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FreeREG and FreeCEN

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Twinkle

Twinkle Report 21 Dec 2003 12:56

Are these ever going to get off the ground? Has anyone emailed anyone connected with FreeREG? Most pages haven't been updated since 2000. The search page has been inactive for a year now - how long does it take to 'test' the database? As far as I can tell, FreeCEN hasn't been updated in a while either. Most earlier census years only have five or so counties listed. I hope they intend to transcribe all counties for all years, else it's a bit of a pointless excercise. I know that neither of these sites are as well known as FreeBMD, but considering they have been going for nearly 5 years, there doesn't seem to be much to show for it!

Guinevere

Guinevere Report 21 Dec 2003 13:38

Hi Kathryn, I seem to have read a while back that the problem is a lack of volunteers. If nobody is prepared to help they will never get any further. Gwynne

Researching:
Lowestoft and North Suffolk, Monmouthshire, Breconshire, Somerset

MaggyfromWestYorkshire

MaggyfromWestYorkshire Report 21 Dec 2003 18:54

FreeCEN was updated on 17th Decmeber, so it may be worth trying it again. Maggy

S

S Report 21 Dec 2003 21:08

One of the problems with FreeCEN seems to be that they want transcribers to work with microfiche. I don't have a microfiche reader, so I would have to get hold of the fiche and then arrange to read it at a local library or records office, unlike FreeBMD which I can do in my own time when the kids are in bed, etc (I know a lot of people transcribe from fiche for FreeBMD, but at least transcribers have the choice). As I don't have a laptop, I would have to transcribe the details on to paper and then enter all the data on to my PC, thus doubling the work and the opportunities for errors. If FreeCEN is going to really take off, my feeling is they are going to have to make it a bit easier for people to volunteer. Sue

Ann L from Darlo

Ann L from Darlo Report 21 Dec 2003 23:06

HiKathryn If you want to get Freecen off the ground then help to Transcribe as i am doing but only slowly, and from a disc not from a fiche! It is easy to criticise but unless you know the whole picture then----- So why not give your services and help out!! Ann,Darlington

Twinkle

Twinkle Report 21 Dec 2003 23:19

I don't have a computer. It sounds odd, but I use the university computer centre. If it's similar to FreeBMD, and you need to download software in order to upload, then they system wouldn't let me unless I fiddled with the settings.

Andy

Andy Report 21 Dec 2003 23:42

When I was at Uni the PC's were set up so that you couldnt download anything to them..... Now that im working my employer has a websense software running to stop us getting to sites like genesconnected as its classed as entertainment. Anyone know how you volenteer to be a transcriber for freecen ? I also have a fiche reader.

S

S Report 22 Dec 2003 02:38

Ann Does FreeCEN supply discs for transcribers? I might reconsider if they do. Sue