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Overview

Apiaries are the physical locations where you keep your beehives. Softbee allows you to manage multiple apiaries, each with its own beehives, inventory, and monitoring data.

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Creating a New Apiary

1

Open the Apiary Creation Dialog

From the main dashboard, tap the “Add New Apiary” button or the + icon.You’ll see a dialog titled “Crear Nuevo Apiary” (Create New Apiary).
2

Enter Apiary Name

Field: name (Required)Provide a descriptive name for your apiary:
  • Minimum 3 characters
  • Example: “Apiario El Prado”, “Valley Bee Farm”
Choose a name that helps you easily identify the location, especially if you manage multiple apiaries.
3

Add Location Information

Field: location (Optional)Enter the physical address or description of your apiary location:
  • Example: “Vereda La Esperanza, Cota”
  • Example: “Mountain Road, Plot 15, Rural Area”
The app will validate the location and show a green checkmark if the text is not empty.
Even though location is optional, adding it helps you keep track of multiple sites and can be useful for weather tracking and planning visits.
4

Configure Treatment Settings

Field: treatments (Boolean)Toggle the “Aplicar Tratamientos” (Apply Treatments) switch:
  • ON: You apply treatments when bees are sick
  • OFF: You don’t apply treatments
This setting helps you track your apiary management approach.
5

Save Your Apiary

Click the “Crear Apiario” (Create Apiary) button to save.The system will:
  • Validate all required fields
  • Create the apiary in the database
  • Initialize the beehive count to 0
  • Return you to the dashboard

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Editing an Existing Apiary

1

Locate the Apiary

Find the apiary you want to edit in your dashboard or apiary list.
2

Open the Edit Dialog

Tap the edit icon (pencil icon) on the apiary card.The dialog will be pre-filled with the current apiary information:
  • Apiary name
  • Location
  • Treatment settings
3

Modify the Information

Update any of the fields:
  • Change the name
  • Update the location
  • Toggle the treatment setting
The beehive count (beehives_count) is preserved automatically and cannot be manually edited. It’s updated automatically when you add or remove beehives.
4

Save Changes

Click “Guardar Cambios” (Save Changes) to update the apiary.If there are any errors, they will be displayed in the dialog.

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Apiary Data Structure

Each apiary stores the following information:
FieldTypeDescriptionRequired
idStringUnique identifier for the apiaryAuto-generated
user_idStringID of the user who owns the apiaryAuto-set
nameStringName of the apiaryYes
locationStringPhysical location or addressNo
beehives_countIntegerNumber of beehives in this apiaryAuto-updated
treatmentsBooleanWhether treatments are appliedYes
created_atDateTimeWhen the apiary was createdAuto-set

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Managing Multiple Apiaries

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Best Practices

Include location information in the apiary name for quick identification:
  • “North Field Apiary”
  • “Riverside Bee Farm”
  • “Urban Rooftop Hives”
Accurate location data helps with:
  • Planning inspection routes
  • Weather-based insights
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Emergency response
Use the treatments setting to differentiate between:
  • Organic/treatment-free apiaries
  • Conventional management apiaries
  • This helps when managing certifications or different customer requirements

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Viewing Apiary Details

Each apiary card displays:
  • Apiary Name: The name you assigned
  • Location: The physical location (if provided)
  • Beehive Count: Number of beehives currently at this location
  • Creation Date: When the apiary was added to the system
From an apiary, you can access:
  1. Apiary Dashboard: Overview of all beehives and statistics
  2. Monitoring:
    • Beehive management (/beehive)
    • Custom questions (/questions)
    • Voice assistant (Maya)
  3. Inventory: Manage supplies specific to this apiary
  4. Settings: Edit apiary details

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Common Workflows

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Workflow 1: Setting Up a New Location

1

Create the apiary with location details

2

Add existing beehives to the apiary

3

Set up inventory items for this location

4

Configure custom inspection questions

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Workflow 2: Seasonal Management

1

Review all apiaries before the season

2

Update location information if hives were moved

3

Verify beehive counts are accurate

4

Check inventory levels for the upcoming season

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Troubleshooting

This error appears when:
  • The name field is empty
  • The name has fewer than 3 characters
Solution: Enter a name with at least 3 characters.
The app validates location entries. If you see a warning:
  • The location couldn’t be verified
  • But it will still be saved
  • Ensure the location string is descriptive and accurate
If the “Guardar Cambios” button doesn’t work:
  1. Check for validation error messages in red text
  2. Ensure you have an internet connection
  3. Try closing and reopening the dialog
  4. Contact support if the issue persists

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Next Steps

Once your apiaries are set up:
The beehive count updates automatically as you add or remove beehives, so you don’t need to manually track this number.

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