This week I've shared several items from my recent trip to Georgia. I always get questions, and even often lecture, on 'digital genealogy.' This recent trip has created a slew of digitized records but of all different types. Because of this I have once again updated by filing system ON MY LAPTOP. If you're new to digital genealogy and don't quite know how to handle all the digital files you're creating,
Showing posts with label Filing Fridays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Filing Fridays. Show all posts
Friday, July 10, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Filing Friday
Filing Friday has temporarily been on hold for a few weeks and will hopefully return on May 22nd. I have been preparing for some research in Raleigh, NC before I attend the NGS Conference and that's just taken precedence.
One update is that I have finally gotten an all-in-one with an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) so I can scan multiple pages at once. I had an all-in-one previously but it was so tedious to place each page on the scanner glass that I didn't do much to digitze my files. Also, when it scanned to a searchable PDF it 're-typed' the document instead of displaying the scanned image. I can't believe there isn't a way to change this option but I couldn't find it and I got the new all-in-one before it became absolutely necessary.
The new all-in-one is a 4 in 1, printer, copier, scanner, fax. It is an HP J6480. This machine has been on sale a lot lately (perhaps it's about to be replaced by a newer model) so if you're looking for a new machine it might fit the bill. I've been happy with the searchable PDF scanning. There are of course errors in the OCR but that's to be expected. This machine also works wirelessly and has automatic duplexing which is nice since my computer is a laptop and I'm often working in a different room.
So far I've been able to do everything I need with this device although I have had to tweak settings. One thing I needed was the ability to print on regular paper with extrememly small margins. I oftern create and print brochures for our local genealogical society's events and I've had difficutlites with this on all other printers except this one and my previous all-in-one (which didn't need settings tweaked to print tiny margins). Why a photo printer can print borderless photos but not borderless documents I haven't figured out, yet.
I'm hopinig to get back to cleaning my office and digitizing my files after the NGS Conference. If you want to stop by and say "hi" I'll often be at the Fairfax Genealogical Society booth.
One update is that I have finally gotten an all-in-one with an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) so I can scan multiple pages at once. I had an all-in-one previously but it was so tedious to place each page on the scanner glass that I didn't do much to digitze my files. Also, when it scanned to a searchable PDF it 're-typed' the document instead of displaying the scanned image. I can't believe there isn't a way to change this option but I couldn't find it and I got the new all-in-one before it became absolutely necessary.
The new all-in-one is a 4 in 1, printer, copier, scanner, fax. It is an HP J6480. This machine has been on sale a lot lately (perhaps it's about to be replaced by a newer model) so if you're looking for a new machine it might fit the bill. I've been happy with the searchable PDF scanning. There are of course errors in the OCR but that's to be expected. This machine also works wirelessly and has automatic duplexing which is nice since my computer is a laptop and I'm often working in a different room.
So far I've been able to do everything I need with this device although I have had to tweak settings. One thing I needed was the ability to print on regular paper with extrememly small margins. I oftern create and print brochures for our local genealogical society's events and I've had difficutlites with this on all other printers except this one and my previous all-in-one (which didn't need settings tweaked to print tiny margins). Why a photo printer can print borderless photos but not borderless documents I haven't figured out, yet.
I'm hopinig to get back to cleaning my office and digitizing my files after the NGS Conference. If you want to stop by and say "hi" I'll often be at the Fairfax Genealogical Society booth.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Filing Fridays
I keep tyring to come up with themes that work with my research but it's harder than it sounds. After attending the FxGS Conference last week I was inspired to work on several quasi-research projects. The first was to try out Google Earth which I finally found time to do Wednesday. I've already uncovered a new county to research in and that was just playing around with the program! The other project I wanted to work on is filing, both filing those piles of materials, and cleaning out my paper files, AND digitizing files. I decided Friday should be "Filing Friday" and I'm challenging everyone to post comments with updates on their successful filing efforts.
I'm going to start my first Filing Friday by combining filing with Google Earth and pulling deed records from my files and scanning them. I'll then do my best to locate the land with the help of Google Earth (this will be part of my new "Mapping Mondays" so check out those posts for details on Google Earth). I'm fortunate that the bulk of my research so far has been in parts of Georgia that were distributed by lottery (mainly the Cherokee and Gold Lotteries). In recent years I've finally started to back track to the Eastern Georgia border and slowly out of Georgia which will lead to metes and bounds lands but for all those Georgia lottery lands, I'm fortunate to have plenty of maps and the lots are mainly rectangular (those that aren't usually follow rivers or are on the border of another location, both easy situations to deal with). I mention this because using mapping as an excuse to work on filing is not a tedious process for me. If you have to sit down with your protractor and ruler and assorted other tools this probably isn't a great way to try and work through your files but maybe you have another project to force you to file. If so, share it by posting a comment any Filing Friday.
I'm going to start my first Filing Friday by combining filing with Google Earth and pulling deed records from my files and scanning them. I'll then do my best to locate the land with the help of Google Earth (this will be part of my new "Mapping Mondays" so check out those posts for details on Google Earth). I'm fortunate that the bulk of my research so far has been in parts of Georgia that were distributed by lottery (mainly the Cherokee and Gold Lotteries). In recent years I've finally started to back track to the Eastern Georgia border and slowly out of Georgia which will lead to metes and bounds lands but for all those Georgia lottery lands, I'm fortunate to have plenty of maps and the lots are mainly rectangular (those that aren't usually follow rivers or are on the border of another location, both easy situations to deal with). I mention this because using mapping as an excuse to work on filing is not a tedious process for me. If you have to sit down with your protractor and ruler and assorted other tools this probably isn't a great way to try and work through your files but maybe you have another project to force you to file. If so, share it by posting a comment any Filing Friday.
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