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Archiver > TMG > 2003-04 > 1049232985


From: apn <>
Subject: [TMG] RE: Ver 4.od Source Element Construction
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 15:36:32 -0600


James Colgate wrote March 31, 2003:

>From: "apn"

>> I've got another question! I customized a source for 1930 census
>> where I added Location and Second Location in the templates. Here's a
>copy of
>> the template:
>>
> <[DATE]>[RECORD TYPE],<[RECORD INFO]>,HOUSEHOLD],<[SECOND
>> LOCATION]>,<[LOCATION]>.<([REPOSITORY ADDRESS]: ><[REPOSITORY])>,
>> micropublication <[FILM]><, [PAGE]>.<[CD]>.
>
>Hi Pauline,
>
>It seems from your template that you might try a few minor changes. First,
>the [HOUSEHOLD] field does not seem to have an open bracket "[" (without the
>quotes).

Yes, I see I omitted a "[" preceding Household! Thanks!

Reference to your second suggestion, I have had trouble detecting the spacing
and punctuation in sentence/source construction. I've tried to find help with
this but to no avail. The constructions appear differently in different
places, i.e., printed material and computer screen. I've asked about spacing
relative to the brackets but probably wasn't clear--for I don't know enough
about it to ask intelligent questions. I need something that explains "HOW"
to construct these things, what to consider when putting it together etc.
About all I know is that if there isn't data in the fields with <> you get
"unknown whatever." So I've got lots to learn. Thanks for your time,
expertise and patience.

>Second, it looks like you will need a bunch of extra spaces, so that the
>spaces work out correctly. Third, look at the template closely and imagine
>to yourself how the commas and periods will look if some of your conditional
>elements are omitted -- for instance, if you have no [RECORD INFO], you will
>get two commas in a row. Also, if you have no [LOCATION] then you will get
>a comma promptly followed by a period.
>
>So, given your construction, I would suggest:
>
><[DATE]> [RECORD TYPE]<, [RECORD INFO]>, [HOUSEHOLD]<, [SECOND
>LOCATION]><, [LOCATION]>.< ([REPOSITORY ADDRESS]: ><[REPOSITORY]),>
>micropublication <[FILM]><, [PAGE]>.< [CD].>
>
>I was very very particular above in each placement of every space and comma.
>If you need to see it clearer, you can copy and paste what I typed into a
>word processor and change the font to Courier New -- which is a great font
>for proofreading little things like spaces and punctuation.
>
>In the version I did above, if there is no date, TMG should start it off
>with [RECORD TYPE] without a leading space. If there is no [RECORD INFO],
>then the comma before [HOUSEHOLD] will be spaced properly. Etc., etc., etc.
>These issues may seem very minor, but do need to be addressed or your
>outputs will look messy. If you don't understand any of it, be sure to ask.
>
>James

Pauline


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