FreeBMD-Admins-L Archives

Archiver > FreeBMD-Admins > 2000-04 > 0956776626


From: "elinorwood" <>
Subject: Re: FreeBMD for Dummies
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 12:17:06 -0700 (PDT)


Hi all,

As I partly started the call for a dummy guide in March, I though I
would
send this in response to Ben's note.

The following Six Steps are taken from data on the FreeBMD site, and
[ words in brackets ] are links to other pages as they are on the site.


It was difficult to know where to pitch the 'simple' level, without
excluding too much detail, and as I joined before the automated
syndicate method of joining, I'm not sure if I understand the new process
completely.


There seems to be a lot of e-mailing to different lists for my
liking.



Please can some of our newer recruits have a look, and let us know
whether all their questions would have been answered. Have I missed
anything
out? What's wrong?

Hope this gets the debate going.

Elinor Wood
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ben Laurie <>
> > To: <>
> > Date: 25 April 2000 10:33
> > Subject: Re: FreeBMD for Dummies
>
>
> > >Karen Hutten wrote:
> > >>
> > >> I agree with Jane Woodall -- we need a step-by-step guide on the
web site
> > detailing how to sign up to transcribe, how to do the transcriptions,
and
> > how to submit the work. It seems that the instructions are in
various
> > places, some of which are hard to find. Everything we need to know,
in VERY
> > simple, easy-to-understand language, should be in one, very
accessible site.
> > >
> > >If someone wants to produce such a thing, we'd be happy to
incorporate
> > >it into the site. Assuming it's correct, of course!
> > >
> > >Cheers,
> > >
> > >Ben.
> > >
> > >--
> > >http://www.apache-ssl.org/ben.html
>

This looks pretttier in real life, but I've had to turn off the hyperlinks
to post it to the list.

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How to Contribute-Take the Seven Steps…..Now!


ANY help you can give is welcome, even one entry takes us closer to the
target.
You may have plenty of time to read all of this web-site, or are a computer
expert, and want to know exactly how the technology functions, or need to
satisfy yourself that you efforts will not be exploited. (They won’t).
However, if these do NOT apply to you, and you want to take the fast track
to helping with the project, follow the simple steps below and get started
TODAY. (All of this information is available in much greater depth if you
follow the links).

STEP ONE. Join a Mailing List.

Please send an e-mail by clicking [ FreeBMD-Admins-L]. When the "Mail"
window appears, type the single word "subscribe" in the body of the message.
Please turn off your auto signature, and do not add any other text to the
subscription request as this will defeat the automated nature of the process
and then have to be performed manually by the list maintainer at a later
time.
Now you will receive regular mail about the project, and can ask for HELP

STEP TWO. What’s Next, What can I do?

You can either pick an unallocated period (See the [Allocations] pages for
available event types and date ranges) and start a [syndicate] going (a
syndicate can just be a team or just one person), or you can join an
existing syndicate and work with others to complete a section. If you wish
to start a new syndicate, please email [Camilla] or [Graham] (be sure to say
what range you would like).

As a beginner, the EASIEST way to help is to join an existing syndicate,
where the members will help get you going, and will probably be able to
supply you with the Indexes.

? Would you like to transcribe some entries? For more, please go [here].
? Would you like to help in some other way? For more, please go [here]. For
example, we are in urgent need of an assistant in the West London area to
come in and operate the scanner for a few hours each week.
? Do you already have some BMD index entries? If so, please go [here].
(N.B, it will have to be in the standard format.)

Knowing roughly where you are located, and whether you have a fiche reader,
or access to one, will help Syndicates know whether they should invite you
to join. Either contact the syndicates direct through the Allocations pages,
or else join the Syndicates [mailing list] and announce your availability.
You MUST return to the FreeBMD site and logon
(http://FreeBMD.rootsweb.com/cgi/bmd-files.pl) with your new Submitter ID
before your details are passed on to our co-ordinators for allocation into a
Syndicate.

If you don’t have a fiche reader, help is at hand. Join the [Web Scan
Syndicate] (unfortunately the popularity of transcribing from scans means
that we have a waiting list) and we will allocate pages to you. UK based
volunteers should note that there is a further alternative available to
them, as prints taken from the fiche can be supplied to you by post. If this
is of interest to you, you should contact [David Lyons] who is offering this
service.

Whilst the syndicate is currently full, vacancies for more transcribers do
arise, as current transcribers find themselves with a bit less time on their
hands. Please register to join the waiting list as follows.
1. If you have not already done so, [Register as a subscriber].
2. Email the [Web Scan Co-ordinator] to join the waiting list.
3. Go to the [Web Scan source page] to obtain access to the source.


If you want to work alone, you will need to get a copy of the Indexes,
([Where are the Indexes?]) or ([Buy your own Source]). Here are the order
forms to buy microfiche or microfilm from the ONS or the LDS. Beware-there
are long delays when buying Microfiche/film from the ONS, and don’t forget
to get [Permission] (Procedure for owners of source to allow copying).

TIP-unless you have thousands of spare hours, you will need help
transcribing just one quarter year’s births or marriages or deaths, and the
microfiche are only available for purchase by year. You may consider this
whilst initially fearful of committing, but you’ll soon realise what a
friendly team we are.

STEP THREE. Getting the SpeedBMD Software.

For all sorts of technical reasons, the data submitted has to have a
standard format. (Makes sense!) There are other ways to forward data, but it
is recommended that you download the specially designed software. The
answer is SpeedBMD. Don’t wait until your Indexes arrive to get this
software-frightening though it seems, why not practice now, and see how
clever the programme is.
SpeedBMD program has been designed to help FreeBMD transcribers increase
their transcription rate and improve their accuracy. A performance
improvement of 30-50% over other methods is claimed, depending of course on
the quality of the fiche being deciphered. SpeedBMD achieves this through a
number of devices which minimise the keystrokes required, such as:
? Automatic capitalisation of words.
? Single keystroke duplication of the entry above.
? The display of a list of First Name options as typing of the name
progresses, followed by a pick by number e.g. w3 gives William.
? The same for District, Volume e.g. ll1 gives Llandilofawr,11a .
? Various "wild card" searches on District and Volume to help decipher
indistinct entries.
First, read the [installation instructions]. Then, Download it [here].
There is a short exercise which you can print out from the SpeedBMD Help
File which will get you going in next to no time.
SpeedBMD was developed by Peter Cox and tested by members of the NZ
syndicate, especially Chris Lloyd who also created the pre-1852 District
file.

STEP FOUR. Apply to Submit Data to the FreeBMD Web-Site.
If you did not request allocation to a Syndicate earlier, [Sign up to
submit data to FreeBMD here.] You will receive a reply confirming your
details, and giving a 6-character string. This will be needed when you first
log on to submit some entries. You will be required to enter the 6
characters for confirmation. You will only be asked to enter this the first
time. After this, you will need your Submitter ID and password each time you
log on.
If you have any problems logging on, please email us at
for help.

STEP FIVE. ‘D’ Day-the Indexes Arrive. Start Transcribing!!!!
The postman has brought the envelope, you’ve visited the local Family
History Centre, or downloaded Scanned Files. Now you can begin.
Don’t forget you must type the information exactly as it appears in the
Indexes, ‘mistakes’ and all. It will be worth re-reading the Speed BMD Help
file. All the answers you will need are there, how to start the project, the
first batch, what to put in the headings, how to transcribe special
characters, what to do if you can’t read something, what file names to use,
etc. (If your question is not answered, try e-mailing your mailing list,
FreeBMD-Admins-L. No question is too silly. We’ve all had problems getting
started). Proof read your entries to make sure they are as accurate as
possible when they arrive at FreeBMD. Don’t forget they well be published
on the web-site almost immediately, although you can alter them at any time
afterwards.

STEP SIX. Sending your First Batch of Information.
Before getting too far, check that you can submit data. Using the Submitter
ID(s) provided in Step 3 above, send transcriptions and [Manage your files
here]. Once again, the Speed BMD Help File on submitting data will be
helpful until you are sure of the process. Don’t expect to see your entries
on FreeBMD until the following daily update.

STEP SEVEN. See How Well the Project is Doing.
[Graphs] of the progress of the project help to show how much has been
completed. Possibly the most interesting is the [total number of entries].
If you look for your UserID, you will find your own graph showing how many
entries you have submitted.

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