To Syndicate Co-ordinators One of my functions is to keep the Syndicate Allocation Web Pages at: http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/bmd-synd.pl up to date as I allocate slots to Syndicates. Because of the piecemeal way in which I have had to allocate slots there's a possibility that not all allocations have been added correctly to the database. I've taken a snapshot of the current information shown on the database and reproduced on my Web Site at: http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/FreeBMD_Maintain_Ranges.htm The update to the above Page takes into account allocations to existing Syndicates since 29 April 2004 Syndicate Co-ordinators may wish to check the information relating to their Syndicate on the above Web page and only let me know if there are any errors/omissions? In answer to two standard type queries. 1. I'm aware that some of the allocations shown in the snapshots are unable to be worked on due the absence of scans. There's no requirement to draw my attention to lack of scans in these cirumstances. 2. The "Statistics for Syndicate" Web Page for each Syndicate is in fact derived from and fully dependent on me keeping the FreeBMD_Maintain_Ranges up to date. The "Statistics for Syndicate" Pages however shows the position prior to the last database update even though I may have updated the FreeBMD_Maintain_Ranges in the intervening period. The "Statistics for Syndicate" Web Pages for Syndicates can be accessed at: http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/Stats_for_Syndicates.htm This page provides details of the Co-ordinator(s), volunteers and the Syndicate Allocations (shown under Range Statistics). A typical example of the Range Statistics is below. Range Statistics The counts and range definitions reported below correspond to the data as at 2004-04-17 18:11:10 when the database was updated Type Quarter Year Sub-range Records by Synd Total In Range Marriages Sep 1907 All 143362 144119 etc etc TOTAL 244638 246710 You may wish to note the number of records shown under "Total In Range" doesn't mean this is the total number of records in the Index. It actually refers to the number of records uploaded by volunteers including those by the Syndicate members and those not part of the Syndicate (generally one name studies or second keying). *** Also please take into account the information relates to the situation pre the last database update. *** If anybody requires further clarity please let me know? Allan Raymond

Just a quick note to let Syndicate Co-ordinators know I will be taking 3 weeks break from FreeBMD activities as from today. Should there be any queries which can't wait until I'm back on line Co-ordinators are requested to email the Syndicate List [email protected] (if of a general nature) or [email protected] (if very specific to the Syndicate). I have one or two outstanding queries which I will try and deal with within the next two days, otherwise they will be put on the back burner until I pick up the reigns again. Thanks Allan Raymond

There is another quirk of the Upload Page to trap the unwary. If one of your transcribers has uploaded a training scan, and been asked to remove it, it is still there. If a file has been replaced by a transcriber, there are two files shown, hence the report shows all file movements. This situation is sorted on the next database update when all duplicates and deleted files disappear and the true state is shown. Regards, John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Oliver" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2004 6:24 PM Subject: "Upload Report" page... solved > Many thanks to Jeff, Melda, Chris and Keith - and to Allan for a deserved rap over the knuckles for not reading his briefings. > > I think I have it sorted now - and understand that I couldn't trace any uploads by my syndicate.... because they all happened since the April 21 update! > > Richard Oliver > Madrid, Spain > [email protected] > > ______________________________ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.689 / Virus Database: 450 - Release Date: 21/05/2004

To Syndicate Co-ordinators The amount of Spam emails which I'm currently receiving is of epidemic proportions and running from about 500 to 1000 emails per day. I have a Spam Guard which filters out the Spam email but this isn't quite 100% error free, in the 500+ spam emails there could be a handful of genuine emails some of which originate from Co-ordinators. Similarly, in my Inbox which receives several hundred emails per day is a fair proportion of Spam emails along with the genuine emails. It takes a while to sort out genuine emails from the Spam emails and I can't be absolutely certain that I haven't deleted genuine emails in error. I've done a trawl through my emails and believe I've resolved any email queries from Co-ordinators prior to 9 May 2004. Any Co-ordinator who is waiting a response to a query prior to 9 May could they please let me know? It would greatly assist me if future email queries from Co-ordinators could have a Subject line which relates to the query and if unrelated queries could be in separate emails. This enables me to file the emails in the correct email folders. I have a handful of queries outstanding post 9 May and expect to deal with these within the next couple of days, so please don't chase these up at the moment.. Thanks Allan Raymond

Many thanks to Jeff, Melda, Chris and Keith - and to Allan for a deserved rap over the knuckles for not reading his briefings. I think I have it sorted now - and understand that I couldn't trace any uploads by my syndicate.... because they all happened since the April 21 update! Richard Oliver Madrid, Spain [email protected]

Just a reminder to all Co-ordinators. Could you please give me 2 to 4 weeks notice if you are going to run out of scans as per my earlier email below? You are likely to be disappointed in the future if you expect immediate responses from me when you run of out of scans without giving me adequate notice. Thanks for your understanding. Allan Raymond -----Original Message----- From: Allan Raymond <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: 18 March 2004 18:02 Subject: Future Scan Allocation Requests and Forward Planning >To Co-ordinator Colleagues > >As far as I am concerned I am now up to date with allocation requests from >all Syndicate Co-ordinators. > >If any Co-ordinator anticipates being out of scans within the next 2 to 4 >weeks will they please let me know ASAP? > >Please don't submit requests if they are outside the 4 week period. > >I reckon we are now fully on top of ensuring sufficient scans are available >for all Syndicates. To maintain this position, it would be extremely useful >if Co-ordinators could give me an approximate indication when they are >likely to be requesting a further allocation of scans from me? > >All current allocations are shown on my Web Site at: >http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/FreeBMD_Maintain_Ranges.htm, if >they aren't on this Web Page they ain't been allocated (errors excepted, >which should be advised to me plus a recent allocation to Scan2). > >There's normally a slight lag before the Transcribing Scanned Source Page >at: http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/scan-source2.shtml is brought into line with >my allocations. > >As an interim please check out my temporary Web Page at: >http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/FreeBMD_Scan_Source_Temp.htm > >Regards > >Allan Raymond > > > > > >==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== >Thank you Rootsweb for hosting the FreeBMD project and its mailing lists. See http://www.rootsweb.com/ > >============================== >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

Perhaps you didn't read my email I sent out to the new Syndicate Co-ordinators on 25 April 2004 in which I gave a simplified step by step guide to run the Report. If you follow the instructions I gave you should be able to get details of files uploaded to date? Allan Raymond -----Original Message----- From: Richard Oliver <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: 22 May 2004 10:40 Subject: "Upload Report" page >My new "Richard Oliver" Syndicate has taken on six recruits since opening for business at the beginning of the month, and these are at various stages of induction. However, now that the first two have passed muster, and have started uploading files to FreeBMD... I find I can't track their progress! > >The "Upload Report" page is hideously obscure (was it designed by the same hand who made "Syndicate Maintenance"?) and I have so far failed to get it to function at all. Even restricting the thing to the few members of my Syndicate, the exact period of the scans we are working on, and uploads made since the last update, I get some answer like "no matches for those criteria". Well, I myself have sent up four files in the past week or two. What is "+S/M/F line" etc. supposed to mean? What is "Show", "Download" or "Download Compressed"? (download what - the volunteer's files?) "Order by...." second key etc. ? All utterly baffling. > >Unless I am alone in this, I do suggest that either the page is simplified for non-geeks, or else that a translation is supplied on this list so that I and my fellow-strugglers can use the thing. > >Richard Oliver >Madrid, Spain >[email protected] > > >==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== >Want to help FreeBMD? >Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. > >============================== >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

"Show" which means display on the screen the report of what files have been uploaded by syndicate members. "Download" means download this same information as a file in CSV format - this can be viewed by spreadsheet programs such as Excel. At this time of night (22:42) I got instant response to a query on your syndicate, which indicated a largish number of files albeit all uploaded by you! If you check "Report recent" and then click on Download you will be able to view all the files uploaded by your syndicate, even since the last update. Barrie > -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Oliver [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 22 May 2004 18:25 > To: [email protected] > Subject: "Upload Report" page... solved > > > Many thanks to Jeff, Melda, Chris and Keith - and to Allan > for a deserved rap over the knuckles for not reading his briefings. > > I think I have it sorted now - and understand that I couldn't > trace any uploads by my syndicate.... because they all > happened since the April 21 update! > > Richard Oliver > Madrid, Spain > [email protected] > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > Want to help FreeBMD? > Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. > > ============================== > 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 >

My new "Richard Oliver" Syndicate has taken on six recruits since opening for business at the beginning of the month, and these are at various stages of induction. However, now that the first two have passed muster, and have started uploading files to FreeBMD... I find I can't track their progress! The "Upload Report" page is hideously obscure (was it designed by the same hand who made "Syndicate Maintenance"?) and I have so far failed to get it to function at all. Even restricting the thing to the few members of my Syndicate, the exact period of the scans we are working on, and uploads made since the last update, I get some answer like "no matches for those criteria". Well, I myself have sent up four files in the past week or two. What is "+S/M/F line" etc. supposed to mean? What is "Show", "Download" or "Download Compressed"? (download what - the volunteer's files?) "Order by...." second key etc. ? All utterly baffling. Unless I am alone in this, I do suggest that either the page is simplified for non-geeks, or else that a translation is supplied on this list so that I and my fellow-strugglers can use the thing. Richard Oliver Madrid, Spain [email protected]

Hello Richard I was in a fairly similar situation in January as a new co-ordinator. To find out what your transcribers have been uploading the simplest way is the upload report page http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/upload-report.pl . If you lose the URL try the FreeBMD Home Page, Transcribers' page, scroll down to co-ordinators' resources and there is a link. This page seems very sensitive to overall traffic on the site and is usually best accessed after 11pm and before 9am UK time. At this very moment most snails would beat it handsomely. The best results are from selecting only your own year, quarter and type of records, and after 'click for list' 'all syndicate members' use the 'report recent' tick-box. If you don't tick it, you only get files that were included in the last database update. People will only show as being in your syndicate if you have added them in the 'Maintain Syndicate' page. Choose 'download' rather than 'show' or 'download compressed'. You get a CSV file which you can open in text, spreadsheet or database packages. I assume you keep a list of the submitter ids for your transcribers. With a submitter-id you can use the other route to discovering what has been uploaded, and view data. This is the show-file page, details of which I will send you off-list. I am quite happy to share various 'tricks of the trade' with you or other new co-ordinators - at which point I acknowledge the assistance of Allan Raymond, Bob Phillips and John Slann in getting me going and passing on advice. Jeff Co-ordinator of the Jeff Coleman syndicate of volunteer transcribers working for FreeBMD ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Oliver" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2004 10:40 AM Subject: "Upload Report" page > My new "Richard Oliver" Syndicate has taken on six recruits since opening for business at the beginning of the month, and these are at various stages of induction. However, now that the first two have passed muster, and have started uploading files to FreeBMD... I find I can't track their progress! > > The "Upload Report" page is hideously obscure (was it designed by the same hand who made "Syndicate Maintenance"?) and I have so far failed to get it to function at all. Even restricting the thing to the few members of my Syndicate, the exact period of the scans we are working on, and uploads made since the last update, I get some answer like "no matches for those criteria". Well, I myself have sent up four files in the past week or two. What is "+S/M/F line" etc. supposed to mean? What is "Show", "Download" or "Download Compressed"? (download what - the volunteer's files?) "Order by...." second key etc. ? All utterly baffling. > > Unless I am alone in this, I do suggest that either the page is simplified for non-geeks, or else that a translation is supplied on this list so that I and my fellow-strugglers can use the thing. > > Richard Oliver > Madrid, Spain > [email protected] > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > Want to help FreeBMD? > Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. > > ============================== > 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: 6.0.689 / Virus Database: 450 - Release Date: 21/05/2004

Hi Philip It sounds like the newbie is saving the scan list, going off-line then clicking the actual scan name. good luck Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Philip Powell" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 7:23 AM Subject: Problem downloading scans > I have a new transcriber who is having problems downloading scans. I > don't have a clue what the problem is, so can anyone help? > > Here is his reply: > > "I went carefully through your instructions and downloaded a blue list > which included my 1907M2-F-0116 to F-0120. Double clicking on 0116 > started the blue loading line going and the first time a message came up > saying the page was not available. ( I'm not quite sure now what it > said but it is a very common message) Further attempts seemed to make > it load but only got a blank screen. I wonder if it is something to do > with tif files. I am running Windows 98SE" > > He is able to get on as I've emailed him the scans directly but I'd like > to get it sorted so that he can download himself. > > TIA > -- > Philip Powell > Looking north across the Derwent Valley and Northumberland > to The Cheviot > > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > Want to help FreeBMD? > Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. > > ============================== > 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: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 18/05/2004

I have a new transcriber who is having problems downloading scans. I don't have a clue what the problem is, so can anyone help? Here is his reply: "I went carefully through your instructions and downloaded a blue list which included my 1907M2-F-0116 to F-0120.  Double clicking on 0116 started the blue loading line going and the first time a message came up saying the page was not available.  ( I'm not quite sure now what it said but it is a very common message)  Further attempts seemed to make it load but only got a blank screen.  I wonder if it is something to do with tif files.  I am running Windows 98SE" He is able to get on as I've emailed him the scans directly but I'd like to get it sorted so that he can download himself. TIA -- Philip Powell Looking north across the Derwent Valley and Northumberland to The Cheviot

One of my newest volunteers has been having technical difficulties, and my efforts to help her, so far have failed. The problem arose when I returned her amended, verified, first page, and asked her to re-save it on her pc in WinBMD>Output, replacing her original file. I then asked her to open WinBMD and re-upload the page. When she opened WinBMD, she got all kinds of error messages. In the end, she uninstalled WinBMD and then re-installed it. The error messages still appear, and I have not seen these ones before. She says: “When the winBMD window itself opens, it doesn't have all the details for the batch header. Then the warning messages that come up are as follows: "invalid event in Project file-marriages assumed" "invalid project file-it has lines missing" "please check and correct the details in the following Header screen"” There is definitely nothing wrong with the .bmd file itself, as I sent it to my Co-Ordinator, who can open it with no problem. Getting my own Coordinator to upload the file on her behalf will only be a temporary measure, as this problem could persist with future assignments. Please can you advise me what has gone wrong, and how I can rectify this problem. Many thanks, Lisa Dominey ID4 Syndicate Coordinator --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.686 / Virus Database: 447 - Release Date: 14/05/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.686 / Virus Database: 447 - Release Date: 14/05/2004

Dear Ted, Tell him to open up WinBMD and click on "Options" and uncheck SpeedBMD filenames Cheers John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ted Southcombe" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 10:22 AM Subject: FILE NAMES > I have a transcriber who amongst several other confusions and difficulties > is claiming to be using WinBMD but is generating files with SpeedBMD format > names - eg: 87b3_124.SCA He has uploaded two files successfully but I am > baffled as to how he manages to generate these file names in WinBMD - any > ideas ? > > Also, he has now concatenated two double-page files together making a 1500 > line file - is this a problem ? All the requisite +PAGE,### lines are > there OK. > > Ted Southcombe > > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > For those in -L mode, to unsubscribe from this mailing list please send the command UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message to - > [email protected] > > ============================== > 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 >

1500 line file with #PAGE lines is not problem. Barrie > -----Original Message----- > From: Ted Southcombe [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 12 May 2004 10:22 > To: [email protected] > Subject: FILE NAMES > > > I have a transcriber who amongst several other confusions and > difficulties is claiming to be using WinBMD but is generating > files with SpeedBMD format > names - eg: 87b3_124.SCA He has uploaded two files > successfully but I am > baffled as to how he manages to generate these file names in > WinBMD - any ideas ? > > Also, he has now concatenated two double-page files together > making a 1500 > line file - is this a problem ? All the requisite > +PAGE,### lines are > there OK. > > Ted Southcombe > > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > For those in -L mode, to unsubscribe from this mailing list > please send the command UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the > message to - [email protected] > > ============================== > 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 >

I have a transcriber who amongst several other confusions and difficulties is claiming to be using WinBMD but is generating files with SpeedBMD format names - eg: 87b3_124.SCA He has uploaded two files successfully but I am baffled as to how he manages to generate these file names in WinBMD - any ideas ? Also, he has now concatenated two double-page files together making a 1500 line file - is this a problem ? All the requisite +PAGE,### lines are there OK. Ted Southcombe

To Syndicate Co-ordinators I've had about 5 Co-ordinators recently asking me what do they do about volunteers who have uploaded files for their Syndicate but are no longer active within FreeBMD. The following maybe of some help? 1. If a volunteer has uploaded file(s) as part of a Syndicate they should NOT be deleted from the "Maintain Syndicate" volunteers database. The fact the volunteer is no longer active is irrelevant. Deletion of volunteers from the Syndicate will not give full credit to the Syndicate and has a bearing on other administration tasks. 2. Any volunteer who has been deleted from the "Maintain Syndicate" volunteers database due to inactivity should be reinstated as soon as possible. 3. As a side issue, Co-ordinators can access the files of inactive volunteers by following the process in: http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/synaccess.html . Thanks Allan Raymond

To Co-ordinators for information Thanks to the 14 Co-ordinators who responded to my request for comments to the Syndicate Allocation Web Page. Most of the emails came to me direct and I must give a public "thank you" to Barrie Archer for actually doing the clever stuff. All the Co-ordinators were very supportive of the suggested change and this has now been fully implemented as evidenced by a visit to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/bmd-synd.pl . Extra requirements were requested by two Co-ordinators: 1. Include a flag showing which quarters have been reported as finished. 2. Could the syndicate statistics open in a new window rather than replace the allocations page. I will have to give further thought on how best we can implement suggestion 1 in any future update to the Syndicate Allocation Web Page. Suggestion 2 appears to have been taken on board. Regards Allan Raymond -----Original Message----- From: Allan Raymond <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: 02 May 2004 23:00 Subject: Change to Syndicate Allocation Web Page >To Co-ordinators for comment please. > >As part of our continuous improvement and also to take on board a request >from one of your colleagues, I've requested a change to the layout of the >Syndicate Allocation Web Page accessed via >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/bmd-synd.pl > >The main changes are the removal of the "Description" column and renaming >"Info" to read "Statistics for Syndicate". > >You can see the current version by accessing: >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/bmd-synd.pl > >The suggested new version can be viewed at : >http://test.links.org:8084/bmd-synd.html > >In the new version, by moving the mouse over a Syndicate' name you can still >view the description for that Syndicate. > >Comments from Co-ordinators would be appreciated before we implement the >suggested change? > >Thanks to Barrie for doing the clever part of activity. > >Allan Raymond

To Syndicate Co-ordinators The amount of Spam emails which I'm currently receiving is of epidemic proportions and running at about 1000 emails per day. I have a Spam Guard which filters out the Spam email but this isn't quite 100% error free, in the 1000 emails there could be a handful of genuine emails some of which originates from Co-ordinators. Similarly, in my Inbox which receives several hundred emails per day is a fair proportion of Spam emails along with the genuine emails. It takes a while to sort out genuine emails from the Spam emails and I can't be absolutely certain that I haven't deleted genuine emails in error. I've done a trawl through my emails and believe I've resolved any email queries from Co-ordinators prior to 19 April 2004. Any Co-ordinator who is waiting a response to a query prior to 19 April could they please let me know? It would greatly assist me if future email queries from Co-ordinators could have a Subject line which relates to the query and if unrelated queries could be in separate emails. This enables me to file the emails in the correct email folders. I have a handful of queries outstanding post 19 April and expect to deal with these within the next couple of days, so please don't chase these up at the moment.. Thanks Allan Raymond

Yes, tell them to use the lost password process at: http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/bmd-files.pl click on "Forgotten your password? Go and get a new one". Allan Raymond -----Original Message----- From: Keith Simpson <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: 09 May 2004 14:22 Subject: Forgotton password >Have been contacted by a former trancriber who wish's to start again but >cannot remmeber thier former password. Any suggestions please. >Keith > > > > >==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== >Thank you Rootsweb for hosting the FreeBMD project and its mailing lists. See http://www.rootsweb.com/ > >============================== >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 >