>From: "Maggie Stewart" >To: "Connie Burkett" , > "John C. Jacoby" , "Ron Eason", > "Tim Stowell" >Subject: Re: Census Discussion - Introduction >Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 22:31:51 -0400 >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal >X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2014.211 >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2014.211 > >Connie and all, > > I am going to mix my replies in your comments with *** as that is easier >for me. (grin)I get confused so easy these days. > >>>>Census File Location: >* It does not matter where the census files are stored as long as >write-access is limited to only the File Managers who upload and maintain >the census files. >* If the files are to be lumped in with the Archives files, how do we ensure >that other people who have write-access to the archives structure do not >alter the census information or change the census file names. >* If the census files are linked-to (from the county webpages and other >webpages) by subfolder rather than individual file names, we could update >partial transcriptions and do other file maintenance without having to worry >about creating broken links.<<< > ***I am in a unique position here in that I am the OH File Manager for >the archives as well. I can tell you that each state File manager has the >same concerns that you expressed. I have been talking to all of them and >the majority prefer that I format the file as I want it done then send it to >them to upload. This is placed in the states/county/census/year/ folder. >Once those files are placed there they are not moved or changed unless I >send them an update. > While we, the Census Project, are doing the census folders they are in >charge of what goes into their respective states. [FYI, Each state within >the Archives has a separate password so each state has a limited amount of >folks that have those passwords. I am a real bear about giving them all >sorts of tests and such to make sure they know what they are doing before I >hand out passwords. In OH I am the only person that can delete a file. If >I catch one of them in there doing it the passwords get changed.] > I also agree with the idea of linking to the folders for the census year >unless it is a one file thing such as a slave census. Then it made more >sense to me to link to that. > >>>>Text Files On-Line: >* Should be consistent in appearance, with text files which are created from >spreadsheet files being formatted in appearance similar to the CART text >files. >* I would like to see all of the on-line files reviewed and if necessary >updated to make them consistent in appearance. If the links to the census >files would be done by subfolder rather than individual file name, this type >of file maintenance could be done without creating broken links.<< >***I assume that you are talking about the complete transcriptions submitted >to the Census Project. There are scads of "one family" census extractions >all throughout the archives. I would like to see this happen as well but >first we have to find someone willing to do this. It would be a massive >undertaking. A more realistic goal might be to do the new files the right >way and then continue onwards until we get on an even keel. > >>>Images: >* With the increase in the image files being uploaded, we could limit the >transcriptions for an imaged census to just an "extended" index. >* For the 1850 and above counties with images - - the extended index would >contain Name, Page, Line, Age, and Birthplace. Since it takes such a long >time to open a .gif file, the extended index would contain enough >information to help the researchers know exactly which .gif file to open. >* Doing an extended index rather than a full transcription could help speed >up getting the transcribed information on-line.<< >***I have been doing this in OH as the State File Manager and having some >really good luck in about 10 of the 88 counties. It's a wonderful idea that >I would gladly welcome being implemented. > >>>In the interim until the two census projects are blended, getting the >state >assignment buttons as up-to-date as possible and keeping them current is a >must. How do we accomplish this without creating a lot of unneeded concern? >Perhaps we need to speed up the blending.<< >***As I said in my other letter I would gladly welcome a crossover between >the two projects. If some of the File Managers in your project want to also >be the SC in ours I don't have a problem with it if you all don't. [Many >have expressed concern that there would be a problem with this crossover.] >We are going to have a person that does nothing but put updates on the pages >so that the SCs can concentrate on recruiting, teaching, and doing what we >really want which is getting the information online. Also that way we would >have more continuity and less confusion all around. > >>>Maggie, I joined the mIRC USGenWeb - Census channel several evenings ago >using the nickname "BreakOut". I monitored some of the conversation in the >background while I went through the help menus to try to figure out how to >use mIRC. I did not enter into any conversation because I did not want to >stir any unneeded concern. Seems like a great way of keeping in touch with >a team, and I like what I saw.<< >***You should have said hello. (smile)We worry that we are not being >friendly enough when folks just sit there. We do try to work as a team and >when you toss ideas off several folks you get somewhere. So come back and >visit with us and get to know us. If you have questions about mIRC just >ask. The folks on the channels are friendly. > >I guess I have been long winded enough, >Maggie > > > > > > >