Richard I'm not privy to the sending out of these responses regarding flaws in files. However I'm sure some slight rewording would be useful such as: ******************************************************************************** Following the recent database update the following file was reported as having errors BigMal/1928B4H0475 Will you please click the "View Error" button against the file for details of the error and and correct the file. If you require assistance please contact your Co-ordinator or vol-coord@freebmd.org.uk (or whoever) Thank you. FreeBMD Admin Team or whoever ******************************************************************************* It isn't as difficult as you make out to find the flaw. This is my understanding of locating the flaw: The file which contain the flaws will be highlighted in red and clicking the View Error button will show the flaw. For BigMal/1928B4H0475 it would have shown: Invalid late entry reference, at line 90, should be "#THEORY,REF,See quarter/year", e.g. "#THEORY,REF,See D/89" (got #THEORY,REF,See M'40) To correct the flaw the #THEORY had to be changed to read #THEORY,REF,See M/40 So how did you or your volunteer work out what the flaw was with BigMal/1928B4H0475 Allan Raymond ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Oliver" <richol@arrakis.es> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 8:13 PM Subject: A "demand" for a correction Normally when a flaw is identified in a volunteer's uploaded file, he or she receives a very polite and civilised note from the FreeBMD Corrections Coordinator, Kevin Howell, pointing out the details of the error and requesting it be rectified. This works very well and is appreciated by all. Today one of my Syndicate received a curt note from some anonymous body, which I am copying below. It makes no mention of what the flaw might be, and has put my transcriber's back up considerably, not to mention my own. Please can this nuisance stop? Richard Oliver Syndicate Co-ordinator Madrid, Spain richol@arrakis.es ----- Original Message ----- From: <admins1@freebmd.org.uk> To: <malcolm.gill@talktalk.net> Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 4:16 PM Subject: FreeBMD corrections > Following the recent database update the following file was reported as > having errors > > BigMal/1928B4H0475 > > > > Please could you review and correct this file. > > > > Thank you. > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Normally when a flaw is identified in a volunteer's uploaded file, he or she receives a very polite and civilised note from the FreeBMD Corrections Coordinator, Kevin Howell, pointing out the details of the error and requesting it be rectified. This works very well and is appreciated by all. Today one of my Syndicate received a curt note from some anonymous body, which I am copying below. It makes no mention of what the flaw might be, and has put my transcriber's back up considerably, not to mention my own. Please can this nuisance stop? Richard Oliver Syndicate Co-ordinator Madrid, Spain richol@arrakis.es ----- Original Message ----- From: <admins1@freebmd.org.uk> To: <malcolm.gill@talktalk.net> Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 4:16 PM Subject: FreeBMD corrections > Following the recent database update the following file was reported as > having errors > > BigMal/1928B4H0475 > > > > Please could you review and correct this file. > > > > Thank you. >

I got the same Peter McCabery --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Richard Oliver <richol@arrakis.es> wrote: From: Richard Oliver <richol@arrakis.es> Subject: A "demand" for a correction To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 9:13 PM Normally when a flaw is identified in a volunteer's uploaded file, he or she receives a very polite and civilised note from the FreeBMD Corrections Coordinator, Kevin Howell, pointing out the details of the error and requesting it be rectified. This works very well and is appreciated by all. Today one of my Syndicate received a curt note from some anonymous body, which I am copying below. It makes no mention of what the flaw might be, and has put my transcriber's back up considerably, not to mention my own. Please can this nuisance stop? Richard Oliver Syndicate Co-ordinator Madrid, Spain richol@arrakis.es ----- Original Message ----- From: <admins1@freebmd.org.uk> To: <malcolm.gill@talktalk.net> Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 4:16 PM Subject: FreeBMD corrections > Following the recent database update the following file was reported as > having errors > > BigMal/1928B4H0475 > > > > Please could you review and correct this file. > > > > Thank you. > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Making syntax errors a warning is more difficult than it sounds because there are two levels of check. The first checks each keystroke and prevents various common errors (such as **) as well as invalid characters. The second checks are run when the fields are complete (for example when saving the file), these catch blank fields and other problems. The second checks do not duplicate the first and so it is possible to paste a complete field containg invalid characters as this sin't a keystroke and so not checked. To do as you suggest is certainly possible but as I say, is a sizeable job. To answer your other question. No, users cannot really delete picklist entries except for those supplementary districts that they have entered. The program reads the district file and supplementary file when it first starts and build a list of every district that was inn use in the year/qtr being transcribed, it then uses that list to populate the picklist with each keystroke. So to remove something from the picklist would require it to be removed from the district file. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:42 AM Subject: RE: Revised district lists for WinBMD > The allowed characters in names can be found at > http://www.freebmd.org.uk/error-help.html under the error for the > appropriate field. However, I will double check that it corresponds to > what the system allows, in particular that it does not allow accented > characters in the district name. > > Yes, having a client do field validation is always fraught with issues. > Assuming we do not, at this stage, want to even consider data driven > syntax checkers I think that the only long term answer for WinBMD is to > provide an override in all circumstances. Effectively this means that > the syntax check is a warning not an error. > > As regards the pick list issue, can users remove an item from the > picklist? Hence if they found that there was still something in the > picklist by the time they got to the digit in the district name, they > could remove that something from the picklist and next time they would > not have the problem. The picklist would be less effective but one can't > have one's cake and eat it! > > As regards sending a .exe, the best option is to zip it. If a mailer can > be bypassed by using ._xe it is hardly worth it doing the check! > > Barrie > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of >> Ian Brooke >> Sent: 16 February 2009 03:11 >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> Hi Jeremy, >> Changing the program should only take a couple of days. I'd >> like to wait >> and see if Barrie has any ideas for the best way forward, >> drop me another >> line if we are getting too close for comfort. >> >> Regards >> Ian >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Jeremy Hakes" <jeremy.hakes@talktalk.net> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 4:25 PM >> Subject: RE: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> >> > Thank you Ian >> > >> > As the Co-ordinator that has just been allocated 1937 >> Births - and lost no >> > time in pointing out the potential problem, I should be >> pleased to trial >> > the >> > programme for you. >> > >> > I would expect to start allocations to transcribers in a >> few weeks time >> > but >> > may well transcribe the odd page myself before that to see where any >> > potential pitfalls are. >> > >> > Kind Regards >> > Jeremy Hakes >> > All Scan Syndicate >> > >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com >> > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf >> Of Ian Brooke >> > Sent: 15 February 2009 22:22 >> > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com >> > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> > >> > >> > The only quick fix would be for me to send a version of the >> WinBMD program >> > which allows numbers to the coordinator and let him/her >> give it to the >> > transcribers, they could just save it into their WinBMD folder. >> > >> > The longer this program is used, the more I find that some >> of the checks >> > that the program is doing are no longer valid . I'm not >> sure if this is >> > because they have changed with time or if I was simply too >> rigorous. They >> > were or at least seemed a good idea at the time, even though they >> > duplicate >> > checks that the FreeBMD upload carries out, it seemed >> better that the >> > transcriber finds errors before trying to upload. I don't >> really know >> > what >> > the best long-term answer is - to remove them altogether or >> try to bring >> > them back in line with FreeBMD or something else. Does >> anyone have any >> > thoughts on this? >> > >> > Ian >> > >> > >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: "Allan Raymond" <allan_raymond@btinternet.com> >> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> >> > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 2:16 PM >> > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> > >> > >> >> In addition to keeping the WinBMD standard District Picklist up to >> >> date >> >> how are we going to deal with Districts such as >> "Northumberland North >> >> First" which came into being on 1 January 1937. >> >> >> >> I'm now starting to allocate 1937 to Syndicates and scans >> are showing >> >> "Northumberland North First" as "Nthhmbld.N.1st". WinBMD >> doesn't accept >> >> numerals in the District Field and it isn't really on to expect >> >> transcribers to adopt the process in >> >> http://www.freebmd.org.uk/vol_faq.html#6ah which really >> was to cover a >> >> possible mistype in the District name? >> >> >> >> Allan Raymond >> >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> >> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; >> >> <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> >> >> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM >> >> Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> >> >> >> >> I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of >> WinBMD can be >> >> enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of >> >> date. >> >> >> >> The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are >> continually revising >> >> the district information on the system but transcribers >> using WinBMD >> >> are working with an out of date version of this information. The >> >> current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the >> system it >> >> will also download a new version of the district file if >> one exists. >> >> This means that subsequently the transcriber will be >> working with the >> >> new districts list. >> >> >> >> The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by >> >> downloading the new districts list. >> >> >> >> If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like >> clarification of >> >> the proposal, please let me know. >> >> >> >> Barrie >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> > without >> > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release >> Date: 02/14/09 >> > 18:01:00 >> > >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body >> of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

The allowed characters in names can be found at http://www.freebmd.org.uk/error-help.html under the error for the appropriate field. However, I will double check that it corresponds to what the system allows, in particular that it does not allow accented characters in the district name. Yes, having a client do field validation is always fraught with issues. Assuming we do not, at this stage, want to even consider data driven syntax checkers I think that the only long term answer for WinBMD is to provide an override in all circumstances. Effectively this means that the syntax check is a warning not an error. As regards the pick list issue, can users remove an item from the picklist? Hence if they found that there was still something in the picklist by the time they got to the digit in the district name, they could remove that something from the picklist and next time they would not have the problem. The picklist would be less effective but one can't have one's cake and eat it! As regards sending a .exe, the best option is to zip it. If a mailer can be bypassed by using ._xe it is hardly worth it doing the check! Barrie > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > Ian Brooke > Sent: 16 February 2009 03:11 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > Hi Jeremy, > Changing the program should only take a couple of days. I'd > like to wait > and see if Barrie has any ideas for the best way forward, > drop me another > line if we are getting too close for comfort. > > Regards > Ian > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jeremy Hakes" <jeremy.hakes@talktalk.net> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 4:25 PM > Subject: RE: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > > Thank you Ian > > > > As the Co-ordinator that has just been allocated 1937 > Births - and lost no > > time in pointing out the potential problem, I should be > pleased to trial > > the > > programme for you. > > > > I would expect to start allocations to transcribers in a > few weeks time > > but > > may well transcribe the odd page myself before that to see where any > > potential pitfalls are. > > > > Kind Regards > > Jeremy Hakes > > All Scan Syndicate > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf > Of Ian Brooke > > Sent: 15 February 2009 22:22 > > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > > > > The only quick fix would be for me to send a version of the > WinBMD program > > which allows numbers to the coordinator and let him/her > give it to the > > transcribers, they could just save it into their WinBMD folder. > > > > The longer this program is used, the more I find that some > of the checks > > that the program is doing are no longer valid . I'm not > sure if this is > > because they have changed with time or if I was simply too > rigorous. They > > were or at least seemed a good idea at the time, even though they > > duplicate > > checks that the FreeBMD upload carries out, it seemed > better that the > > transcriber finds errors before trying to upload. I don't > really know > > what > > the best long-term answer is - to remove them altogether or > try to bring > > them back in line with FreeBMD or something else. Does > anyone have any > > thoughts on this? > > > > Ian > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Allan Raymond" <allan_raymond@btinternet.com> > > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 2:16 PM > > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > > > >> In addition to keeping the WinBMD standard District Picklist up to > >> date > >> how are we going to deal with Districts such as > "Northumberland North > >> First" which came into being on 1 January 1937. > >> > >> I'm now starting to allocate 1937 to Syndicates and scans > are showing > >> "Northumberland North First" as "Nthhmbld.N.1st". WinBMD > doesn't accept > >> numerals in the District Field and it isn't really on to expect > >> transcribers to adopt the process in > >> http://www.freebmd.org.uk/vol_faq.html#6ah which really > was to cover a > >> possible mistype in the District name? > >> > >> Allan Raymond > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; > >> <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> > >> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM > >> Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD > >> > >> > >> I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of > WinBMD can be > >> enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of > >> date. > >> > >> The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are > continually revising > >> the district information on the system but transcribers > using WinBMD > >> are working with an out of date version of this information. The > >> current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the > system it > >> will also download a new version of the district file if > one exists. > >> This means that subsequently the transcriber will be > working with the > >> new districts list. > >> > >> The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by > >> downloading the new districts list. > >> > >> If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like > clarification of > >> the proposal, please let me know. > >> > >> Barrie > >> > >> ------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >> > >> ------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >> > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without > > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release > Date: 02/14/09 > > 18:01:00 > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > of the message >

Jeremy, I would prefer to restrict circulation to known people but if that's a problem for you then I don't think there should be a problem with putting this version on the website as long as the location doesn't become generally known. There is already an old test version of WinBMD on there which I can replace as soon as I get my cvs setup again. I'm less sure about restricting the allowable numbers in a district name, experience shows that as soon as I do that someone will find a district with an unallowed number and we need yet another new verson! I am however prepared to put in whatever verification is thought necessary - if the concensus is N H space dot or whatever then I'm sure it can be done but I think that I should not rush to put that in a version to get over your imminent problem - I'll just allow any number for now. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeremy Hakes" <jeremy.hakes@talktalk.net> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 2:51 AM Subject: RE: Revised district lists for WinBMD > Hi Ian > > A further thought, and putting on my District Aliasing hat: > It is only the abreviated forms of Northumberland North First and Second > that contain numbers "officially" - both still exist, so perhaps numbers 3 > to 9 and 0 could still be restricted? It also seems to me that the numbers > 1 > and 2 would normally be preceded by either an "N" or "h" or a full stop or > space. Does this help to restrict choices? > > There may be another problem. My email system (Outlook) blocks all "exe" > files to and from me. I normally have to rename them as ex_ bedore > sending. > Could this be made available as a download on a website? > > Regards > Jeremy > > > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Brooke > Sent: 16 February 2009 05:44 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > Hi Jeremy, > Further to my earlier reply, I perhaps should have explained fully. > > A version of WinBMD that allows numbers in District names already exists, > that version should indeed allow any character in a district name that > FreeBMD allows, unless that has changed recently! There is however a > small > complication in entering numbers although in practice this seems unlikely > to > > affect anyone. The problem is that typing a number will be interpreted as > a > > picklist selection and will in all cases enter the appropraite picklist > entry and move to the next column. However, in the (limited) examples I > have seen, by the time the number is typed there will be no matching > picklist entries and so WinBMD will simply enter the number without > complaint. In the event that there is a matching picklist entry it is > necessary to type something (for example a z) to ensure there are no > matches, type the number, then go back and delete the z. I know it's > messy > but I cannot think of an alternative, and as I said, it seems very > unlikely > it will happen in practice. > > Ian > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jeremy Hakes" <jeremy.hakes@talktalk.net> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 4:25 PM > Subject: RE: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > >> Thank you Ian >> >> As the Co-ordinator that has just been allocated 1937 Births - and lost >> no >> time in pointing out the potential problem, I should be pleased to trial >> the >> programme for you. >> >> I would expect to start allocations to transcribers in a few weeks time >> but >> may well transcribe the odd page myself before that to see where any >> potential pitfalls are. >> >> Kind Regards >> Jeremy Hakes >> All Scan Syndicate >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Brooke >> Sent: 15 February 2009 22:22 >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> >> The only quick fix would be for me to send a version of the WinBMD >> program >> which allows numbers to the coordinator and let him/her give it to the >> transcribers, they could just save it into their WinBMD folder. >> >> The longer this program is used, the more I find that some of the checks >> that the program is doing are no longer valid . I'm not sure if this is >> because they have changed with time or if I was simply too rigorous. >> They >> were or at least seemed a good idea at the time, even though they >> duplicate >> checks that the FreeBMD upload carries out, it seemed better that the >> transcriber finds errors before trying to upload. I don't really know >> what >> the best long-term answer is - to remove them altogether or try to bring >> them back in line with FreeBMD or something else. Does anyone have any >> thoughts on this? >> >> Ian >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Allan Raymond" <allan_raymond@btinternet.com> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 2:16 PM >> Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> >>> In addition to keeping the WinBMD standard District Picklist up to >>> date >>> how are we going to deal with Districts such as "Northumberland North >>> First" which came into being on 1 January 1937. >>> >>> I'm now starting to allocate 1937 to Syndicates and scans are showing >>> "Northumberland North First" as "Nthhmbld.N.1st". WinBMD doesn't accept >>> numerals in the District Field and it isn't really on to expect >>> transcribers to adopt the process in >>> http://www.freebmd.org.uk/vol_faq.html#6ah which really was to cover a >>> possible mistype in the District name? >>> >>> Allan Raymond >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> >>> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; >>> <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> >>> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM >>> Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD >>> >>> >>> I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be >>> enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of >>> date. >>> >>> The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are continually revising >>> the district information on the system but transcribers using WinBMD >>> are working with an out of date version of this information. The >>> current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system it >>> will also download a new version of the district file if one exists. >>> This means that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the >>> new districts list. >>> >>> The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by >>> downloading the new districts list. >>> >>> If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like clarification of >>> the proposal, please let me know. >>> >>> Barrie >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without >> the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: >> 02/14/09 >> 18:01:00 >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: 02/14/09 > 18:01:00 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

But as I've said a number of times - the installer does NOT have a facility to prompt where it should create a folder for these files, nor does it have the ability to pass the installation location to WinBMD. That's why I create it at present under the WinBMD installation folder where I know there can be no clash with an existing file or folder. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 4:21 AM Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List > Ian, > > We are talking here ONLY about new installs. For upgrades nothing is > done (this was the suggestion of Nowl which I agreed with); if the user > wants to move their output file location (possibly as recommended by a > TKB item) they use Define Save Path and move the files themselves. > > Currently when WinBMD is installed for the first time it asks where it > should store the program giving a default of c:\Program Files\WinBMD but > allowing the user to choose an alternative. The proposal is that it > should then ask the user where it should store its output files, giving > a default of My Documents\WinBMD\Output which the user could change if > they wished. It would be better if the installer tried to create this > folder (if it did not exist) because failure at this point (for any > reason) is easier for the user to handle. However, it would not be a > problem if WinBMD created it, if necessary, when saving the first file. > > If the default output folder already exists, since the user has accepted > the default, it cannot be the "wrong" folder. > > Barrie > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of >> Ian Brooke >> Sent: 13 February 2009 20:49 >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List >> >> Barrie, >> I understand that you are proposing less work but I can't see >> how it could >> safely work. I'm still stuck on the problem that what if a >> file or folder >> with our name already exists under My Documents. I can't >> have the installer >> create it (because it would fail if there was one there >> already) and then >> when WinBMD is first run it could find a folder under my >> documents and start >> using it without knowing it may not be the right one. The >> only safe way is >> for the installer to create it as it does now under WinBMD >> and then have >> WinBMD move it in response to the user clicking the menu >> option. And Yes I >> did mean the Define Save Path menu item. >> >> The reason I suggested copying the files is simply so the >> user has all >> his/her output files together in one folder. Why would we >> want to have some >> in the old folder and some in the new one? >> >> Ian >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 4:47 PM >> Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List >> >> >> > Ian, >> > >> > I am actually suggesting less change! I think the ONLY >> change that needs >> > to be made is for the default output folder to be under (My >> )Documents >> > for new installs only. >> > >> > By the "change folder routine" do you mean File/Define Save >> Path? If so >> > I really don't think it should move files. It isn't what it >> does at the >> > moment and it is not what the name suggests. If you want to do it I >> > suggest it should be a new menu item, File/Relocate Output (or some >> > such). >> > >> > Yes, technically all files that may change from user to >> user should be >> > under (My )Documents. You would find the path to the .ini >> file from the >> > Registry (HKCU) (or move the .ini data into the Registry). >> > >> > Barrie >> > >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com >> >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of >> >> Ian Brooke >> >> Sent: 08 February 2009 22:07 >> >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List >> >> >> >> Although I would agree with what you say about it being >> >> desireable, I'm >> >> really unsure that moving output files below My Documents or >> >> wherever really >> >> achieves anything other than some users being able to locate >> >> their files, >> >> and for many their current location below WinBMD is easy to >> >> find and doesn't >> >> really affect anything. Also to suggest a technical >> >> desireability to have >> >> them below My Documents ignores all the other files which are >> >> located in the >> >> WinBMD folder, such as the ini file, the district and names >> >> files etc, all >> >> these are updated by WinBMD. If there is a technical need to >> >> have the output >> >> files elsewhere then surely that also holds true of these >> >> other files and >> >> yet I cannot think of a way to relocate the ini file (as the >> >> program needs >> >> to locate it in order to know where it is located) and moving >> >> the others is >> >> very difficult. >> >> >> >> All I'm really trying to say is that maybe the technical >> >> advantages of >> >> moving the output folder are not worth the technical >> >> difficulties of doing >> >> it automatically. I think we should go with amending the >> >> existing change >> >> folder routine to create the new folder, defaulting to below >> >> My Documents, >> >> and copy the files for the user It's easy, almost risk free >> >> to do and >> >> allows those users who want to leave it where it is to do so. >> >> >> >> Ian >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> >> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> >> >> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 7:35 AM >> >> Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List >> >> >> >> >> >> >I am sorry Allan, but the output folder for should NOT be a >> >> subfolder of >> >> > WinBMD. It is like that for historical reasons but for the latest >> >> > versions of Windows (say from XP onwards) it is a >> >> deprecated location. >> >> > If users need to move their output folder it should be under (My >> >> > )Documents which is where almost every other piece of >> >> software puts its >> >> > output. This is why users would find it easier to find the files. >> >> > >> >> > There are many reasons for using (My )Documents, some quite >> >> technical, >> >> > but a simple one is that it works for PCs with multiple >> >> users. If users, >> >> > for example yourself, wish to have the output files >> >> elsewhere that is >> >> > fine, but the default, and what we recommend, must be under (My >> >> > )Documents. >> >> > >> >> > Barrie >> >> > >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com >> >> >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of >> >> >> Allan Raymond >> >> >> Sent: 04 February 2009 14:06 >> >> >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com >> >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List >> >> >> >> >> >> I'm also at a complete loss regarding all this discussion. >> >> >> >> >> >> If volunteers are unable to find the default Output folder >> >> >> location for >> >> >> WinBMD produced files which I happen to maintain should be in >> >> >> a subfolder of >> >> >> the WinBMD what chance have they got of understanding the >> >> >> proposed new >> >> >> WinBMD requirements. >> >> >> >> >> >> We seem to be creating a rod for our back, this discussion >> >> >> started because >> >> >> of a suggested requirement to assist volunteers in being able >> >> >> to locate >> >> >> their files to send to their Co-ordinators. >> >> >> >> >> >> If it was recommended that all files produced by WinBMD were >> >> >> to be held in >> >> >> the default subfolder on WinBMD aptly called Output folder >> >> >> this problem >> >> >> should resolve itself without all these changes to WinBMD. >> >> >> >> >> >> I keep saying I have WinBMD to work on Vista and have no >> >> >> trouble finding >> >> >> where the WinBMD files are held C:/WinBMD/Output. >> >> >> >> >> >> I believe I have found a solution to the problem why some >> >> >> volunteers can't >> >> >> get WinBMD on Vista and fingers crossed I have managed to get >> >> >> two long >> >> >> suffering Vista volunteers to get WinBMD to work following >> >> my simple >> >> >> suggestion of C:/WinBMD/Output. >> >> >> >> >> >> Allan Raymond >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> >> >> From: "Nowl" <owl.news@zen.co.uk> >> >> >> To: <FreeBMD-Syndicates@rootsweb.com> >> >> >> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 1:17 PM >> >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Excuse me butting in. . . I've been following the exchanges >> >> >> between Ian >> >> >> and Barrie with great interest, as I do feel the current >> >> default Save >> >> >> Path causes some problems. But I'm not following why we >> >> would want to >> >> >> move users' existing files at all. >> >> >> >> >> >> I thought the idea was to define a new default location that >> >> >> was easier >> >> >> to find for new users and "better" from a programmers' >> >> point of view, >> >> >> particularly with Vista. But shouldn't it apply only to new >> >> >> users/fresh >> >> >> installs, rather than upgrades? People who are already >> >> happily using >> >> >> WinBMD surely already know where to find their files and/or >> >> >> have defined >> >> >> a custom Save Path and don't want it changed. >> >> >> >> >> >> Much of Ian and Barrie's discussion seems to be about the >> >> >> difficulty of >> >> >> discovering the path to a user's current output folder and >> >> >> the mechanism >> >> >> of moving it. Couldn't all this be avoided if the installer >> >> >> checked for >> >> >> an existing WinBMD, and if it found one, left the current >> >> settings in >> >> >> place? >> >> >> >> >> >> I'm also wondering whether the installation would fail if, >> >> when asked >> >> >> where they want their files moved, users chose their >> >> existing output >> >> >> folder, since files can't be "moved" to the same place? >> >> Would they be >> >> >> forced to choose another path and then switch back? >> >> >> >> >> >> I'm not a programmer, so may well be missing the point here >> >> >> and am happy >> >> >> to be corrected :-) >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> Nowl >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> >> >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> >> >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body >> >> >> of the message >> >> >> >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > ------------------------------- >> >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> >> > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' >> >> > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body >> >> of the message >> >> >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body >> of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Allan, Maybe this relates to one's background but I consider it natural to use WinBMD\Output meaning (a) things about WinBMD and (b) those things about WinBMD relating to Output. Obviously initially there is nothing else under WinBMD except Output but there could be, e.g. Scans. If the folder were "WinBMD Output" then if one wanted to store anything else about WinBMD one would have to have a similar folder, say "WinBMD Progress Reports" and that tends to make the folder hierarchy excessively flat. If you look at your Program Files and your My Documents folder you will probably find a number of examples of a single folder within a folder, done for such reasons of future extensibility. In addition there are other things that WinBMD may, in the future, store in My Documents, e.g. the configuration files, which could go in WinBMD\Config say. Barrie > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > Allan Raymond > Sent: 16 February 2009 11:55 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > > Barrie > > Shouldn't the default be (My) Documents\WinBMD Output rather > than (My) > Documents\WinBMD\Output? > > I don't see the need for making Output a subfolder of WinBMD > since there is > just a single folder. The WinBMD produced data files can be > saved in a > folder named WinBMD Output. > > Allan Raymond > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 11:21 AM > Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List > > > Ian, > > We are talking here ONLY about new installs. For upgrades nothing is > done (this was the suggestion of Nowl which I agreed with); > if the user > wants to move their output file location (possibly as recommended by a > TKB item) they use Define Save Path and move the files themselves. > > Currently when WinBMD is installed for the first time it asks where it > should store the program giving a default of c:\Program > Files\WinBMD but > allowing the user to choose an alternative. The proposal is that it > should then ask the user where it should store its output > files, giving > a default of My Documents\WinBMD\Output which the user could change if > they wished. It would be better if the installer tried to create this > folder (if it did not exist) because failure at this point (for any > reason) is easier for the user to handle. However, it would not be a > problem if WinBMD created it, if necessary, when saving the > first file. > > If the default output folder already exists, since the user > has accepted > the default, it cannot be the "wrong" folder. > > Barrie > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > > Ian Brooke > > Sent: 13 February 2009 20:49 > > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > > > > Barrie, > > I understand that you are proposing less work but I can't see > > how it could > > safely work. I'm still stuck on the problem that what if a > > file or folder > > with our name already exists under My Documents. I can't > > have the installer > > create it (because it would fail if there was one there > > already) and then > > when WinBMD is first run it could find a folder under my > > documents and start > > using it without knowing it may not be the right one. The > > only safe way is > > for the installer to create it as it does now under WinBMD > > and then have > > WinBMD move it in response to the user clicking the menu > > option. And Yes I > > did mean the Define Save Path menu item. > > > > The reason I suggested copying the files is simply so the > > user has all > > his/her output files together in one folder. Why would we > > want to have some > > in the old folder and some in the new one? > > > > Ian > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 4:47 PM > > Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List > > > > > > > Ian, > > > > > > I am actually suggesting less change! I think the ONLY > > change that needs > > > to be made is for the default output folder to be under (My > > )Documents > > > for new installs only. > > > > > > By the "change folder routine" do you mean File/Define Save > > Path? If so > > > I really don't think it should move files. It isn't what it > > does at the > > > moment and it is not what the name suggests. If you want > to do it I > > > suggest it should be a new menu item, File/Relocate > Output (or some > > > such). > > > > > > Yes, technically all files that may change from user to > > user should be > > > under (My )Documents. You would find the path to the .ini > > file from the > > > Registry (HKCU) (or move the .ini data into the Registry). > > > > > > Barrie > > > > > >> -----Original Message----- > > >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > > >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > > >> Ian Brooke > > >> Sent: 08 February 2009 22:07 > > >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > > >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > > >> > > >> Although I would agree with what you say about it being > > >> desireable, I'm > > >> really unsure that moving output files below My Documents or > > >> wherever really > > >> achieves anything other than some users being able to locate > > >> their files, > > >> and for many their current location below WinBMD is easy to > > >> find and doesn't > > >> really affect anything. Also to suggest a technical > > >> desireability to have > > >> them below My Documents ignores all the other files which are > > >> located in the > > >> WinBMD folder, such as the ini file, the district and names > > >> files etc, all > > >> these are updated by WinBMD. If there is a technical need to > > >> have the output > > >> files elsewhere then surely that also holds true of these > > >> other files and > > >> yet I cannot think of a way to relocate the ini file (as the > > >> program needs > > >> to locate it in order to know where it is located) and moving > > >> the others is > > >> very difficult. > > >> > > >> All I'm really trying to say is that maybe the technical > > >> advantages of > > >> moving the output folder are not worth the technical > > >> difficulties of doing > > >> it automatically. I think we should go with amending the > > >> existing change > > >> folder routine to create the new folder, defaulting to below > > >> My Documents, > > >> and copy the files for the user It's easy, almost risk free > > >> to do and > > >> allows those users who want to leave it where it is to do so. > > >> > > >> Ian > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> ----- Original Message ----- > > >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > > >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > > >> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 7:35 AM > > >> Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List > > >> > > >> > > >> >I am sorry Allan, but the output folder for should NOT be a > > >> subfolder of > > >> > WinBMD. It is like that for historical reasons but for > the latest > > >> > versions of Windows (say from XP onwards) it is a > > >> deprecated location. > > >> > If users need to move their output folder it should be > under (My > > >> > )Documents which is where almost every other piece of > > >> software puts its > > >> > output. This is why users would find it easier to find > the files. > > >> > > > >> > There are many reasons for using (My )Documents, some quite > > >> technical, > > >> > but a simple one is that it works for PCs with multiple > > >> users. If users, > > >> > for example yourself, wish to have the output files > > >> elsewhere that is > > >> > fine, but the default, and what we recommend, must be under (My > > >> > )Documents. > > >> > > > >> > Barrie > > >> > > > >> >> -----Original Message----- > > >> >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > > >> >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > > >> >> Allan Raymond > > >> >> Sent: 04 February 2009 14:06 > > >> >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > > >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > > >> >> > > >> >> I'm also at a complete loss regarding all this discussion. > > >> >> > > >> >> If volunteers are unable to find the default Output folder > > >> >> location for > > >> >> WinBMD produced files which I happen to maintain should be in > > >> >> a subfolder of > > >> >> the WinBMD what chance have they got of understanding the > > >> >> proposed new > > >> >> WinBMD requirements. > > >> >> > > >> >> We seem to be creating a rod for our back, this discussion > > >> >> started because > > >> >> of a suggested requirement to assist volunteers in being able > > >> >> to locate > > >> >> their files to send to their Co-ordinators. > > >> >> > > >> >> If it was recommended that all files produced by WinBMD were > > >> >> to be held in > > >> >> the default subfolder on WinBMD aptly called Output folder > > >> >> this problem > > >> >> should resolve itself without all these changes to WinBMD. > > >> >> > > >> >> I keep saying I have WinBMD to work on Vista and have no > > >> >> trouble finding > > >> >> where the WinBMD files are held C:/WinBMD/Output. > > >> >> > > >> >> I believe I have found a solution to the problem why some > > >> >> volunteers can't > > >> >> get WinBMD on Vista and fingers crossed I have managed to get > > >> >> two long > > >> >> suffering Vista volunteers to get WinBMD to work following > > >> my simple > > >> >> suggestion of C:/WinBMD/Output. > > >> >> > > >> >> Allan Raymond > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> ----- Original Message ----- > > >> >> From: "Nowl" <owl.news@zen.co.uk> > > >> >> To: <FreeBMD-Syndicates@rootsweb.com> > > >> >> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 1:17 PM > > >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> Excuse me butting in. . . I've been following the exchanges > > >> >> between Ian > > >> >> and Barrie with great interest, as I do feel the current > > >> default Save > > >> >> Path causes some problems. But I'm not following why we > > >> would want to > > >> >> move users' existing files at all. > > >> >> > > >> >> I thought the idea was to define a new default location that > > >> >> was easier > > >> >> to find for new users and "better" from a programmers' > > >> point of view, > > >> >> particularly with Vista. But shouldn't it apply only to new > > >> >> users/fresh > > >> >> installs, rather than upgrades? People who are already > > >> happily using > > >> >> WinBMD surely already know where to find their files and/or > > >> >> have defined > > >> >> a custom Save Path and don't want it changed. > > >> >> > > >> >> Much of Ian and Barrie's discussion seems to be about the > > >> >> difficulty of > > >> >> discovering the path to a user's current output folder and > > >> >> the mechanism > > >> >> of moving it. Couldn't all this be avoided if the installer > > >> >> checked for > > >> >> an existing WinBMD, and if it found one, left the current > > >> settings in > > >> >> place? > > >> >> > > >> >> I'm also wondering whether the installation would fail if, > > >> when asked > > >> >> where they want their files moved, users chose their > > >> existing output > > >> >> folder, since files can't be "moved" to the same place? > > >> Would they be > > >> >> forced to choose another path and then switch back? > > >> >> > > >> >> I'm not a programmer, so may well be missing the point here > > >> >> and am happy > > >> >> to be corrected :-) > > >> >> > > >> >> -- > > >> >> Nowl > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> ------------------------------- > > >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > >> >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > > >> >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > > >> >> of the message > > >> >> > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > ------------------------------- > > >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > >> > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > > 'unsubscribe' > > >> > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> ------------------------------- > > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > > >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > > >> of the message > > >> > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' > > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > > of the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > of the message >

Barrie Shouldn't the default be (My) Documents\WinBMD Output rather than (My) Documents\WinBMD\Output? I don't see the need for making Output a subfolder of WinBMD since there is just a single folder. The WinBMD produced data files can be saved in a folder named WinBMD Output. Allan Raymond ----- Original Message ----- From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 11:21 AM Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List Ian, We are talking here ONLY about new installs. For upgrades nothing is done (this was the suggestion of Nowl which I agreed with); if the user wants to move their output file location (possibly as recommended by a TKB item) they use Define Save Path and move the files themselves. Currently when WinBMD is installed for the first time it asks where it should store the program giving a default of c:\Program Files\WinBMD but allowing the user to choose an alternative. The proposal is that it should then ask the user where it should store its output files, giving a default of My Documents\WinBMD\Output which the user could change if they wished. It would be better if the installer tried to create this folder (if it did not exist) because failure at this point (for any reason) is easier for the user to handle. However, it would not be a problem if WinBMD created it, if necessary, when saving the first file. If the default output folder already exists, since the user has accepted the default, it cannot be the "wrong" folder. Barrie > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > Ian Brooke > Sent: 13 February 2009 20:49 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > > Barrie, > I understand that you are proposing less work but I can't see > how it could > safely work. I'm still stuck on the problem that what if a > file or folder > with our name already exists under My Documents. I can't > have the installer > create it (because it would fail if there was one there > already) and then > when WinBMD is first run it could find a folder under my > documents and start > using it without knowing it may not be the right one. The > only safe way is > for the installer to create it as it does now under WinBMD > and then have > WinBMD move it in response to the user clicking the menu > option. And Yes I > did mean the Define Save Path menu item. > > The reason I suggested copying the files is simply so the > user has all > his/her output files together in one folder. Why would we > want to have some > in the old folder and some in the new one? > > Ian > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 4:47 PM > Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List > > > > Ian, > > > > I am actually suggesting less change! I think the ONLY > change that needs > > to be made is for the default output folder to be under (My > )Documents > > for new installs only. > > > > By the "change folder routine" do you mean File/Define Save > Path? If so > > I really don't think it should move files. It isn't what it > does at the > > moment and it is not what the name suggests. If you want to do it I > > suggest it should be a new menu item, File/Relocate Output (or some > > such). > > > > Yes, technically all files that may change from user to > user should be > > under (My )Documents. You would find the path to the .ini > file from the > > Registry (HKCU) (or move the .ini data into the Registry). > > > > Barrie > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > >> Ian Brooke > >> Sent: 08 February 2009 22:07 > >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > >> > >> Although I would agree with what you say about it being > >> desireable, I'm > >> really unsure that moving output files below My Documents or > >> wherever really > >> achieves anything other than some users being able to locate > >> their files, > >> and for many their current location below WinBMD is easy to > >> find and doesn't > >> really affect anything. Also to suggest a technical > >> desireability to have > >> them below My Documents ignores all the other files which are > >> located in the > >> WinBMD folder, such as the ini file, the district and names > >> files etc, all > >> these are updated by WinBMD. If there is a technical need to > >> have the output > >> files elsewhere then surely that also holds true of these > >> other files and > >> yet I cannot think of a way to relocate the ini file (as the > >> program needs > >> to locate it in order to know where it is located) and moving > >> the others is > >> very difficult. > >> > >> All I'm really trying to say is that maybe the technical > >> advantages of > >> moving the output folder are not worth the technical > >> difficulties of doing > >> it automatically. I think we should go with amending the > >> existing change > >> folder routine to create the new folder, defaulting to below > >> My Documents, > >> and copy the files for the user It's easy, almost risk free > >> to do and > >> allows those users who want to leave it where it is to do so. > >> > >> Ian > >> > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > >> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 7:35 AM > >> Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List > >> > >> > >> >I am sorry Allan, but the output folder for should NOT be a > >> subfolder of > >> > WinBMD. It is like that for historical reasons but for the latest > >> > versions of Windows (say from XP onwards) it is a > >> deprecated location. > >> > If users need to move their output folder it should be under (My > >> > )Documents which is where almost every other piece of > >> software puts its > >> > output. This is why users would find it easier to find the files. > >> > > >> > There are many reasons for using (My )Documents, some quite > >> technical, > >> > but a simple one is that it works for PCs with multiple > >> users. If users, > >> > for example yourself, wish to have the output files > >> elsewhere that is > >> > fine, but the default, and what we recommend, must be under (My > >> > )Documents. > >> > > >> > Barrie > >> > > >> >> -----Original Message----- > >> >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > >> >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > >> >> Allan Raymond > >> >> Sent: 04 February 2009 14:06 > >> >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > >> >> > >> >> I'm also at a complete loss regarding all this discussion. > >> >> > >> >> If volunteers are unable to find the default Output folder > >> >> location for > >> >> WinBMD produced files which I happen to maintain should be in > >> >> a subfolder of > >> >> the WinBMD what chance have they got of understanding the > >> >> proposed new > >> >> WinBMD requirements. > >> >> > >> >> We seem to be creating a rod for our back, this discussion > >> >> started because > >> >> of a suggested requirement to assist volunteers in being able > >> >> to locate > >> >> their files to send to their Co-ordinators. > >> >> > >> >> If it was recommended that all files produced by WinBMD were > >> >> to be held in > >> >> the default subfolder on WinBMD aptly called Output folder > >> >> this problem > >> >> should resolve itself without all these changes to WinBMD. > >> >> > >> >> I keep saying I have WinBMD to work on Vista and have no > >> >> trouble finding > >> >> where the WinBMD files are held C:/WinBMD/Output. > >> >> > >> >> I believe I have found a solution to the problem why some > >> >> volunteers can't > >> >> get WinBMD on Vista and fingers crossed I have managed to get > >> >> two long > >> >> suffering Vista volunteers to get WinBMD to work following > >> my simple > >> >> suggestion of C:/WinBMD/Output. > >> >> > >> >> Allan Raymond > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> >> From: "Nowl" <owl.news@zen.co.uk> > >> >> To: <FreeBMD-Syndicates@rootsweb.com> > >> >> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 1:17 PM > >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> Excuse me butting in. . . I've been following the exchanges > >> >> between Ian > >> >> and Barrie with great interest, as I do feel the current > >> default Save > >> >> Path causes some problems. But I'm not following why we > >> would want to > >> >> move users' existing files at all. > >> >> > >> >> I thought the idea was to define a new default location that > >> >> was easier > >> >> to find for new users and "better" from a programmers' > >> point of view, > >> >> particularly with Vista. But shouldn't it apply only to new > >> >> users/fresh > >> >> installs, rather than upgrades? People who are already > >> happily using > >> >> WinBMD surely already know where to find their files and/or > >> >> have defined > >> >> a custom Save Path and don't want it changed. > >> >> > >> >> Much of Ian and Barrie's discussion seems to be about the > >> >> difficulty of > >> >> discovering the path to a user's current output folder and > >> >> the mechanism > >> >> of moving it. Couldn't all this be avoided if the installer > >> >> checked for > >> >> an existing WinBMD, and if it found one, left the current > >> settings in > >> >> place? > >> >> > >> >> I'm also wondering whether the installation would fail if, > >> when asked > >> >> where they want their files moved, users chose their > >> existing output > >> >> folder, since files can't be "moved" to the same place? > >> Would they be > >> >> forced to choose another path and then switch back? > >> >> > >> >> I'm not a programmer, so may well be missing the point here > >> >> and am happy > >> >> to be corrected :-) > >> >> > >> >> -- > >> >> Nowl > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> ------------------------------- > >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > >> >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > >> >> of the message > >> >> > >> > > >> > > >> > ------------------------------- > >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' > >> > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >> > > >> > >> > >> ------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > >> of the message > >> > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

For historical reasons my syndicate works in a different way to most - all the transcribers send their work to me and I accumulate their work into one large file (fiche sized of 98 pages) and upload that file myself. For this reason, updating those who use WinBMD will not work in the manner you suggest. Would it be possible for a link to be setup that allows them to download the latest District List? Note, not all my transcribers use WinBMD, nearly half use Excel, Word or even Notepad. Many thanks, Clive Essery LGC Syndicate -----Original Message----- From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of freebmd-syndicates-request@rootsweb.com Sent: 15 February 2009 08:02 To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com Subject: FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Digest, Vol 4, Issue 32 Today's Topics: 1. Revised district lists for WinBMD (Archer Barrie) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:34:01 -0000 From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>, <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> Message-ID: <B78260BDFEB5504985827A25B01662B302D558A8@EUROPEV002.europe.fs.fujitsu.c om> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of date. The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are continually revising the district information on the system but transcribers using WinBMD are working with an out of date version of this information. The current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system it will also download a new version of the district file if one exists. This means that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the new districts list. The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by downloading the new districts list. If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like clarification of the proposal, please let me know. Barrie ----------------------------------------- *******************************************************************If you are not the intended recipient, please notify our Help Desk at Email postmaster@nats.co.uk immediately. You should not copy or use this email or attachment(s) for any purpose nor disclose their contents to any other person. NATS computer systems may be monitored and communications carried on them recorded, to secure the effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. Please note that neither NATS nor the sender accepts any responsibility for viruses or any losses caused as a result of viruses and it is your responsibility to scan or otherwise check this email and any attachments. NATS means NATS (En Route) plc (company number: 4129273), NATS (Services) Ltd (company number 4129270), NATSNAV Ltd (company number: 4164590) or NATS Ltd (company number 3155567) or NATS Holdings Ltd (company number 4138218). All companies are registered in England and their registered office is at 5th Floor, Brettenham House South, Lancaster Place, London, WC2E 7EN. **********************************************************************

Ian, We are talking here ONLY about new installs. For upgrades nothing is done (this was the suggestion of Nowl which I agreed with); if the user wants to move their output file location (possibly as recommended by a TKB item) they use Define Save Path and move the files themselves. Currently when WinBMD is installed for the first time it asks where it should store the program giving a default of c:\Program Files\WinBMD but allowing the user to choose an alternative. The proposal is that it should then ask the user where it should store its output files, giving a default of My Documents\WinBMD\Output which the user could change if they wished. It would be better if the installer tried to create this folder (if it did not exist) because failure at this point (for any reason) is easier for the user to handle. However, it would not be a problem if WinBMD created it, if necessary, when saving the first file. If the default output folder already exists, since the user has accepted the default, it cannot be the "wrong" folder. Barrie > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > Ian Brooke > Sent: 13 February 2009 20:49 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > > Barrie, > I understand that you are proposing less work but I can't see > how it could > safely work. I'm still stuck on the problem that what if a > file or folder > with our name already exists under My Documents. I can't > have the installer > create it (because it would fail if there was one there > already) and then > when WinBMD is first run it could find a folder under my > documents and start > using it without knowing it may not be the right one. The > only safe way is > for the installer to create it as it does now under WinBMD > and then have > WinBMD move it in response to the user clicking the menu > option. And Yes I > did mean the Define Save Path menu item. > > The reason I suggested copying the files is simply so the > user has all > his/her output files together in one folder. Why would we > want to have some > in the old folder and some in the new one? > > Ian > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 4:47 PM > Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List > > > > Ian, > > > > I am actually suggesting less change! I think the ONLY > change that needs > > to be made is for the default output folder to be under (My > )Documents > > for new installs only. > > > > By the "change folder routine" do you mean File/Define Save > Path? If so > > I really don't think it should move files. It isn't what it > does at the > > moment and it is not what the name suggests. If you want to do it I > > suggest it should be a new menu item, File/Relocate Output (or some > > such). > > > > Yes, technically all files that may change from user to > user should be > > under (My )Documents. You would find the path to the .ini > file from the > > Registry (HKCU) (or move the .ini data into the Registry). > > > > Barrie > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > >> Ian Brooke > >> Sent: 08 February 2009 22:07 > >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > >> > >> Although I would agree with what you say about it being > >> desireable, I'm > >> really unsure that moving output files below My Documents or > >> wherever really > >> achieves anything other than some users being able to locate > >> their files, > >> and for many their current location below WinBMD is easy to > >> find and doesn't > >> really affect anything. Also to suggest a technical > >> desireability to have > >> them below My Documents ignores all the other files which are > >> located in the > >> WinBMD folder, such as the ini file, the district and names > >> files etc, all > >> these are updated by WinBMD. If there is a technical need to > >> have the output > >> files elsewhere then surely that also holds true of these > >> other files and > >> yet I cannot think of a way to relocate the ini file (as the > >> program needs > >> to locate it in order to know where it is located) and moving > >> the others is > >> very difficult. > >> > >> All I'm really trying to say is that maybe the technical > >> advantages of > >> moving the output folder are not worth the technical > >> difficulties of doing > >> it automatically. I think we should go with amending the > >> existing change > >> folder routine to create the new folder, defaulting to below > >> My Documents, > >> and copy the files for the user It's easy, almost risk free > >> to do and > >> allows those users who want to leave it where it is to do so. > >> > >> Ian > >> > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > >> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 7:35 AM > >> Subject: RE: re Windows Wish List > >> > >> > >> >I am sorry Allan, but the output folder for should NOT be a > >> subfolder of > >> > WinBMD. It is like that for historical reasons but for the latest > >> > versions of Windows (say from XP onwards) it is a > >> deprecated location. > >> > If users need to move their output folder it should be under (My > >> > )Documents which is where almost every other piece of > >> software puts its > >> > output. This is why users would find it easier to find the files. > >> > > >> > There are many reasons for using (My )Documents, some quite > >> technical, > >> > but a simple one is that it works for PCs with multiple > >> users. If users, > >> > for example yourself, wish to have the output files > >> elsewhere that is > >> > fine, but the default, and what we recommend, must be under (My > >> > )Documents. > >> > > >> > Barrie > >> > > >> >> -----Original Message----- > >> >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > >> >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of > >> >> Allan Raymond > >> >> Sent: 04 February 2009 14:06 > >> >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > >> >> > >> >> I'm also at a complete loss regarding all this discussion. > >> >> > >> >> If volunteers are unable to find the default Output folder > >> >> location for > >> >> WinBMD produced files which I happen to maintain should be in > >> >> a subfolder of > >> >> the WinBMD what chance have they got of understanding the > >> >> proposed new > >> >> WinBMD requirements. > >> >> > >> >> We seem to be creating a rod for our back, this discussion > >> >> started because > >> >> of a suggested requirement to assist volunteers in being able > >> >> to locate > >> >> their files to send to their Co-ordinators. > >> >> > >> >> If it was recommended that all files produced by WinBMD were > >> >> to be held in > >> >> the default subfolder on WinBMD aptly called Output folder > >> >> this problem > >> >> should resolve itself without all these changes to WinBMD. > >> >> > >> >> I keep saying I have WinBMD to work on Vista and have no > >> >> trouble finding > >> >> where the WinBMD files are held C:/WinBMD/Output. > >> >> > >> >> I believe I have found a solution to the problem why some > >> >> volunteers can't > >> >> get WinBMD on Vista and fingers crossed I have managed to get > >> >> two long > >> >> suffering Vista volunteers to get WinBMD to work following > >> my simple > >> >> suggestion of C:/WinBMD/Output. > >> >> > >> >> Allan Raymond > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> >> From: "Nowl" <owl.news@zen.co.uk> > >> >> To: <FreeBMD-Syndicates@rootsweb.com> > >> >> Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 1:17 PM > >> >> Subject: Re: re Windows Wish List > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> Excuse me butting in. . . I've been following the exchanges > >> >> between Ian > >> >> and Barrie with great interest, as I do feel the current > >> default Save > >> >> Path causes some problems. But I'm not following why we > >> would want to > >> >> move users' existing files at all. > >> >> > >> >> I thought the idea was to define a new default location that > >> >> was easier > >> >> to find for new users and "better" from a programmers' > >> point of view, > >> >> particularly with Vista. But shouldn't it apply only to new > >> >> users/fresh > >> >> installs, rather than upgrades? People who are already > >> happily using > >> >> WinBMD surely already know where to find their files and/or > >> >> have defined > >> >> a custom Save Path and don't want it changed. > >> >> > >> >> Much of Ian and Barrie's discussion seems to be about the > >> >> difficulty of > >> >> discovering the path to a user's current output folder and > >> >> the mechanism > >> >> of moving it. Couldn't all this be avoided if the installer > >> >> checked for > >> >> an existing WinBMD, and if it found one, left the current > >> settings in > >> >> place? > >> >> > >> >> I'm also wondering whether the installation would fail if, > >> when asked > >> >> where they want their files moved, users chose their > >> existing output > >> >> folder, since files can't be "moved" to the same place? > >> Would they be > >> >> forced to choose another path and then switch back? > >> >> > >> >> I'm not a programmer, so may well be missing the point here > >> >> and am happy > >> >> to be corrected :-) > >> >> > >> >> -- > >> >> Nowl > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> ------------------------------- > >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > >> >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > >> >> of the message > >> >> > >> > > >> > > >> > ------------------------------- > >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' > >> > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >> > > >> > >> > >> ------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > >> of the message > >> > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > of the message >

Hi Ian A further thought, and putting on my District Aliasing hat: It is only the abreviated forms of Northumberland North First and Second that contain numbers "officially" - both still exist, so perhaps numbers 3 to 9 and 0 could still be restricted? It also seems to me that the numbers 1 and 2 would normally be preceded by either an "N" or "h" or a full stop or space. Does this help to restrict choices? There may be another problem. My email system (Outlook) blocks all "exe" files to and from me. I normally have to rename them as ex_ bedore sending. Could this be made available as a download on a website? Regards Jeremy -----Original Message----- From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Brooke Sent: 16 February 2009 05:44 To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD Hi Jeremy, Further to my earlier reply, I perhaps should have explained fully. A version of WinBMD that allows numbers in District names already exists, that version should indeed allow any character in a district name that FreeBMD allows, unless that has changed recently! There is however a small complication in entering numbers although in practice this seems unlikely to affect anyone. The problem is that typing a number will be interpreted as a picklist selection and will in all cases enter the appropraite picklist entry and move to the next column. However, in the (limited) examples I have seen, by the time the number is typed there will be no matching picklist entries and so WinBMD will simply enter the number without complaint. In the event that there is a matching picklist entry it is necessary to type something (for example a z) to ensure there are no matches, type the number, then go back and delete the z. I know it's messy but I cannot think of an alternative, and as I said, it seems very unlikely it will happen in practice. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeremy Hakes" <jeremy.hakes@talktalk.net> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 4:25 PM Subject: RE: Revised district lists for WinBMD > Thank you Ian > > As the Co-ordinator that has just been allocated 1937 Births - and lost no > time in pointing out the potential problem, I should be pleased to trial > the > programme for you. > > I would expect to start allocations to transcribers in a few weeks time > but > may well transcribe the odd page myself before that to see where any > potential pitfalls are. > > Kind Regards > Jeremy Hakes > All Scan Syndicate > > > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Brooke > Sent: 15 February 2009 22:22 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > The only quick fix would be for me to send a version of the WinBMD program > which allows numbers to the coordinator and let him/her give it to the > transcribers, they could just save it into their WinBMD folder. > > The longer this program is used, the more I find that some of the checks > that the program is doing are no longer valid . I'm not sure if this is > because they have changed with time or if I was simply too rigorous. They > were or at least seemed a good idea at the time, even though they > duplicate > checks that the FreeBMD upload carries out, it seemed better that the > transcriber finds errors before trying to upload. I don't really know > what > the best long-term answer is - to remove them altogether or try to bring > them back in line with FreeBMD or something else. Does anyone have any > thoughts on this? > > Ian > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Allan Raymond" <allan_raymond@btinternet.com> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 2:16 PM > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > >> In addition to keeping the WinBMD standard District Picklist up to >> date >> how are we going to deal with Districts such as "Northumberland North >> First" which came into being on 1 January 1937. >> >> I'm now starting to allocate 1937 to Syndicates and scans are showing >> "Northumberland North First" as "Nthhmbld.N.1st". WinBMD doesn't accept >> numerals in the District Field and it isn't really on to expect >> transcribers to adopt the process in >> http://www.freebmd.org.uk/vol_faq.html#6ah which really was to cover a >> possible mistype in the District name? >> >> Allan Raymond >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; >> <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> >> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM >> Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> >> I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be >> enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of >> date. >> >> The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are continually revising >> the district information on the system but transcribers using WinBMD >> are working with an out of date version of this information. The >> current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system it >> will also download a new version of the district file if one exists. >> This means that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the >> new districts list. >> >> The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by >> downloading the new districts list. >> >> If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like clarification of >> the proposal, please let me know. >> >> Barrie >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: 02/14/09 > 18:01:00 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: 02/14/09 18:01:00

Thank you Ian As the Co-ordinator that has just been allocated 1937 Births - and lost no time in pointing out the potential problem, I should be pleased to trial the programme for you. I would expect to start allocations to transcribers in a few weeks time but may well transcribe the odd page myself before that to see where any potential pitfalls are. Kind Regards Jeremy Hakes All Scan Syndicate -----Original Message----- From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Brooke Sent: 15 February 2009 22:22 To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD The only quick fix would be for me to send a version of the WinBMD program which allows numbers to the coordinator and let him/her give it to the transcribers, they could just save it into their WinBMD folder. The longer this program is used, the more I find that some of the checks that the program is doing are no longer valid . I'm not sure if this is because they have changed with time or if I was simply too rigorous. They were or at least seemed a good idea at the time, even though they duplicate checks that the FreeBMD upload carries out, it seemed better that the transcriber finds errors before trying to upload. I don't really know what the best long-term answer is - to remove them altogether or try to bring them back in line with FreeBMD or something else. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Allan Raymond" <allan_raymond@btinternet.com> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 2:16 PM Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > In addition to keeping the WinBMD standard District Picklist up to > date > how are we going to deal with Districts such as "Northumberland North > First" which came into being on 1 January 1937. > > I'm now starting to allocate 1937 to Syndicates and scans are showing > "Northumberland North First" as "Nthhmbld.N.1st". WinBMD doesn't accept > numerals in the District Field and it isn't really on to expect > transcribers to adopt the process in > http://www.freebmd.org.uk/vol_faq.html#6ah which really was to cover a > possible mistype in the District name? > > Allan Raymond > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; > <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM > Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be > enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of > date. > > The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are continually revising > the district information on the system but transcribers using WinBMD > are working with an out of date version of this information. The > current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system it > will also download a new version of the district file if one exists. > This means that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the > new districts list. > > The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by > downloading the new districts list. > > If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like clarification of > the proposal, please let me know. > > Barrie > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: 02/14/09 18:01:00

Hi Jeremy, Further to my earlier reply, I perhaps should have explained fully. A version of WinBMD that allows numbers in District names already exists, that version should indeed allow any character in a district name that FreeBMD allows, unless that has changed recently! There is however a small complication in entering numbers although in practice this seems unlikely to affect anyone. The problem is that typing a number will be interpreted as a picklist selection and will in all cases enter the appropraite picklist entry and move to the next column. However, in the (limited) examples I have seen, by the time the number is typed there will be no matching picklist entries and so WinBMD will simply enter the number without complaint. In the event that there is a matching picklist entry it is necessary to type something (for example a z) to ensure there are no matches, type the number, then go back and delete the z. I know it's messy but I cannot think of an alternative, and as I said, it seems very unlikely it will happen in practice. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeremy Hakes" <jeremy.hakes@talktalk.net> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 4:25 PM Subject: RE: Revised district lists for WinBMD > Thank you Ian > > As the Co-ordinator that has just been allocated 1937 Births - and lost no > time in pointing out the potential problem, I should be pleased to trial > the > programme for you. > > I would expect to start allocations to transcribers in a few weeks time > but > may well transcribe the odd page myself before that to see where any > potential pitfalls are. > > Kind Regards > Jeremy Hakes > All Scan Syndicate > > > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Brooke > Sent: 15 February 2009 22:22 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > The only quick fix would be for me to send a version of the WinBMD program > which allows numbers to the coordinator and let him/her give it to the > transcribers, they could just save it into their WinBMD folder. > > The longer this program is used, the more I find that some of the checks > that the program is doing are no longer valid . I'm not sure if this is > because they have changed with time or if I was simply too rigorous. They > were or at least seemed a good idea at the time, even though they > duplicate > checks that the FreeBMD upload carries out, it seemed better that the > transcriber finds errors before trying to upload. I don't really know > what > the best long-term answer is - to remove them altogether or try to bring > them back in line with FreeBMD or something else. Does anyone have any > thoughts on this? > > Ian > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Allan Raymond" <allan_raymond@btinternet.com> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 2:16 PM > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > >> In addition to keeping the WinBMD standard District Picklist up to >> date >> how are we going to deal with Districts such as "Northumberland North >> First" which came into being on 1 January 1937. >> >> I'm now starting to allocate 1937 to Syndicates and scans are showing >> "Northumberland North First" as "Nthhmbld.N.1st". WinBMD doesn't accept >> numerals in the District Field and it isn't really on to expect >> transcribers to adopt the process in >> http://www.freebmd.org.uk/vol_faq.html#6ah which really was to cover a >> possible mistype in the District name? >> >> Allan Raymond >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; >> <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> >> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM >> Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> >> I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be >> enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of >> date. >> >> The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are continually revising >> the district information on the system but transcribers using WinBMD >> are working with an out of date version of this information. The >> current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system it >> will also download a new version of the district file if one exists. >> This means that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the >> new districts list. >> >> The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by >> downloading the new districts list. >> >> If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like clarification of >> the proposal, please let me know. >> >> Barrie >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: 02/14/09 > 18:01:00 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hello Barrie Why not add the accepted 3 pseudonym districts St Leonards (Shoreditch) Bloomsbury (St Giles) Swindon (Highworth) into a starter Supplementary Districts list then the purity of an auto-generated district list would not be affected. cheers Bob Phillips ----- Original Message ----- From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> To: <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk>; <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 4:24 PM Subject: RE: [FreeBMD-scratchpad] Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > Jeff, > > As I understand it the district list in WinBMD is generated > automatically from the list of canonical districts. It sounds like > adding some common aliases would be useful but we would need to find a > mechanism for defining which those should be. It feels like adding a > "common alias" marker to the district data would be the "best" option > but I suspect that changing the format of the district data would cause > the District Aliasing Team a headache. The alternative would be to have > a separate list of common aliases but this will raise problems of > keeping the two lists in step. > > I suspect that the problem with this proposal will be the floodgate > effect. Whereas there are about 1100 canonical districts, there are > current about 16,000 "correct" aliases all potentially "common aliases". > How will we decide which of these should actually be common aliases? > > Barrie > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: freebmd-scratchpad-admin@mailman.aldigital.co.uk >> [mailto:freebmd-scratchpad-admin@mailman.aldigital.co.uk] On >> Behalf Of Jeff Coleman >> Sent: 15 February 2009 10:26 >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com; >> freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk >> Subject: [FreeBMD-scratchpad] Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> Might we also discuss including some specific alternative >> district names in >> the list of searchable districts? >> >> Queries that have come in to the FreeBMD-admins 'mail for >> review' include >> -St Pancras not searchable before 1901 [ you have to realise >> that you >> search on 'Pancras] >> -London City not searchable before 1870 [you have to realise >> that you search >> on 'City of London'] >> >> Given that St. Giles usually shows up as Bloomsbury in the >> 1840s, should >> Bloomsbury be a searchable district? >> Similarly, Highworth usually shows up as Swindon from 1838 to >> 1846, so >> should Swindon be searchable before 1899 when it became the >> official name? >> >> If you do a search on a moderately common surname (I used >> WHITE) in 'City of >> London' , or in 'St.Giles' or 'Highworth' or 'St Pancras' you >> find that the >> alternative name is more or less widely used. >> >> By all means have 'London City - see City of London >> (1837-1869)' and so >> on. >> >> I realise that if people are really interested in a district >> they can follow >> links to the UKBMD GENUKI pages maintained by Brett Langston, but not >> everyone thinks of that. >> >> Jeff >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; >> <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> >> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM >> Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> >> >I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be >> > enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of >> > date. >> > >> > The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are >> continually revising >> > the district information on the system but transcribers >> using WinBMD are >> > working with an out of date version of this information. The current >> > proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system >> it will also >> > download a new version of the district file if one exists. >> This means >> > that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the >> new districts >> > list. >> > >> > The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by >> > downloading the new districts list. >> > >> > If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like >> clarification of >> > the proposal, please let me know. >> > >> > Barrie >> > >> > ------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ >> FreeBMD-scratchpad mailing list >> FreeBMD-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk >> https://mailman.aldigital.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/freebmd-scratchpad >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: 02/14/09 18:01:00

In addition to keeping the WinBMD standard District Picklist up to date how are we going to deal with Districts such as "Northumberland North First" which came into being on 1 January 1937. I'm now starting to allocate 1937 to Syndicates and scans are showing "Northumberland North First" as "Nthhmbld.N.1st". WinBMD doesn't accept numerals in the District Field and it isn't really on to expect transcribers to adopt the process in http://www.freebmd.org.uk/vol_faq.html#6ah which really was to cover a possible mistype in the District name? Allan Raymond ----- Original Message ----- From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of date. The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are continually revising the district information on the system but transcribers using WinBMD are working with an out of date version of this information. The current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system it will also download a new version of the district file if one exists. This means that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the new districts list. The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by downloading the new districts list. If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like clarification of the proposal, please let me know. Barrie ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Jeremy, Changing the program should only take a couple of days. I'd like to wait and see if Barrie has any ideas for the best way forward, drop me another line if we are getting too close for comfort. Regards Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeremy Hakes" <jeremy.hakes@talktalk.net> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 4:25 PM Subject: RE: Revised district lists for WinBMD > Thank you Ian > > As the Co-ordinator that has just been allocated 1937 Births - and lost no > time in pointing out the potential problem, I should be pleased to trial > the > programme for you. > > I would expect to start allocations to transcribers in a few weeks time > but > may well transcribe the odd page myself before that to see where any > potential pitfalls are. > > Kind Regards > Jeremy Hakes > All Scan Syndicate > > > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Brooke > Sent: 15 February 2009 22:22 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > The only quick fix would be for me to send a version of the WinBMD program > which allows numbers to the coordinator and let him/her give it to the > transcribers, they could just save it into their WinBMD folder. > > The longer this program is used, the more I find that some of the checks > that the program is doing are no longer valid . I'm not sure if this is > because they have changed with time or if I was simply too rigorous. They > were or at least seemed a good idea at the time, even though they > duplicate > checks that the FreeBMD upload carries out, it seemed better that the > transcriber finds errors before trying to upload. I don't really know > what > the best long-term answer is - to remove them altogether or try to bring > them back in line with FreeBMD or something else. Does anyone have any > thoughts on this? > > Ian > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Allan Raymond" <allan_raymond@btinternet.com> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 2:16 PM > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > >> In addition to keeping the WinBMD standard District Picklist up to >> date >> how are we going to deal with Districts such as "Northumberland North >> First" which came into being on 1 January 1937. >> >> I'm now starting to allocate 1937 to Syndicates and scans are showing >> "Northumberland North First" as "Nthhmbld.N.1st". WinBMD doesn't accept >> numerals in the District Field and it isn't really on to expect >> transcribers to adopt the process in >> http://www.freebmd.org.uk/vol_faq.html#6ah which really was to cover a >> possible mistype in the District name? >> >> Allan Raymond >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> >> To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; >> <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> >> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM >> Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> >> I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be >> enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of >> date. >> >> The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are continually revising >> the district information on the system but transcribers using WinBMD >> are working with an out of date version of this information. The >> current proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system it >> will also download a new version of the district file if one exists. >> This means that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the >> new districts list. >> >> The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by >> downloading the new districts list. >> >> If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like clarification of >> the proposal, please let me know. >> >> Barrie >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: 02/14/09 > 18:01:00 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

First the district lists. This is what is supposed to happen but sometimes nobody told the clerks doing the index and you find district names that officially were no longer in use. Also for Dudley WinBMDoffers you Dudley xy/xz rather than the actual volume number. I take your point about warnings - but I would much rather have a warning than correct something like 100 pages where a now retired transcriber had the the wrong volume number in his WinBMD district list. And I do know that when transcribing I am less likely to look carefully at the volume number than at any other of the data columns both when transcribing and when checking: I don't know if I am unusual but suspect from the experience of making corrections as a syndicate coordinator that I am not Christopher Archer Barrie wrote: > Christopher, > > Could you explain the problem? The information in the district list > contains the valid dates for the district and the volume numbers for > different dates. So in WinBMD the district picklist appears to be only > populated with districts that are valid for the year being transcribed > and the suggested volume is the correct one for the year being > transcribed. > > However, you seem to be suggesting that we check this explicitly on > upload, so that if the district/volume does not correspond to the > district list a warning is given. The problem I see with this is that it > is clear people do not like warnings (sounds like something you get if > stopped for speeding, perhaps!) and they would get a lot of them if we > did this. > > Barrie > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com >> [mailto:freebmd-syndicates-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of >> Christopher Richards >> Sent: 15 February 2009 09:12 >> To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD >> >> This looks like an excellent idea. >> >> It doesn't totally meet the problem of districts where the >> volume number >> changes. >> >> I wonder - when a file is uploaded what checks are made? Would it be >> feasible to look at instances of Dudley, Kings Norton and >> others where >> the volume number changes and flag up potential errors? >> >> Christopher Richards >> >> Archer Barrie wrote: >> >>> I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of >>> >> WinBMD can be >> >>> enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of >>> date. >>> >>> The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are >>> >> continually revising >> >>> the district information on the system but transcribers >>> >> using WinBMD are >> >>> working with an out of date version of this information. The current >>> proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system >>> >> it will also >> >>> download a new version of the district file if one exists. >>> >> This means >> >>> that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the >>> >> new districts >> >>> list. >>> >>> The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by >>> downloading the new districts list. >>> >>> If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like >>> >> clarification of >> >>> the proposal, please let me know. >>> >>> Barrie >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body >> of the message >> >>> >>> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body >> of the message >> >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

Jeff, As I understand it the district list in WinBMD is generated automatically from the list of canonical districts. It sounds like adding some common aliases would be useful but we would need to find a mechanism for defining which those should be. It feels like adding a "common alias" marker to the district data would be the "best" option but I suspect that changing the format of the district data would cause the District Aliasing Team a headache. The alternative would be to have a separate list of common aliases but this will raise problems of keeping the two lists in step. I suspect that the problem with this proposal will be the floodgate effect. Whereas there are about 1100 canonical districts, there are current about 16,000 "correct" aliases all potentially "common aliases". How will we decide which of these should actually be common aliases? Barrie > -----Original Message----- > From: freebmd-scratchpad-admin@mailman.aldigital.co.uk > [mailto:freebmd-scratchpad-admin@mailman.aldigital.co.uk] On > Behalf Of Jeff Coleman > Sent: 15 February 2009 10:26 > To: freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com; > freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk > Subject: [FreeBMD-scratchpad] Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > Might we also discuss including some specific alternative > district names in > the list of searchable districts? > > Queries that have come in to the FreeBMD-admins 'mail for > review' include > -St Pancras not searchable before 1901 [ you have to realise > that you > search on 'Pancras] > -London City not searchable before 1870 [you have to realise > that you search > on 'City of London'] > > Given that St. Giles usually shows up as Bloomsbury in the > 1840s, should > Bloomsbury be a searchable district? > Similarly, Highworth usually shows up as Swindon from 1838 to > 1846, so > should Swindon be searchable before 1899 when it became the > official name? > > If you do a search on a moderately common surname (I used > WHITE) in 'City of > London' , or in 'St.Giles' or 'Highworth' or 'St Pancras' you > find that the > alternative name is more or less widely used. > > By all means have 'London City - see City of London > (1837-1869)' and so > on. > > I realise that if people are really interested in a district > they can follow > links to the UKBMD GENUKI pages maintained by Brett Langston, but not > everyone thinks of that. > > Jeff > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Archer Barrie" <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> > To: <freebmd-syndicates@rootsweb.com>; > <freebmd-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk> > Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:34 AM > Subject: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > >I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of WinBMD can be > > enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of > > date. > > > > The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are > continually revising > > the district information on the system but transcribers > using WinBMD are > > working with an out of date version of this information. The current > > proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system > it will also > > download a new version of the district file if one exists. > This means > > that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the > new districts > > list. > > > > The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by > > downloading the new districts list. > > > > If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like > clarification of > > the proposal, please let me know. > > > > Barrie > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > _______________________________________________ > FreeBMD-scratchpad mailing list > FreeBMD-scratchpad@mailman.aldigital.co.uk > https://mailman.aldigital.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/freebmd-scratchpad >

Hi! As I understand it (from mails, I add, not from usage) if a transcriber edits their output file in Notepad (to add characters or formations WinBMD doesn't like) they have to manually upload it to FreeBMD. I may (not unusually) be wrong! If an output file is manually uploaded, will the latest District file still be automatically downloaded? If not, then how would a transcriber be sure they have the latest Districts File? Hence - does there need to be a "manual download" option available? (Just a question...) -- Anne ---- Archer Barrie <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> wrote: > Anne, > > I think that giving the warning when the user next starts transcribing > is a very good idea. It had been suggested we give the warning when the > file is downloaded but I think your suggestion is better. > > I don't understand your reference to manual download. We do not believe > that users have ever been advised to edit the districts file. Even if > they had I am not sure why they would need to manually download it. In > fact, with the way the system will probably work, the file would be > available for download but do we need to advertise this? > > Barrie > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: anne.cruise1@ntlworld.com [mailto:anne.cruise1@ntlworld.com] > > Subject: Re: Revised district lists for WinBMD > > > > Hi! > > > > a couple of thoughts: > > > > Does the file need to exist somewhere with instructions for > > manual download as (after reading mails on editing files) I > > believe that transcribers who have edited their file in > > Notepad need to upload manually? And a notice on the manual > > upload page to say that such a new file exists? And perhaps a > > "Click here" to automatically download / install it? > > > > First access to the revised list should trigger a warning > > notice / audible signal to avoid typists who don't always > > look at the screen using out-of-date keystrokes and then > > having to make lots of changes when Verifying, even if a > > notice appears after the download to say that it has taken place. > > > > -- > > Anne > > > > > > ---- Archer Barrie <Barrie.Archer@uk.fujitsu.com> wrote: > > > I am discussing with Ian Brooke how the next version of > > WinBMD can be > > > enhanced to address the problem of the district list getting out of > > > date. > > > > > > The issue is that the District Aliasing Team are > > continually revising > > > the district information on the system but transcribers > > using WinBMD are > > > working with an out of date version of this information. The current > > > proposal is that when WinBMD uploads a file to the system > > it will also > > > download a new version of the district file if one exists. > > This means > > > that subsequently the transcriber will be working with the > > new districts > > > list. > > > > > > The transcriber's locally added districts will not be affected by > > > downloading the new districts list. > > > > > > If anyone can see any issues with this, or would like > > clarification of > > > the proposal, please let me know. > > > > > > Barrie