FreeCEN: using CD Images
Please note that Volunteers must not email Archive CD Books direct regarding FreeCEN matters.
Contact your County Co-ordinator in the first instance or, in extreme circumstances, Natalia will attend to problems that need to be brought to ACDB's attention.
"Adobe Acrobat Reader"
CDs used for FreeCEN are viewed using the "Adobe Acrobat Reader" routine. If you do not have this programme, or wish to update, a free download is available from www.adobe.com/acrobat
Start the Adobe routine and Open the CD
Limited on-screen help is available.
Take time to familiarise with the Adobe features, particularly the [+] [-] and [%] buttons to adjust image size, and the scrolling of images.
A column, left of screen, can be expanded or shrunk: the [Thumbnail] tab provides a "jump to" any selected page number on the CD. (Be alert, this is unlikely to match the census "Page Number").
Understand the census terms "Enumeration District", "Civil Parish", "Folio", "Census Page" and "Schedule" and where this information may be found on the images.
Just starting?
It is recommended that new volunteers should always transcribe the first few pages to paper in order to become familiar with the census structure and the oddities of the Enumerator's writing. In general the records we need start at Folio #4, Page #1. but this can vary.
Preparing your computer
1. The "best" option is to be able to work with two monitors. or two adjacent computers, using one for the CD Images and the other for Data Entry. Unfortunately few people will have such facilities.
2. A workable compromise is to set up a single monitor as a split screen:-
(a). Open Adobe and a CD image and resize the Adobe window to about half the available screen width.
(b). Open SSCENS and set up the font and column widths as explained in the SSCENS download.
Resize the Spreadsheet window to about half the screen width, and position the windows so that both Adobe and the spreadsheet can be seen at the same time.
Working down the columns, a limited part of the census record can be transcribed before any scrolling becomes necessary.
Suggestion: First type in Forenames, Surnames and any required query flag.
Scroll the windows so that you may now enter the corresponding "Where Born" and "Disability" information.
Fill in the remaining details: check that the bottom spreadsheet record is correct (a fair indication that you have probably not omitted any data from a row).
Do not work more than one census page at a time like this: it is easier to find any omissions if dealing with only a single page.
3. Some workers opt to transcribe everything to paper and then to enter the data. This method allows the use of either INCENS or SSCENS methods.
Note: using INCENS with a horizontally "split screen" will involve a lot of image scrolling and may prove to be rather tedious.
4. Some workers choose to print the images and enter the data from these sheets. Apart from being demanding of ink and paper, it may be found that the image size and writing quality impede smooth transcription.
Tools and Tips
Print "Field Descriptions" and keep it handy. Most 'problems' are already answered there.
Know how to use the GENIE Place Locator [9a] to best advantage. A Parish Locator (not available from FreeCEN) can be useful, as can the gazetteer in a UK Road Atlas.
Checking against the LDS 1881 census may be useful in some circumstances. Usefulness depends on the accuracy of information given in 1881 and on the modern transcription.
Because there may be a lot of image scrolling make sure that any gaps in Page or Schedule numbering are not your mistakes.
Use CSVCHECK [9b] to test your own work frequently (and always before submitting finished work). It is far better to correct only a few misunderstandings than to need to check a file of 5000 records.
Back-Up OFTEN
Take Back-Up copies of your work regularly - and certainly at the close of each work session.
One can never foretell when an electrical supply problem may affect your computer, or when a hard drive may become defective!
Adequate Back-Up procedures are your only insurance against the loss of hard-won effort..
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25Nov2003 minor corrections.