Bob,

1. You may find it necessary to add your own terms to the lexicon. We
have found that Chenal does not cover a LOT of items, old or new. The
main thing is to be consistent. Add the new term to your lexicon but
also add it right to Chenal's book so if anyone looks there they will
still find it. (I know this is not ideal but it is the best that can be
done in some cases.) Also remember you have various "search" methods in
Past Perfect so you will also catch terms that way.

2. There is a way in Past Perfect to show relationships between items.
you can either note this in the "Notes" field or you can use the
"Related Objects" field. This can be found under the "Legal/Related"
tab. Using this field you can "connect" the Dr. bag and all of its
contents, and all the related accession numbers will show up in each
catalog record for a quick reference.

Hope this gives you some ideas/options.



Mandy Langfald
Curator of Collection
Wyoming State Museum
307-777-3077
[log in to unmask]

>>> [log in to unmask] 04/06/04 10:08AM >>>
Our museum, which has recently begun to use PastPerfect3.5,
needs some advice on 2 questions.  We are now trying to
catalog a group of items received when we were given the
contents of a turn-of-the-century (19th to 20th) doctors
office in our small town.  Being an historical museum we try
to conserve almost anything related to late 19th century
life here.

1. We can find no specific objectname or Sub-Category for
herbal medicines which were used 100 years ago.   We have
searched the Lexicon in PP3.5 and our new copy of Chenal
without success.  Should we just make up new objectnames and
place them into our intuitive use of Category and
Sub-Category lists or are there specfically acceptable
entries already in existence somewhere?

2.  Part of the doctors office items include several
"doctors bags" containing from 10 to 65 separate objects.
They have been inventoried as individual items but I am
resisting cataloging them separately without a strong link
to the bag from which they came. These items range from
stethoscopes and surgical instruments to prescription
medications and herbal remedies.

Any advice as to how to handle this in PP3.5 ?

Bob

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