I received an email from a woman in the local genealogy society where I live. It's about a program called "Transcript" by Jacob Boerema from the Netherlands. http://www.jacobboerema.nl/en/Freeware.htm
It's a free program (or 15 euros if you want a few extra bells and whistles or wish to donate). It takes the handwritten script and types it out for you. The entire text of the email I received came from FamHist Blog (which I don't subscribe to): http://famhist.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/transcript-for-genealogy-transcriptions/ NOTE: The name of the program is TRANSCRIPT. NOT TRANSLATION. If it scans a birth that says, "Manuel, filho legitimito de Jose da Silva e Maria do Rosario" you're going to get "Manuel, filho legitimito de Jose da Silva e Maria do Rosario" TYPED out instead of written out in handwriting. I've sent the message on to Dick Eastman and asked him to review it. He's traveling, so I don't know if or how much time he can put into exploring this program. If I have time later today or this weekend (not so likely!), I'll play around with it. My questions (and for those who are willing to play around with it and post what you find - I'll forward them to Dick Eastman): 1) What is it doing with the diacritics? (Conceição) 2) What is it doing to the superscript abbreviations? M.el for Manuel (the "el" after the M would be raised). 3) What will it do with some of that REALLY BAD handwriting? 4) What will it do with bleed through? Worm holes? Please reply with other questions and what you found and liked or disliked about the program (as it pertains to the Portuguese genealogist). -- Cheri Mello Listowner, Azores-Gen Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
