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Converting the Text File to a Database

[OPRs] Home ] Searching and Saving the Indexes ] Cleaning Up the Files ] [ Converting to Database ] Converting to Spreadsheet ]

 

Part 1 of this thread covered how to convert the downloaded OPR BIRTH text files into a "Clean" text file by removing all of the extraneous information and <CRs>. The file created is a fixed length text file capable of being imported into most database programs and imported into or opened by many spreadsheet programs. I open the file with MS Excel 97 and then save it as a Lotus 123 wk4 file to manipulate. The Field Names, Start and End positions, Field Length, and an example of what is in each field is shown below.

             BIRTH AND CHRISTENING RECORDS 

    Field Name      Start   End     Length  Example
     Blank             1       9       9     
     Name & Sex       10      49      40     Adam BLAIR (M)...................
     Event            50      52       3     C: 
     Date             53     101      49     17 Oct 1756
     Field ID        102     105       4     Ba: 
     Batch           106     148      43     C117694      +
     Field ID        149     156       8     Father: 
     Father          157     189      33     John BLAIR
     Place           190     225      36     Resolis, Ross And Cromarty,
     Frame           226     248      23     FR120
     Field ID        249     252       4     So: 
     Source          253     285      33     1067923
     Field ID        286     293       8     Mother: 
     Mother          294     326      33     Margaret BURNTINE
     Addl Info       327     385      59     Scotland
     Field ID        386     389       4     Pr: 
     Printout        390     412      23     6901472

 

                                                                    MARRIAGE RECORDS

    Field Name      Start   End     Length  Example
     Blank             1       9       9     
     Name & Sex       10      49      40     Hugh BLAIR (M)...................
     Event            50      52       3     M: 
     Date             53      88      36     14 Mar 1760
     Frame            89     111      23     FR276 & 397
     Field ID        112     115       4     Ba: 
     Batch           116     148      33     M110412      +
     Field ID        149     156       8     Spouse: 
     Spouse          157     189      33     Isabell STODAIRT
     Place           190     248      59     Resolis, Ross And Cromarty,
     Field ID        249     252       4     So: 
     Source          253     326      74     1067919
     Addl Info       327     385      59     Scotland
     Field ID        386     389       4     Pr: 
     Printout        390     411      22     6902553
                  

IMPORTING DIRECTLY INTO A DATABASE PROGRAM
Most database programs will ask for the above information when importing a fixed length text file. If you are importing directly into a database program the Blank field and Field ID fields (Ba:, Father:, So:, Mother:, and Pr:) can be ignored. The length of the Date field can be reduced to 11. Make all fields text fields.

[OPRs] Home ] Searching and Saving the Indexes ] Cleaning Up the Files ] [ Converting to Database ] Converting to Spreadsheet ]

 

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