When using the OPRs you can search for (1) individual births/christenings, (2) marriages, or (3) parents. Once you have decided what you want to search for you are asked to input certain information. You can enter as much or as little as you wish. The more information you provide, the narrower your search. You can refine your search even further my using filters. I usually search for Last Name BLAIR and uses the filters to select specific counties. When you've finished refining your search the program will display a screen of records. Each screen normally contains 13 names. To save the records to a floppy disk you must first create a holding file. A holding file holds 200 records. To save records to the holding file you can either press <enter> on each record you wish to add to the holding file or press <alt><enter> to mark the whole page. As you add records to the holding file the display tells you how many records you've added. <PgDn> brings up the next screen of records. My normal procedure is hit <alt><enter> and <PgDn> 15 times to get to 195 records and then save the holding file. Then I begin all over again.

The records can be saved in GED or TXT format. GED is good for importing data into programs like Family Tree Maker, but the records do not link. TXT files can be read by any word processor and with quite a bit work, converted to more usable formats (more on that another time). When you select TEXT file, make sure the option for source information is also checked. I think it's the default anyway, but check to be sure. Don't worry about the warning about download time, it only takes a minute or two. The program will ask for a file name. If you're saving as text I'd name the file something Stirlb1.text for Stirling County Births file1.

I would recommend that you not to mix birth/christening records and marriage records on the same file. The formats are slightly different and it will be difficult to convert the files later. You're better off creating one file or set of files for birth/christening records and a second file of set of files for marriage records.

Step by Step Procedures

Select Option E - Scottish Church Records - from Main Menu
Press <ENTER> to begin

Select
    A - Individual Search
    B - Marriage Search
    C - Parent Search

Input Info
    First Name
    Last Name
    Event Year

Press <F10> to select filters
Filter option
    Exact Surname Spelling
    Locality
    Event year Range
Select your filters

Press <F12> to start search

Get first screen of Names

To save to disk
    Press <F2> to get menu
    Select E - Create or Add Entries to Holding File
    Press <ALT-ENTER> to mark entire page
    Press <PAGE DOWN> to get next screen of names
    Repeat the above process until 200 records are marked
    Press <F12>
    Select I - Copy Holding File to Disk
        Select File Format
            GEDCOM for PAF 3.0
            GEDCOM for PAF 2.1 - 2.3
            Text Format (ASCII)
        Arrow down to choice and press <ENTER>
        Make sure the option "Include Source Info" is marked
    Press <F12> to continue

    Select Disk Type (depending on the computer you are using you may see the following:
        3 ½ Floppy
        5 ¼ Floppy
        Hard Drive
    Arrow down to selection and press <ENTER>

    Select a file name
        If you are saving as text file, end the name with .TXT
        If you are saving as a GEDCOM file, end the name with .GED
    Press <ENTER> or <F12> to continue
    Press <F12> to confirm

When copy is complete
    Select G - Erase Hold File
    Press <F12> to confirm
    Select E - Create or Add Entries to Holding File

This will bring you back to the list where you start again with <ALT><ENTER> to save names to the holding file.

Using this procedure you can save up to 2,000 or more records in a single 2 hour sitting and review them at your leisure in the comfort of your own home. A typical LDS-FHC OPRs text file looks something like below when viewed in wordPad WITHOUT wrapping text or a word processor set for a LEGAL (14 x 8.5) paper and Courier Font.

    Scottish Church Records - Version 2.00                                                                               \
    25 JUN 1998                                        HOLDING FILE ENTRIES                                       Page 1 \
    =====================================================================================================================\
                                                                                   Additional            Batch and Source\
    Names (Sex)                         Event  Date/Place                          Information           Information     \
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
    (continued) 
       Isabella BLAIR (F)....................  C: 23 Sep 1828                                               Ba: C112725     \
         Father: William BLAIR                    Arbroath, Angus, Scotland                                 So: 993332      \
         Mother: Anne FAIRWEATHER                                                                                           \
\
       Isabella Millar BLAIR (F).............  B: 22 Jul 1828                                               Ba: C113224     \
         Father: William BLAIR                    Tealing, Angus, Scotland                                  So: 993509      \
         Mother: Isabella BUCHAN                                                                                            \
\
       Isabell BLAIR (F).....................  C: 7 Feb 1830                                                Ba: C112828     \
         Father: Thomas BLAIR                     Dundee, Angus, Scotland                                   So: 993402      \
         Mother: Isabell MCINTOSH                                                                           Pr: 6900646     \
\
       Isabella BLAIR (F)....................  C: 22 Aug 1831                                               Ba: C113014     \
         Father: George BLAIR                     Liff Benvie And Invergowrie, Angus,                       So: 993484      \
         Mother: Helen FINN                       Scotland                                                                  \
\
       Isabella BLAIR (F)....................  C: 18 Oct 1835                                               Ba: C114406     \
         Father: Alexander BLAIR                  Kinglassie, Fife, Scotland                                So: 1040196     \
         Mother: Catherine LUMSDEN                                                                          Pr: 6900783     \
\
       Isabella BLAIR (F)....................  B: 22 Nov 1841                                               Ba: C112754     \
         Father: William BLAIR                    Brechin, Angus, Scotland            FR1976                So: 993413      \
         Mother: Mary MCINTYRE                                                                                              \
\
       Isabell Ness BLAIR (F)................  C: 28 Mar 1841                                               Ba: C112829     \
         Father: James BLAIR                      Dundee, Angus, Scotland             FR5268                So: 993408      \
         Mother: Margaret NESS                                                                              Pr: 6900646     \
\
       Isabella Buchan BLAIR (F).............  C: 14 Dec 1849                                               Ba: C112829     \
         Father: Francis BLAIR                    Dundee, Angus, Scotland             FR5457                So: 993408      \
         Mother: Jean MURRAY                                                                                Pr: 6900646     \
\
       Isabella BLAIR (F)....................  C: 11 Nov 1849                                               Ba: C114455     \
         Father: Alexander BLAIR                  Leuchars, Fife, Scotland            FR474                 So: 1040189     \
         Mother: Catherine NESS                                                                                             \
\
       Isabella Thomson BLAIR (F)............  C: 9 Aug 1852                                                Ba: C113194     \
         Father: Francis BLAIR                    Saint Vigeans, Angus, Scotland                            So: 993506      \
         Mother: Helen MCKINLAY                                                                                             \
\
       Isaballa BLAIR (F)....................  C: 8 Mar 1853                                                Ba: C114157     \
         Father: David BLAIR                      Ceres, Fife, Scotland               FR1166                So: 1040155     \
         Mother: Emilia HONEYMAN                                                                            Pr: 6900759     \
\
    =====================================================================================================================\
             Events:  B=Birth  C=Christening  M=Marriage  S=Miscellaneous\
        Batch/Source:  Ba=Batch  So=Source  Pr=Printout\
    Special Symbols:  * Film contains no additional information.   ^\'08- Some information was estimated or altered.\
                      @ Names and relationships of others stated in source.   # Additional relatives listed in source.\
                         + Additional sources for batch.\
    =====================================================================================================================\
    (continued)
                    

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