Genealogy Chat

Morning Judith It is a bit confusing at first isn't it? Don't worry, you'll soon be wizzing through it without a second thought. TAMAR is a girls name. But sometimes the enumerator's spelling leaves a lot to be desired! If the enumerator has spelt it wrong, then that is what we have to type in. We have to give a true representation of what is actually written. When I first started I had to send Carol my first 10 pages to check, just to make sure I was doing it right. Is Carol your co-ordinator? If not, just email your co-ord and ask if they want to check a sample of what you have done Hope this helps Jeanette x

Thanks. that is a strange name though!! Yes Carol is my Coordinator. (thanks to your help). I am loving it mind. I like to see who lived with who! i also tried it to see if I could get help with my own research and straight away I have even just that one name Tamar! I couldn't decide what it was ion the bible. Wish me luck I hope I am doing it right!! Done 4 pages this am so should I send an email to Carol to see if I send her them after 10? Judith

Right In Laymans terms would someone kindly explain split screen. I really am a computer divie.At the moment i'm just trying to get all the tips on ways of making transcribing easier and split screen sounds a better way than minimizing all the time. Anyone fancy doing a thread for transcribing made easy for the dim wits like me. Angie

Hi Angie Sorry I haven't got back to you sooner but I'm having BIG computer probs today (No Ann, the cat hasn't got anythinjg to do with it this time! lol) If you read page 7 of this thread you will see that I am a bit of a div too! I don't use split screen and just keep flicking back and forth between windows. I do know Maureen uses split screen though, so I'll give her a shout and see if she can explain it Jeanette x

Thanks Jeanette You certanly don't sound like a PC div. I thought I knew at least the basics,but now it seems I only know the basics of the basics,dur brain that I am. Angie

Just done my first few lines of transcribing,wow it does sink in after a while but only with the help of Q and A on needing help.Still a bit uncertain as to what goes in one column.Might be back later to ask about it. For now though I have a nagging child who wants PC.Just when I was getting into it. Still would like to know about split screens though or if your still around jeanette how do you use alt and tab to do what you do.Thats if your not still having PC belly aches. Angie

Hi all just to say i'm loving it!!! sorted my j's from my t's now! with the help of british-geneolgy resources/census page! show a little about the letter format.!! Sorry but i never learnt 'proper joined-up' writing at school!! we could just print!! shame now though. (hope my old teacher isn't reading this!!!). except I wonder if I am doing it right!!! in b1 it says stratton on the demo do i put e.g brancepeth in there? coz in a4 says whitstone would I put brancepeth colliery in this one or the other way around? confused myself again (easily done). lol judith

Hi Angie maureen has just got in. I had forgotten, she has got her Mum staying with her at the moment. She's going to try and explain when she's got some free time. In the meantime, this is what I do - in very basic terms! lol I open my cd and my spreadsheet. They appear in that little bar thingy at the bottom! I click on the cd in the bar then click on the spreadsheet in the bar. Once I have done this I can then flick backwards and forwards between the two windows by pressing Alt then Tab. It just saves you having to use your mouse to go between windows. Hope that makes sense! lol Jeanette x

Judith I'm just looking something up for your query. Bear with me! lol

Right I'm back Judith! I've found this from FreeCen B1 Should record the Registration District Number if this is known, but may be left blank if you have doubts. B 1 Contains, for identification purposes, the Registration District Number or Name (can be found on the microfiche typewritten heading, or on the first page of an Enumerator's book. I couldn't find it on mine so I've left it blank. **Now, as to what you write in A4. In the top left hand corner of each census page will be given the name of the village/area you need to type in. This should be consistent throughout each enumeration district. You only really need to type this in at the beginning of each enumeration district as it will be copied all the way through when it is converted. Hope this helps Jeanette x **Corrected as I gave the wrong information. Slapped wrists for me!!!!

Hi Angie, I work split screen as I find it easier - usually have the images on left and spreadsheet on right - have tried it with images on top and spreadsheet on bottom - but prefer to work down the images by columns rather than across the lines/rows. You will soon find which way suits you better. Sorry if you know most of this but will post it in case it is of use to someone else. I open spreadsheet first and remove the toolbars that I do not need as this gives a bigger area to view but this is just my preference. I have left a reply earlier on this thread which will tell you how to remove and restore the toolbars. If you are only using the spreadsheets for transcribing then you do not have to keep removing and restoring the toolbars as 'save' will keep the settings. The size of the spreadsheet can then be reduced - sometimes I click on 'restore/maximise button' to make smaller to start with. Hover the cursor down one side until it changes to a double headed arrow - then click on left button on mouse and hold button down - then drag the side in to the size you want - and release button. You can do this down all four edges if you need to. When you get to the size you want you can then move it to the position on your screen - across the top of spreadsheet which on mine is dark reddish/purple in colour - place your cursor which should show as an arrow - and then just click, hold down, and drag it where you want it to be - then release button. I find that having set this up for the census that next time I use it all I have to do is click on the restore/maximise (the two intertwinned boxes) that it will go back to the shape I work on. Then I minimize the spreadsheet, so it just shows as a little rectangle at the bottom of screen, and open 'Irfanview' which is the programme I use to view the images. Not sure which program most of the transcribers are using to view images but I have a different type of disk so use Irfanview. Having selected the image I then reduce the size of this by 'dragging' the sides - the same way as on the spreadsheet and position where I want it on screen. Then just click on the spreadsheet and it will come back up as the size and position that you left it. If position or size of spreadsheet or your image viewer is not quite right then just alter as you did earlier. If you are going to use 'GENIE' then this can be altered in size as well but if made too small you will lose the scroll up and down arrows on the right hand side. This can also be moved around the screen by 'dragging'. Not sure if any of it makes sense but practise with it and see what you think. Maureen

some people may find this link useful (http://www.)nationalarchives(.)gov(.)uk/palaeography/where_to_start.htm#abbreviations and this one (http://www).british-genealogy(.)com/resources/census/index(.)htm it is good for the differences in census years etc, occ, f's and s'. (without brackets). Judith

Thanks Jeanette and Maureen. Much apreciated,will give both ways a go. Angie

thanks i think i have got it now!!! judith

Jeanette This is just to say I sent my first few pages off to Carol for checking last night,all ok. I haven't done a lot at the moment due to the children breaking up,just as I was getting my head round it they have taken the PC over. Anyway I copied your simple explanation off (which breaks it down better) as to what goes in what column and then it all seemed to sink into place. Having had a good look through CD there are a few things that I will need to clarify when the time comes,but for now i'm feeling confident that I can do this. Right now i've been checked i'm off to get stuck in as much as I can for now,will take back control of PC in a few weeks then I will be off. Angie x

Hi Angie I didn't think you'd have any probs getting the ok from Carol, cos it is quite simple once you get into it. I know what you mean about the kids! They always want the computer at the most innapropriate times don't they? I'm ok while the sun is shining as my 9 year old goes outside to play. And the other one is 16 so she's in bed half the day! The arguments usually start on a night time when there's nothing on tv! lol Jeanette x

Hi all Just wondering how often you back your work up. Do you do so many pages then BUP or a full Reg District or is it just as and when you feel like it? Also i'm on my first RG district. RG.9.3582 when I have finished that do I then start another spread sheet for my next RG district.RG.9.3583. Not that it will be for a while yet LOL Angie

Morning Angie! By the sounds of it, you must be doing peices for East Yorkshire and probably off the LDS discs. Am I right? In which case you need to start a new spreadsheet for each new RG number. As for backing up, I tend to just do mine when I remember! lol. Although, having said that, I tend to back up more often if my computer is acting up or if there's a storm brewing. I lost nearly a whole enumeration district once cos my puter went off during a storm! lol Jeanette x

Jeanette Sure am doing East Yorks.I would have done any area but its a bonus if you get one of interest. I really am getting to grips with it,got split screen sorted and i'm off now.As I have got to each page i come across a new query but soon work it out,got the answer to one this morning off your thread,so sorted really.I'm dreading the next one though as some are in a really bad state,some haven't been preserved that good,no worries though. Its all fun,but I can't see that I will be on much today due to the rain all the kids will be stuck indoors.Oh the joys of parent hood. Angie

Hi Angie, I will be doing transcribing this afternoon as grey, wet and miserable up here in East Yorkshire. My local area had been allocated already but doing an area about 15 miles away. I made the mistake when downloading Irfanview of not selecting all the components - so went back and downloaded all options and can now get quite good results. The images on the LDS disks are not the same quality as you can view on Ancestry. The Irfanview program now means I can zoom in and out and play around with the brightness and contrast on the images. Done 3 areas so far - one is at the validating stage - one at checking - and now working on my fourth. Still enjoying it. Maureen