Shannon,

There are some options to try first.

My first, would be to go back to the original
Filemaker Pro file, export that as a tab delimited
file.  I do this quite often, proceeding onto viewing
the file in excel to determnine if all the tabbed
fields were exported correctly.  A little coordination
with Past Perfect import characteristics, may solve
your problems.  I typically use excel as a "workhorse"
for prepping data files for import.  I am able to
cut/paste columns to a desired sequence, add colums,
find/replace colums by batch etc.  Normally, when
finished, the data imports fairly nicely.

If you want me to take a look at it, email me at work
at: [log in to unmask] (this is what I do for a
living).

Cheers,
Brad

--- Shannon Lindridge
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> For those of you who are using PastPerfect out
> there, which of the 
> research methods do you/your volunteers use the
> most?  
> 
> My dilemma, we converted from FileMakerPro to
> PastPerfect going on two 
> years ago and the program is pretty much unusable do
> to the fact much of 
> the information did not end up in the correct field,
> somewhat scattered. 
> 
> My plans were to have information entered into the
> people field and search 
> terms field, by volunteers, and have our reference
> room volunteers, most 
> are of retirement age, use the people field and
> search terms field for 
> performing research request for our patrons in our
> research library.  I 
> thought this would be the easiest method for our
> volunteers to access the 
> information.  
> 
> I have been hesitant to teach our reference room
> volunteers the program 
> for fear of them getting frustrated at not being
> able to find the 
> information they are looking for.   I have thought
> of training them to do 
> dataentry, but they are usually to busy to perform
> dataentry while working 
> in the reference room.
> 
> My other dilemma/difficulty has been finding
> volunteers who are willing to 
> do dataentry. 
> 
> I would appreciate any guidance, suggestions anyone
> can give on training 
> the "older generation" volunteer a new computer
> program, how to recruit 
> volunteers to do dataentry, and as stated before
> what research method(s) 
> most commonly used in PastPerfect.  I have also
> cross-posted this message 
> at Pastime Software.
> 
> --Shannon
> 
>
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Cordially,

Brad Holderman
ARTIFACT INK - Documentation for the Archaeological Science
8158 Winter Gardens Blvd. #24
Lakeside, CA 92040
(619) 390-7955

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Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).