This is by no means an isolated occurrence. A pick list designed for the quarter being transcribed would be a good idea, but there would have to be a fool-proof method of incorporating it into Winbmd. Anything could happen if one just sent them a list. The other problem connected to this is that they simply don't understand why it is necessary to follow these district abbreviations exactly. I find this is the biggest single cause of corrections. Perhaps a small piece by Mary Trevan ( sorry to suggest more work) given more prominence than before would help, perhaps in the general list. Regards, John ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 12:05 PM Subject: FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-D Digest V04 #76

Hello John What type of piece had you in mind? For example, is something targeted at those who we find use picklists rather than following TWYS better than something more general sent to everyone? IMO there is already a strong emphasis on TWYS, and picking from lists is clearly not TWYS for anyone who takes a second to think things through. So if we go much further will we cross the line to rubbing everyones nose in this and risk losing more transcribers? The sorts of things that come to mind are that I could write something along the lines of one or morre of the following * Another web page such as 'The Importance of TWYS for District Names" as part of the existing site that the synidicate co-ordinators could refer their trannies to (re-)read * Something to be added to the existing page for new starters * A new FAQ for the existing page * An email from me to the lists that syndicate co-ordinators could then resend to individuals that they (or the District Aliasing Team through myself, or the Corrections Co-ordintor, Kevin) spot as picking from lists rather than followign TWYS Regards Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: "JOHN PINGRAM" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 3:04 PM Subject: Advice about a Member of my Syndicate - district abbreviations > This is by no means an isolated occurrence. A pick list designed for the > quarter being transcribed would be a good idea, but there would have to be a > fool-proof method of incorporating it into Winbmd. Anything could happen if > one just sent them a list. The other problem connected to this is that they > simply don't understand why it is necessary to follow these district > abbreviations exactly. I find this is the biggest single cause of > corrections. Perhaps a small piece by Mary Trevan ( sorry to suggest more > work) given more prominence than before would help, perhaps in the general > list. > Regards, > John > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 12:05 PM > Subject: FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-D Digest V04 #76 > > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > Thank you Rootsweb for hosting the FreeBMD project and its mailing lists. See http://www.rootsweb.com/ > > ============================== > You can manage your RootsWeb-Review subscription from > http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ >

Hi Mary and John I am relatively new to this project but what I think I read here disturbs me not a little. If I'm wrong I apologise right up front and you can stop reading!! I get the sense that using the picklists is regarded in some disfavour. On the contrary, I regard the lists as one of the best tools you can provide to transcribers. Having one's program read ahead when typing district names (or first names) reduces the time and tedium enormously and that's absolutely the best thing to offer transcribers. As I see it there are two solutions to this ongoing issue. The first, and best in my opinion, is to have the main BMD server system translate all variations of district names into a standard form (or forms, depending on the year being dealt with). The second is to provide transcribers with picklists that are specific to the material they are working on, or to give them instructions on how to do it themselves (messy). I have modified the original district and given-name files which came with the MacBMD program to suit the year I am now working on, and it is quite straightforward. I do not know how easy it could be for WinBMD users, especially for those with slight knowledge of file manipulation. Cheers! Peter Adams On Sat, 5 Jun 2004, Mary Trevan wrote: > Hello John > > What type of piece had you in mind? > > For example, is something targeted at those who we find use picklists rather > than following TWYS better than something more general sent to everyone? IMO > there is already a strong emphasis on TWYS, and picking from lists is > clearly not TWYS for anyone who takes a second to think things through. So > if we go much further will we cross the line to rubbing everyones nose in > this and risk losing more transcribers? > > The sorts of things that come to mind are that I could write something along > the lines of one or morre of the following > * Another web page such as 'The Importance of TWYS for District Names" as > part of the existing site that the synidicate co-ordinators could refer > their trannies to (re-)read > * Something to be added to the existing page for new starters > * A new FAQ for the existing page > * An email from me to the lists that syndicate co-ordinators could then > resend to individuals that they (or the District Aliasing Team through > myself, or the Corrections Co-ordintor, Kevin) spot as picking from lists > rather than followign TWYS > > Regards > > Mary > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "JOHN PINGRAM" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 3:04 PM > Subject: Advice about a Member of my Syndicate - district abbreviations > > > > This is by no means an isolated occurrence. A pick list designed for the > > quarter being transcribed would be a good idea, but there would have to be > a > > fool-proof method of incorporating it into Winbmd. Anything could happen > if > > one just sent them a list. The other problem connected to this is that > they > > simply don't understand why it is necessary to follow these district > > abbreviations exactly. I find this is the biggest single cause of > > corrections. Perhaps a small piece by Mary Trevan ( sorry to suggest more > > work) given more prominence than before would help, perhaps in the general > > list. > > Regards, > > John > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 12:05 PM > > Subject: FREEBMD-SYNDICATES-D Digest V04 #76 > > > > > > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > > Thank you Rootsweb for hosting the FreeBMD project and its mailing lists. > See http://www.rootsweb.com/ > > > > ============================== > > You can manage your RootsWeb-Review subscription from > > http://newsletters.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > Need to get a fast answer to your transcribing problems? Go to the > Transcribers Knowledge Base at http://FreeBMD.RootsWeb.com/vol_faq.html > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >