Getting Started


     Our goal is to extract structured data from over 9 million pieces of weather observations captured at McGill's observatory since 1863. We need your help to transcribe all that information!


Take a moment to review the 5 illustrated steps of the transcription below process before getting started. 


When you are ready, sign in and click on Transcribe to begin transcribing a page! 

If you run into any problems check out our FAQ's or Report a Problem

NOTE: We are currently in the process of eliminating Step 1 of the Transcription Process. If you encounter a page which has the Page Metadata completed please proceed to Step 2: Set Up Your Transcription Environment.


How To DRAW Video


Step 1: Verify Page Metadata


Check the date: The date is written on the top, right-hand side of the logbook.

 Check the date and time

If dates are wrong, change the date by selecting either the correct date from the Calendar pop-up or entering the correct date manually.

 Change the date and time

Count the number of entries (Rows) per date, and select that number from the drop-down menu under "How many rows of observations are there for this date?".

 Count number of rows

Each Row corresponds to a time. Depending on the register type, there is an entry every three or four hours.

 Each row is a single time

Once done verifying the metadata, click "Start Transcribing"

Note: If you have a logbook with Sums and Means rows, just ignore those rows. Do not include them when counting the number of observations, and when entering observation data.

Note: Sundays generally only have three entries.


Step 2: Set Up Your Transcription Environment


The transcription environment has a top header and a left-side header which can be repositioned so that the text is clear. 

 Headers

To do so, hover your mouse over the top or side header for instructions. These areas will freeze the area shown so that you can clearly see the Date and Time Column Guide and the Field Headers Guide while transcribing. They can be readjusted at any time.

 How to change the header positions

 How to change the header positions

Click "Open Transcriber Panel" in the top left hand corner to begin transcribing.
A pop up will appear with tabs that should match up with the headings/labels in the logbook (ex. Anemometer, Barometer, etc.)

 Transcriber panel

The transcription box can be moved as needed around the page, but can't be resized.


Step 3: Changing the Date & Time


Click on the first tab (ex. Barometer).

 First tab

Pick the date and time from the drop down menu by clicking the clock icon.

 Changing date and time

The dates entered as metadata should be highlighted.
You can also manually enter the dates and the time in the text box under "Date and Time".

 manually changing the date and time

Note: You cannot click on any dates other than those highlighted, or enter a random date.
Make sure to change the time when you begin a new row of data!

Step 4: Start Transcribing 


You are ready to start entering data!

We recommend you enter the data one row at a time, working through the tabs for each row from left to right - working from Barometer to Rain and Snow, for example. 

Press "Save" after entering the data in each tab before going on to the next tab. You can enter all the data from one column at a time, such as "Barometer", but you need to remember to change the time for each new row.

 Enter data

After you've finished entering data into one of the tabs, you will be prompted to draw a highlight box around the observations you have just transcribed. Make sure not to include the date or time into this highlighted box, just the data you entered.

If you have accidentally included the date or time in this box, don't fret!

The box can be edited by hovering your mouse over the highlighted box. On the left you will see three symbols - Edit the Annotation, Resize the Annotation, and Reposition the Annotation - and on the right you will see a red symbol Delete Annotation.

 changing the highlight box


Edit the Annotation: will allow you to edit the data you inputed into this tab

Resize the Annotation: will allow you to resize the current highlight box by clicking and dragging the bottom right corner.

Reposition the Annotation: will allow you to move the current highlight box around by dragging it into position.

Delete the Annotation: will allow you to fully delete the highlight box and the data and begin once again on this transcription tab.


Once a tab has been complete and a highlight box has been drawn, you can move on to the next tab until the entire row is finished.

 Move to the next tab

Repeat this until the observations from every row have been entered!

 Fully finished page

Note: If you have accidentally clicked out of the transcriber panel, don't worry! Simply go back to the "Open transcriber panel" button in the top left corner and navigate back to the tab you were currently on, checking to ensure that the date and time are correct.


Step 5: Final Touches


You can take a break whenever you want by clicking "Stop Transcribing" in the top right corner.

 stop transcribing

A pop-up will appear with two choices:

 Stop transcribing pop-up choices


Take a break: will allow you to pause your transcription and come back to it later

Mark as complete: will tell us that you are finished transcribing the entire page and are ready to move on to your next page


Clicking "Take a break" will bring you to a summary of what you have completed so far on this specific transcription while "Mark as complete" will bring you to the "My Transcriptions" page, where you can view or continue any of your previous transcriptions.



Getting Help


Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any issues with the transcription process!
And while it is out of date, the following video may help in your understanding of the transcription process:


Handwriting Help


Deciphering the handwriting found in the McGill Observatory logbooks can be challenging, but we are here to help! Aside from our Handwriting Help blog post, we have also prepared the following resource to help you: