I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image servers appears to be complete. As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for some additional testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan downloads work robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The current password arrangements apply. Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next week, allowing the general public access to our scans. This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset 1837online big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, and to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has gone out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. -- Dave Mayall ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net

Dave, I've had a look at the choose.pl and it looks fine to me although I've only tried a small number. I experienced no problems at all although it is as you say a slow and cumbersome route. Although I don't really have any 'complaint' about that, do you really think it is more secure than having something like our search page where people can fill in all the boxes and then click once to get the scan? This would seem a much neater solution - even though they are getting these scans free I feel sure we'll get many comments etc to the Admins list which is not particularly desirable. More seriously could I please comment on the new link for transcribers ( http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ ) - compared to the old download link this one is quite dire and I personally hate it. Please please don't go with this route, I dread the thought of explaining to trannies how to get at a page, I have enough problems with people transcribing the wrong page with the existing method but the new one is just awful. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Mayall To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 8:35 AM Subject: Image servers I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image servers appears to be complete. As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for some additional testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan downloads work robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The current password arrangements apply. Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next week, allowing the general public access to our scans. This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset 1837online big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, and to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has gone out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. -- Dave Mayall ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== Want to help FreeBMD? Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237