Guild of One-Name Studies  -  Computer Seminar 

to be held at the Rosebery School
White Horse Drive, Epsom, Surrey KT18 7NQ

on 7th August 2010.  

CONTENTS (at 23Jul2010)
1. Overview and Objectives
2. Summary Programme
3. Details of all Sessions
4. Notes on Types of Session and Skill Levels
5. Booking & Session Selection - 123 Registered at 1Aug  (there are 2 more technical places)
NOTE: Places are limited to 124 attendees max (plus a few non-computing helpers)
ALSO: Sessions C1 & C3 & D3 & D4 are now fully booked
Please consult <gordon@adshead.com> [01625-549770] to confirm the availabity of places
6. General Information about the Structure of the Seminar
7. Travel Information
8. Attendee List with All Session Allocations
9. Call for More Speakers, Helpers, Posters & Demonstrations
10. Joining Instructions Further Notes, Information, Help & Special Requirements
11. Technical Notes for Attendees
12. Site map

To Print:  Best to print in Landscape or select "shrink to fit page"

1. Seminar Overview and Objectives

It is quite possible to carry out a small one-name study without the use of a computer.   However there is no doubt that computer skills and techniques can make a considerable difference in our ability to handle the data involved in collecting, analyzing and publishing the events involved in larger studies.

The Rosebery School in Epsom has some superb computer facilities and we have the use of four rooms each containing 30 PCs.    The day mainly consists of 4 one-hour periods, each with a choice of HandsOn Tutorials, HandsOn  Workshops or discussion sessions running in parallel.    The programme  covers a wide range of topics, covering a wide range of levels of computer skills and interests.    There will also be some posters, demonstrations and clinics in the main Hall.     

Experience has shown that there is no such thing as the best or even ideal tools for one-name studies as their size and properties vary enormously.     We can all learn a great deal from each other.   This seminar will however provide a very good environment to better understand when and why certain techniques are more appropriate and perhaps gain a better insight into some new and emerging computer techniques.

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2. Seminar Timetable and Programme

Click on Session Reference to jump to Full Session Description, or just scroll down

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3. Session Descriptions

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4. Types of Session and Skill Levels

General Introduction
. The objective is to provide items of interest to attendees with a very wide range of computer skills.
. These are very broadly described as [B] Basic, [M] Medium. [A] Advanced and [S] Specialist.
. These should only be taken as a very rough guideline.

[B] Basic
. This category applies to the HandsOn Tutorial sessions which are more suitable for attendees interested in learning more of the ways to search the internet and capture data of relevance to their study.
. A basic ability to use a computer is assumed

[M] Medium
. This category applies to the Workshop session where various standard tools and programmes are explained.
. There will often be plenty of opportunity to look at examples for yourself.
. In many sessions small tasks will be set so that you can try things out for yourself.
. The categories [M-] or [M+] may be applied to indicate subjects that are somewhat simpler or possibly more complex than the average.

[A] Advanced
. This category is used for discussion on the use of general computer tools and techniques, for those who prefer not to use off-the-shelf FH solutions.
. In many of these sessions the objective is to share ideas and experiences and perhaps relate to the pros and cons of "doing your own thing".

[S] Specialist
. This category is used for a few rather specialised topics.
. It is expected that a relatively small group will get together to study emerging techniques or the potential advantages of adopting special niche options.

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5. Booking and Session Selection

Summary Principles
. You will need to Register and Pay first.
. You will then need to make your selection of which session you wish to attend in each of the 4 time-slots.
. Choices will only be heeded after payment is received.

. You are advised to read the notes below before filling in the Session Selection Form.

Registration and Payment
. The best and quickest way to register is using the on-line PayPal or credit-card registration form.
. If for any reason you prefer to pay by cheque you can download the Postal Booking Form.
. Post this form with your cheque to Gordon Adshead at the address on the form.
. You may proceed to fill in the Session Selection Form but this will only be heeded when the payment reaches Gordon.
. It is possible to pay for two persons while registering.  However it is important that both fill in a separate session allocation form.

Session Selection
. You may like to study the Session Descriptions and Notes on Skill Levels first.
. There is no limit to the number wishing to attend the Sessions in the main Hall (Channel 5).
. There may be difficulties with the Tutorial and Workshop Sessions held in the four Terminal Rooms (Channels 1,2,3 & 4).
. Each of these rooms has 30 terminals, but booking will initially be restricted to 28 to allow for the leader and other considerations.
. You may make your session choices by selecting the radio buttons on the on-line session selection form.
. Session Leaders and Helpers should make a full set of choices, including their own sessions (that are already in the atendance list).
. If any sessions become fully booked, this (and the estimated number of spare spaces) will be indicated on the form.
. If by chance your first choice of session is fully booked there will be an opportunity to comment on your preference.
. In the case of the more Advanced and Specialist discussion sessions, this comment space may also be used to indicate an interest in speaking or contributing to the discussion.

Final Allocations, Arbitration & Changes
. The formal set of session allocations is recorded in the Attendee List.
. This list will be updated as quickly as possible.
. As allocations are made you will be sent an EMail to notify you.
. Please check that your name appears in the list and the session allocations are as you expect.
. Although every effort will be made to accommodate everybody, it must be recognised that spaces in the PC Rooms are limited.
. You will be able to request changes to your allocation at any time if spaces are available, by contacting Gordon Adshead.
. In the event that requested allocations cannot be made Gordon will make every effort to contact you and resolve options.

Gordon Adshead may be contacted:-
. Tel 01625-549770.
. EMail <gordon@adshead.com>

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7. Travel Information

General Location
. Rosebery School is located at KT18 7NQ.
. A good general map is at <http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=520120&y=160120>.
. This is about 1 mile South of Epsom Railway Station.
. and about 3 miles North East of Junction 9 on the M25 up the A24.

Parking
. There are plenty of parking spaces available just inside the school gates.  Turn left or right, but left is better.

Public Transport
. The Railway Station is "Epsom(Surrey)" and there are direct connections from Waterloo, Victoria or London Bridge.
. Busses  408 & 479 pass the end of White Horse Drive.
. There is a taxi rank at the station.

Hotel Advice
. It is assumed that most attendees will travel by car on the day of the seminar.
. It is recognised that looking for a cheap hotel deal close to Epsom is not easy in the middle of summer, especially if left to the last moment.
. Many driving from 200 miles away may find the best deals are to be found 40-50 miles before they reach Epsom in the morning.
. At the moment (May2010) Travel Lodge and Premier Inn do have several offers at hotels close to Epsom in the £19 region, but beware that several of these do not have parking facilities or charge extra for limited parking spaces.
. Rodney Brackstone has inadvertently booked rooms at two different £19 hotels and is happy to transfer one to another member.

One hotel agency suggested the following possibilities in the £35 region

From the North (M1 corridor)(eg Watford), URL = http://www.superbreak.com/north_west_london_wembley-hotels-NO8-2.htm  

From the West (M4 corridor) (eg Reading), URL = http://www.superbreak.com/reading-hotels-RE.htm

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8. Attendee List and Session Allocations

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9. Call for Posters, Demonstrations, Clinics & Helpers

There will be around posters and lap-top demonstrations in the main hall.  A list will be provided on arrival.    If any attendee is still moved to bring along a lap-top or print-out of interest, there will be some tables and pin boards available.

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10. Joinng Instructions & Further Notes

Travel
GPS Postcde is KT18 7NQ.   There is plenty of parking inside the school gates.  See Section 7 above for more travel information.

Arrivals
The main entrance is in the middle of the North side of the building.   Signs will direct you (left from entrance gates) to the side door of the Main Hall which will be the only way into the seminar.   We will have a registration desk just inside the hall – staffed from 9:00am in case anyone arrives early.  

Site Map, Timetable and Technical Notes
.At registration you will receive an A4 page with this information.  All other notes will be on the 1GB memory stick that will be given to all attendees.

. The Technical Notes provide some information on the use of the hands-on terminals, and the Memory Stick.  You may find it useful to study them now.

. A rough scan of the Site Map and Timetable you will receive at registration may be seen here.

If Rain is Forecast
. There is a walk in the open of about 100 metres, to get to and from the Computer Suites.   We will keep an eye on the forecast, and it may be advisable to bring an umbrella.

Bookstall Items
. Howard Benbrook is running down the Guild Bookstall, but he will bring all the stock he has left to Epsom

Special Requirements
If you have any special requirements (eg regarding food or travel)  please do not hesitate to contact <seminar-booking@one-name.org> and we will do our best to try to help.     

Coffee and Tea Breaks
We will be providing coffee and tea or juices on arrival (09:30), mid-morning (11:30), at lunchtime (13:00), and finally at mid afternoon (15:20).    The breaks between sessions are for 30 minutes to allow plenty of time for refreshment, looking at the posters & demonstrations, and moving between session rooms.

Buffet Lunch
Is provided 13:00 to 14:20.

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11. Technical Notes for Attendees  -Getting Started and Other technical Information

0. SCOPE At registration you will be given this one sheet of paper;   Plus a 1GB USB memory stick containing all the files and notes you will need for the sessions.  

1. A SITE MAP & TIMETABLE may be found on the other side of this page.  (scanned here)

2.  The COMPUTER TERMINALS will all be switched on and logged into the servers at the start of the day.   In the unlikely event that you have to reboot your PC the UserName is “adulted01” and the Password is “Password1”.  

3.  All PCs have the same privileges as regards, access to general software and web sites.    However the special viewers and access codes for the subscription sites are only available in room C22.  

4. WI-FI      Persons planning demonstrations with their own lap tops will be given a Wi-Fi access code if they need to access the internet.  

5. All rooms have a projected wall screen showing what is on the Tutor’s terminal.    What is on your PC screen is under the control of the Tutor.   You may just be able to see a copy of what is on the Tutor’s  terminal (which could be a Power Point slide or a live demonstration).     At other times you will have a standard PC, where you can carry out your own tasks looking at files or the internet.  

6.  GETTING STARTED by ACCESSING the files on the MEMORY STICK.

(Having Inserted the stick into the USB port on the PC), click on Start -> My Computer and select the directory containing the Memory stick [named GuildSeminar7Aug2010].   This will typically be E: or F:   All the files associated with one session are in a separate directory identified by its session number (eg B2).    Often there will be an introductory file pointing to the others.  In general the Tutor will tell you which files to open at any particular point in time.  

7.  MEMORY STICKS    It is a good idea to write your name on your memory stick.   The stick contains all the notes for all the sessions.  

8.  WRITING FILES   There is space on the stick under a directory “OwnFiles” to use for temporary purposes and to save any files you may wish.   In general any application that needs file space should be set to point at this directory.    If you do not do this, you may find that your files have been placed on the DeskTop  or in “MyDocuments”   The school is reasonably relaxed about this as they have an automatic way of setting all terminals back to their starting state each morning.   But if you want to take this data home, you must remember to copy it to the memory stick.  

9. UNPLUGGING THE MEMORY STICK.    This can become corrupted if you unplug while files are still open or data is being written.   It is wiser to use the “Safely remove Hardware”  icon in the right hand end of  the bottom bar.  

10. BASIC SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENT.    All PCs are Windows XP SP3, with browser IE8 and Microsoft Office 2007.  

11.  OFFICE 2007.   It is recognised that many Guild attendees will be using Office 2003 tools.   All files on the stick will be 2003 compatible.    For most of the applications and viewers there is not a lot of significant differences between the two systems.    The main shock is likely to be the EXCEL2007 user interface.    All the same features are there, but the revised interface can be a bit confusing at first.    If files are being saved to the memory stick they will normally revert to the 2003 format, but it is worth being vigilant on this point as some newly created files can be saved in either 2003 or 2007 format.

Persons attending the EXCEL based sessions, who are unfamiliar with the 2007 interface, may find it useful to look at some of the Microsoft EXCEL tutorials  (Google).  

12. AT THE END OF THE SESSION.   Close down any application windows or files you have open, just leaving the desktop on the screen.    Delete any files you have accidentally left on the desktop (if you are sure that you put them there !).    Remember to unplug your memory stick  

13 No FOOD or DRINK allowed in any of the terminal rooms please.  (OK in Main Hall).

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12. Site Map

A rough scan of the Site Map and Timetable you will receive at registration may be seen here.