Listers...need your help...in the light of my continuous attempts at making my life easier, I have suggested to some that I develop a sustained format for posting on the lists. I need your help. I would like to design a one-format-fits-all form that I [we] could use to send and receive data among ourselves that would make things a lot more organized and straight forward...and less contentious. By now we are all familiar with the IGI fields, those of the OPR, NRH, MI, etc... We are all familiar with the fields in the Family Tree software we use. What I propose is that you help me organize a single form to be used in any and all instances of gathering our personal respective info. Something we all have had a hand in designing. You can get a copy, only if you ask. I will make a copy available to each list admin of the lists I cater too for caching. I am enclosing my suggestion as a start. I need your assistance in adding fields that I have left out due to my ignorance. As I noted above, this is based upon all the entry fields of the various forms that we turn up, such as IGI, OPR, NRH, MI, etc. I have just listed a few items in some relative order. I am going to send this to all my lists and prepare a text file that all can complete and then repost to their lists. It should make this business a lot more organized and cut down on dissension and the wearing discourse. This format, if acceptable, would only accept genealogical info first and then, non-genealogically related info second. Any additional info would be forced to the bottom or the top. Once a lister sees that the "form" is not front and centre, or the format is not adhered to, then they can delete it...it should be obvious to them that it is not genealogically related within the first few seconds. Those that want to read non-gen material would automatically be able to "see" the content orientation and act accordingly. Finally, no mail should be sent without a "Subject" that is not a Surname, Parish, City, County/District or City, or an obviously genealogically related concept, such as birth, death, marriage, MI, SKS, etc. Include coded-symbols with a brief explanation. The list admin, in a few seconds then, should be able to scan and delete/filter any posts that do not conform to this format. My humble suggested start... Please add a field and return this letter to me for editing. By next week I should have it completed and made available in a one time post to all my lists. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDIVIDUAL'S RESOURCE FORM The best format uses the least number of characters. Only include the most essential data. Use symbols to reduce input. One person per post. Code: ? for data needed [?] for data had, but confused: e.g. Stewart/Stuart [?] +/- for unsure dates / for alternatives: e.g. Jessie/Janet/Jean/Jane 1. Surname... 2. Christian Name... 3. Event... 4. Parish... 5. City... 6. County or District... 7. Country... 8. Church... 9. Officiating Clergy... 10. Officiating Registrar... 11. Event: Year/Month/Day Birth... 12. Marriage... 10. Death... 11. Father [Surname, Christian Name]... 12. Mother ... 13. Siblings... Any further information, on any other persons associated with this individual, may be included in an additional attached form in a second mailing. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Use this field below for particulars that would assist the researcher or SKS, on your behalf. ==================================================================== Hope this helps some...it will certainly help me. And help me help you. Al Dempster ==================================================================== YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE INSTALLED AND/OR OPEN UNSCANNED ATTACHMENTS. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IRRESPONSIBILITY. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CHRIST IS ALIVE! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Operating out of Windows Millennium it is immune to "CODE RED WORMS." All incoming and outgoing correspondence is scanned by PC-cillin and ZONE ALARM. This writer is computer literate and technically savvy. Copyright © 2001 Alan Kemp Dempster, Ontario, Canada "FORTITER ET STRENUE" This e-mail is privileged, confidential and subject to copyright and Canadian Laws. Any unauthorized use or disclosure of its contents in part or in whole, is prohibited. All rights reserved to legal counsel who owns equal privileged controlling interest over its contents. Free faxes to this number will be attached to my e-mail as an attachment ... eFax Number: [1] 253-541-1113. Numbers outside Canada or the U.S. must add a 1 at the first. Anything appearing below this message is not of my doing. =====================================================================