I wonder whether we can just step back and take a more objective look at this issue. I was not born Peter. (with a period). So it is clear that the index compilers ADDED the period. If there was a good administrative reason for so doing, which remains true today, then it could be kept. It is difficult to see what reason may exist today. It appears to be just a typographic element similar to those associated with district and volume. I accept Dave's conver that there may be a case where there is some significance to the period. However if so it must be obscure, since it has not been brought to light, and it is difficult to see why the original compilers would have employed a period systematicaly for a rare event. Does common-sense not suggest that this was so? Should we not make a point of putting a stop to this period? (sorry, pun intended!) Peter Hendy-Ibbs -- Researching: IBBS from Hunts/Beds and HENDY from Pembrokeshire Transcribing and reformatting for FreeBMD (http://freebmd.rootsweb.com)