My first reaction is - you cannot assume it's 'wrong'. I am sure we are all aware of the use of unusual Christian names - right upto the present day with children being christened with all the names of their father's favourite sports team members! I am not sure if there is any other more logical explanation in this case. Regards Mervyn Wright. -----Original Message----- From: Barrie Tite [mailto:barrie.tite@ntlworld.com] Sent: 18 January 2004 22:29 To: FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Unusual Middle Names I am a very new transcriber, but this looks like a good use for the #THEORY facility. I think you must be right to TWYS, but you could follow each with a #THEORY line saying something like "repetition of surname as second forename in original document is wrong". I am sure someone more knowledgeable than me will comment. Regards to all Barrie Tite ----- Original Message ----- From: "Colin Cruddace" <c.cruddace@ntlworld.com> To: <FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 7:27 PM Subject: Unusual Middle Names > Hello, > > I'd better start by saying that I am transcribing these cases EXACTLY as shown on the scans, but I am rather curious about them and would like to hear from others :-) > > I'm transcribing Births, Dec 1844, and noticed that there have been quite a few with an unusual, or even unlikely, middle name. > > It's quite common for children to be christened with mother's maiden name, but these are repetitions of their current surname, so out of idle curiosity (taking a break from transcribing) I checked back to see if they were from particular (sub)Districts. My theory being that the original record is as presented on a copy Birth Certificate (but we transcribe only relevant extracts copied from them) and the Registrar might have entered the child's full name in the name column. However, every one was different. > > The females are:- > Sarah Ferrar FERRAR, Stamford > Phillis Chapple CHAPPLE, Leighton Buzd > Alice Chandler CHANDLER, Chelsea > Eliza Chamberlin CHAMBERLIN, Norwich > Jane _avoy Bond BOND, Wellington > > The males are:- > Arthur Chawner CHAWNER, Uttoxeter > John Boscough BOSCOUGH, Preston > George Booth BOOTH, Manchester > Thomas Bolton BOLTON, Chorlton > > I suppose a case could be made for daughters carrying the family name on after marriage, but what about sons? These sound very improbable and I wonder if anyone else has come across similar entries, or has actually known anyone with such a name. > > > Cheers, > Colin Cruddace > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.562 / Virus Database: 354 - Release Date: 16/01/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.562 / Virus Database: 354 - Release Date: 16/01/2004

I am a very new transcriber, but this looks like a good use for the #THEORY facility. I think you must be right to TWYS, but you could follow each with a #THEORY line saying something like "repetition of surname as second forename in original document is wrong". I am sure someone more knowledgeable than me will comment. Regards to all Barrie Tite ----- Original Message ----- From: "Colin Cruddace" <c.cruddace@ntlworld.com> To: <FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 7:27 PM Subject: Unusual Middle Names > Hello, > > I'd better start by saying that I am transcribing these cases EXACTLY as shown on the scans, but I am rather curious about them and would like to hear from others :-) > > I'm transcribing Births, Dec 1844, and noticed that there have been quite a few with an unusual, or even unlikely, middle name. > > It's quite common for children to be christened with mother's maiden name, but these are repetitions of their current surname, so out of idle curiosity (taking a break from transcribing) I checked back to see if they were from particular (sub)Districts. My theory being that the original record is as presented on a copy Birth Certificate (but we transcribe only relevant extracts copied from them) and the Registrar might have entered the child's full name in the name column. However, every one was different. > > The females are:- > Sarah Ferrar FERRAR, Stamford > Phillis Chapple CHAPPLE, Leighton Buzd > Alice Chandler CHANDLER, Chelsea > Eliza Chamberlin CHAMBERLIN, Norwich > Jane _avoy Bond BOND, Wellington > > The males are:- > Arthur Chawner CHAWNER, Uttoxeter > John Boscough BOSCOUGH, Preston > George Booth BOOTH, Manchester > Thomas Bolton BOLTON, Chorlton > > I suppose a case could be made for daughters carrying the family name on after marriage, but what about sons? These sound very improbable and I wonder if anyone else has come across similar entries, or has actually known anyone with such a name. > > > Cheers, > Colin Cruddace > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

In message <001001c3ddf9$0fdef110$02150052@sn010739020381>, Colin Cruddace <c.cruddace@ntlworld.com> writes >Hello, > >I'd better start by saying that I am transcribing these cases EXACTLY >as shown on the scans, but I am rather curious about them and would >like to hear from others :-) > >I'm transcribing Births, Dec 1844, and noticed that there have been >quite a few with an unusual, or even unlikely, middle name. > >It's quite common for children to be christened with mother's maiden >name, but these are repetitions of their current surname, so out of >idle curiosity (taking a break from transcribing) I checked back to see >if they were from particular (sub)Districts. My theory being that the >original record is as presented on a copy Birth Certificate (but we >transcribe only relevant extracts copied from them) and the Registrar >might have entered the child's full name in the name column. However, >every one was different. What if the mistake was made on the birth certificate? >The females are:- >Sarah Ferrar FERRAR, Stamford >Phillis Chapple CHAPPLE, Leighton Buzd >Alice Chandler CHANDLER, Chelsea >Eliza Chamberlin CHAMBERLIN, Norwich >Jane _avoy Bond BOND, Wellington > >The males are:- >Arthur Chawner CHAWNER, Uttoxeter >John Boscough BOSCOUGH, Preston >George Booth BOOTH, Manchester >Thomas Bolton BOLTON, Chorlton > >I suppose a case could be made for daughters carrying the family name >on after marriage, but what about sons? These sound very improbable >and I wonder if anyone else has come across similar entries, Quite a number in 1842 Births - a quick look for the likely ones shows 37. >or has actually known anyone with such a name. No. -- Philip Powell Looking north across the Derwent Valley and Northumberland to The Cheviot

Hello, I'd better start by saying that I am transcribing these cases EXACTLY as shown on the scans, but I am rather curious about them and would like to hear from others :-) I'm transcribing Births, Dec 1844, and noticed that there have been quite a few with an unusual, or even unlikely, middle name. It's quite common for children to be christened with mother's maiden name, but these are repetitions of their current surname, so out of idle curiosity (taking a break from transcribing) I checked back to see if they were from particular (sub)Districts. My theory being that the original record is as presented on a copy Birth Certificate (but we transcribe only relevant extracts copied from them) and the Registrar might have entered the child's full name in the name column. However, every one was different. The females are:- Sarah Ferrar FERRAR, Stamford Phillis Chapple CHAPPLE, Leighton Buzd Alice Chandler CHANDLER, Chelsea Eliza Chamberlin CHAMBERLIN, Norwich Jane _avoy Bond BOND, Wellington The males are:- Arthur Chawner CHAWNER, Uttoxeter John Boscough BOSCOUGH, Preston George Booth BOOTH, Manchester Thomas Bolton BOLTON, Chorlton I suppose a case could be made for daughters carrying the family name on after marriage, but what about sons? These sound very improbable and I wonder if anyone else has come across similar entries, or has actually known anyone with such a name. Cheers, Colin Cruddace

In message <3F66BB5AC5E4D511B23C00902746C443FAA563@WWMESSD207>, Archer Barrie <Barrie.Archer@services.fujitsu.com> writes >No, the district would *not* be rejected. The errant page number would be >reported as "before" page number, that is a number that is before the range >determined. > >The algorithm first finds a group of page numbers that have an occurrence at >least half the maximum occurrence of any page number. If such a group >contains too large a gap (now set to larger than 4) or has too many gaps >(currently more than 20%) it "rejects" the district. It then tries to extend >the range at either end with page numbers that are contiguous. > >After the next update the number of gaps found the in the range will also be >reported, that is as well as the current "before/after" figures. Thanks for the clarification. -- Philip Powell Looking north across the Derwent Valley and Northumberland to The Cheviot

No, the district would *not* be rejected. The errant page number would be reported as "before" page number, that is a number that is before the range determined. The algorithm first finds a group of page numbers that have an occurrence at least half the maximum occurrence of any page number. If such a group contains too large a gap (now set to larger than 4) or has too many gaps (currently more than 20%) it "rejects" the district. It then tries to extend the range at either end with page numbers that are contiguous. After the next update the number of gaps found the in the range will also be reported, that is as well as the current "before/after" figures. Barrie -----Original Message----- From: Philip Powell [mailto:philip@blencathra.org.uk] Sent: 14 January 2004 18:07 To: FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Missing districts? In message <3F66BB5AC5E4D511B23C00902746C443FAA557@WWMESSD207>, Archer Barrie <Barrie.Archer@services.fujitsu.com> writes >The algorithm that works out the page range has various limits that are >designed to ensure that there is a reasonable degree of confidence in >the page range produced. One of these is that there is not a gap of >greater than 1 page number in the sequence. In Dec 1884 Deaths for >Marylebone,1a there is a gap between page numbers 374 and 377, i.e. two >page numbers missing. > >This limit was particularly aimed at situations at either end of the >range and where there were relatively few page numbers to work with. We >will ease the limit so that it does not exclude the cases with good >populations of pages. Another related problem that I raised elsewhere [I think it was just with Dave] is with regard to possible page number typos. West Derby, in the period I'm most used to transcribing, has a normal page range c800-900. A West Derby entry mistype as 85 would presumable cause the page range algorithm to reject/ignore West Derby even though it is one of the largest districts? I mention this simply as something that people might need to be aware of and not as a criticism. -- Philip Powell Looking north across the Derwent Valley and Northumberland to The Cheviot

In message <3F66BB5AC5E4D511B23C00902746C443FAA557@WWMESSD207>, Archer Barrie <Barrie.Archer@services.fujitsu.com> writes >The algorithm that works out the page range has various limits that are >designed to ensure that there is a reasonable degree of confidence in the >page range produced. One of these is that there is not a gap of greater than >1 page number in the sequence. In Dec 1884 Deaths for Marylebone,1a there is >a gap between page numbers 374 and 377, i.e. two page numbers missing. > >This limit was particularly aimed at situations at either end of the range >and where there were relatively few page numbers to work with. We will ease >the limit so that it does not exclude the cases with good populations of >pages. Another related problem that I raised elsewhere [I think it was just with Dave] is with regard to possible page number typos. West Derby, in the period I'm most used to transcribing, has a normal page range c800-900. A West Derby entry mistype as 85 would presumable cause the page range algorithm to reject/ignore West Derby even though it is one of the largest districts? I mention this simply as something that people might need to be aware of and not as a criticism. -- Philip Powell Looking north across the Derwent Valley and Northumberland to The Cheviot

The algorithm that works out the page range has various limits that are designed to ensure that there is a reasonable degree of confidence in the page range produced. One of these is that there is not a gap of greater than 1 page number in the sequence. In Dec 1884 Deaths for Marylebone,1a there is a gap between page numbers 374 and 377, i.e. two page numbers missing. This limit was particularly aimed at situations at either end of the range and where there were relatively few page numbers to work with. We will ease the limit so that it does not exclude the cases with good populations of pages. Barrie -----Original Message----- From: Dick Jones [mailto:rcjones@rmplc.co.uk] Sent: 12 January 2004 21:52 To: FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Missing districts? I've just been comparing the 1884 Dec Deaths district page range given on the FreeBMD website with my approximate observed values from roughly 12,000 entries. I found that the districts listed below were missing. I was even more surprised to find that districts with numerous entries such as Marylebone, Bristol, Ecclesall B. and York were omitted whilst ones with very few entries such as Stratton and Camelford were listed. The previous 1884 quarters didn't seem to suffer from the omissions. District Vol Observed page range - ------------------------------------------- Marylebone 1a 359-437 Buckingham 3a 411-417 Towcester 3b 14-14 Wangford 4a 529-539 Kingsbridge 5b 133-143 Bristol 6a 3-38 Hereford 6a 326-343 Madeley 6a 422-435 Atcham 6a 437-470 Cheadle 6b 203-216 Alcester 6d 388-397 Wortley 9c 169-203 Ecclesall B. 9c 205-266 York 9d 1-53 Llandilofawr 11a 515-527 Brecknock 11b 63-69 NB Monospaced font needed for table. ______________________________

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 22:51:46 +0100, you wrote: >I've just been comparing the 1884 Dec Deaths district page range >given on the FreeBMD website with my approximate observed values from >roughly 12,000 entries. > >I found that the districts listed below were missing. I was even more >surprised to find that districts with numerous entries such as >Marylebone, Bristol, Ecclesall B. and York were omitted whilst ones >with very few entries such as Stratton and Camelford were listed. The >previous 1884 quarters didn't seem to suffer from the omissions. We'll have a look at the code. -- Dave Mayall

I've just been comparing the 1884 Dec Deaths district page range given on the FreeBMD website with my approximate observed values from roughly 12,000 entries. I found that the districts listed below were missing. I was even more surprised to find that districts with numerous entries such as Marylebone, Bristol, Ecclesall B. and York were omitted whilst ones with very few entries such as Stratton and Camelford were listed. The previous 1884 quarters didn't seem to suffer from the omissions. District Vol Observed page range --------------------------------------------- Marylebone 1a 359-437 Buckingham 3a 411-417 Towcester 3b 14-14 Wangford 4a 529-539 Kingsbridge 5b 133-143 Bristol 6a 3-38 Hereford 6a 326-343 Madeley 6a 422-435 Atcham 6a 437-470 Cheadle 6b 203-216 Alcester 6d 388-397 Wortley 9c 169-203 Ecclesall B. 9c 205-266 York 9d 1-53 Llandilofawr 11a 515-527 Brecknock 11b 63-69 NB Monospaced font needed for table.

> I also sympathise with Dave Mayall having to repeatedly respond to the "same > old question", and greatly admire his patience. His recent "sorry to sound > terse" response asked why should he go to the bother of preparing a > statement and for someone else to put it on the web ....etc. I have read > the statement on several occasions and always finish with the same > impression, - "Full-Stops are Insignificant, and it is too easy for a > beginner to be confused and get it wrong". > > The first two paragraphs of the statement are fine but from then on he > explains the checking processes and how unimportant missing full-stops are - > "a full-stop is down at the VERY bottom of errors..." (Dave's words and > emphasis, not mine!) The thing is that it is true! I'm not about to say it's a major error (it isn't), but it is an error all the same. For the record, what gets me REALLY irritated is not that people disagree with the policy, but that time and again, they argue against the policy on spurious grounds. IF we were saying that full stops were important because it was vitally important that we display them to people searching the database, I wouldn't mind people discussing it on that basis. We don't though. We actually explain that we use the full stops as a checking point to verify the degree of match between two entries, yet still people want to argue a point we never made!

I hope that nobody is offended by me participating in the discussions on this topic, as I am not an experienced transcriber. I would estimate that I am at the "shop-soiled" stage as opposed to the "new" transcriber, but perhaps my own viewpoint is relevent here, and I am sure that mine will not be unique. Most, if not all, transcribers will be aware of the importance of the project and the need for entries to be correct. My own induction process with Brian Smart's Syndicate was more than adequate without being over-complicated, and also stressed the TWYS issues with appropriate links. I would imagine that other syndicate coordinators offered a broadly similar induction. So I don't see this as being the root of the problem, as Mervyn suggests. I also sympathise with Dave Mayall having to repeatedly respond to the "same old question", and greatly admire his patience. His recent "sorry to sound terse" response asked why should he go to the bother of preparing a statement and for someone else to put it on the web ....etc. I have read the statement on several occasions and always finish with the same impression, - "Full-Stops are Insignificant, and it is too easy for a beginner to be confused and get it wrong". The first two paragraphs of the statement are fine but from then on he explains the checking processes and how unimportant missing full-stops are - "a full-stop is down at the VERY bottom of errors..." (Dave's words and emphasis, not mine!) After all of this there is a link to the Hints and Help for Beginners, for further guidance on transcribing full-stops. Oh dear, "Deviations from TWYS", occasions when we do NOT transcribe full-stops. Things are now starting to get a bit complicated, especially for those who can only spare a little time for transcribing, and might not be able to remember. After going through all of this I can see why new people constantly question the need to enter ANY full-stops. It is not a significant error to miss them, but what would happen if one was put in where it shouldn't have been? Perhaps a different statement might help Dave to keep his hair for a while longer, if he still has any! I think I would have pulled all mine out years ago if I had been doing his job. (Yes. I do browse through the old lists to broaden my knowledge.) Sorry to be a bit long-winded but we all have a common aim, and want to get it right, so I hope this helps. Colin Cruddace. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mervyn Wright" <mervyn.wright@talk21.com> To: <FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2004 12:27 PM Subject: Full Stops etc. > I fully sympathise with Dave Mayall on this recurring theme. I wonder if > it might not be a good idea for new transcribers to be sent a personal > e-mail, when they sign up, emphasising some of the basic concepts of > transcribing, particularly with regard to ‘Type What You See’ and > punctuation. I know the information is on the web page but how many new > transcribers actually read it through and absorb it all? I think most of > us only refer to the TKB when we have a problem. > > Perhaps, then, these themes would not recur on such a regular basis, > leaving us ‘old hands’ tearing our hair out (if we had any!) and > despairing at ‘oh no….here we go again’. > > Regards > > Mervyn Wright > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 08/01/2004 > > > ______________________________

Hello All Might I ask just what is entailed in becoming a transcriber please ? I have a well-set-up computer, spare time and an interest in helping. Could someone please tell me if I have to have my own resources to transcribe or would I be sent some sort of list which I would be required to put into some sort of order or format ? Regards Irene Rees -------Original Message------- From: Mervyn Wright Date: Saturday, January 10, 2004 10:29:58 PM To: FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Full Stops etc. I fully sympathise with Dave Mayall on this recurring theme. I wonder if it might not be a good idea for new transcribers to be sent a personal e-mail, when they sign up, emphasising some of the basic concepts of transcribing, particularly with regard to ‘Type What You See’ and punctuation. I know the information is on the web page but how many new transcribers actually read it through and absorb it all? I think most of us only refer to the TKB when we have a problem. Perhaps, then, these themes would not recur on such a regular basis, leaving us ‘old hands’ tearing our hair out (if we had any!) and despairing at ‘oh no….here we go again’. Regards Mervyn Wright --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 08/01/2004 ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 .

Hi All Replied with offer off list. Bob Phillips ----- Original Message ----- From: "Irene" <squidie@bigpond.com> To: <FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2004 11:19 PM Subject: Re: Full Stops etc. > Hello All > > Might I ask just what is entailed in becoming a transcriber please ? > > I have a well-set-up computer, spare time and an interest in helping. Could > someone please tell me if I have to have my own resources to transcribe or > would I be sent some sort of list which I would be required to put into some > sort of order or format ? > > Regards > > Irene Rees > -------Original Message------- > > From: Mervyn Wright > Date: Saturday, January 10, 2004 10:29:58 PM > To: FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Full Stops etc. > > I fully sympathise with Dave Mayall on this recurring theme. I wonder if > it might not be a good idea for new transcribers to be sent a personal > e-mail, when they sign up, emphasising some of the basic concepts of > transcribing, particularly with regard to 'Type What You See' and > punctuation. I know the information is on the web page but how many new > transcribers actually read it through and absorb it all? I think most of > us only refer to the TKB when we have a problem. > > Perhaps, then, these themes would not recur on such a regular basis, > leaving us 'old hands' tearing our hair out (if we had any!) and > despairing at 'oh no..here we go again'. > > Regards > > Mervyn Wright > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 08/01/2004 > > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > . > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 09/01/2004

Hi Irene. I'm sure one of the co-ordinators will be in touch with you to take you on. Meanwhile if you want to make progress yourself and download some useful software, go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html You will find out all you need to know there,as well as links to some useful information for transcribers, such as the Transcriber's Knowledge Book (TKB). Hope you have a long and happy time transcribing Loraine (John Pain Syndicate (typewritten pages); Brian Smart's Syndicate and Barry Dinnage's syndicate; both these last 2 do handwritten scans)

However much we study the instructions before transcribing, I think it is a good idea to review all the instruction material _after_ trying to do some transcribing too, when specific points take on a new significance in the light of experience. The built-in help for WinBMD is also worth browsing through, to find out what all those options really mean. I also think that in transcribing, as in many other types of work, one should concentrate on correctness first, then speed will follow naturally. Having said that, you could also have faith that for every person that raises an old chestnut, there are a dozen others who see the responses and learn from them. Regards Barrie

I fully sympathise with Dave Mayall on this recurring theme. I wonder if it might not be a good idea for new transcribers to be sent a personal e-mail, when they sign up, emphasising some of the basic concepts of transcribing, particularly with regard to ‘Type What You See’ and punctuation. I know the information is on the web page but how many new transcribers actually read it through and absorb it all? I think most of us only refer to the TKB when we have a problem. Perhaps, then, these themes would not recur on such a regular basis, leaving us ‘old hands’ tearing our hair out (if we had any!) and despairing at ‘oh no….here we go again’. Regards Mervyn Wright --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 08/01/2004

----- Original Message ----- From: "Pam Davies" <pamdavies7@yahoo.co.uk> To: <FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 5:13 PM Subject: WinBMD speedups > I'm sorry that Ian doesn't think that an automatically advancing > "ruler" as in BMDVerify would be beneficial in WinBMD. I'd certainly > expect to find that it would reduce the number of cases where I skip > a line or two, usually from one occurrence of a forename or placename > to another occurrence. > > It's difficult to see how a non-automated ruler would be useful > without it taking a lot of extra effort to use, but I realise we all > work in different ways! > I do think a purely manual ruler would be of limited benefit, except for those with a leisurely approach to transcribing (nothing wrong with that). After all, we could just use the bottom of the scan window for that. I suppose blue-sky thinking would suggest an automated ruler which autonomously detects the next blank between lines, but nobody expects Ian or anyone else to produce such a thing by next Tuesday, after lunch. I do think data enry and verification should be different and distinct processes, and I certainly wasn't suggesting that WinBMD and BMDVerify should be merged in any way. I sympathise with Ian, because it must be galling for Johnny-come-lately transcribers who haven't finished their first scan yet (ie me) to butt in with "Hey, I've got a better idea!" I'm sorry, Ian, if that is how my earlier post came across, but it really wasn't where I was coming from. WinBMD is a well-presented, thought-through, feature rich tool which we are very lucky to have. I hadn't explored it's functions as much as I should have, and the earlier responses in this thread of discussion have been very helpful to me in learning how to use it more effectively. So has the help for WinBMD, which is more than just reference material to be used when stuck Regards, Barrie

I'm sorry that Ian doesn't think that an automatically advancing "ruler" as in BMDVerify would be beneficial in WinBMD. I'd certainly expect to find that it would reduce the number of cases where I skip a line or two, usually from one occurrence of a forename or placename to another occurrence. It's difficult to see how a non-automated ruler would be useful without it taking a lot of extra effort to use, but I realise we all work in different ways! I'm very impressed with the automatic advancing system in BMDVerify: clearly some *very* careful initial calibration routine would be necessary before it could be useful in WinBMD (eg requiring the user to count down to the 10th record, and making it clear whether we meant 10th or 11th, etc), but it would be brilliant. Meanwhile back to using BMDVerify as is: I go through each file twice, the first time concentrating just on the place/vol no/page no, which picks up the abovementioned missing records so I can add them, and then do a second run to check surnames and forenames - easier than trying to check a whole line at a time. Cheers Pam - transcribing for Scan2 and for Brian Smart's syndicate. ===== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pam Davies, Leeds, UK - pamdavies7@yahoo.co.uk ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/download/index.html

Sorry. My previous message was intended for Bob Phillips only...and I did not mean to send it to the List. My bad. Jj