the appropriate type:
  • Texto: For observations and notes
  • Numero: For counts and measurements
  • Seleccion: For predefined choices
  • Si/No: For binary questions
5

Add Category (Optional)

Group related questions by category:
  • “Brood”
  • “Food Stores”
  • “Queen”
  • “Health”
  • “Equipment”
Categories help organize large inspection checklists.
6

Configure Question Options

Depending on the question type:For Selection Questions:
  • Define the list of options
  • Ensure options are mutually exclusive
  • Keep options concise
For Numeric Questions:
  • Set min_value if there’s a minimum
  • Set max_value if there’s a maximum
  • Leave empty if no limits
7

Set Required Status

Toggle “Obligatoria” (Required):
  • ON: Must be answered to complete inspection
  • OFF: Optional, can be skipped
Mark critical safety and health checks as required to ensure they’re never missed.
8

Set Display Order

Enter a number for display_order:
  • Lower numbers appear first
  • Use increments of 10 (10, 20, 30…) to allow easy reordering
  • Example: 10, 20, 30, 40
This controls the order questions appear during inspections.
9

Activate the Question

Ensure “Activa” (Active) is set to true:
  • Active questions appear in inspections
  • Inactive questions are hidden but preserved in the database
10

Save the Question

Click “Save” or “Create Question” to add it to your inspection checklist.

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Editing Inspection Questions

1

Locate the Question

Find the question in your Questions Management list.
2

Open Edit Mode

Click the edit icon next to the question.
3

Modify Fields

Update any fields as needed:
  • Question text
  • Question type (be careful changing types)
  • Options or numeric limits
  • Required status
  • Display order
4

Save Changes

Click “Update” or “Save Changes”.
Changing a question type (e.g., from text to numeric) may affect existing inspection data. Use caution when modifying question types.

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Organizing Inspection Questions

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By Category

Group questions into logical categories: 
**Brood**
- Queen seen? (yes/no)
- Frames of capped brood? (number)
- Brood pattern? (selection)

**Food Stores**
- Frames of capped honey? (number)
- Pollen stores? (selection: Abundant/Adequate/Low)

**Health**
- Signs of disease? (yes/no)
- Varroa mite check? (selection)
- Hive temperament? (selection)

**Equipment**
- Hive condition? (selection)
- Repairs needed? (yes/no)

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By Display Order

Order questions to match your inspection workflow:
  1. Safety checks first (10-19)
    • Protective equipment
    • Smoker ready
  2. External observations (20-29)
    • Entrance activity
    • External hive condition
  3. Internal inspection (30-69)
    • Brood frames (30-39)
    • Food frames (40-49)
    • Queen observation (50-59)
    • Health checks (60-69)
  4. Interventions (70-89)
    • Treatments applied
    • Equipment changes
  5. Summary (90-99)
    • Overall assessment
    • Next steps

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Conducting an Inspection

1

Prepare for Inspection

Before opening a hive:
  • Gather protective equipment
  • Prepare smoker
  • Have your device ready with Softbee open
2

Start the Inspection

In Softbee:
  • Navigate to the apiary
  • Access the monitoring section
  • Select the beehive to inspect
3

Answer Questions in Order

Work through your custom questions:
  • Questions appear in display order
  • Answer required questions (marked with *)
  • Skip optional questions if not applicable
  • Use consistent terminology in text responses
4

Record Observations

For each question:
  • Text: Type observations clearly and concisely
  • Number: Enter accurate counts or measurements
  • Selection: Choose the most appropriate option
  • Yes/No: Select based on your observation
5

Update Beehive Data

After answering questions, update the beehive record:
  • Activity level
  • Population estimate
  • Frame counts
  • Health status
  • Observations field
6

Complete and Save

Save all inspection data:
  • Review your answers
  • Ensure required fields are complete
  • Save the inspection record

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Best Practices for Inspections

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Question Design

Specific questions yield actionable data:✅ Good: “How many frames contain capped brood?”❌ Poor: “How is the brood?”
For selection questions, use the same options across similar questions:If you rate bee population as “Alta/Media/Baja”, use the same scale for activity level.
Don’t make everything required:
  • Mark critical safety and health items as required
  • Leave detailed observations optional
  • This ensures inspections can be completed quickly when needed

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Inspection Workflow

Standardize Your Routine: Create a consistent inspection workflow:
  1. External observations
  2. Open hive carefully
  3. Check outer frames first
  4. Work through to center frames
  5. Record findings as you go
  6. Close hive properly
  7. Complete any remaining questions
Document Everything: Even if a question is optional, answer it when possible. Historical data becomes invaluable over time.
Use Categories Effectively: If you have many questions, categories help you:
  • Stay organized during inspections
  • Focus on specific aspects (health check vs. production check)
  • Train new beekeepers

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Seasonal Variations

You can create season-specific question sets:Spring:
  • Swarm preparations?
  • Queen cells present?
  • Room for expansion?
Summer:
  • Honey production frames?
  • Water collection observed?
  • Heat stress signs?
Fall:
  • Winter prep status?
  • Food stores adequate?
  • Hive entrance reduced?
Winter:
  • Cluster position?
  • Food consumption rate?
  • Moisture issues?

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Deactivating Questions

To remove a question from active use without deleting historical data:
1

Edit the question

2

Set `is_active` to false

3

Save changes

Inactive questions:
  • Don’t appear in new inspections
  • Preserve historical inspection data
  • Can be reactivated later

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Integration with Beehive Records

Inspection questions complement the beehive record fields: Beehive Fields (in /beehive):
  • Core metrics (population, frames, health)
  • Updated during every inspection
  • Structured data for trends
Custom Questions (in /questions):
  • Flexible, apiary-specific observations
  • Detailed inspection notes
  • Can vary by season or beekeeper preference
Use both systems together: Update beehive records for structured data, and answer custom questions for detailed observations.

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Troubleshooting

Check the display_order values:
  • Lower numbers appear first
  • Ensure each question has a unique order number
  • Re-save questions if order seems wrong
Ensure:
  • The is_required field is set to true
  • The question is active (is_active = true)
  • Save the question after changes
Verify:
  • Question type is set to “seleccion”
  • Options array is properly formatted
  • At least one option is defined

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Next Steps

Regular, consistent inspections with well-designed questions create a valuable historical record that helps you become a better beekeeper over time.

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