CanonBase - User contributions [en]

Help:Interview guidelines

2026-04-15T21:43:09Z

NickHunt:

== Why interview? ==
Much of our recent history is not recorded anywhere. It is contained in people's memories – the habits they had, the methods they used. This is often referred to as oral tradition. This kind of history is lost when these people disappear. The purpose of interviews for 'oral tradition' is to map out this history on the basis of conversations with 'old hands'. In this way, methods, techniques and customs can be captured and we find out under what conditions people worked, what equipment they used, what the relationships were with other actors in the field, what the atmosphere was like, and so on.

Interviews with experts and practitioners therefore provide insights into the working methods of the past, as well as the history of designs and technological development. However, a good interview requires the necessary preparation and aftercare.

== Preparation ==

Preparation is key to a successful interview:

# Make sure you are clear about the purpose of the interview – what information are you trying to gather? Who is the audience – what do they already know about the topic? How will the interview be used – will the interview itself be published (as a video or audio recording, or as a transcript) or is it to gather information that will be used in other ways?
# Research background information about the interviewee and the topic. Information about positions, companies or organisations where the interviewee has worked and the productions and material that were available in a certain period helps to shape and steer the interview. This information can be added to the interview documentation later. Even a small amount of background research will help plan the questions to be asked, and will also give the interviewee confidence that their contribution is valued.
# Draw up a list of themes to be covered. The theme list contains the topics to be covered in the interview. It is a kind of checklist, so you can be sure that all topics are covered.
# Derive a list of questions from the theme list containing the specific questions to be asked. You may find our [[Help:Interview_example_questions|list of example questions]] useful when preparing your own. The questionnaire is a tool, during the interview questions can be omitted or added, depending on how the interview progresses. As part of planning the questions, decide on the interview format:
## Structured – where the questions are set and you don’t deviate from them during the interview. This method can be useful if you want to compare the results of several interviews – for example, asking a group of people about their experience with a particular item of equipment.
## Semi-structured – where you have specific questions, but you allow the conversation to cover other topics. This method ensures that all topics are covered, but results in a more conversational style, and allows the interviewee to contribute more to the content include information the interviewer did not anticipate.
## Unstructured – where you decide on a topic, but allow the conversation to flow freely. This method allows the interviewee a lot of freedom to determine the content, and can be useful to discover things you are not aware of, but risks the content of the interview being irrelevant to the intended topic.
# Make sure the interviewee knows in advance the broad areas you want to discuss. Ask them if they have useful materials relevant to the discussion, such as photographs, documents, plans, and so on.

== The Interview ==

=== The Setting ===

It is important that the interviewee feels comfortable and relaxed. Make sure you can work in a quiet place, which can be at the interviewee's home, or in a place that is appropriate to the subject, for example their workplace. When choosing the location, think about any background noise or other disturbing factors. Provide some water.

If you are conducting the interview online, make sure everyone involved is somewhere quiet, where they won’t be disturbed. If the online interview is to be recorded and published, take care with the background behind each person – if necessary, use a digital background, perhaps relevant to the topic. Also consider lighting – light that is soft and not too strongly directional will be better than harsh, directional light.

=== Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ ===

It is essential to carry out interviews in an ethical way, to avoid harm to the interviewee. The central principle is that of ‘informed consent’, so the interviewee should be aware of and agree to:

* The purpose of the interview
* What will happen to any recordings, notes or transcripts – will they be published and if so where, or will they be deleted later?
* What opportunity the interviewee will have to see the interview before any publication, or to have specific statements redacted, or for a temporary embargo
* How data about the interviewee (name, contact details, content of recordings) will be kept secure
* How they can withdraw from the process, without any detriment to themselves
* Whether they can be anonymous or not
* How they can raise concerns about the interview process

For more information about ethical consideration and data security, see _ (FIXME). We recommend getting the interviewee’s consent to these points in writing. You can do this in advance of the interview, or talk through the points at the start of the interview then do the paperwork afterwards. The interviewee should get a copy of the agreement. We have created an [https://repository.canon-project.eu/?attachment_id=4274 Interviewee Information and Consent Form Template] you can use to give the interviewee information and record their consent.

It is customary for the interviewee to receive a copy of the interview and transcript. When an interview is published in a journal, for example, it is also advisable to send the text to the person in question for approval with the request for any corrections.

=== Approach ===

Plan your approach to the interview carefully. It helps to start with some ‘warm up’ conversation – this may be part of the interview itself, or some pre-interview chat to help your interviewee relax. This is especially important if you don’t already know each other.

Start the interview with some simple questions with factual answers. If you are recording the interview, it is helpful to ask the interviewee to say their name, the date and location of the interview. Then ask a general question such as “how did you start out in the industry?” or “when did you first become involved with [the topic to be discussed]?” Cover broader questions first, then about more specific, complex or controversial matters. Unless you are following a strictly structured set of questions, use the list of questions as a guideline, but give the interviewee space to answer the questions and possibly broach topics themselves. See the [[Help:Interview_example_questions|example questions]] for more guidance.

Avoid interruptions or introducing your own opinions or biases – the interview is a space for the interviewee to express their thoughts and opinions. Make sure your questions are phrased neutrally, rather than asking the interviewee to agree with one view or another – for example, “what was the impact of X technology on your work?” rather than “did X technology make your work easier?”

=== Recording ===

How you record the interview will depend on whether the recording is the final output, or a working tool for later analysis or to make a transcript from:

==== Working tool ====

The quality of the recording does not really matter, as long as it is audible. If you plan to use an automated system to create a transcript, a cleaner recording will help the software make a more accurate transcript.

==== Recording as Final Output ====

For high quality output, thought must be given to the spatial arrangement and lighting. Make sure you are familiar with the camera and other equipment you are using. Test them beforehand, and if necessary, carry out a practice with a friend or colleague to make sure you have dealt with any technical issues. Check batteries and storage capacity available on memory cards, and so on.

If you are interviewing online, most video call platforms such as Teams and Zoom allow you to make a recording. Test this first to make sure you are familiar with the controls, and that the quality is suitable for your needs.

At the beginning of the recording, indicate the date, place, the name of the interviewee, the name of the interviewer, and the topic to be discussed. Try to make the recording process as discreet as possible, ideally so the interviewee forgets after a while that the whole thing is being recorded. Write down as little as possible, if necessary, you can ask additional questions afterwards about, for example, correct spellings or dates.

Interviews can be recorded as audio only or video. Audio recording is less intrusive, but you lose the interviewee’s body language. Video recordings require more technical equipment, and sometimes come across as more threatening to the interviewee.

As a recording format, we prefer to choose a stereo format without ‘lossy’ compression that can be used on different platforms. This minimises the loss of information. For audio, WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) with a sample rate of 44.1K is often chosen (FIXME).

If recording audio, make sure to also record a minute of ‘silence’ (room tone) in the room, in case the audio will be edited as an outcome.

Uncompressed video is generally unsuitable for archival storage, due to the large file sizes. However, for high quality results, record in a lossless format and then convert to a compressed format after editing. (FIXME – link to preferred formats)

=== Photos ===

It is always a good idea to take a few photos of the moment of the interview and the interviewee, especially if the interview is to be published later. It is possible to use screenshots from a video recording, but they may be limited in quality.

=== Documents ===

When the interviewee refers to documents or objects, it is advisable to note them and add them to the set of information that accompanies the interview. Preferably, you will have seen any documents before the interview, to help guide the questions to be asked. If the document is important in its own right, it can form a separate item in Canonbase, and this item is then referred to in the interview documentation.

== After the Interview ==

FIXME AI transcribing of the interview, auto-captions on editing software?

=== Transcription ===

After the interview, the words of the interviewee and interviewer can be converted to written text, called a transcription. The text contains the questions and answers, together with the point in time in the recording, so that we can quickly cross reference between the recording and the transcript.

Transcription can be done manually, though this is very time-consuming. There are software tools that can automate this service. If using these tools, it is important to know what will happen to the data while it is being processed – will it be anonymous and secure? In particular, it is important to know if an AI tool will be using the data for training its language model. Plan how you will be processing the interview material ahead of time, as it should be included in the information given to the interviewee (see Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ above). FIXME link needed.

Software tools will generally create a ‘raw’ transcript, including the ‘um’ and ‘ah’ sounds people make when thinking, and the incomplete thoughts and sentences that are part of informal speech. They may also make errors transcribing words, especially names or unusual technical terms. Some editing work will be needed to make the raw transcript readable, but be careful not to change the sense of what has been said. A faithful transcription is more important than one that reads well.

Transcripts generated by software will generally not include the name of the person speaking, so this information will need to be added. If the audio or video recording of the transcript is to be published, keep the automatically generated times stamps for each person speaking, to make it easy to cross reference between the written transcript and the recording.

It is a good idea to have someone else read the transcript, to ensure it makes sense to someone who wasn’t present at the interview.

=== Documentation ===

Additional documentation will help make the interview as useful as possible as part of an archive. Consider including the following:

* Details sheet of the interviewee (name, CV, ...)
* A summary or ‘abstract’ of the interview. AI tools can be used to generate the summary, but be aware of the potential privacy issues with using AI. (FIXME – link to Ethics section)
* Photos (with appropriate metadata such as title, description, copyright information, and so on – see FIXME link to metadata).
* The thematic list and questions used in the interview
* Sources and background information
* Transcript
* Additional documents or references
* Derivatives (for example, published versions of the interview)

All these documents, together with the recording, form a package that should be stored together. You can use the [https://repository.canon-project.eu/?attachment_id=4273 Interview Record Form] to record the details of the interview and package of documents.

=== Editing ===

Audio and video recordings should generally only need simple editing, to make sure the recording starts and ends cleanly. Add titles and credits to video recordings. Sometimes it is helpful to include images or short video clips in a video recording, where they illustrate what is being discussed.

Consider adding ‘chapters’ or timestamps to video recordings, marking the main parts of the interview, to help people find the content they are interested in. This is less important if you have a transcript, as text search can then be used, but ideally you will offer both.

== Additional Information and Resources ==

=== Group interviews ===

It is possible to conduct interviews with small groups of people who are all relevant to the topic being examined. Here, the role of the interviewer is to initiate the discussion, then guide it to make sure it stays on topic. The interviewees will typically ask questions of each other and keep the discussion flowing. Make sure that one or two voices do not dominate the conversation – you may need to invite the quieter people on the group to contribute.

=== Interviews as a learning exercise ===

Conducting interviews with theatre professionals can be a very useful exercise for students learning about the history or technical theatre. See the [https://canonbase.eu/wiki/Item:Q30890 Making Oral History Interviews] Canon teaching method.

=== Further guidance ===

The Oral History Society and the Oral History Association both offer very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

https://ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/

https://oralhistory.org/best-practices-guidelines-and-toolkits/

Help:Interview guidelines

2026-04-15T21:41:57Z

NickHunt:

Help:Interview guidelines

2026-04-15T21:11:03Z

NickHunt:

== Why interview? ==
Much of our recent history is not recorded anywhere. It is contained in people's memories – the habits they had, the methods they used. This is often referred to as oral tradition. This kind of history is lost when these people disappear. The purpose of interviews for 'oral tradition' is to map out this history on the basis of conversations with 'old hands'. In this way, methods, techniques and customs can be captured and we find out under what conditions people worked, what equipment they used, what the relationships were with other actors in the field, what the atmosphere was like, and so on.

Interviews with experts and practitioners therefore provide insights into the working methods of the past, as well as the history of designs and technological development. However, a good interview requires the necessary preparation and aftercare.

== Preparation ==

Preparation is key to a successful interview:

# Make sure you are clear about the purpose of the interview – what information are you trying to gather? Who is the audience – what do they already know about the topic? How will the interview be used – will the interview itself be published (as a video or audio recording, or as a transcript) or is it to gather information that will be used in other ways?
# Research background information about the interviewee and the topic. Information about positions, companies or organisations where the interviewee has worked and the productions and material that were available in a certain period helps to shape and steer the interview. This information can be added to the interview documentation later. Even a small amount of background research will help plan the questions to be asked, and will also give the interviewee confidence that their contribution is valued.
# Draw up a list of themes to be covered. The theme list contains the topics to be covered in the interview. It is a kind of checklist, so you can be sure that all topics are covered.
# Derive a list of questions from the theme list containing the specific questions to be asked. You may find our [[Help:Interview_example_questions|list of example questions]] useful when preparing your own. The questionnaire is a tool, during the interview questions can be omitted or added, depending on how the interview progresses. As part of planning the questions, decide on the interview format:
## Structured – where the questions are set and you don’t deviate from them during the interview. This method can be useful if you want to compare the results of several interviews – for example, asking a group of people about their experience with a particular item of equipment.
## Semi-structured – where you have specific questions, but you allow the conversation to cover other topics. This method ensures that all topics are covered, but results in a more conversational style, and allows the interviewee to contribute more to the content include information the interviewer did not anticipate.
## Unstructured – where you decide on a topic, but allow the conversation to flow freely. This method allows the interviewee a lot of freedom to determine the content, and can be useful to discover things you are not aware of, but risks the content of the interview being irrelevant to the intended topic.
# Make sure the interviewee knows in advance the broad areas you want to discuss. Ask them if they have useful materials relevant to the discussion, such as photographs, documents, plans, and so on.

== The Interview ==

=== The Setting ===

It is important that the interviewee feels comfortable and relaxed. Make sure you can work in a quiet place, which can be at the interviewee's home, or in a place that is appropriate to the subject, for example their workplace. When choosing the location, think about any background noise or other disturbing factors. Provide some water.

If you are conducting the interview online, make sure everyone involved is somewhere quiet, where they won’t be disturbed. If the online interview is to be recorded and published, take care with the background behind each person – if necessary, use a digital background, perhaps relevant to the topic. Also consider lighting – light that is soft and not too strongly directional will be better than harsh, directional light.

=== Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ ===

It is essential to carry out interviews in an ethical way, to avoid harm to the interviewee. The central principle is that of ‘informed consent’, so the interviewee should be aware of and agree to:

* The purpose of the interview
* What will happen to any recordings, notes or transcripts – will they be published and if so where, or will they be deleted later?
* What opportunity the interviewee will have to see the interview before any publication, or to have specific statements redacted, or for a temporary embargo
* How data about the interviewee (name, contact details, content of recordings) will be kept secure
* How they can withdraw from the process, without any detriment to themselves
* Whether they can be anonymous or not
* How they can raise concerns about the interview process

For more information about ethical consideration and data security, see _ (FIXME). We recommend getting the interviewee’s consent to these points in writing. You can do this in advance of the interview, or talk through the points at the start of the interview then do the paperwork afterwards. The interviewee should get a copy of the agreement. We have created an [https://repository.canon-project.eu/?attachment_id=4274 Interviewee Information and Consent Form Template] you can use to give the interviewee information and record their consent.

It is customary for the interviewee to receive a copy of the interview and transcript. When an interview is published in a journal, for example, it is also advisable to send the text to the person in question for approval with the request for any corrections.

=== Approach ===

Plan your approach to the interview carefully. It helps to start with some ‘warm up’ conversation – this may be part of the interview itself, or some pre-interview chat to help your interviewee relax. This is especially important if you don’t already know each other.

Start the interview with some simple questions with factual answers. If you are recording the interview, it is helpful to ask the interviewee to say their name, the date and location of the interview. Then ask a general question such as “how did you start out in the industry?” or “when did you first become involved with [the topic to be discussed]?” Cover broader questions first, then about more specific, complex or controversial matters. Unless you are following a strictly structured set of questions, use the list of questions as a guideline, but give the interviewee space to answer the questions and possibly broach topics themselves. See the [[Help:Interview_example_questions|example questions]] for more guidance.

Avoid interruptions or introducing your own opinions or biases – the interview is a space for the interviewee to express their thoughts and opinions. Make sure your questions are phrased neutrally, rather than asking the interviewee to agree with one view or another – for example, “what was the impact of X technology on your work?” rather than “did X technology make your work easier?”

=== Recording ===

How you record the interview will depend on whether the recording is the final output, or a working tool for later analysis or to make a transcript from:

==== Working tool ====

The quality of the recording does not really matter, as long as it is audible. If you plan to use an automated system to create a transcript, a cleaner recording will help the software make a more accurate transcript.

==== Recording as Final Output ====

For high quality output, thought must be given to the spatial arrangement and lighting. Make sure you are familiar with the camera and other equipment you are using. Test them beforehand, and if necessary, carry out a practice with a friend or colleague to make sure you have dealt with any technical issues. Check batteries and storage capacity available on memory cards, and so on.

If you are interviewing online, most video call platforms such as Teams and Zoom allow you to make a recording. Test this first to make sure you are familiar with the controls, and that the quality is suitable for your needs.

At the beginning of the recording, indicate the date, place, the name of the interviewee, the name of the interviewer, and the topic to be discussed. Try to make the recording process as discreet as possible, ideally so the interviewee forgets after a while that the whole thing is being recorded. Write down as little as possible, if necessary, you can ask additional questions afterwards about, for example, correct spellings or dates.

Interviews can be recorded as audio only or video. Audio recording is less intrusive, but you lose the interviewee’s body language. Video recordings require more technical equipment, and sometimes come across as more threatening to the interviewee.

As a recording format, we prefer to choose a stereo format without ‘lossy’ compression that can be used on different platforms. This minimises the loss of information. For audio, WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) with a sample rate of 44.1K is often chosen (FIXME).

If recording audio, make sure to also record a minute of ‘silence’ (room tone) in the room, in case the audio will be edited as an outcome.

Uncompressed video is generally unsuitable for archival storage, due to the large file sizes. However, for high quality results, record in a lossless format and then convert to a compressed format after editing. (FIXME – link to preferred formats)

=== Photos ===

It is always a good idea to take a few photos of the moment of the interview and the interviewee, especially if the interview is to be published later. It is possible to use screenshots from a video recording, but they may be limited in quality.

=== Documents ===

When the interviewee refers to documents or objects, it is advisable to note them and add them to the set of information that accompanies the interview. Preferably, you will have seen any documents before the interview, to help guide the questions to be asked. If the document is important in its own right, it can form a separate item in Canonbase, and this item is then referred to in the interview documentation.

== After the Interview ==

FIXME AI transcribing of the interview, auto-captions on editing software?

=== Transcription ===

After the interview, the words of the interviewee and interviewer can be converted to written text, called a transcription. The text contains the questions and answers, together with the point in time in the recording, so that we can quickly cross reference between the recording and the transcript.

Transcription can be done manually, though this is very time-consuming. There are software tools that can automate this service. If using these tools, it is important to know what will happen to the data while it is being processed – will it be anonymous and secure? In particular, it is important to know if an AI tool will be using the data for training its language model. Plan how you will be processing the interview material ahead of time, as it should be included in the information given to the interviewee (see Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ above). FIXME link needed.

Software tools will generally create a ‘raw’ transcript, including the ‘um’ and ‘ah’ sounds people make when thinking, and the incomplete thoughts and sentences that are part of informal speech. They may also make errors transcribing words, especially names or unusual technical terms. Some editing work will be needed to make the raw transcript readable, but be careful not to change the sense of what has been said. A faithful transcription is more important than one that reads well.

Transcripts generated by software will generally not include the name of the person speaking, so this information will need to be added. If the audio or video recording of the transcript is to be published, keep the automatically generated times stamps for each person speaking, to make it easy to cross reference between the written transcript and the recording.

It is a good idea to have someone else read the transcript, to ensure it makes sense to someone who wasn’t present at the interview.

=== Documentation ===

Additional documentation will help make the interview as useful as possible as part of an archive. Consider including the following:

* Details sheet of the interviewee (name, CV, ...)
* A summary or ‘abstract’ of the interview. AI tools can be used to generate the summary, but be aware of the potential privacy issues with using AI. (FIXME – link to Ethics section)
* Photos (with appropriate metadata such as title, description, copyright information, and so on – see FIXME link to metadata).
* The thematic list and questions used in the interview
* Sources and background information
* Transcript
* Additional documents or references
* Derivatives (for example, published versions of the interview)

All these documents, together with the recording, form a package that should be stored together.

=== Editing ===

Audio and video recordings should generally only need simple editing, to make sure the recording starts and ends cleanly. Add titles and credits to video recordings. Sometimes it is helpful to include images or short video clips in a video recording, where they illustrate what is being discussed.

Consider adding ‘chapters’ or timestamps to video recordings, marking the main parts of the interview, to help people find the content they are interested in. This is less important if you have a transcript, as text search can then be used, but ideally you will offer both.

== Additional Information and Resources ==

=== Group interviews ===

It is possible to conduct interviews with small groups of people who are all relevant to the topic being examined. Here, the role of the interviewer is to initiate the discussion, then guide it to make sure it stays on topic. The interviewees will typically ask questions of each other and keep the discussion flowing. Make sure that one or two voices do not dominate the conversation – you may need to invite the quieter people on the group to contribute.

=== Interviews as a learning exercise ===

Conducting interviews with theatre professionals can be a very useful exercise for students learning about the history or technical theatre. See the [https://canonbase.eu/wiki/Item:Q30890 Making Oral History Interviews] Canon teaching method.

=== Further guidance ===

The Oral History Society and the Oral History Association both offer very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

https://ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/

https://oralhistory.org/best-practices-guidelines-and-toolkits/

Help:Interview guidelines

2026-04-15T17:11:29Z

NickHunt:

== Why interview? ==
Much of our recent history is not recorded anywhere. It is contained in people's memories – the habits they had, the methods they used. This is often referred to as oral tradition. This kind of history is lost when these people disappear. The purpose of interviews for 'oral tradition' is to map out this history on the basis of conversations with 'old hands'. In this way, methods, techniques and customs can be captured and we find out under what conditions people worked, what equipment they used, what the relationships were with other actors in the field, what the atmosphere was like, and so on.

Interviews with experts and practitioners therefore provide insights into the working methods of the past, as well as the history of designs and technological development. However, a good interview requires the necessary preparation and aftercare.

== Preparation ==

Preparation is key to a successful interview:

# Make sure you are clear about the purpose of the interview – what information are you trying to gather? Who is the audience – what do they already know about the topic? How will the interview be used – will the interview itself be published (as a video or audio recording, or as a transcript) or is it to gather information that will be used in other ways?
# Research background information about the interviewee and the topic. Information about positions, companies or organisations where the interviewee has worked and the productions and material that were available in a certain period helps to shape and steer the interview. This information can be added to the interview documentation later. Even a small amount of background research will help plan the questions to be asked, and will also give the interviewee confidence that their contribution is valued.
# Draw up a list of themes to be covered. The theme list contains the topics to be covered in the interview. It is a kind of checklist, so you can be sure that all topics are covered.
# Derive a list of questions from the theme list containing the specific questions to be asked. You may find our lists of questions useful when preparing your own (FIXME link needed). The questionnaire is a tool, during the interview questions can be omitted or added, depending on how the interview progresses. As part of planning the questions, decide on the interview format:
## Structured – where the questions are set and you don’t deviate from them during the interview. This method can be useful if you want to compare the results of several interviews – for example, asking a group of people about their experience with a particular item of equipment.
## Semi-structured – where you have specific questions, but you allow the conversation to cover other topics. This method ensures that all topics are covered, but results in a more conversational style, and allows the interviewee to contribute more to the content include information the interviewer did not anticipate.
## Unstructured – where you decide on a topic, but allow the conversation to flow freely. This method allows the interviewee a lot of freedom to determine the content, and can be useful to discover things you are not aware of, but risks the content of the interview being irrelevant to the intended topic.
# Make sure the interviewee knows in advance the broad areas you want to discuss. Ask them if they have useful materials relevant to the discussion, such as photographs, documents, plans, and so on.

== The Interview ==

=== The Setting ===

It is important that the interviewee feels comfortable and relaxed. Make sure you can work in a quiet place, which can be at the interviewee's home, or in a place that is appropriate to the subject, for example their workplace. When choosing the location, think about any background noise or other disturbing factors. Provide some water.

If you are conducting the interview online, make sure everyone involved is somewhere quiet, where they won’t be disturbed. If the online interview is to be recorded and published, take care with the background behind each person – if necessary, use a digital background, perhaps relevant to the topic. Also consider lighting – light that is soft and not too strongly directional will be better than harsh, directional light.

=== Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ ===

It is essential to carry out interviews in an ethical way, to avoid harm to the interviewee. The central principle is that of ‘informed consent’, so the interviewee should be aware of and agree to:

* The purpose of the interview
* What will happen to any recordings, notes or transcripts – will they be published and if so where, or will they be deleted later?
* What opportunity the interviewee will have to see the interview before any publication, or to have specific statements redacted, or for a temporary embargo
* How data about the interviewee (name, contact details, content of recordings) will be kept secure
* How they can withdraw from the process, without any detriment to themselves
* Whether they can be anonymous or not
* How they can raise concerns about the interview process

For more information about ethical consideration and data security, see _ (FIXME). We recommend getting the interviewee’s consent to these points in writing. You can do this in advance of the interview, or talk through the points at the start of the interview then do the paperwork afterwards. The interviewee should get a copy of the agreement. We have created an [https://repository.canon-project.eu/?attachment_id=4274 Interviewee Information and Consent Form Template] you can use to give the interviewee information and record their consent.

It is customary for the interviewee to receive a copy of the interview and transcript. When an interview is published in a journal, for example, it is also advisable to send the text to the person in question for approval with the request for any corrections.

=== Approach ===

Plan your approach to the interview carefully. It helps to start with some ‘warm up’ conversation – this may be part of the interview itself, or some pre-interview chat to help your interviewee relax. This is especially important if you don’t already know each other.

Start the interview with some simple questions with factual answers. If you are recording the interview, it is helpful to ask the interviewee to say their name, the date and location of the interview. Then ask a general question such as “how did you start out in the industry?” or “when did you first become involved with [the topic to be discussed]?” Cover broader questions first, then about more specific, complex or controversial matters. Unless you are following a strictly structured set of questions, use the list of questions as a guideline, but give the interviewee space to answer the questions and possibly broach topics themselves. See the example questions for more guidance. (FIXME link needed)

Avoid interruptions or introducing your own opinions or biases – the interview is a space for the interviewee to express their thoughts and opinions. Make sure your questions are phrased neutrally, rather than asking the interviewee to agree with one view or another – for example, “what was the impact of X technology on your work?” rather than “did X technology make your work easier?”

=== Recording ===

How you record the interview will depend on whether the recording is the final output, or a working tool for later analysis or to make a transcript from:

==== Working tool ====

The quality of the recording does not really matter, as long as it is audible. If you plan to use an automated system to create a transcript, a cleaner recording will help the software make a more accurate transcript.

==== Recording as Final Output ====

For high quality output, thought must be given to the spatial arrangement and lighting. Make sure you are familiar with the camera and other equipment you are using. Test them beforehand, and if necessary, carry out a practice with a friend or colleague to make sure you have dealt with any technical issues. Check batteries and storage capacity available on memory cards, and so on.

If you are interviewing online, most video call platforms such as Teams and Zoom allow you to make a recording. Test this first to make sure you are familiar with the controls, and that the quality is suitable for your needs.

At the beginning of the recording, indicate the date, place, the name of the interviewee, the name of the interviewer, and the topic to be discussed. Try to make the recording process as discreet as possible, ideally so the interviewee forgets after a while that the whole thing is being recorded. Write down as little as possible, if necessary, you can ask additional questions afterwards about, for example, correct spellings or dates.

Interviews can be recorded as audio only or video. Audio recording is less intrusive, but you lose the interviewee’s body language. Video recordings require more technical equipment, and sometimes come across as more threatening to the interviewee.

As a recording format, we prefer to choose a stereo format without ‘lossy’ compression that can be used on different platforms. This minimises the loss of information. For audio, WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) with a sample rate of 44.1K is often chosen (FIXME).

If recording audio, make sure to also record a minute of ‘silence’ (room tone) in the room, in case the audio will be edited as an outcome.

Uncompressed video is generally unsuitable for archival storage, due to the large file sizes. However, for high quality results, record in a lossless format and then convert to a compressed format after editing. (FIXME – link to preferred formats)

=== Photos ===

It is always a good idea to take a few photos of the moment of the interview and the interviewee, especially if the interview is to be published later. It is possible to use screenshots from a video recording, but they may be limited in quality.

=== Documents ===

When the interviewee refers to documents or objects, it is advisable to note them and add them to the set of information that accompanies the interview. Preferably, you will have seen any documents before the interview, to help guide the questions to be asked. If the document is important in its own right, it can form a separate item in Canonbase, and this item is then referred to in the interview documentation.

== After the Interview ==

FIXME AI transcribing of the interview, auto-captions on editing software?

=== Transcription ===

After the interview, the words of the interviewee and interviewer can be converted to written text, called a transcription. The text contains the questions and answers, together with the point in time in the recording, so that we can quickly cross reference between the recording and the transcript.

Transcription can be done manually, though this is very time-consuming. There are software tools that can automate this service. If using these tools, it is important to know what will happen to the data while it is being processed – will it be anonymous and secure? In particular, it is important to know if an AI tool will be using the data for training its language model. Plan how you will be processing the interview material ahead of time, as it should be included in the information given to the interviewee (see Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ above). FIXME link needed.

Software tools will generally create a ‘raw’ transcript, including the ‘um’ and ‘ah’ sounds people make when thinking, and the incomplete thoughts and sentences that are part of informal speech. They may also make errors transcribing words, especially names or unusual technical terms. Some editing work will be needed to make the raw transcript readable, but be careful not to change the sense of what has been said. A faithful transcription is more important than one that reads well.

Transcripts generated by software will generally not include the name of the person speaking, so this information will need to be added. If the audio or video recording of the transcript is to be published, keep the automatically generated times stamps for each person speaking, to make it easy to cross reference between the written transcript and the recording.

It is a good idea to have someone else read the transcript, to ensure it makes sense to someone who wasn’t present at the interview.

=== Documentation ===

Additional documentation will help make the interview as useful as possible as part of an archive. Consider including the following:

* Details sheet of the interviewee (name, CV, ...)
* A summary or ‘abstract’ of the interview. AI tools can be used to generate the summary, but be aware of the potential privacy issues with using AI. (FIXME – link to Ethics section)
* Photos (with appropriate metadata such as title, description, copyright information, and so on – see FIXME link to metadata).
* The thematic list and questions used in the interview
* Sources and background information
* Transcript
* Additional documents or references
* Derivatives (for example, published versions of the interview)

All these documents, together with the recording, form a package that should be stored together.

=== Editing ===

Audio and video recordings should generally only need simple editing, to make sure the recording starts and ends cleanly. Add titles and credits to video recordings. Sometimes it is helpful to include images or short video clips in a video recording, where they illustrate what is being discussed.

Consider adding ‘chapters’ or timestamps to video recordings, marking the main parts of the interview, to help people find the content they are interested in. This is less important if you have a transcript, as text search can then be used, but ideally you will offer both.

== Additional Information and Resources ==

=== Group interviews ===

It is possible to conduct interviews with small groups of people who are all relevant to the topic being examined. Here, the role of the interviewer is to initiate the discussion, then guide it to make sure it stays on topic. The interviewees will typically ask questions of each other and keep the discussion flowing. Make sure that one or two voices do not dominate the conversation – you may need to invite the quieter people on the group to contribute.

=== Interviews as a learning exercise ===

Conducting interviews with theatre professionals can be a very useful exercise for students learning about the history or technical theatre. See the Canon teaching methods: FIXME https://canonbase.eu/wiki/Item:Q30890

=== Further guidance ===

The Oral History Society and the Oral History Association both offer very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

https://ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/
https://oralhistory.org/best-practices-guidelines-and-toolkits/

Help:Interview guidelines

2026-04-15T17:09:06Z

NickHunt:

== Why interview? ==
Much of our recent history is not recorded anywhere. It is contained in people's memories – the habits they had, the methods they used. This is often referred to as oral tradition. This kind of history is lost when these people disappear. The purpose of interviews for 'oral tradition' is to map out this history on the basis of conversations with 'old hands'. In this way, methods, techniques and customs can be captured and we find out under what conditions people worked, what equipment they used, what the relationships were with other actors in the field, what the atmosphere was like, and so on.

Interviews with experts and practitioners therefore provide insights into the working methods of the past, as well as the history of designs and technological development. However, a good interview requires the necessary preparation and aftercare.

== Preparation ==

Preparation is key to a successful interview:

# Make sure you are clear about the purpose of the interview – what information are you trying to gather? Who is the audience – what do they already know about the topic? How will the interview be used – will the interview itself be published (as a video or audio recording, or as a transcript) or is it to gather information that will be used in other ways?
# Research background information about the interviewee and the topic. Information about positions, companies or organisations where the interviewee has worked and the productions and material that were available in a certain period helps to shape and steer the interview. This information can be added to the interview documentation later. Even a small amount of background research will help plan the questions to be asked, and will also give the interviewee confidence that their contribution is valued.
# Draw up a list of themes to be covered. The theme list contains the topics to be covered in the interview. It is a kind of checklist, so you can be sure that all topics are covered.
# Derive a list of questions from the theme list containing the specific questions to be asked. You may find our lists of questions useful when preparing your own (FIXME link needed). The questionnaire is a tool, during the interview questions can be omitted or added, depending on how the interview progresses. As part of planning the questions, decide on the interview format:
## Structured – where the questions are set and you don’t deviate from them during the interview. This method can be useful if you want to compare the results of several interviews – for example, asking a group of people about their experience with a particular item of equipment.
## Semi-structured – where you have specific questions, but you allow the conversation to cover other topics. This method ensures that all topics are covered, but results in a more conversational style, and allows the interviewee to contribute more to the content include information the interviewer did not anticipate.
## Unstructured – where you decide on a topic, but allow the conversation to flow freely. This method allows the interviewee a lot of freedom to determine the content, and can be useful to discover things you are not aware of, but risks the content of the interview being irrelevant to the intended topic.
# Make sure the interviewee knows in advance the broad areas you want to discuss. Ask them if they have useful materials relevant to the discussion, such as photographs, documents, plans, and so on.

== The Interview ==

=== The Setting ===

It is important that the interviewee feels comfortable and relaxed. Make sure you can work in a quiet place, which can be at the interviewee's home, or in a place that is appropriate to the subject, for example their workplace. When choosing the location, think about any background noise or other disturbing factors. Provide some water.

If you are conducting the interview online, make sure everyone involved is somewhere quiet, where they won’t be disturbed. If the online interview is to be recorded and published, take care with the background behind each person – if necessary, use a digital background, perhaps relevant to the topic. Also consider lighting – light that is soft and not too strongly directional will be better than harsh, directional light.

=== Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ ===

It is essential to carry out interviews in an ethical way, to avoid harm to the interviewee. The central principle is that of ‘informed consent’, so the interviewee should be aware of and agree to:

* The purpose of the interview
* What will happen to any recordings, notes or transcripts – will they be published and if so where, or will they be deleted later?
* What opportunity the interviewee will have to see the interview before any publication, or to have specific statements redacted, or for a temporary embargo
* How data about the interviewee (name, contact details, content of recordings) will be kept secure
* How they can withdraw from the process, without any detriment to themselves
* Whether they can be anonymous or not
* How they can raise concerns about the interview process

For more information about ethical consideration and data security, see _ (FIXME). We recommend getting the interviewee’s consent to these points in writing. You can do this in advance of the interview, or talk through the points at the start of the interview then do the paperwork afterwards. The interviewee should get a copy of the agreement. We have created a template (https://repository.canon-project.eu/?attachment_id=4274)(FIXME) you can use to give the interviewee information and record their consent.

It is customary for the interviewee to receive a copy of the interview and transcript. When an interview is published in a journal, for example, it is also advisable to send the text to the person in question for approval with the request for any corrections.

=== Approach ===

Plan your approach to the interview carefully. It helps to start with some ‘warm up’ conversation – this may be part of the interview itself, or some pre-interview chat to help your interviewee relax. This is especially important if you don’t already know each other.

Start the interview with some simple questions with factual answers. If you are recording the interview, it is helpful to ask the interviewee to say their name, the date and location of the interview. Then ask a general question such as “how did you start out in the industry?” or “when did you first become involved with [the topic to be discussed]?” Cover broader questions first, then about more specific, complex or controversial matters. Unless you are following a strictly structured set of questions, use the list of questions as a guideline, but give the interviewee space to answer the questions and possibly broach topics themselves. See the example questions for more guidance. (FIXME link needed)

Avoid interruptions or introducing your own opinions or biases – the interview is a space for the interviewee to express their thoughts and opinions. Make sure your questions are phrased neutrally, rather than asking the interviewee to agree with one view or another – for example, “what was the impact of X technology on your work?” rather than “did X technology make your work easier?”

=== Recording ===

How you record the interview will depend on whether the recording is the final output, or a working tool for later analysis or to make a transcript from:

==== Working tool ====

The quality of the recording does not really matter, as long as it is audible. If you plan to use an automated system to create a transcript, a cleaner recording will help the software make a more accurate transcript.

==== Recording as Final Output ====

For high quality output, thought must be given to the spatial arrangement and lighting. Make sure you are familiar with the camera and other equipment you are using. Test them beforehand, and if necessary, carry out a practice with a friend or colleague to make sure you have dealt with any technical issues. Check batteries and storage capacity available on memory cards, and so on.

If you are interviewing online, most video call platforms such as Teams and Zoom allow you to make a recording. Test this first to make sure you are familiar with the controls, and that the quality is suitable for your needs.

At the beginning of the recording, indicate the date, place, the name of the interviewee, the name of the interviewer, and the topic to be discussed. Try to make the recording process as discreet as possible, ideally so the interviewee forgets after a while that the whole thing is being recorded. Write down as little as possible, if necessary, you can ask additional questions afterwards about, for example, correct spellings or dates.

Interviews can be recorded as audio only or video. Audio recording is less intrusive, but you lose the interviewee’s body language. Video recordings require more technical equipment, and sometimes come across as more threatening to the interviewee.

As a recording format, we prefer to choose a stereo format without ‘lossy’ compression that can be used on different platforms. This minimises the loss of information. For audio, WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) with a sample rate of 44.1K is often chosen (FIXME).

If recording audio, make sure to also record a minute of ‘silence’ (room tone) in the room, in case the audio will be edited as an outcome.

Uncompressed video is generally unsuitable for archival storage, due to the large file sizes. However, for high quality results, record in a lossless format and then convert to a compressed format after editing. (FIXME – link to preferred formats)

=== Photos ===

It is always a good idea to take a few photos of the moment of the interview and the interviewee, especially if the interview is to be published later. It is possible to use screenshots from a video recording, but they may be limited in quality.

=== Documents ===

When the interviewee refers to documents or objects, it is advisable to note them and add them to the set of information that accompanies the interview. Preferably, you will have seen any documents before the interview, to help guide the questions to be asked. If the document is important in its own right, it can form a separate item in Canonbase, and this item is then referred to in the interview documentation.

== After the Interview ==

FIXME AI transcribing of the interview, auto-captions on editing software?

=== Transcription ===

After the interview, the words of the interviewee and interviewer can be converted to written text, called a transcription. The text contains the questions and answers, together with the point in time in the recording, so that we can quickly cross reference between the recording and the transcript.

Transcription can be done manually, though this is very time-consuming. There are software tools that can automate this service. If using these tools, it is important to know what will happen to the data while it is being processed – will it be anonymous and secure? In particular, it is important to know if an AI tool will be using the data for training its language model. Plan how you will be processing the interview material ahead of time, as it should be included in the information given to the interviewee (see Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ above). FIXME link needed.

Software tools will generally create a ‘raw’ transcript, including the ‘um’ and ‘ah’ sounds people make when thinking, and the incomplete thoughts and sentences that are part of informal speech. They may also make errors transcribing words, especially names or unusual technical terms. Some editing work will be needed to make the raw transcript readable, but be careful not to change the sense of what has been said. A faithful transcription is more important than one that reads well.

Transcripts generated by software will generally not include the name of the person speaking, so this information will need to be added. If the audio or video recording of the transcript is to be published, keep the automatically generated times stamps for each person speaking, to make it easy to cross reference between the written transcript and the recording.

It is a good idea to have someone else read the transcript, to ensure it makes sense to someone who wasn’t present at the interview.

=== Documentation ===

Additional documentation will help make the interview as useful as possible as part of an archive. Consider including the following:

* Details sheet of the interviewee (name, CV, ...)
* A summary or ‘abstract’ of the interview. AI tools can be used to generate the summary, but be aware of the potential privacy issues with using AI. (FIXME – link to Ethics section)
* Photos (with appropriate metadata such as title, description, copyright information, and so on – see FIXME link to metadata).
* The thematic list and questions used in the interview
* Sources and background information
* Transcript
* Additional documents or references
* Derivatives (for example, published versions of the interview)

All these documents, together with the recording, form a package that should be stored together.

=== Editing ===

Audio and video recordings should generally only need simple editing, to make sure the recording starts and ends cleanly. Add titles and credits to video recordings. Sometimes it is helpful to include images or short video clips in a video recording, where they illustrate what is being discussed.

Consider adding ‘chapters’ or timestamps to video recordings, marking the main parts of the interview, to help people find the content they are interested in. This is less important if you have a transcript, as text search can then be used, but ideally you will offer both.

== Additional Information and Resources ==

=== Group interviews ===

It is possible to conduct interviews with small groups of people who are all relevant to the topic being examined. Here, the role of the interviewer is to initiate the discussion, then guide it to make sure it stays on topic. The interviewees will typically ask questions of each other and keep the discussion flowing. Make sure that one or two voices do not dominate the conversation – you may need to invite the quieter people on the group to contribute.

=== Interviews as a learning exercise ===

Conducting interviews with theatre professionals can be a very useful exercise for students learning about the history or technical theatre. See the Canon teaching methods: FIXME https://canonbase.eu/wiki/Item:Q30890

=== Further guidance ===

The Oral History Society and the Oral History Association both offer very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

https://ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/
https://oralhistory.org/best-practices-guidelines-and-toolkits/

Help:Uploading files

2026-04-15T17:06:08Z

NickHunt:

[[Help:Main|Help index]]
-------------------

== Using the repository==
The repository is the place where we keep all document files used in Canonbase (image files, audio files, PDFs, and so on). Once they are stored in the repository, they can be used in any item of the database and in the wikipages. The documents are enriched with metadata. These are structured elements of extra information about the document.
* '''Media ID''': the unique number of the file that is used to reference in Canonbase (automatically generated)
* '''Media item''': based on the file type (automatically generated)
* '''Date''': the month the file is entered in the repository (automatically generated)
* '''Project''': to keep a large group of files together, we can assign them to a project. For example, “lighting design” or a magazine.
* '''Source type''': is related to the source types in Canonbase and is mainly used to help find a specific type of document
* '''Language(s)''': the language(s) of a document
* '''Creator''': the original creator of the item
* '''Access type''': is the document public, or only available to those logged in to the database? (for example, documents under copyright but allowed to use for research)
* '''Copyright''': the type of copyright licence
* '''Copyright Holder''': the current holder of the copyright
* '''Contributor''': the person that uploaded the file (automatically generated)
Other metadata:
* '''Attached to''': refers to Qid in the Canonbase. Providing this is not necessary, but is useful.
* '''Date taken''': this information is read from exif data in the image itself.
In the future, we will also add:
* '''AltTxt''': a description used for the visually impaired (image only)
* '''Caption''': a caption that can be used under the image (image only)

===Logging in===
The repository is a separate application from the database, with a separate login. To login, go to https://repository.canon-project.eu/login and fill in your credentials.

===Browsing the media===
Click on the media library.

You will see a list of files that are available with their metadata. You can filter and search the media based on the metadata.

You can select the metadata you want to see and define how many items you want to see on each page in the screen options.

Hovering over the image or name of the file provides different actions that can be performed:
* '''Edit''': opens the page to edit the metadata of a single file
* '''Delete Permanently''': removes the file and its metadata permanently
* '''View''': shows the original file
* '''Copy URL''': copies a URL to refer to the picture outside the database.
* '''Download''': downloads the file

===Editing the Metadata (single file)===
You can edit the metadata of a single file by clicking on the file. A new page will open where you can edit the metadata. To save the information, click the '''Update''' button.

FIXME – need to add this capability to the WordPress.

Each item in the repository can have a Q number associating it with an item in Canonbase. Add the Canonbase Q number to the repository metadata value Attached To. Over time, these will be connected to Canonbase automatically, or you can do it manually – see Using Files in Canonbase below.

===Editing the Metadata (series of files)===
To edit a batch of files, you first need to select the files by ticking the checkboxes to the left of each file you want. You can use the “select all” checkbox (top left of the list) to select all the files shown on the current page.

Next put the metadata to be added in the Add Metadata in Bulk frame at the top of the page, and click apply. All files will be updated.

To remove Metadata, select the files, select the values to be removed and click Remove. For example, if I want to remove the language Dutch in a series of files, I select the files, I select Dutch in the language drop down language and then click Remove.

===Naming of files===
Once a file is uploaded, the name in its url can’t be changed, so before uploading files, check the clarity and consistency of the filenames. Ideally the names represent the content of the file and are understandable for other users.

Avoid using special characters with accents in the file names, as they can cause issues later in the process. The other fields such as title, caption etc. are all changeable later.

For detailed guidance on naming files, see [[Help:Naming_conventions|Naming conventions]].

===Filetypes and upload size===

For the file types preferred and allowed by the repository, see [[Help:Document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]].

The maximum file size is 256 MB.

===Uploading files===
Click Add Media File in the left-hand menu bar.

Fill ''before uploading'' the metadata that are common for all files you upload in this batch. These metadata will be added only to this specific batch.

Drag the files into the upload window or select a series of files.

The files will be added to the repository, including their metadata.

Check the files you uploaded in the library and adapt or add metadata that is unique for individual files.

===Adding new Metadata values to the lists===
You can add languages, source types, and projects by clicking the appropriate link and add a value.

Avoid adding too many values to ensure clarity. Please think if it is really necessary to add a new value, or if a combination of metadata will be sufficient to find the files.

===Using files in Canonbase===
To use a file in Canonbase, copy the Media ID and put it in the correct property of the item in Canonbase:
* '''[[Property:P71|Canon document public ID (P71)]]''' Documents (PDF etc.) for public access
* '''[[Property:P369|Canon document private ID (P369)]]''' Documents for only for private access use – these will not be accessible at all to the public and should be set to Private Access in the repository
* '''[[Property:P74|Canon image ID (P74)]]''' for public images.
Note that images are treated separately to other documents, with a different property, as images will be displayed when viewing the item in the Canonbase.
* '''[[Property:P76|Canon video ID (P76)]]''' for public videos.

==OLD==

FIXME - remove the content below once it has been covered elsewhere.

Files are pictures, documents, videos, 3D objects, ... that are used to illustrate the information in the items. We only use files when they are not available on other sustainable sources or when needed for the functioning of the database.

== Used Properties ==
1. Repository
Documents are stored at https://repository.canon-project.eu/, CanonBase interact with their id from there,

P71 for documents (PDF etc.) for public public access
P369 for copyrighted documents
P74 for public images

2.
External images with full source url can be used with property P361

3. Other media
P116 Youtube
P351 Vimeo

4. CanonBase site itself

== Uploading files for P24 ==

Images can be uploaded to Canonbase as well with property P24.
Video with P76

To upload a file, go to the "Upload files" page.
* search the file on your computer
* check the destination filename (the name that will be used in the database) and correct if necesery.
* add additional information and provide a summary
* click upload file
* once the file is uploaded, you can copy the filename and use it in the items.

=== Maximum file size ===

* The maximum file size for all document types is 160 MB

=== Updating files ===
If you have a new version of a file, you can upload this, it will be replaced in all items where it is used.
Older versions are kept in the history files.

=== Bulk uploads ===

== copyright issues ==

== metadata and structured data ==
* add creator
* add licence
* add provenance of the document or source
* add creation date and place

== Preferred and allowed document types ==

''See [[Help:document_types|the help page about document types]]''

== Naming conventions documents ==
''See [[Help:naming_conventions|the help page about naming conventions]]''

== Bulk renaming of documents ==
If you need to rename a large amount of documents, you can use specialised software

> example with Excel files

Help:Interview example questions

2026-04-13T17:06:24Z

NickHunt: Created page with "The following questions are intended to help you develop your own list of questions when interviewing lighting and set designers, and lighting technologists. Select, modify an..."

The following questions are intended to help you develop your own list of questions when interviewing lighting and set designers, and lighting technologists. Select, modify and add to the questions to meet the purpose of the interview you are doing - we don't expect you to ask all of them!

== Introduction to the interview ==

* Explain who is conducting the interview and why. Give the date and place of the interview.
* Give a brief summary of the historical context to the interviewee.

=== Introducing the interviewee ===

* Please introduce yourself - what is your name and current role?
* What is your background - where and when where you born?
* What is your position now?
* What kind of work do you do now?

== Questions about the person ==

=== Questions about career and life history ===

* How long have you been a [set designer/lighting designer/other role]?
* How did you get started in the industry? What was your position when you started?
* How were you trained / how did you learn the trade?
** By whom?
** What was the content? What did training entail?
* Who were your early influences - what did you learn from them?
* What kind of productions have you mostly worked on over your career? Which companies / artists / houses have you worked with?
* What has changed in these types of shows/performances?
* What has changed in the technology since you started?
* What was old-fashioned by the time you started?
* What is old-fashioned now?
* Do you see an evolution in the recognition that the profession receives?
* Which project or work are you most proud of, and why? Which do you have the best or worst memories of?

=== Questions about working processes ===

* How do you work with members of your team - who do you rely on most?
* How were the relationships in a team? Who had artistic or technical input? Who made decisions? Has this evolved over time?
* How was a working day organised when you started? How has the way of working changed?
* How does a production go?
** Ideas?
** Drawings? Technically?
** Rehearsal process?
** Premiere?
** Follow up after premiere?
* How do you build a relationship when you work with a new collaborator such as a director?
* Which is your favourite part of the process? Which do you like the least? And why?
* What is the biggest mistake you have made? And why?

=== Questions for Designers ===

* How do you get started on a design - what are your first steps?
* How do you translate a director’s or choreographer’s vision into a design?
* How do you communicate about your design?
* What are the most important aspects of designing for performance to you - what makes a design "successful"?
* Is this still the same or did that change for you over the years?
* Are there any emerging trends or technologies you’re excited about?
* Do you think you have a "style"?
* How do you balance aesthetics with functionality on stage? In the kind of work you do most, is that an influence on the design?
* What are the parts you do yourself and what is done by others (CAD drawing, visualisation, technical preparations)?

==== Questions for lighting designers ====

* What equipment/materials did you use in the beginning?
* Was this conventional lighting (incandescent)?
* What were popular/standard brands?
* What was the way of working? What did a setup look like?
* Do you use a lot of alternative light sources, not designed for entertainment lighting?
* Do you have a specific starting point in creating a lighting design? Colour? Direction? Concept? Rhythm?
* What was your relationship to the set and/or costume design?
* Do you see light as a narrative element, and if so, how do you use it to tell a story?

==== Questions for set designers ====

* Were workshops/studios able to make your ideas a reality?
* How have the craft processes of realising a set design changed? What has been gained and lost?

== Questions about a specific production (concert, theatre play, dance performance…) ==

=== Questions about the production ===

* What was the production about?
* When was the production and how many shows did it have?
* Was the production in a theatre, on location or in another kind of venue?
** If it did tour was it national or international?
** Did the production tour or stay in one place?
* Were you on the bill? In the program booklet?
* Is this the first time that you worked for this theatre group, team or theatre? If not, tell more
* How was the production made?
** How was the relationship with the artists?
** Who determined the end result?
** What artistic input was there from the technicians?
* Were the technicians/engineers able to turn ideas into reality?
* Were there any issues you had to take into account (budget, equipment, venue, touring)? How did these constrain your work?
* How was your relationship with the artistic team?
* How was the technical work organized? What did the team look like?

=== Questions for designers ===

* What were the starting points for your design? What was your first inspiration?
* Who else was in the artistic team? (lighting designer, set designer, costume designer, sound designer, video designer)
* Was your design modified during the assembly? If so, why?
* Did your design change in the rest of the process (tour)?
* What did you think of the end result in terms of your design and the entire performance?

==== Questions for lighting designers ====

* Did you use specific fixtures or special effects?
* Did you use software tools such as VOR, Stamp, Moving Light Assistant, LightWright,etc.?
* Did you have a programmer, or did you program the show yourself?
* Who ran the show during the performances?

== Questions about documentation and archiving ==

* What do you keep from each project long term? Why?
* For designers:
** Do you use a storyboard? When in the design process?
** During the design process, do you think about what to keep as documentation material for the venue/technical department? And for yourself?
** What do you do to ensure the quality of your design is maintained in future? How do you explain and communicate this with the technical departments?

Help:Interview guidelines

2026-04-13T15:19:28Z

NickHunt: Created page with "== Why interview? == Much of our recent history is not recorded anywhere. It is contained in people's memories – the habits they had, the methods they used. This is often re..."

== Why interview? ==
Much of our recent history is not recorded anywhere. It is contained in people's memories – the habits they had, the methods they used. This is often referred to as oral tradition. This kind of history is lost when these people disappear. The purpose of interviews for 'oral tradition' is to map out this history on the basis of conversations with 'old hands'. In this way, methods, techniques and customs can be captured and we find out under what conditions people worked, what equipment they used, what the relationships were with other actors in the field, what the atmosphere was like, and so on.

Interviews with experts and practitioners therefore provide insights into the working methods of the past, as well as the history of designs and technological development. However, a good interview requires the necessary preparation and aftercare.

== Preparation ==

Preparation is key to a successful interview:

# Make sure you are clear about the purpose of the interview – what information are you trying to gather? Who is the audience – what do they already know about the topic? How will the interview be used – will the interview itself be published (as a video or audio recording, or as a transcript) or is it to gather information that will be used in other ways?
# Research background information about the interviewee and the topic. Information about positions, companies or organisations where the interviewee has worked and the productions and material that were available in a certain period helps to shape and steer the interview. This information can be added to the interview documentation later. Even a small amount of background research will help plan the questions to be asked, and will also give the interviewee confidence that their contribution is valued.
# Draw up a list of themes to be covered. The theme list contains the topics to be covered in the interview. It is a kind of checklist, so you can be sure that all topics are covered.
# Derive a list of questions from the theme list containing the specific questions to be asked. You may find our lists of questions useful when preparing your own (FIXME link needed). The questionnaire is a tool, during the interview questions can be omitted or added, depending on how the interview progresses. As part of planning the questions, decide on the interview format:
## Structured – where the questions are set and you don’t deviate from them during the interview. This method can be useful if you want to compare the results of several interviews – for example, asking a group of people about their experience with a particular item of equipment.
## Semi-structured – where you have specific questions, but you allow the conversation to cover other topics. This method ensures that all topics are covered, but results in a more conversational style, and allows the interviewee to contribute more to the content include information the interviewer did not anticipate.
## Unstructured – where you decide on a topic, but allow the conversation to flow freely. This method allows the interviewee a lot of freedom to determine the content, and can be useful to discover things you are not aware of, but risks the content of the interview being irrelevant to the intended topic.
# Make sure the interviewee knows in advance the broad areas you want to discuss. Ask them if they have useful materials relevant to the discussion, such as photographs, documents, plans, and so on.

== The Interview ==

=== The Setting ===

It is important that the interviewee feels comfortable and relaxed. Make sure you can work in a quiet place, which can be at the interviewee's home, or in a place that is appropriate to the subject, for example their workplace. When choosing the location, think about any background noise or other disturbing factors. Provide some water.

If you are conducting the interview online, make sure everyone involved is somewhere quiet, where they won’t be disturbed. If the online interview is to be recorded and published, take care with the background behind each person – if necessary, use a digital background, perhaps relevant to the topic. Also consider lighting – light that is soft and not too strongly directional will be better than harsh, directional light.

=== Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ ===

It is essential to carry out interviews in an ethical way, to avoid harm to the interviewee. The central principle is that of ‘informed consent’, so the interviewee should be aware of and agree to:

* The purpose of the interview
* What will happen to any recordings, notes or transcripts – will they be published and if so where, or will they be deleted later?
* What opportunity the interviewee will have to see the interview before any publication, or to have specific statements redacted, or for a temporary embargo
* How data about the interviewee (name, contact details, content of recordings) will be kept secure
* How they can withdraw from the process, without any detriment to themselves
* Whether they can be anonymous or not
* How they can raise concerns about the interview process

For more information about ethical consideration and data security, see _ (FIXME). We recommend getting the interviewee’s consent to these points in writing. You can do this in advance of the interview, or talk through the points at the start of the interview then do the paperwork afterwards. The interviewee should get a copy of the agreement. We have created a template (FIXME) you can use to give the interviewee information and record their consent.

It is customary for the interviewee to receive a copy of the interview and transcript. When an interview is published in a journal, for example, it is also advisable to send the text to the person in question for approval with the request for any corrections.

=== Approach ===

Plan your approach to the interview carefully. It helps to start with some ‘warm up’ conversation – this may be part of the interview itself, or some pre-interview chat to help your interviewee relax. This is especially important if you don’t already know each other.

Start the interview with some simple questions with factual answers. If you are recording the interview, it is helpful to ask the interviewee to say their name, the date and location of the interview. Then ask a general question such as “how did you start out in the industry?” or “when did you first become involved with [the topic to be discussed]?” Cover broader questions first, then about more specific, complex or controversial matters. Unless you are following a strictly structured set of questions, use the list of questions as a guideline, but give the interviewee space to answer the questions and possibly broach topics themselves. See the example questions for more guidance. (FIXME link needed)

Avoid interruptions or introducing your own opinions or biases – the interview is a space for the interviewee to express their thoughts and opinions. Make sure your questions are phrased neutrally, rather than asking the interviewee to agree with one view or another – for example, “what was the impact of X technology on your work?” rather than “did X technology make your work easier?”

=== Recording ===

How you record the interview will depend on whether the recording is the final output, or a working tool for later analysis or to make a transcript from:

==== Working tool ====

The quality of the recording does not really matter, as long as it is audible. If you plan to use an automated system to create a transcript, a cleaner recording will help the software make a more accurate transcript.

==== Recording as Final Output ====

For high quality output, thought must be given to the spatial arrangement and lighting. Make sure you are familiar with the camera and other equipment you are using. Test them beforehand, and if necessary, carry out a practice with a friend or colleague to make sure you have dealt with any technical issues. Check batteries and storage capacity available on memory cards, and so on.

If you are interviewing online, most video call platforms such as Teams and Zoom allow you to make a recording. Test this first to make sure you are familiar with the controls, and that the quality is suitable for your needs.

At the beginning of the recording, indicate the date, place, the name of the interviewee, the name of the interviewer, and the topic to be discussed. Try to make the recording process as discreet as possible, ideally so the interviewee forgets after a while that the whole thing is being recorded. Write down as little as possible, if necessary, you can ask additional questions afterwards about, for example, correct spellings or dates.

Interviews can be recorded as audio only or video. Audio recording is less intrusive, but you lose the interviewee’s body language. Video recordings require more technical equipment, and sometimes come across as more threatening to the interviewee.

As a recording format, we prefer to choose a stereo format without ‘lossy’ compression that can be used on different platforms. This minimises the loss of information. For audio, WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) with a sample rate of 44.1K is often chosen (FIXME).

If recording audio, make sure to also record a minute of ‘silence’ (room tone) in the room, in case the audio will be edited as an outcome.

Uncompressed video is generally unsuitable for archival storage, due to the large file sizes. However, for high quality results, record in a lossless format and then convert to a compressed format after editing. (FIXME – link to preferred formats)

=== Photos ===

It is always a good idea to take a few photos of the moment of the interview and the interviewee, especially if the interview is to be published later. It is possible to use screenshots from a video recording, but they may be limited in quality.

=== Documents ===

When the interviewee refers to documents or objects, it is advisable to note them and add them to the set of information that accompanies the interview. Preferably, you will have seen any documents before the interview, to help guide the questions to be asked. If the document is important in its own right, it can form a separate item in Canonbase, and this item is then referred to in the interview documentation.

== After the Interview ==

FIXME AI transcribing of the interview, auto-captions on editing software?

=== Transcription ===

After the interview, the words of the interviewee and interviewer can be converted to written text, called a transcription. The text contains the questions and answers, together with the point in time in the recording, so that we can quickly cross reference between the recording and the transcript.

Transcription can be done manually, though this is very time-consuming. There are software tools that can automate this service. If using these tools, it is important to know what will happen to the data while it is being processed – will it be anonymous and secure? In particular, it is important to know if an AI tool will be using the data for training its language model. Plan how you will be processing the interview material ahead of time, as it should be included in the information given to the interviewee (see Ethical Considerations and the Interview ‘Contract’ above). FIXME link needed.

Software tools will generally create a ‘raw’ transcript, including the ‘um’ and ‘ah’ sounds people make when thinking, and the incomplete thoughts and sentences that are part of informal speech. They may also make errors transcribing words, especially names or unusual technical terms. Some editing work will be needed to make the raw transcript readable, but be careful not to change the sense of what has been said. A faithful transcription is more important than one that reads well.

Transcripts generated by software will generally not include the name of the person speaking, so this information will need to be added. If the audio or video recording of the transcript is to be published, keep the automatically generated times stamps for each person speaking, to make it easy to cross reference between the written transcript and the recording.

It is a good idea to have someone else read the transcript, to ensure it makes sense to someone who wasn’t present at the interview.

=== Documentation ===

Additional documentation will help make the interview as useful as possible as part of an archive. Consider including the following:

* Details sheet of the interviewee (name, CV, ...)
* A summary or ‘abstract’ of the interview. AI tools can be used to generate the summary, but be aware of the potential privacy issues with using AI. (FIXME – link to Ethics section)
* Photos (with appropriate metadata such as title, description, copyright information, and so on – see FIXME link to metadata).
* The thematic list and questions used in the interview
* Sources and background information
* Transcript
* Additional documents or references
* Derivatives (for example, published versions of the interview)

All these documents, together with the recording, form a package that should be stored together.

=== Editing ===

Audio and video recordings should generally only need simple editing, to make sure the recording starts and ends cleanly. Add titles and credits to video recordings. Sometimes it is helpful to include images or short video clips in a video recording, where they illustrate what is being discussed.

Consider adding ‘chapters’ or timestamps to video recordings, marking the main parts of the interview, to help people find the content they are interested in. This is less important if you have a transcript, as text search can then be used, but ideally you will offer both.

== Additional Information and Resources ==

=== Group interviews ===

It is possible to conduct interviews with small groups of people who are all relevant to the topic being examined. Here, the role of the interviewer is to initiate the discussion, then guide it to make sure it stays on topic. The interviewees will typically ask questions of each other and keep the discussion flowing. Make sure that one or two voices do not dominate the conversation – you may need to invite the quieter people on the group to contribute.

=== Interviews as a learning exercise ===

Conducting interviews with theatre professionals can be a very useful exercise for students learning about the history or technical theatre. See the Canon teaching methods: FIXME https://canonbase.eu/wiki/Item:Q30890

=== Further guidance ===

The Oral History Society and the Oral History Association both offer very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

https://ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/
https://oralhistory.org/best-practices-guidelines-and-toolkits/

Help:Main

2026-04-13T12:05:42Z

NickHunt: /* Interviews */

== New Help Pages ==
We are in the process of building new help pages - this process will take some time. The old help pages are still available - scroll to the heading 'Old' near the bottom of this page, or click the link in the contents table to the right.

The old pages will be removed when the new ones are complete.

==Introduction==
Text result of Canon II
is guideline for ...

===Goals===
Safeguarding for the future

Developing a knowledge base for research, education and professionals

Improving comparability by creating a standardised language

===Doing it right===
This chapter deals with general issues for an ethical, sustainable and inclusive way to research and gather historical information.

* Introduction

* Copyrights (aspects and limitations of copyright restrictions in historic research)

* Agreements (GDPR and the use of personal data and images)

* Research ethics (

* Accessibility, how to improve accessibility for data, pictures, video, maps, timelines and schematics

===Using the database===
!! These pages are alo used in the end user Help pages. !!
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]] (basic principles behind the data concept) (Existing)
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]] (how to navigate the database) (Existing)

== Documenting ==
===The concept of collaborative research===

=== Researching information===

* Introduction
* Use of theme pages
* [[Help:Research sources|Research sources]] (a list of useful sources) ('''In progress''')
* [[Help:Using AI for research|Using AI for research]] (tools and methods to research using AI) ('''In progress''')

===The structure of the database===
===Adding information in the database===
* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]] (Existing)
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]] '''(New, using the repository)'''
** Preparing files
** Uploading files
** Editing metadata
** Accessibility
** Captions
** [[Help:document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]] '''(new, in progress)'''
** [[Help:naming_conventions|Naming conventions for documents]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]
* [[Help:Reconcioliation|Reconcioliation of mass information]] ('''in progress''')

===Documenting different types of information===
* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Performance venue]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (Existing in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (Existing To Do)(do we remove it?)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Existing Checked)
** [[Help:Spotlights|Spotlights]]
** [[Help:Dimmers|Dimmers]]
** ...
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Production|Production]] (Existing in construction)
** [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Existing Checked) '''(Updated)'''
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Existing Checked)
* Pictures, audio and video
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Existing Checked)

=== Special pages ===
* Theme pages

=== Service pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.
* Value lists
* Overview pages

===Storing files in the repository===
(Moved to Adding information in the database)
===Background about documenting===

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

* Visualising
** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

* Metadata

==Techniques==

===Scanning (2D)===
* Scanning documents
* Scanning photgraphic prints
* Scanning slides
* Types of scanners

=== Image correction ===

=== [[help:OCR|OCR (optical character recognition)]] ===
(in progres)

=== Photographing ===
* Photo booth setup
* In situ photographs
* Special cases

=== Files ===

Making and editing pdf

https://online2pdf.com/cut-pdf-pages-a3-to-a4

=== 3D scanning ===

===Measuring ===

* Measuring theatres
* Measuring equipment

=== Identifying parts ===

=== Audio recording ===

=== Video recording ===

* [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en Recording living heritage]

=== File formats and quality ===

=== Tagging documents ===

== Methods ==
=== Interviews ===

* [[Help:interview_guidelines|Interview guidelines]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:interview_example_questions|Interview example questions]] '''(new, in progress)'''

=== Demonstrations ===

=== Geomapping ===
* Geomapping
** https://maps.nls.uk/

=== Bulk documenting actions ===
* Large series of equipment
* Searching information

== Collecting==
About the creation of a safe and sustainable collection and the treatment of artifacts.

=== Collection policies ===
* https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

=== safeguarding artifacts ===
* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

== Developer pages==

These deveolopers pages are meant only for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

[[Help:developers_pages|Developpers pages]]

== Old Help pages ==

== Major updates ==

* 31/7/2023 - we are working on / importing / checking the manual for users. Feel free to give some feedback.
* 30/7/2023 - The manuafacturer type of information has been moved as a subclass under an new type of information [[item:Q47|Business]]. This gives us the possibility to use different types of businesses like "architectoral firms", "publishers", "rental companies", ...
* 27/7/2023 - we added a new feature: [[item:Q31712|Themes]] that can be used by researchers or people working on an article or paper to bring all their information together.

[[Update_archive|Update archive]] - [[Minor_updates|Minor updates]]

== Introduction for readers==
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]]
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]]

== Information for content creators ==
An important message before you start:

Don’t read this manual

Most chapters are meant for reference when you are working. But it is good to read the pages about the '''Structure''' and '''Finding your way'''. If you want to add and edit information, if you want to contribute, it is good to read the pages below and make yourself familiar with the structures of the pages.

* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]]
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]]
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]

=== Pages based on type of information ===

* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Building]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (To Do)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Checked)

=== Standardised pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.

Language pages

Value lists

=== Overview pages ===

* Field pages

* [[Help:Person overview page|Person overview page]]

=== Canon pages ===

=== Projects ===
This page contains a lot of "things to do" about developping content. It is meant for content creators that get out of inspiration ;-)

=== Reconcialiation service ===

OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint is available at

https://reconcile.purkertlab.cz/en/api

Detailed instructions are avaiable at [[Help:OpenRefine’s_reconciliation_endpoint|OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint]]

[[Help:ToDo_content|To Do Content]]

== Collection pages ==
These pages contain information about documenting, safeguarding and restoring sources, equipment and other artefacts in collections.

* Collection policies
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** [[3D_Scanning|3D Scanning]]
** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

== Software ==

=== OCR software ===

* Adobe Acrobat Pro
** Provides standard OCR functionality
** Works fine for well scanned, easy readable documents

* Transkribus
** For handwriting and difficult readable documents
** Includes using existing and creating new text recognition models
** Includes form recognition
** Includes tagging (with wikidata connection)
** [https://www.youtube.com/@transkribus Tutorials, webinars and information on youtube]
** [https://www.transkribus.org/ Transkribus]

* ABBYY FineReader
** For scanning and document quality enhancement
** Includes OCR correction
** Includes export to tables
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kof1dSceV1U Tutorial]
** [https://pdf.abbyy.com/ ABBYY FineReader]

=== Analysing documents (AI) ===

* NotebookLM
** Possibility to upload documents
** Results have to be checked
** [https://notebooklm.google.com/ NotebookLM]

== Developer pages ==
These pages are meant for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|Item properties for developpers]]
* [[Help:property_pages|Property pages]]
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|Maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|Tools]]
* [[Help:Interoperability|Interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|Taxonomies and standardised language]]
* [[Help:templates|Using templates]]

* usefull queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

* Service properties (To Do)
* Obsolete properties (To Do)

=== software applications ===

IIIF ("Triple IF")
* Application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

== Projects ==
These pages contain short and long time projects to improve the quality or the richness of the database.

* [[Help:To_Do|To do]]
* [[Help:Issues|Issues to solve]] (You can add here issues you encounter in the database)

== Previous versions ==

[[file:Manual_CanonBase_v3.pdf|manual]]

== Old content Help pages ==
see [[help:old pages|Old Help pages]]

Help:Main

2026-04-13T11:28:32Z

NickHunt: /* Background about documenting */

== New Help Pages ==
We are in the process of building new help pages - this process will take some time. The old help pages are still available - scroll to the heading 'Old' near the bottom of this page, or click the link in the contents table to the right.

The old pages will be removed when the new ones are complete.

==Introduction==
Text result of Canon II
is guideline for ...

===Goals===
Safeguarding for the future

Developing a knowledge base for research, education and professionals

Improving comparability by creating a standardised language

===Doing it right===
This chapter deals with general issues for an ethical, sustainable and inclusive way to research and gather historical information.

* Introduction

* Copyrights (aspects and limitations of copyright restrictions in historic research)

* Agreements (GDPR and the use of personal data and images)

* Research ethics (

* Accessibility, how to improve accessibility for data, pictures, video, maps, timelines and schematics

===Using the database===
!! These pages are alo used in the end user Help pages. !!
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]] (basic principles behind the data concept) (Existing)
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]] (how to navigate the database) (Existing)

== Documenting ==
===The concept of collaborative research===

=== Researching information===

* Introduction
* Use of theme pages
* [[Help:Research sources|Research sources]] (a list of useful sources) ('''In progress''')
* [[Help:Using AI for research|Using AI for research]] (tools and methods to research using AI) ('''In progress''')

===The structure of the database===
===Adding information in the database===
* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]] (Existing)
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]] '''(New, using the repository)'''
** Preparing files
** Uploading files
** Editing metadata
** Accessibility
** Captions
** [[Help:document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]] '''(new, in progress)'''
** [[Help:naming_conventions|Naming conventions for documents]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]
* [[Help:Reconcioliation|Reconcioliation of mass information]] ('''in progress''')

===Documenting different types of information===
* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Performance venue]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (Existing in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (Existing To Do)(do we remove it?)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Existing Checked)
** [[Help:Spotlights|Spotlights]]
** [[Help:Dimmers|Dimmers]]
** ...
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Production|Production]] (Existing in construction)
** [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Existing Checked) '''(Updated)'''
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Existing Checked)
* Pictures, audio and video
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Existing Checked)

=== Special pages ===
* Theme pages

=== Service pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.
* Value lists
* Overview pages

===Storing files in the repository===
(Moved to Adding information in the database)
===Background about documenting===

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

* Visualising
** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

* Metadata

==Techniques==

===Scanning (2D)===
* Scanning documents
* Scanning photgraphic prints
* Scanning slides
* Types of scanners

=== Image correction ===

=== [[help:OCR|OCR (optical character recognition)]] ===
(in progres)

=== Photographing ===
* Photo booth setup
* In situ photographs
* Special cases

=== Files ===

Making and editing pdf

https://online2pdf.com/cut-pdf-pages-a3-to-a4

=== 3D scanning ===

===Measuring ===

* Measuring theatres
* Measuring equipment

=== Identifying parts ===

=== Audio recording ===

=== Video recording ===

* [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en Recording living heritage]

=== File formats and quality ===

=== Tagging documents ===

== Methods ==
=== Interviews ===

=== Demonstrations ===

=== Geomapping ===
* Geomapping
** https://maps.nls.uk/

=== Bulk documenting actions ===
* Large series of equipment
* Searching information

== Collecting==
About the creation of a safe and sustainable collection and the treatment of artifacts.

=== Collection policies ===
* https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

=== safeguarding artifacts ===
* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

== Developer pages==

These deveolopers pages are meant only for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

[[Help:developers_pages|Developpers pages]]

== Old Help pages ==

== Major updates ==

* 31/7/2023 - we are working on / importing / checking the manual for users. Feel free to give some feedback.
* 30/7/2023 - The manuafacturer type of information has been moved as a subclass under an new type of information [[item:Q47|Business]]. This gives us the possibility to use different types of businesses like "architectoral firms", "publishers", "rental companies", ...
* 27/7/2023 - we added a new feature: [[item:Q31712|Themes]] that can be used by researchers or people working on an article or paper to bring all their information together.

[[Update_archive|Update archive]] - [[Minor_updates|Minor updates]]

== Introduction for readers==
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]]
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]]

== Information for content creators ==
An important message before you start:

Don’t read this manual

Most chapters are meant for reference when you are working. But it is good to read the pages about the '''Structure''' and '''Finding your way'''. If you want to add and edit information, if you want to contribute, it is good to read the pages below and make yourself familiar with the structures of the pages.

* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]]
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]]
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]

=== Pages based on type of information ===

* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Building]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (To Do)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Checked)

=== Standardised pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.

Language pages

Value lists

=== Overview pages ===

* Field pages

* [[Help:Person overview page|Person overview page]]

=== Canon pages ===

=== Projects ===
This page contains a lot of "things to do" about developping content. It is meant for content creators that get out of inspiration ;-)

=== Reconcialiation service ===

OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint is available at

https://reconcile.purkertlab.cz/en/api

Detailed instructions are avaiable at [[Help:OpenRefine’s_reconciliation_endpoint|OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint]]

[[Help:ToDo_content|To Do Content]]

== Collection pages ==
These pages contain information about documenting, safeguarding and restoring sources, equipment and other artefacts in collections.

* Collection policies
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** [[3D_Scanning|3D Scanning]]
** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

== Software ==

=== OCR software ===

* Adobe Acrobat Pro
** Provides standard OCR functionality
** Works fine for well scanned, easy readable documents

* Transkribus
** For handwriting and difficult readable documents
** Includes using existing and creating new text recognition models
** Includes form recognition
** Includes tagging (with wikidata connection)
** [https://www.youtube.com/@transkribus Tutorials, webinars and information on youtube]
** [https://www.transkribus.org/ Transkribus]

* ABBYY FineReader
** For scanning and document quality enhancement
** Includes OCR correction
** Includes export to tables
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kof1dSceV1U Tutorial]
** [https://pdf.abbyy.com/ ABBYY FineReader]

=== Analysing documents (AI) ===

* NotebookLM
** Possibility to upload documents
** Results have to be checked
** [https://notebooklm.google.com/ NotebookLM]

== Developer pages ==
These pages are meant for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|Item properties for developpers]]
* [[Help:property_pages|Property pages]]
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|Maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|Tools]]
* [[Help:Interoperability|Interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|Taxonomies and standardised language]]
* [[Help:templates|Using templates]]

* usefull queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

* Service properties (To Do)
* Obsolete properties (To Do)

=== software applications ===

IIIF ("Triple IF")
* Application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

== Projects ==
These pages contain short and long time projects to improve the quality or the richness of the database.

* [[Help:To_Do|To do]]
* [[Help:Issues|Issues to solve]] (You can add here issues you encounter in the database)

== Previous versions ==

[[file:Manual_CanonBase_v3.pdf|manual]]

== Old content Help pages ==
see [[help:old pages|Old Help pages]]

Help:Main

2026-04-13T11:27:45Z

NickHunt: /* Collection policies */

== New Help Pages ==
We are in the process of building new help pages - this process will take some time. The old help pages are still available - scroll to the heading 'Old' near the bottom of this page, or click the link in the contents table to the right.

The old pages will be removed when the new ones are complete.

==Introduction==
Text result of Canon II
is guideline for ...

===Goals===
Safeguarding for the future

Developing a knowledge base for research, education and professionals

Improving comparability by creating a standardised language

===Doing it right===
This chapter deals with general issues for an ethical, sustainable and inclusive way to research and gather historical information.

* Introduction

* Copyrights (aspects and limitations of copyright restrictions in historic research)

* Agreements (GDPR and the use of personal data and images)

* Research ethics (

* Accessibility, how to improve accessibility for data, pictures, video, maps, timelines and schematics

===Using the database===
!! These pages are alo used in the end user Help pages. !!
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]] (basic principles behind the data concept) (Existing)
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]] (how to navigate the database) (Existing)

== Documenting ==
===The concept of collaborative research===

=== Researching information===

* Introduction
* Use of theme pages
* [[Help:Research sources|Research sources]] (a list of useful sources) ('''In progress''')
* [[Help:Using AI for research|Using AI for research]] (tools and methods to research using AI) ('''In progress''')

===The structure of the database===
===Adding information in the database===
* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]] (Existing)
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]] '''(New, using the repository)'''
** Preparing files
** Uploading files
** Editing metadata
** Accessibility
** Captions
** [[Help:document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]] '''(new, in progress)'''
** [[Help:naming_conventions|Naming conventions for documents]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]
* [[Help:Reconcioliation|Reconcioliation of mass information]] ('''in progress''')

===Documenting different types of information===
* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Performance venue]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (Existing in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (Existing To Do)(do we remove it?)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Existing Checked)
** [[Help:Spotlights|Spotlights]]
** [[Help:Dimmers|Dimmers]]
** ...
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Production|Production]] (Existing in construction)
** [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Existing Checked) '''(Updated)'''
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Existing Checked)
* Pictures, audio and video
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Existing Checked)

=== Special pages ===
* Theme pages

=== Service pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.
* Value lists
* Overview pages

===Storing files in the repository===
(Moved to Adding information in the database)
===Background about documenting===

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

* Metadata

==Techniques==

===Scanning (2D)===
* Scanning documents
* Scanning photgraphic prints
* Scanning slides
* Types of scanners

=== Image correction ===

=== [[help:OCR|OCR (optical character recognition)]] ===
(in progres)

=== Photographing ===
* Photo booth setup
* In situ photographs
* Special cases

=== Files ===

Making and editing pdf

https://online2pdf.com/cut-pdf-pages-a3-to-a4

=== 3D scanning ===

===Measuring ===

* Measuring theatres
* Measuring equipment

=== Identifying parts ===

=== Audio recording ===

=== Video recording ===

* [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en Recording living heritage]

=== File formats and quality ===

=== Tagging documents ===

== Methods ==
=== Interviews ===

=== Demonstrations ===

=== Geomapping ===
* Geomapping
** https://maps.nls.uk/

=== Bulk documenting actions ===
* Large series of equipment
* Searching information

== Collecting==
About the creation of a safe and sustainable collection and the treatment of artifacts.

=== Collection policies ===
* https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

=== safeguarding artifacts ===
* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

== Developer pages==

These deveolopers pages are meant only for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

[[Help:developers_pages|Developpers pages]]

== Old Help pages ==

== Major updates ==

* 31/7/2023 - we are working on / importing / checking the manual for users. Feel free to give some feedback.
* 30/7/2023 - The manuafacturer type of information has been moved as a subclass under an new type of information [[item:Q47|Business]]. This gives us the possibility to use different types of businesses like "architectoral firms", "publishers", "rental companies", ...
* 27/7/2023 - we added a new feature: [[item:Q31712|Themes]] that can be used by researchers or people working on an article or paper to bring all their information together.

[[Update_archive|Update archive]] - [[Minor_updates|Minor updates]]

== Introduction for readers==
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]]
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]]

== Information for content creators ==
An important message before you start:

Don’t read this manual

Most chapters are meant for reference when you are working. But it is good to read the pages about the '''Structure''' and '''Finding your way'''. If you want to add and edit information, if you want to contribute, it is good to read the pages below and make yourself familiar with the structures of the pages.

* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]]
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]]
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]

=== Pages based on type of information ===

* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Building]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (To Do)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Checked)

=== Standardised pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.

Language pages

Value lists

=== Overview pages ===

* Field pages

* [[Help:Person overview page|Person overview page]]

=== Canon pages ===

=== Projects ===
This page contains a lot of "things to do" about developping content. It is meant for content creators that get out of inspiration ;-)

=== Reconcialiation service ===

OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint is available at

https://reconcile.purkertlab.cz/en/api

Detailed instructions are avaiable at [[Help:OpenRefine’s_reconciliation_endpoint|OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint]]

[[Help:ToDo_content|To Do Content]]

== Collection pages ==
These pages contain information about documenting, safeguarding and restoring sources, equipment and other artefacts in collections.

* Collection policies
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** [[3D_Scanning|3D Scanning]]
** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

== Software ==

=== OCR software ===

* Adobe Acrobat Pro
** Provides standard OCR functionality
** Works fine for well scanned, easy readable documents

* Transkribus
** For handwriting and difficult readable documents
** Includes using existing and creating new text recognition models
** Includes form recognition
** Includes tagging (with wikidata connection)
** [https://www.youtube.com/@transkribus Tutorials, webinars and information on youtube]
** [https://www.transkribus.org/ Transkribus]

* ABBYY FineReader
** For scanning and document quality enhancement
** Includes OCR correction
** Includes export to tables
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kof1dSceV1U Tutorial]
** [https://pdf.abbyy.com/ ABBYY FineReader]

=== Analysing documents (AI) ===

* NotebookLM
** Possibility to upload documents
** Results have to be checked
** [https://notebooklm.google.com/ NotebookLM]

== Developer pages ==
These pages are meant for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|Item properties for developpers]]
* [[Help:property_pages|Property pages]]
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|Maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|Tools]]
* [[Help:Interoperability|Interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|Taxonomies and standardised language]]
* [[Help:templates|Using templates]]

* usefull queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

* Service properties (To Do)
* Obsolete properties (To Do)

=== software applications ===

IIIF ("Triple IF")
* Application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

== Projects ==
These pages contain short and long time projects to improve the quality or the richness of the database.

* [[Help:To_Do|To do]]
* [[Help:Issues|Issues to solve]] (You can add here issues you encounter in the database)

== Previous versions ==

[[file:Manual_CanonBase_v3.pdf|manual]]

== Old content Help pages ==
see [[help:old pages|Old Help pages]]

Help:Main

2026-04-13T11:27:30Z

NickHunt: /* Geomapping */

== New Help Pages ==
We are in the process of building new help pages - this process will take some time. The old help pages are still available - scroll to the heading 'Old' near the bottom of this page, or click the link in the contents table to the right.

The old pages will be removed when the new ones are complete.

==Introduction==
Text result of Canon II
is guideline for ...

===Goals===
Safeguarding for the future

Developing a knowledge base for research, education and professionals

Improving comparability by creating a standardised language

===Doing it right===
This chapter deals with general issues for an ethical, sustainable and inclusive way to research and gather historical information.

* Introduction

* Copyrights (aspects and limitations of copyright restrictions in historic research)

* Agreements (GDPR and the use of personal data and images)

* Research ethics (

* Accessibility, how to improve accessibility for data, pictures, video, maps, timelines and schematics

===Using the database===
!! These pages are alo used in the end user Help pages. !!
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]] (basic principles behind the data concept) (Existing)
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]] (how to navigate the database) (Existing)

== Documenting ==
===The concept of collaborative research===

=== Researching information===

* Introduction
* Use of theme pages
* [[Help:Research sources|Research sources]] (a list of useful sources) ('''In progress''')
* [[Help:Using AI for research|Using AI for research]] (tools and methods to research using AI) ('''In progress''')

===The structure of the database===
===Adding information in the database===
* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]] (Existing)
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]] '''(New, using the repository)'''
** Preparing files
** Uploading files
** Editing metadata
** Accessibility
** Captions
** [[Help:document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]] '''(new, in progress)'''
** [[Help:naming_conventions|Naming conventions for documents]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]
* [[Help:Reconcioliation|Reconcioliation of mass information]] ('''in progress''')

===Documenting different types of information===
* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Performance venue]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (Existing in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (Existing To Do)(do we remove it?)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Existing Checked)
** [[Help:Spotlights|Spotlights]]
** [[Help:Dimmers|Dimmers]]
** ...
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Production|Production]] (Existing in construction)
** [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Existing Checked) '''(Updated)'''
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Existing Checked)
* Pictures, audio and video
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Existing Checked)

=== Special pages ===
* Theme pages

=== Service pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.
* Value lists
* Overview pages

===Storing files in the repository===
(Moved to Adding information in the database)
===Background about documenting===

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

* Metadata

==Techniques==

===Scanning (2D)===
* Scanning documents
* Scanning photgraphic prints
* Scanning slides
* Types of scanners

=== Image correction ===

=== [[help:OCR|OCR (optical character recognition)]] ===
(in progres)

=== Photographing ===
* Photo booth setup
* In situ photographs
* Special cases

=== Files ===

Making and editing pdf

https://online2pdf.com/cut-pdf-pages-a3-to-a4

=== 3D scanning ===

===Measuring ===

* Measuring theatres
* Measuring equipment

=== Identifying parts ===

=== Audio recording ===

=== Video recording ===

* [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en Recording living heritage]

=== File formats and quality ===

=== Tagging documents ===

== Methods ==
=== Interviews ===

=== Demonstrations ===

=== Geomapping ===
* Geomapping
** https://maps.nls.uk/

=== Bulk documenting actions ===
* Large series of equipment
* Searching information

== Collecting==
About the creation of a safe and sustainable collection and the treatment of artifacts.

=== Collection policies ===
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

=== safeguarding artifacts ===
* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

== Developer pages==

These deveolopers pages are meant only for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

[[Help:developers_pages|Developpers pages]]

== Old Help pages ==

== Major updates ==

* 31/7/2023 - we are working on / importing / checking the manual for users. Feel free to give some feedback.
* 30/7/2023 - The manuafacturer type of information has been moved as a subclass under an new type of information [[item:Q47|Business]]. This gives us the possibility to use different types of businesses like "architectoral firms", "publishers", "rental companies", ...
* 27/7/2023 - we added a new feature: [[item:Q31712|Themes]] that can be used by researchers or people working on an article or paper to bring all their information together.

[[Update_archive|Update archive]] - [[Minor_updates|Minor updates]]

== Introduction for readers==
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]]
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]]

== Information for content creators ==
An important message before you start:

Don’t read this manual

Most chapters are meant for reference when you are working. But it is good to read the pages about the '''Structure''' and '''Finding your way'''. If you want to add and edit information, if you want to contribute, it is good to read the pages below and make yourself familiar with the structures of the pages.

* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]]
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]]
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]

=== Pages based on type of information ===

* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Building]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (To Do)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Checked)

=== Standardised pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.

Language pages

Value lists

=== Overview pages ===

* Field pages

* [[Help:Person overview page|Person overview page]]

=== Canon pages ===

=== Projects ===
This page contains a lot of "things to do" about developping content. It is meant for content creators that get out of inspiration ;-)

=== Reconcialiation service ===

OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint is available at

https://reconcile.purkertlab.cz/en/api

Detailed instructions are avaiable at [[Help:OpenRefine’s_reconciliation_endpoint|OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint]]

[[Help:ToDo_content|To Do Content]]

== Collection pages ==
These pages contain information about documenting, safeguarding and restoring sources, equipment and other artefacts in collections.

* Collection policies
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** [[3D_Scanning|3D Scanning]]
** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

== Software ==

=== OCR software ===

* Adobe Acrobat Pro
** Provides standard OCR functionality
** Works fine for well scanned, easy readable documents

* Transkribus
** For handwriting and difficult readable documents
** Includes using existing and creating new text recognition models
** Includes form recognition
** Includes tagging (with wikidata connection)
** [https://www.youtube.com/@transkribus Tutorials, webinars and information on youtube]
** [https://www.transkribus.org/ Transkribus]

* ABBYY FineReader
** For scanning and document quality enhancement
** Includes OCR correction
** Includes export to tables
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kof1dSceV1U Tutorial]
** [https://pdf.abbyy.com/ ABBYY FineReader]

=== Analysing documents (AI) ===

* NotebookLM
** Possibility to upload documents
** Results have to be checked
** [https://notebooklm.google.com/ NotebookLM]

== Developer pages ==
These pages are meant for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|Item properties for developpers]]
* [[Help:property_pages|Property pages]]
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|Maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|Tools]]
* [[Help:Interoperability|Interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|Taxonomies and standardised language]]
* [[Help:templates|Using templates]]

* usefull queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

* Service properties (To Do)
* Obsolete properties (To Do)

=== software applications ===

IIIF ("Triple IF")
* Application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

== Projects ==
These pages contain short and long time projects to improve the quality or the richness of the database.

* [[Help:To_Do|To do]]
* [[Help:Issues|Issues to solve]] (You can add here issues you encounter in the database)

== Previous versions ==

[[file:Manual_CanonBase_v3.pdf|manual]]

== Old content Help pages ==
see [[help:old pages|Old Help pages]]

Help:Main

2026-04-13T11:26:35Z

NickHunt: /* Video recording */

== New Help Pages ==
We are in the process of building new help pages - this process will take some time. The old help pages are still available - scroll to the heading 'Old' near the bottom of this page, or click the link in the contents table to the right.

The old pages will be removed when the new ones are complete.

==Introduction==
Text result of Canon II
is guideline for ...

===Goals===
Safeguarding for the future

Developing a knowledge base for research, education and professionals

Improving comparability by creating a standardised language

===Doing it right===
This chapter deals with general issues for an ethical, sustainable and inclusive way to research and gather historical information.

* Introduction

* Copyrights (aspects and limitations of copyright restrictions in historic research)

* Agreements (GDPR and the use of personal data and images)

* Research ethics (

* Accessibility, how to improve accessibility for data, pictures, video, maps, timelines and schematics

===Using the database===
!! These pages are alo used in the end user Help pages. !!
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]] (basic principles behind the data concept) (Existing)
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]] (how to navigate the database) (Existing)

== Documenting ==
===The concept of collaborative research===

=== Researching information===

* Introduction
* Use of theme pages
* [[Help:Research sources|Research sources]] (a list of useful sources) ('''In progress''')
* [[Help:Using AI for research|Using AI for research]] (tools and methods to research using AI) ('''In progress''')

===The structure of the database===
===Adding information in the database===
* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]] (Existing)
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]] '''(New, using the repository)'''
** Preparing files
** Uploading files
** Editing metadata
** Accessibility
** Captions
** [[Help:document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]] '''(new, in progress)'''
** [[Help:naming_conventions|Naming conventions for documents]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]
* [[Help:Reconcioliation|Reconcioliation of mass information]] ('''in progress''')

===Documenting different types of information===
* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Performance venue]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (Existing in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (Existing To Do)(do we remove it?)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Existing Checked)
** [[Help:Spotlights|Spotlights]]
** [[Help:Dimmers|Dimmers]]
** ...
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Production|Production]] (Existing in construction)
** [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Existing Checked) '''(Updated)'''
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Existing Checked)
* Pictures, audio and video
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Existing Checked)

=== Special pages ===
* Theme pages

=== Service pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.
* Value lists
* Overview pages

===Storing files in the repository===
(Moved to Adding information in the database)
===Background about documenting===

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

* Metadata

==Techniques==

===Scanning (2D)===
* Scanning documents
* Scanning photgraphic prints
* Scanning slides
* Types of scanners

=== Image correction ===

=== [[help:OCR|OCR (optical character recognition)]] ===
(in progres)

=== Photographing ===
* Photo booth setup
* In situ photographs
* Special cases

=== Files ===

Making and editing pdf

https://online2pdf.com/cut-pdf-pages-a3-to-a4

=== 3D scanning ===

===Measuring ===

* Measuring theatres
* Measuring equipment

=== Identifying parts ===

=== Audio recording ===

=== Video recording ===

* [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en Recording living heritage]

=== File formats and quality ===

=== Tagging documents ===

== Methods ==
=== Interviews ===

=== Demonstrations ===

=== Geomapping ===
** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

=== Bulk documenting actions ===
* Large series of equipment
* Searching information

== Collecting==
About the creation of a safe and sustainable collection and the treatment of artifacts.

=== Collection policies ===
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

=== safeguarding artifacts ===
* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

== Developer pages==

These deveolopers pages are meant only for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

[[Help:developers_pages|Developpers pages]]

== Old Help pages ==

== Major updates ==

* 31/7/2023 - we are working on / importing / checking the manual for users. Feel free to give some feedback.
* 30/7/2023 - The manuafacturer type of information has been moved as a subclass under an new type of information [[item:Q47|Business]]. This gives us the possibility to use different types of businesses like "architectoral firms", "publishers", "rental companies", ...
* 27/7/2023 - we added a new feature: [[item:Q31712|Themes]] that can be used by researchers or people working on an article or paper to bring all their information together.

[[Update_archive|Update archive]] - [[Minor_updates|Minor updates]]

== Introduction for readers==
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]]
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]]

== Information for content creators ==
An important message before you start:

Don’t read this manual

Most chapters are meant for reference when you are working. But it is good to read the pages about the '''Structure''' and '''Finding your way'''. If you want to add and edit information, if you want to contribute, it is good to read the pages below and make yourself familiar with the structures of the pages.

* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]]
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]]
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]

=== Pages based on type of information ===

* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Building]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (To Do)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Checked)

=== Standardised pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.

Language pages

Value lists

=== Overview pages ===

* Field pages

* [[Help:Person overview page|Person overview page]]

=== Canon pages ===

=== Projects ===
This page contains a lot of "things to do" about developping content. It is meant for content creators that get out of inspiration ;-)

=== Reconcialiation service ===

OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint is available at

https://reconcile.purkertlab.cz/en/api

Detailed instructions are avaiable at [[Help:OpenRefine’s_reconciliation_endpoint|OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint]]

[[Help:ToDo_content|To Do Content]]

== Collection pages ==
These pages contain information about documenting, safeguarding and restoring sources, equipment and other artefacts in collections.

* Collection policies
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** [[3D_Scanning|3D Scanning]]
** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

== Software ==

=== OCR software ===

* Adobe Acrobat Pro
** Provides standard OCR functionality
** Works fine for well scanned, easy readable documents

* Transkribus
** For handwriting and difficult readable documents
** Includes using existing and creating new text recognition models
** Includes form recognition
** Includes tagging (with wikidata connection)
** [https://www.youtube.com/@transkribus Tutorials, webinars and information on youtube]
** [https://www.transkribus.org/ Transkribus]

* ABBYY FineReader
** For scanning and document quality enhancement
** Includes OCR correction
** Includes export to tables
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kof1dSceV1U Tutorial]
** [https://pdf.abbyy.com/ ABBYY FineReader]

=== Analysing documents (AI) ===

* NotebookLM
** Possibility to upload documents
** Results have to be checked
** [https://notebooklm.google.com/ NotebookLM]

== Developer pages ==
These pages are meant for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|Item properties for developpers]]
* [[Help:property_pages|Property pages]]
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|Maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|Tools]]
* [[Help:Interoperability|Interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|Taxonomies and standardised language]]
* [[Help:templates|Using templates]]

* usefull queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

* Service properties (To Do)
* Obsolete properties (To Do)

=== software applications ===

IIIF ("Triple IF")
* Application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

== Projects ==
These pages contain short and long time projects to improve the quality or the richness of the database.

* [[Help:To_Do|To do]]
* [[Help:Issues|Issues to solve]] (You can add here issues you encounter in the database)

== Previous versions ==

[[file:Manual_CanonBase_v3.pdf|manual]]

== Old content Help pages ==
see [[help:old pages|Old Help pages]]

Help:Main

2026-04-13T11:24:38Z

NickHunt:

== New Help Pages ==
We are in the process of building new help pages - this process will take some time. The old help pages are still available - scroll to the heading 'Old' near the bottom of this page, or click the link in the contents table to the right.

The old pages will be removed when the new ones are complete.

==Introduction==
Text result of Canon II
is guideline for ...

===Goals===
Safeguarding for the future

Developing a knowledge base for research, education and professionals

Improving comparability by creating a standardised language

===Doing it right===
This chapter deals with general issues for an ethical, sustainable and inclusive way to research and gather historical information.

* Introduction

* Copyrights (aspects and limitations of copyright restrictions in historic research)

* Agreements (GDPR and the use of personal data and images)

* Research ethics (

* Accessibility, how to improve accessibility for data, pictures, video, maps, timelines and schematics

===Using the database===
!! These pages are alo used in the end user Help pages. !!
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]] (basic principles behind the data concept) (Existing)
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]] (how to navigate the database) (Existing)

== Documenting ==
===The concept of collaborative research===

=== Researching information===

* Introduction
* Use of theme pages
* [[Help:Research sources|Research sources]] (a list of useful sources) ('''In progress''')
* [[Help:Using AI for research|Using AI for research]] (tools and methods to research using AI) ('''In progress''')

===The structure of the database===
===Adding information in the database===
* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]] (Existing)
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]] '''(New, using the repository)'''
** Preparing files
** Uploading files
** Editing metadata
** Accessibility
** Captions
** [[Help:document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]] '''(new, in progress)'''
** [[Help:naming_conventions|Naming conventions for documents]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]
* [[Help:Reconcioliation|Reconcioliation of mass information]] ('''in progress''')

===Documenting different types of information===
* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Performance venue]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (Existing in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (Existing To Do)(do we remove it?)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Existing Checked)
** [[Help:Spotlights|Spotlights]]
** [[Help:Dimmers|Dimmers]]
** ...
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Production|Production]] (Existing in construction)
** [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Existing Checked) '''(Updated)'''
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Existing Checked)
* Pictures, audio and video
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Existing Checked)

=== Special pages ===
* Theme pages

=== Service pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.
* Value lists
* Overview pages

===Storing files in the repository===
(Moved to Adding information in the database)
===Background about documenting===

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

* Metadata

==Techniques==

===Scanning (2D)===
* Scanning documents
* Scanning photgraphic prints
* Scanning slides
* Types of scanners

=== Image correction ===

=== [[help:OCR|OCR (optical character recognition)]] ===
(in progres)

=== Photographing ===
* Photo booth setup
* In situ photographs
* Special cases

=== Files ===

Making and editing pdf

https://online2pdf.com/cut-pdf-pages-a3-to-a4

=== 3D scanning ===

===Measuring ===

* Measuring theatres
* Measuring equipment

=== Identifying parts ===

=== Audio recording ===

=== Video recording ===

** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

=== File formats and quality ===

=== Tagging documents ===

== Methods ==
=== Interviews ===

=== Demonstrations ===

=== Geomapping ===
** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

=== Bulk documenting actions ===
* Large series of equipment
* Searching information

== Collecting==
About the creation of a safe and sustainable collection and the treatment of artifacts.

=== Collection policies ===
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

=== safeguarding artifacts ===
* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

== Developer pages==

These deveolopers pages are meant only for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

[[Help:developers_pages|Developpers pages]]

== Old Help pages ==

== Major updates ==

* 31/7/2023 - we are working on / importing / checking the manual for users. Feel free to give some feedback.
* 30/7/2023 - The manuafacturer type of information has been moved as a subclass under an new type of information [[item:Q47|Business]]. This gives us the possibility to use different types of businesses like "architectoral firms", "publishers", "rental companies", ...
* 27/7/2023 - we added a new feature: [[item:Q31712|Themes]] that can be used by researchers or people working on an article or paper to bring all their information together.

[[Update_archive|Update archive]] - [[Minor_updates|Minor updates]]

== Introduction for readers==
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]]
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]]

== Information for content creators ==
An important message before you start:

Don’t read this manual

Most chapters are meant for reference when you are working. But it is good to read the pages about the '''Structure''' and '''Finding your way'''. If you want to add and edit information, if you want to contribute, it is good to read the pages below and make yourself familiar with the structures of the pages.

* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]]
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]]
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]

=== Pages based on type of information ===

* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Building]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (To Do)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Checked)

=== Standardised pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.

Language pages

Value lists

=== Overview pages ===

* Field pages

* [[Help:Person overview page|Person overview page]]

=== Canon pages ===

=== Projects ===
This page contains a lot of "things to do" about developping content. It is meant for content creators that get out of inspiration ;-)

=== Reconcialiation service ===

OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint is available at

https://reconcile.purkertlab.cz/en/api

Detailed instructions are avaiable at [[Help:OpenRefine’s_reconciliation_endpoint|OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint]]

[[Help:ToDo_content|To Do Content]]

== Collection pages ==
These pages contain information about documenting, safeguarding and restoring sources, equipment and other artefacts in collections.

* Collection policies
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** [[3D_Scanning|3D Scanning]]
** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

== Software ==

=== OCR software ===

* Adobe Acrobat Pro
** Provides standard OCR functionality
** Works fine for well scanned, easy readable documents

* Transkribus
** For handwriting and difficult readable documents
** Includes using existing and creating new text recognition models
** Includes form recognition
** Includes tagging (with wikidata connection)
** [https://www.youtube.com/@transkribus Tutorials, webinars and information on youtube]
** [https://www.transkribus.org/ Transkribus]

* ABBYY FineReader
** For scanning and document quality enhancement
** Includes OCR correction
** Includes export to tables
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kof1dSceV1U Tutorial]
** [https://pdf.abbyy.com/ ABBYY FineReader]

=== Analysing documents (AI) ===

* NotebookLM
** Possibility to upload documents
** Results have to be checked
** [https://notebooklm.google.com/ NotebookLM]

== Developer pages ==
These pages are meant for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|Item properties for developpers]]
* [[Help:property_pages|Property pages]]
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|Maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|Tools]]
* [[Help:Interoperability|Interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|Taxonomies and standardised language]]
* [[Help:templates|Using templates]]

* usefull queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

* Service properties (To Do)
* Obsolete properties (To Do)

=== software applications ===

IIIF ("Triple IF")
* Application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

== Projects ==
These pages contain short and long time projects to improve the quality or the richness of the database.

* [[Help:To_Do|To do]]
* [[Help:Issues|Issues to solve]] (You can add here issues you encounter in the database)

== Previous versions ==

[[file:Manual_CanonBase_v3.pdf|manual]]

== Old content Help pages ==
see [[help:old pages|Old Help pages]]

Help:Main

2026-04-13T11:17:59Z

NickHunt: /* image correction */

== New Help Pages ==
We are in the process of building new help pages - this process will take some time. The old help pages are still available - scroll to the heading 'Old' near the bottom of this page, or click the link in the contents table to the right.

The old pages will be removed when the new ones are complete.

==Introduction==
Text result of Canon II
is guideline for ...

===Goals===
Safeguarding for the future

Developing a knowledge base for research, education and professionals

Improving comparability by creating a standardised language

===Doing it right===
This chapter deals with general issues for an ethical, sustainable and inclusive way to research and gather historical information.

* Introduction

* Copyrights (aspects and limitations of copyright restrictions in historic research)

* Agreements (GDPR and the use of personal data and images)

* Research ethics (

* Accessibility, how to improve accessibility for data, pictures, video, maps, timelines and schematics

===Using the database===
!! These pages are alo used in the end user Help pages. !!
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]] (basic principles behind the data concept) (Existing)
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]] (how to navigate the database) (Existing)

== Documenting ==
===The concept of collaborative research===

=== Researching information===

* Introduction
* use of theme pages
* [[Help:Research sources|Research sources]] (a list of useful sources) ('''In progress''')
* [[Help:Using AI for research|Using AI for research]] (tools and methods to research using AI) ('''In progress''')

===The structure of the database===
===Adding information in the database===
* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]] (Existing)
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]] '''(New, using the repository)'''
** preparing files
** Uploading files
** Editing metadata
** Accessibility
** Captions
** [[Help:document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]] '''(new, in progress)'''
** [[Help:naming_conventions|Naming conventions for documents]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]
* [[Help:Reconcioliation|Reconcioliation of mass information]] ('''in progress''')

===Documenting different types of information===
* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Performance venue]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (Existing in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (Existing To Do)(do we remove it?)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Existing Checked)
** [[Help:Spotlights|Spotlights]]
** [[Help:Dimmers|Dimmers]]
** ...
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Production|Production]] (Existing in construction)
** [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Existing Checked) '''(Updated)'''
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Existing Checked)
* pictures, audio and video
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Existing Checked)

=== Special pages ===
* theme pages

=== Service pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.
* value lists
* overview pages

===Storing files in the repository===
(Moved to Adding information in the database)
===Background about documenting===

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

* Metadata

==Techniques==

===Scanning (2D)===
* scanning documents
* scanning photgraphic prints
* scanning slides
* types of scanners

=== Image correction ===

=== [[help:OCR|OCR (optical character recognition)]] ===
(in progres)

=== Photographing ===
* photo booth setup
* in situ photographs
* special cases

=== Files ===

making and editing pdf

https://online2pdf.com/cut-pdf-pages-a3-to-a4

=== 3D scanning ===

===Measuring ===

* Measuring theatres
* Measuring equipment

=== Identifying parts ===

=== Audio recording ===

=== Video recording ===

** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

=== File formats and quality ===

=== Tagging documents ===

== Methods ==
=== Interviews ===

=== Demonstrations ===

=== Geomapping ===
** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

=== Bulk documenting actions ===
* Large series of equipment
* Searching information

== Collecting==
about the creation of a safe and sustainable collection and the treatment of artifacts.

=== Collection policies ===
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

=== safeguarding artifacts ===
* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

== Developer pages==

These deveolopers pages are meant only for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

[[Help:developers_pages|Developpers pages]]

== Old Help pages ==

== Major updates ==

* 31/7/2023 - we are working on / importing / checking the manual for users. Feel free to give some feedback.
* 30/7/2023 - The manuafacturer type of information has been moved as a subclass under an new type of information [[item:Q47|Business]]. This gives us the possibility to use different types of businesses like "architectoral firms", "publishers", "rental companies", ...
* 27/7/2023 - we added a new feature: [[item:Q31712|Themes]] that can be used by researchers or people working on an article or paper to bring all their information together.

[[Update_archive|Update archive]] - [[Minor_updates|Minor updates]]

== Introduction for readers==
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]]
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]]

== Information for content creators ==
An important message before you start:

Don’t read this manual

Most chapters are meant for reference when you are working. But it is good to read the pages about the '''Structure''' and '''Finding your way'''. If you want to add and edit information, if you want to contribute, it is good to read the pages below and make yourself familiar with the structures of the pages.

* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]]
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]]
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]

=== Pages based on type of information ===

* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Building]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (To Do)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Checked)

=== Standardised pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.

Language pages

Value lists

=== Overview pages ===

* Field pages

* [[Help:Person overview page|Person overview page]]

=== Canon pages ===

=== Projects ===
This page contains a lot of "things to do" about developping content. It is meant for content creators that get out of inspiration ;-)

=== Reconcialiation service ===

OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint is available at

https://reconcile.purkertlab.cz/en/api

Detailed instructions are avaiable at [[Help:OpenRefine’s_reconciliation_endpoint|OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint]]

[[Help:ToDo_content|To Do Content]]

== Collection pages ==
These pages contain information about documenting, safeguarding and restoring sources, equipment and other artefacts in collections.

* Collection policies
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** [[3D_Scanning|3D Scanning]]
** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

== Software ==

=== OCR software ===

* Adobe Acrobat Pro
** provides standard OCR functionality
** works fine for well scanned, easy readable documents

* Transkribus
** for handwriting and difficult readable documents
** includes using existing and creating new text recognition models
** includes form recognition
** includes tagging (with wikidata connection)
** [https://www.youtube.com/@transkribus tutorials, webinars and information on youtube]
** [https://www.transkribus.org/ Transkribus]

* ABBYY FineReader
** for scanning and document quality enhancement
** includes OCR correction
** includes export to tables
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kof1dSceV1U tutorial]
** [https://pdf.abbyy.com/ ABBYY FineReader]

=== Analysing documents (AI) ===

* NotebookLM
** possibility to upload documents
** results have to be checked
** [https://notebooklm.google.com/ NotebookLM]

== Developer pages ==
These pages are meant for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|Item properties for developpers]]
* [[Help:property_pages|property pages]]
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|Tools]]
* [[Help:Interoperability|Interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|Taxonomies and standardised language]]
* [[Help:templates|using templates]]

* usefull queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

* service properties (To Do)
* obsolate properties (To Do)

=== software applications ===

IIIF (Triple IF)
* application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

== Projects ==
These pages contain short and long time projects to improve the quality or the richness of the database.

* [[Help:To_Do|To do]]
* [[Help:Issues|Issues to solve]] (You can add here issues you encounter in the database)

== Previous versions ==

[[file:Manual_CanonBase_v3.pdf|manual]]

== Old content Help pages ==
see [[help:old pages|old Help pages]]

Help:Main

2026-04-13T11:16:57Z

NickHunt: /* New Help Pages */

== New Help Pages ==
We are in the process of building new help pages - this process will take some time. The old help pages are still available - scroll to the heading 'Old' near the bottom of this page, or click the link in the contents table to the right.

The old pages will be removed when the new ones are complete.

==Introduction==
Text result of Canon II
is guideline for ...

===Goals===
Safeguarding for the future

Developing a knowledge base for research, education and professionals

Improving comparability by creating a standardised language

===Doing it right===
This chapter deals with general issues for an ethical, sustainable and inclusive way to research and gather historical information.

* Introduction

* Copyrights (aspects and limitations of copyright restrictions in historic research)

* Agreements (GDPR and the use of personal data and images)

* Research ethics (

* Accessibility, how to improve accessibility for data, pictures, video, maps, timelines and schematics

===Using the database===
!! These pages are alo used in the end user Help pages. !!
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]] (basic principles behind the data concept) (Existing)
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]] (how to navigate the database) (Existing)

== Documenting ==
===The concept of collaborative research===

=== Researching information===

* Introduction
* use of theme pages
* [[Help:Research sources|Research sources]] (a list of useful sources) ('''In progress''')
* [[Help:Using AI for research|Using AI for research]] (tools and methods to research using AI) ('''In progress''')

===The structure of the database===
===Adding information in the database===
* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]] (Existing)
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]] '''(New, using the repository)'''
** preparing files
** Uploading files
** Editing metadata
** Accessibility
** Captions
** [[Help:document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]] '''(new, in progress)'''
** [[Help:naming_conventions|Naming conventions for documents]] '''(new, in progress)'''
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]
* [[Help:Reconcioliation|Reconcioliation of mass information]] ('''in progress''')

===Documenting different types of information===
* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Performance venue]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (Existing in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (Existing To Do)(do we remove it?)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Existing Checked)
** [[Help:Spotlights|Spotlights]]
** [[Help:Dimmers|Dimmers]]
** ...
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Production|Production]] (Existing in construction)
** [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Existing In progress)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Existing Checked) '''(Updated)'''
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Existing Checked)
* pictures, audio and video
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Existing Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Existing Checked)

=== Special pages ===
* theme pages

=== Service pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.
* value lists
* overview pages

===Storing files in the repository===
(Moved to Adding information in the database)
===Background about documenting===

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

* Metadata

==Techniques==

===Scanning (2D)===
* scanning documents
* scanning photgraphic prints
* scanning slides
* types of scanners

=== image correction ===

=== [[help:OCR|OCR (optical character recognition)]] ===
(in progres)

=== Photographing ===
* photo booth setup
* in situ photographs
* special cases

=== Files ===

making and editing pdf

https://online2pdf.com/cut-pdf-pages-a3-to-a4

=== 3D scanning ===

===Measuring ===

* Measuring theatres
* Measuring equipment

=== Identifying parts ===

=== Audio recording ===

=== Video recording ===

** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

=== File formats and quality ===

=== Tagging documents ===

== Methods ==
=== Interviews ===

=== Demonstrations ===

=== Geomapping ===
** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

=== Bulk documenting actions ===
* Large series of equipment
* Searching information

== Collecting==
about the creation of a safe and sustainable collection and the treatment of artifacts.

=== Collection policies ===
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

=== safeguarding artifacts ===
* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

== Developer pages==

These deveolopers pages are meant only for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

[[Help:developers_pages|Developpers pages]]

== Old Help pages ==

== Major updates ==

* 31/7/2023 - we are working on / importing / checking the manual for users. Feel free to give some feedback.
* 30/7/2023 - The manuafacturer type of information has been moved as a subclass under an new type of information [[item:Q47|Business]]. This gives us the possibility to use different types of businesses like "architectoral firms", "publishers", "rental companies", ...
* 27/7/2023 - we added a new feature: [[item:Q31712|Themes]] that can be used by researchers or people working on an article or paper to bring all their information together.

[[Update_archive|Update archive]] - [[Minor_updates|Minor updates]]

== Introduction for readers==
* Introduction
* [[Help:structure|Structure]]
* [[Help:finding_your_way|Finding your way]]

== Information for content creators ==
An important message before you start:

Don’t read this manual

Most chapters are meant for reference when you are working. But it is good to read the pages about the '''Structure''' and '''Finding your way'''. If you want to add and edit information, if you want to contribute, it is good to read the pages below and make yourself familiar with the structures of the pages.

* [[Help:adding_and_editing_information|Adding and editing information]]
* [[Help:uploading_files|Uploading documents, audio, video, ...]]
* [[Help:adding_wikipages|Adding and editing wikipages]]
* [[Help:Preparing_Bulk_import|Preparing Bulk import]]
* [[Help:editor_tools|Editor tools]]

=== Pages based on type of information ===

* [[Help:Building_description_manual|Building]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Business|Business]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Collection|Collection]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Design|Design]] (in construction)
* [[Help:Document|Document]] (To Do)
* [[Help:Equipment|Equipment]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Event|Event]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Geographic_area|Geographic area]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Method|Method]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Organisation|Organisation]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Performance|Performance]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Person|Person]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Source|Source]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Term|Term]] (Checked)
* [[Help:Time_frame|Time frame]] (Checked)

=== Standardised pages ===
These are pages that need specific information for the good functioning of the system.

Language pages

Value lists

=== Overview pages ===

* Field pages

* [[Help:Person overview page|Person overview page]]

=== Canon pages ===

=== Projects ===
This page contains a lot of "things to do" about developping content. It is meant for content creators that get out of inspiration ;-)

=== Reconcialiation service ===

OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint is available at

https://reconcile.purkertlab.cz/en/api

Detailed instructions are avaiable at [[Help:OpenRefine’s_reconciliation_endpoint|OpenRefine’s reconciliation endpoint]]

[[Help:ToDo_content|To Do Content]]

== Collection pages ==
These pages contain information about documenting, safeguarding and restoring sources, equipment and other artefacts in collections.

* Collection policies
** https://www.ne-mo.org/news/article/nemo/toolkit-on-ethical-transfer-reuse-and-disposal-of-museum-collections.html

* Documenting
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Publicatie:Invulboek_objecten Invulboek objecten] een handboek met beschrijvingsregels voor het documenteren van erfgoedobjecten in een collectiebeheersysteem.
** [https://www.projectcest.be/wiki/Hoofdpagina CEST] standaarden bij het creëren, beheren en toegankelijk maken van digitale erfgoedcollecties
** [https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/aat/index.html GETTY Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online ]

** [[3D_Scanning|3D Scanning]]
** [https://www.toolboxfocusvakmanschap.be/en/?lang=en recording livingheritage]

** Geomapping
*** https://maps.nls.uk/

** Visualising
*** https://www.visualthesaurus.com

* Cleaning and safeguarding
** [[Help:Vinyl_Records|Vinyl Records]]
** [https://obsoletemedia.org/media-preservation Media Preservation (from Museum of Obsolate media)] including a method to define risk on Obsolescence Ratings and Media Stability Ratings.

* Ontologies
** Hyper stage (ontology for Italian theatrical cultural heritage on wikibase.cloud)
***https://openreview.net/forum?id=rqmdxlzHpD
*** https://hyperstage.wikibase.cloud/wiki/Main_Page#propriet%C3%A0_e_elementi_creati

== Software ==

=== OCR software ===

* Adobe Acrobat Pro
** provides standard OCR functionality
** works fine for well scanned, easy readable documents

* Transkribus
** for handwriting and difficult readable documents
** includes using existing and creating new text recognition models
** includes form recognition
** includes tagging (with wikidata connection)
** [https://www.youtube.com/@transkribus tutorials, webinars and information on youtube]
** [https://www.transkribus.org/ Transkribus]

* ABBYY FineReader
** for scanning and document quality enhancement
** includes OCR correction
** includes export to tables
** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kof1dSceV1U tutorial]
** [https://pdf.abbyy.com/ ABBYY FineReader]

=== Analysing documents (AI) ===

* NotebookLM
** possibility to upload documents
** results have to be checked
** [https://notebooklm.google.com/ NotebookLM]

== Developer pages ==
These pages are meant for the team that maintains the structure, makes mass inports, etc.

* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|Item properties for developpers]]
* [[Help:property_pages|property pages]]
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|Tools]]
* [[Help:Interoperability|Interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|Taxonomies and standardised language]]
* [[Help:templates|using templates]]

* usefull queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

* service properties (To Do)
* obsolate properties (To Do)

=== software applications ===

IIIF (Triple IF)
* application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

== Projects ==
These pages contain short and long time projects to improve the quality or the richness of the database.

* [[Help:To_Do|To do]]
* [[Help:Issues|Issues to solve]] (You can add here issues you encounter in the database)

== Previous versions ==

[[file:Manual_CanonBase_v3.pdf|manual]]

== Old content Help pages ==
see [[help:old pages|old Help pages]]

Help:Document types

2026-04-02T14:50:29Z

NickHunt: /* Presentations */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

Where possible, files should be converted to the preferred format before uploading, '''provided this can be done without loss of quality or information'''.

=== Document files ===

Document files can be 'static' (non-editable without specialist software) or 'editable'. Only use editable file formats if there is a need for users to edit the document (for example, a cue list template).

For static documents, PDFs are preferred, as they accurately preserve page layouts, typography and so on. For editable files, open standards are preferred, as they are more likely to be readable in future.

'''Preferred static file type'''
.pdf type A (this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
'''Allowed file type'''
.pdf

'''Preferred editable file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text, an Open Document Format type, standardised as ISO 26300)
.txt (plain text file - may also be used to contain structured content such as XML)
'''Allowed file types'''
.docx (Microsoft word - .doc files are obsolescent and should be converted to .docx or (preferably) to .odt)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)
.xlsx (Microsoft Excel - .xls files are obsolescent and should be converted to .xlsx or (preferably) to .ods)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.pptx (Microsoft Powerpoint - .ppt files are obsolescent and should be converted to .pptx or (preferably) to .odp)

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-04-02T14:48:45Z

NickHunt: /* Tables */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

Where possible, files should be converted to the preferred format before uploading, '''provided this can be done without loss of quality or information'''.

=== Document files ===

Document files can be 'static' (non-editable without specialist software) or 'editable'. Only use editable file formats if there is a need for users to edit the document (for example, a cue list template).

For static documents, PDFs are preferred, as they accurately preserve page layouts, typography and so on. For editable files, open standards are preferred, as they are more likely to be readable in future.

'''Preferred static file type'''
.pdf type A (this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
'''Allowed file type'''
.pdf

'''Preferred editable file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text, an Open Document Format type, standardised as ISO 26300)
.txt (plain text file - may also be used to contain structured content such as XML)
'''Allowed file types'''
.docx (Microsoft word - .doc files are obsolescent and should be converted to .docx or (preferably) to .odt)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)
.xlsx (Microsoft Excel - .xls files are obsolescent and should be converted to .xlsx or (preferably) to .ods)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-04-02T14:45:41Z

NickHunt: /* Document files */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

Where possible, files should be converted to the preferred format before uploading, '''provided this can be done without loss of quality or information'''.

=== Document files ===

Document files can be 'static' (non-editable without specialist software) or 'editable'. Only use editable file formats if there is a need for users to edit the document (for example, a cue list template).

For static documents, PDFs are preferred, as they accurately preserve page layouts, typography and so on. For editable files, open standards are preferred, as they are more likely to be readable in future.

'''Preferred static file type'''
.pdf type A (this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
'''Allowed file type'''
.pdf

'''Preferred editable file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text, an Open Document Format type, standardised as ISO 26300)
.txt (plain text file - may also be used to contain structured content such as XML)
'''Allowed file types'''
.docx (Microsoft word - .doc files are obsolescent and should be converted to .docx or (preferably) to .odt)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-04-02T14:43:55Z

NickHunt: /* Document files */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

Where possible, files should be converted to the preferred format before uploading, '''provided this can be done without loss of quality or information'''.

=== Document files ===

Document files can be 'static' (non-editable without specialist software) or 'editable'. Only use editable file formats if there is a need for users to edit the document (for example, a cue list template).

For static documents, PDFs are preferred, as they accurately preserve page layouts, typography and so on. For editable files, open standards are preferred, as they are more likely to be readable in future.

'''Preferred static file type'''
.pdf type A (this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
'''Allowed file type'''
.pdf

'''Preferred editable file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text, an Open Document Format type, standardised as ISO 26300)
'''Allowed file types'''
.docx (Microsoft word - .doc files are obsolescent and should be converted to .docx or (preferably) to .odt)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Naming conventions

2026-04-02T06:57:23Z

NickHunt: /* Collection pieces */

== Naming conventions for files ==
All files such as images or digital documents are placed in the Canon repository that so they can be used in multiple places in the database and elsewhere. Therefore we need to give each one a unique name that makes it possible to find it again.

=== Basic Principles ===

* File names in the repository cannot have spaces in them. The Repository will automatically replace any spaces with underscores.
* You can change the file name during the uploading process, but it is easier to rename files in advance.
* Avoid using special characters with accents in the file names, as they can cause issues.

=== Images ===
The principal idea is that image files should have a human recognisable file name that differentiates it from other files.
* '''IMG1234''' is hard to read or understand
* '''John_Doe_portrait''' is recognisable

==== Logos ====
* naming: brand_name_logo
* a time span can be also added
Example
* ADB_Logo_till_1950s

==== Items from collections ====
* naming: Collection_collection_number
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content can be added
** _top, _back, _front, _detail, _logo, _type_plate, …

Example
* TEAD_0123_front
* KSB_0386

==== Persons ====
For persons, we follow the naming conventions in the item:
* naming: First name_Last name
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* John_Doe
* Jane_Doe_early_1960s
* Louis_Inconue_1

==== Buildings ====
For pictures of buildings we follow the conventions of the item:
* naming: Country code_city_building
** to find the country code, search for the country in Canonbase, and find its ISO code
** Use the English name of the city as stated in the item's Canonbase entry
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre_House

Help:Naming conventions

2026-04-02T06:56:00Z

NickHunt: /* Naming conventions for files */

== Naming conventions for files ==
All files such as images or digital documents are placed in the Canon repository that so they can be used in multiple places in the database and elsewhere. Therefore we need to give each one a unique name that makes it possible to find it again.

=== Basic Principles ===

* File names in the repository cannot have spaces in them. The Repository will automatically replace any spaces with underscores.
* You can change the file name during the uploading process, but it is easier to rename files in advance.
* Avoid using special characters with accents in the file names, as they can cause issues.

=== Images ===
The principal idea is that image files should have a human recognisable file name that differentiates it from other files.
* '''IMG1234''' is hard to read or understand
* '''John_Doe_portrait''' is recognisable

==== Logos ====
* naming: brand_name_logo
* a time span can be also added
Example
* ADB_Logo_till_1950s

==== Collection pieces ====
* naming: Collection_collection_number
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content can be added
** _top, _back, _front, _detail, _logo, _type_plate, …

Example
* TEAD_0123_front
* KSB_0386

==== Persons ====
For persons, we follow the naming conventions in the item:
* naming: First name_Last name
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* John_Doe
* Jane_Doe_early_1960s
* Louis_Inconue_1

==== Buildings ====
For pictures of buildings we follow the conventions of the item:
* naming: Country code_city_building
** to find the country code, search for the country in Canonbase, and find its ISO code
** Use the English name of the city as stated in the item's Canonbase entry
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre_House

Making Oral History Interviews

2026-03-24T21:40:15Z

NickHunt: /* Additional information and resources */

== Aims ==

Interviewing theatre professionals can bring new knowledge about current and past working practices, techniques and technologies.

Students doing interviews will also learn:

* how to organise and structure an interview
* verbal communication skills
* research skills, while preparing for the interview
* planning skills
* technical skills using audio and/or video recording equipment
* teamwork

== Key Information ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Number of learners || Interviews can be done by a single person working alone. If the interviews are being done by students, the recommended group size is up to 4.
|-
| Number of staff || One teacher or researcher to support the preparation of the questions and structure of the interview.
|-
| ECTS Credits (if applicable) ||
|}

=== Learning process ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| || '''Lecture/seminar''' || Lecture, presentation, discussion (face-to-face or online)
|-
| || '''Making project''' || Making a model, mock-up, plan or design (physical or digital)
|-
| || '''Performance project''' || Making a performance or demonstration (live or mediated)
|-
| X || '''Records and Archives''' || Interviews, photographs and videos of artefacts, annotating archives, creating learning materials (physical or digital)
|-
| || '''Independent study''' || Reading, researching, analysing and evaluating learning materials (physical or digital) in groups or alone
|}

=== Type of learner ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| X || Student of technical theatre
|-
| X || Student of theatre design, architecture
|-
| X || Student of theatre arts
|-
| X || Professional
|-
| X || Researcher
|-
| X || General public
|}

== What You Will Need ==

=== Duration and schedule ===

Phase 1: instruction on how to perform interviews and how to develop structure and questions (4 hours)

Phase 2: research and development of interview (4-8 hours)

Phase 3: test interview and equipment (2 hours)

Phase 4: conduct interview (4-8 hours)

Phase 5: post-production (depending on the chosen medium and expected result)

=== Room or type of space ===

Chose the space to fit the professional interviewed. Ideally this is a space that is quiet, makes the interviewee at ease and that they are familiar with.

If video is recorded, it is nice to have a professional environment as the background.

=== Equipment ===

Depending on the type of interview you need:

* Only writing equipment
* A good microphone and audio recorder with enough batteries
* Videorecorder, microphone, stand, basic light set

=== Materials (consumables) ===

Data storage, as required.

=== Learning resources (books, websites) ===

The Oral History Society offers very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

https://www.ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/

== Process ==

=== Preparation ===

There are many things that you need to consider when recording interviews with professionals, whether you are a solo researcher or a teacher working with students. These considerations include:

* Planning how the interviews will be recorded and stored, including ethical and legal data protection requirements relevant to your country.
* Ethical working, to ensure interviewees are not harmed or disadvantaged in any way by the process, and have the opportunity to leave the process at any time.
* If you are a university researcher, or a teacher working with students, your university or school is likely to have regulations governing research ethics, which you will need to comply with.
* If you are an independent researcher, the UK-based Oral History Society has useful advice and guidance: https://www.ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/

=== The learning activity ===

The following process is designed for teachers working with students. If you are a researcher working on your own, the stages will be similar, but you will be able to work at your own pace.

# Briefing, with instructions on how to perform interviews and how to develop structure and questions, as well as discussion of the ethical, regulatory and legal considerations (4 hours)
# Research the background of the people to be interviewed, and develop the interview questions (4-8 hours)
# Test interviews and equipment (2 hours)
# Conduct the interviews (4-8 hours)
# Post-production (depending on the chosen medium and required form of the output)
# If needed, debrief, discussion and evaluation of the results and the process.

=== Assessment and feedback ===

This learning activity is not designed to be assessed, but if necessary, you could assess students by direct teacher observation, or by self- or peer-evaluation afterwards.

== Our Experience ==

=== Tips ===

Interviewing people about their professional experience can raise important ethical issues, to do with data protection, privacy, consent, and so on. Make sure you have prepared fully for these before you start interviewing.

Make sure you have a clear purpose for the interview – what are you hoping to find out from the person you are interviewing? If you are researching the impact of a particular technology on working practices, you will need to ask different questions than if you want to know how the person developed their career.

Make sure you have researched the interviewees carefully – they will expect you to know who they are and their main professional achievements and experience.

Recording interviews (audio or video) can be very useful, even if you don’t intend to publish the recording. You can then transcribe as much or as little as you want of the recording. Make sure the interviewee knows if the recording will be made public or not.

=== Additional information and resources ===

The Oral History Society offers very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

[https://www.ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/ www.ohs.org.uk/for-beginners]

== Credits ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| This learning method was made by: || Chris Van Goethem, Dr Nick Hunt
|-
| Institution: || RITCS (EhB), Rose Bruford College
|}

Making Oral History Interviews

2026-03-24T21:39:25Z

NickHunt: /* Additional information and resources */

== Aims ==

Interviewing theatre professionals can bring new knowledge about current and past working practices, techniques and technologies.

Students doing interviews will also learn:

* how to organise and structure an interview
* verbal communication skills
* research skills, while preparing for the interview
* planning skills
* technical skills using audio and/or video recording equipment
* teamwork

== Key Information ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Number of learners || Interviews can be done by a single person working alone. If the interviews are being done by students, the recommended group size is up to 4.
|-
| Number of staff || One teacher or researcher to support the preparation of the questions and structure of the interview.
|-
| ECTS Credits (if applicable) ||
|}

=== Learning process ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| || '''Lecture/seminar''' || Lecture, presentation, discussion (face-to-face or online)
|-
| || '''Making project''' || Making a model, mock-up, plan or design (physical or digital)
|-
| || '''Performance project''' || Making a performance or demonstration (live or mediated)
|-
| X || '''Records and Archives''' || Interviews, photographs and videos of artefacts, annotating archives, creating learning materials (physical or digital)
|-
| || '''Independent study''' || Reading, researching, analysing and evaluating learning materials (physical or digital) in groups or alone
|}

=== Type of learner ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| X || Student of technical theatre
|-
| X || Student of theatre design, architecture
|-
| X || Student of theatre arts
|-
| X || Professional
|-
| X || Researcher
|-
| X || General public
|}

== What You Will Need ==

=== Duration and schedule ===

Phase 1: instruction on how to perform interviews and how to develop structure and questions (4 hours)

Phase 2: research and development of interview (4-8 hours)

Phase 3: test interview and equipment (2 hours)

Phase 4: conduct interview (4-8 hours)

Phase 5: post-production (depending on the chosen medium and expected result)

=== Room or type of space ===

Chose the space to fit the professional interviewed. Ideally this is a space that is quiet, makes the interviewee at ease and that they are familiar with.

If video is recorded, it is nice to have a professional environment as the background.

=== Equipment ===

Depending on the type of interview you need:

* Only writing equipment
* A good microphone and audio recorder with enough batteries
* Videorecorder, microphone, stand, basic light set

=== Materials (consumables) ===

Data storage, as required.

=== Learning resources (books, websites) ===

The Oral History Society offers very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

https://www.ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/

== Process ==

=== Preparation ===

There are many things that you need to consider when recording interviews with professionals, whether you are a solo researcher or a teacher working with students. These considerations include:

* Planning how the interviews will be recorded and stored, including ethical and legal data protection requirements relevant to your country.
* Ethical working, to ensure interviewees are not harmed or disadvantaged in any way by the process, and have the opportunity to leave the process at any time.
* If you are a university researcher, or a teacher working with students, your university or school is likely to have regulations governing research ethics, which you will need to comply with.
* If you are an independent researcher, the UK-based Oral History Society has useful advice and guidance: https://www.ohs.org.uk/for-beginners/

=== The learning activity ===

The following process is designed for teachers working with students. If you are a researcher working on your own, the stages will be similar, but you will be able to work at your own pace.

# Briefing, with instructions on how to perform interviews and how to develop structure and questions, as well as discussion of the ethical, regulatory and legal considerations (4 hours)
# Research the background of the people to be interviewed, and develop the interview questions (4-8 hours)
# Test interviews and equipment (2 hours)
# Conduct the interviews (4-8 hours)
# Post-production (depending on the chosen medium and required form of the output)
# If needed, debrief, discussion and evaluation of the results and the process.

=== Assessment and feedback ===

This learning activity is not designed to be assessed, but if necessary, you could assess students by direct teacher observation, or by self- or peer-evaluation afterwards.

== Our Experience ==

=== Tips ===

Interviewing people about their professional experience can raise important ethical issues, to do with data protection, privacy, consent, and so on. Make sure you have prepared fully for these before you start interviewing.

Make sure you have a clear purpose for the interview – what are you hoping to find out from the person you are interviewing? If you are researching the impact of a particular technology on working practices, you will need to ask different questions than if you want to know how the person developed their career.

Make sure you have researched the interviewees carefully – they will expect you to know who they are and their main professional achievements and experience.

Recording interviews (audio or video) can be very useful, even if you don’t intend to publish the recording. You can then transcribe as much or as little as you want of the recording. Make sure the interviewee knows if the recording will be made public or not.

=== Additional information and resources ===

The Oral History Society offers very useful guidance on conducting oral history interviews:

[https://www.ohs.org/for-beginners/ www.ohs.org/for-beginners]

== Credits ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| This learning method was made by: || Chris Van Goethem, Dr Nick Hunt
|-
| Institution: || RITCS (EhB), Rose Bruford College
|}

Help:Document types

2026-03-24T10:40:52Z

NickHunt: /* Preferred and allowed document types */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

Where possible, files should be converted to the preferred format before uploading, '''provided this can be done without loss of quality or information'''.

=== Document files ===

PDFs are preferred, as they are static (non-editable without specialist software) and accurately preserve page layouts, typography and so on. Only use editable file formats if there is a need for users to edit the document (for example, a cue list template).

'''Preferred file type'''
.pdf type A (this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
'''Allowed file type'''
.pdf
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Developers pages

2026-03-24T10:33:34Z

NickHunt: /* software applications */

[[Help:Main|Help index]]
-------------------
The developer pages contains information for the developers of the database and system administrators. The information includes elements that are critical for the functioning of the system. Be careful when making changes, because these can have an impact on the overall system.

=== Overall structure and functionality ===
This section describes the overall structure and functionality of the database and user interface.

=== Help pages ===
This section describes how help pages of users and content creators are developed and maintained.
* [[help:writing_help_pages|writing help pages]]
* [[Help:templates|using templates]]

=== Property descriptions===
This section describes how properties are developed and described.
* [[Help:property_pages|property descriptions]]

=== Property maintenance ===
This section describes how properties are maintained.
* obsolete properties (To Do)
* useful queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

=== Service properties ===
Service properties are properties that are added to special items like overview pages, top level pages etc. to ensure their correct visualisation in the database.
* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|item properties for developpers]]
* service properties (To Do)

=== Maintenance of the data ===
This section describes how the data in Canonbase can be maintained in order to check and correct relations, find orphan pages, ...
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|tools]]

=== Relations to other data systems ===
This section deals with the interoperability with other data systems and taxonomies.
* [[Help:Interoperability|interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|taxonomies and standardised language]]

=== Software applications ===

IIIF (Triple IF)
* application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

Help:Developers pages

2026-03-24T10:33:09Z

NickHunt:

[[Help:Main|Help index]]
-------------------
The developer pages contains information for the developers of the database and system administrators. The information includes elements that are critical for the functioning of the system. Be careful when making changes, because these can have an impact on the overall system.

=== Overall structure and functionality ===
This section describes the overall structure and functionality of the database and user interface.

=== Help pages ===
This section describes how help pages of users and content creators are developed and maintained.
* [[help:writing_help_pages|writing help pages]]
* [[Help:templates|using templates]]

=== Property descriptions===
This section describes how properties are developed and described.
* [[Help:property_pages|property descriptions]]

=== Property maintenance ===
This section describes how properties are maintained.
* obsolete properties (To Do)
* useful queries (To Do)
https://tinyurl.com/232njj7q adaptable query of the properties and their properties

=== Service properties ===
Service properties are properties that are added to special items like overview pages, top level pages etc. to ensure their correct visualisation in the database.
* [[help:Item_properties_for_developpers|item properties for developpers]]
* service properties (To Do)

=== Maintenance of the data ===
This section describes how the data in Canonbase can be maintained in order to check and correct relations, find orphan pages, ...
* [[Help:maintenance_procedures|maintenance procedures]]
* [[Help:Tools|tools]]

=== Relations to other data systems ===
This section deals with the interoperability with other data systems and taxonomies.
* [[Help:Interoperability|interoperability]] (In progress)
* [[Help:Taxonomies|taxonomies and standardised language]]

=== software applications ===

IIIF (Triple IF)
* application to retrieve images from other collections
* https://iiif.io

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T16:48:47Z

NickHunt: /* Document files */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===

PDFs are preferred, as they are static (non-editable without specialist software) and accurately preserve page layouts, typography and so on. Only use editable file formats if there is a need for users to edit the document (for example, a cue list template).

'''Preferred file type'''
.pdf type A (this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
'''Allowed file type'''
.pdf
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T16:46:11Z

NickHunt: /* Document files */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.pdf type A (this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
'''Allowed file type'''
.pdf
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Naming conventions

2026-03-23T16:44:58Z

NickHunt: /* Persons */

== Naming conventions for files ==
All files such as images or digital documents are placed in the Canon repository that so they can be used in multiple places in the database and elsewhere. Therefore we need to give each one a unique name that makes it possible to find it again.

* the name has to be a title without spaces, therefore we use underscores to fill the spaces.
* the name can be given during the file upload process, but it is easier to rename them in advance.
* avoid using special characters with accents in the file names, as they can cause issues.

=== Images ===
The principal idea is that image files should have a human recognisable file name that differentiates it from other files.
* '''IMG1234''' is hard to read or understand
* '''John_Doe_portrait''' is recognisable

==== Logos ====
* naming: brand_name_logo
* a time span can be also added
Example
* ADB_Logo_till_1950s

==== Collection pieces ====
* naming: Collection_collection_number
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content can be added
** _top, _back, _front, _detail, _logo, _type_plate, …

Example
* TEAD_0123_front
* KSB_0386

==== Persons ====
For persons, we follow the naming conventions in the item:
* naming: First name_Last name
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* John_Doe
* Jane_Doe_early_1960s
* Louis_Inconue_1

==== Buildings ====
For pictures of buildings we follow the conventions of the item:
* naming: Country code_city_building
** to find the country code, search for the country in Canonbase, and find its ISO code
** Use the English name of the city as stated in the item's Canonbase entry
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre_House

Item:Q39787

2026-03-23T12:57:09Z

NickHunt: /* wbsetdescription-set:1|en */ A large UK lighting manufacturer, including lamps and stage lighting controls

Item:Q39787

2026-03-23T12:54:46Z

NickHunt: /* wbsetdescription-set:1|en */ A large UK electrical manufacturer, including lamps and stage lighting controls

Help:Naming conventions

2026-03-23T12:43:41Z

NickHunt: /* Naming conventions for files */

== Naming conventions for files ==
All files such as images or digital documents are placed in the Canon repository that so they can be used in multiple places in the database and elsewhere. Therefore we need to give each one a unique name that makes it possible to find it again.

* the name has to be a title without spaces, therefore we use underscores to fill the spaces.
* the name can be given during the file upload process, but it is easier to rename them in advance.
* avoid using special characters with accents in the file names, as they can cause issues.

=== Images ===
The principal idea is that image files should have a human recognisable file name that differentiates it from other files.
* '''IMG1234''' is hard to read or understand
* '''John_Doe_portrait''' is recognisable

==== Logos ====
* naming: brand_name_logo
* a time span can be also added
Example
* ADB_Logo_till_1950s

==== Collection pieces ====
* naming: Collection_collection_number
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content can be added
** _top, _back, _front, _detail, _logo, _type_plate, …

Example
* TEAD_0123_front
* KSB_0386

==== Persons ====
For persons, we follow the naming conventions in the item:
* naming: Last_name_First_name
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* John_Doe
* Jane_Doe_early_1960s
* Louis_Inconue_1

==== Buildings ====
For pictures of buildings we follow the conventions of the item:
* naming: Country code_city_building
** to find the country code, search for the country in Canonbase, and find its ISO code
** Use the English name of the city as stated in the item's Canonbase entry
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre_House

Help:Uploading files

2026-03-23T12:41:56Z

NickHunt: /* Naming of files */

[[Help:Main|Help index]]
-------------------

== Using the repository==
The repository is the place where we keep all document files used in Canonbase (image files, audio files, PDFs, and so on). Once they are stored in the repository, they can be used in any item of the database and in the wikipages. The documents are enriched with metadata. These are structured elements of extra information about the document.
* '''Media ID''': the unique number of the file that is used to reference in Canonbase (automatically generated)
* '''Media item''': based on the file type (automatically generated)
* '''Date''': the month the file is entered in the repository (automatically generated)
* '''Project''': to keep a large group of files together, we can assign them to a project. For example, “lighting design” or a magazine.
* '''Source type''': is related to the source types in Canonbase and is mainly used to help find a specific type of document
* '''Language(s)''': the language(s) of a document
* '''Creator''': the original creator of the item
* '''Access type''': is the document public, or only available to those logged in to the database? (for example, documents under copyright but allowed to use for research)
* '''Copyright''': the type of copyright licence
* '''Copyright Holder''': the current holder of the copyright
* '''Contributor''': the person that uploaded the file (automatically generated)
Other metadata:
* '''Attached to''': refers to Qid in the Canonbase. Providing this is not necessary, but is useful.
* '''Date taken''': this information is read from exif data in the image itself.
In the future, we will also add:
* '''AltTxt''': a description used for the visually impaired (image only)
* '''Caption''': a caption that can be used under the image (image only)

===Logging in===
The repository is a separate application from the database, with a separate login. To login, go to https://repository.canon-project.eu/login and fill in your credentials.

===Browsing the media===
Click on the media library.

You will see a list of files that are available with their metadata. You can filter and search the media based on the metadata.

You can select the metadata you want to see and define how many items you want to see on each page in the screen options.

Hovering over the image or name of the file provides different actions that can be performed:
* '''Edit''': opens the page to edit the metadata of a single file
* '''Delete Permanently''': removes the file and its metadata permanently
* '''View''': shows the original file
* '''Copy URL''': copies a URL to refer to the picture outside the database.
* '''Download''': downloads the file

===Editing the Metadata (single file)===
You can edit the metadata of a single file by clicking on the file. A new page will open where you can edit the metadata. To save the information, click the '''Update''' button.

FIXME – need to add this capability to the WordPress.

Each item in the repository can have a Q number associating it with an item in Canonbase. Add the Canonbase Q number to the repository metadata value Attached To. Over time, these will be connected to Canonbase automatically, or you can do it manually – see Using Files in Canonbase below.

===Editing the Metadata (series of files)===
To edit a batch of files, you first need to select the files by ticking the checkboxes to the left of each file you want. You can use the “select all” checkbox (top left of the list) to select all the files shown on the current page.

Next put the metadata to be added in the Add Metadata in Bulk frame at the top of the page, and click apply. All files will be updated.

To remove Metadata, select the files, select the values to be removed and click Remove. For example, if I want to remove the language Dutch in a series of files, I select the files, I select Dutch in the language drop down language and then click Remove.

===Naming of files===
Once a file is uploaded, the name in its url can’t be changed, so before uploading files, check the clarity and consistency of the filenames. Ideally the names represent the content of the file and are understandable for other users.

Avoid using special characters with accents in the file names, as they can cause issues later in the process. The other fields such as title, caption etc. are all changeable later.

For detailed guidance on naming files, see [[Help:Naming_conventions|Naming conventions]].

===Filetypes and upload size===

For the file types preferred and allowed by the repository, see [[Help:Document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]].

The maximum file size is 256 MB.

===Uploading files===
Click Add Media File in the left-hand menu bar.

Fill ''before uploading'' the metadata that are common for all files you upload in this batch. These metadata will be added only to this specific batch.

Drag the files into the upload window or select a series of files.

The files will be added to the repository, including their metadata.

Check the files you uploaded in the library and adapt or add metadata that is unique for individual files.

===Adding new Metadata values to the lists===
You can add languages, source types, and projects by clicking the appropriate link and add a value.

Avoid adding too many values to ensure clarity. Please think if it is really necessary to add a new value, or if a combination of metadata will be sufficient to find the files.

===Using files in Canonbase===
To use a file in Canonbase, copy the Media ID and put it in the correct property of the item in Canonbase:
* '''[[Property:P71|Canon document public ID (P71)]]''' Documents (PDF etc.) for public access
* '''[[Property:P369|Canon document private ID (P369)]]''' Documents for only for private access use – these will not be accessible at all to the public and should be set to Private Access in the repository
* '''[[Property:P74|Canon image ID (P74)]]''' for public images.
Note that images are treated separately to other documents, with a different property, as images will be displayed when viewing the item in the Canonbase.

==OLD==

Files are pictures, documents, videos, 3D objects, ... that are used to illustrate the information in the items. We only use files when they are not available on other sustainable sources or when needed for the functioning of the database.

== Used Properties ==
1. Repository
Documents are stored at https://repository.canon-project.eu/, CanonBase interact with their id from there,

P71 for documents (PDF etc.) for public public access
P369 for copyrighted documents
P74 for public images

2.
External images with full source url can be used with property P361

3. Other media
P116 Youtube
P351 Vimeo

4. CanonBase site itself

== Uploading files for P24 ==

Images can be uploaded to Canonbase as well with property P24.
Video with P76

To upload a file, go to the "Upload files" page.
* search the file on your computer
* check the destination filename (the name that will be used in the database) and correct if necesery.
* add additional information and provide a summary
* click upload file
* once the file is uploaded, you can copy the filename and use it in the items.

=== Maximum file size ===

* The maximum file size for all document types is 160 MB

=== Updating files ===
If you have a new version of a file, you can upload this, it will be replaced in all items where it is used.
Older versions are kept in the history files.

=== Bulk uploads ===

== copyright issues ==

== metadata and structured data ==
* add creator
* add licence
* add provenance of the document or source
* add creation date and place

== Preferred and allowed document types ==

''See [[Help:document_types|the help page about document types]]''

== Naming conventions documents ==
''See [[Help:naming_conventions|the help page about naming conventions]]''

== Bulk renaming of documents ==
If you need to rename a large amount of documents, you can use specialised software

> example with Excel files

Help:Uploading files

2026-03-23T12:39:56Z

NickHunt: /* Filetypes and upload size */

[[Help:Main|Help index]]
-------------------

== Using the repository==
The repository is the place where we keep all document files used in Canonbase (image files, audio files, PDFs, and so on). Once they are stored in the repository, they can be used in any item of the database and in the wikipages. The documents are enriched with metadata. These are structured elements of extra information about the document.
* '''Media ID''': the unique number of the file that is used to reference in Canonbase (automatically generated)
* '''Media item''': based on the file type (automatically generated)
* '''Date''': the month the file is entered in the repository (automatically generated)
* '''Project''': to keep a large group of files together, we can assign them to a project. For example, “lighting design” or a magazine.
* '''Source type''': is related to the source types in Canonbase and is mainly used to help find a specific type of document
* '''Language(s)''': the language(s) of a document
* '''Creator''': the original creator of the item
* '''Access type''': is the document public, or only available to those logged in to the database? (for example, documents under copyright but allowed to use for research)
* '''Copyright''': the type of copyright licence
* '''Copyright Holder''': the current holder of the copyright
* '''Contributor''': the person that uploaded the file (automatically generated)
Other metadata:
* '''Attached to''': refers to Qid in the Canonbase. Providing this is not necessary, but is useful.
* '''Date taken''': this information is read from exif data in the image itself.
In the future, we will also add:
* '''AltTxt''': a description used for the visually impaired (image only)
* '''Caption''': a caption that can be used under the image (image only)

===Logging in===
The repository is a separate application from the database, with a separate login. To login, go to https://repository.canon-project.eu/login and fill in your credentials.

===Browsing the media===
Click on the media library.

You will see a list of files that are available with their metadata. You can filter and search the media based on the metadata.

You can select the metadata you want to see and define how many items you want to see on each page in the screen options.

Hovering over the image or name of the file provides different actions that can be performed:
* '''Edit''': opens the page to edit the metadata of a single file
* '''Delete Permanently''': removes the file and its metadata permanently
* '''View''': shows the original file
* '''Copy URL''': copies a URL to refer to the picture outside the database.
* '''Download''': downloads the file

===Editing the Metadata (single file)===
You can edit the metadata of a single file by clicking on the file. A new page will open where you can edit the metadata. To save the information, click the '''Update''' button.

FIXME – need to add this capability to the WordPress.

Each item in the repository can have a Q number associating it with an item in Canonbase. Add the Canonbase Q number to the repository metadata value Attached To. Over time, these will be connected to Canonbase automatically, or you can do it manually – see Using Files in Canonbase below.

===Editing the Metadata (series of files)===
To edit a batch of files, you first need to select the files by ticking the checkboxes to the left of each file you want. You can use the “select all” checkbox (top left of the list) to select all the files shown on the current page.

Next put the metadata to be added in the Add Metadata in Bulk frame at the top of the page, and click apply. All files will be updated.

To remove Metadata, select the files, select the values to be removed and click Remove. For example, if I want to remove the language Dutch in a series of files, I select the files, I select Dutch in the language drop down language and then click Remove.

===Naming of files===
Once a file is uploaded, the name in its url can’t be changed, so before uploading files, check the clarity and consistency of the filenames. Ideally the names represent the content of the file and are understandable for other users.

Avoid using special characters with accents in the file names, as they can cause issues later in the process. The other fields such as title, caption etc. are all changeable later.

For detailed guidance on naming files, see Naming of Files in Canonbase Help files) FIXME add link

===Filetypes and upload size===

For the file types preferred and allowed by the repository, see [[Help:Document_types|Preferred and allowed document types]].

The maximum file size is 256 MB.

===Uploading files===
Click Add Media File in the left-hand menu bar.

Fill ''before uploading'' the metadata that are common for all files you upload in this batch. These metadata will be added only to this specific batch.

Drag the files into the upload window or select a series of files.

The files will be added to the repository, including their metadata.

Check the files you uploaded in the library and adapt or add metadata that is unique for individual files.

===Adding new Metadata values to the lists===
You can add languages, source types, and projects by clicking the appropriate link and add a value.

Avoid adding too many values to ensure clarity. Please think if it is really necessary to add a new value, or if a combination of metadata will be sufficient to find the files.

===Using files in Canonbase===
To use a file in Canonbase, copy the Media ID and put it in the correct property of the item in Canonbase:
* '''[[Property:P71|Canon document public ID (P71)]]''' Documents (PDF etc.) for public access
* '''[[Property:P369|Canon document private ID (P369)]]''' Documents for only for private access use – these will not be accessible at all to the public and should be set to Private Access in the repository
* '''[[Property:P74|Canon image ID (P74)]]''' for public images.
Note that images are treated separately to other documents, with a different property, as images will be displayed when viewing the item in the Canonbase.

==OLD==

Files are pictures, documents, videos, 3D objects, ... that are used to illustrate the information in the items. We only use files when they are not available on other sustainable sources or when needed for the functioning of the database.

== Used Properties ==
1. Repository
Documents are stored at https://repository.canon-project.eu/, CanonBase interact with their id from there,

P71 for documents (PDF etc.) for public public access
P369 for copyrighted documents
P74 for public images

2.
External images with full source url can be used with property P361

3. Other media
P116 Youtube
P351 Vimeo

4. CanonBase site itself

== Uploading files for P24 ==

Images can be uploaded to Canonbase as well with property P24.
Video with P76

To upload a file, go to the "Upload files" page.
* search the file on your computer
* check the destination filename (the name that will be used in the database) and correct if necesery.
* add additional information and provide a summary
* click upload file
* once the file is uploaded, you can copy the filename and use it in the items.

=== Maximum file size ===

* The maximum file size for all document types is 160 MB

=== Updating files ===
If you have a new version of a file, you can upload this, it will be replaced in all items where it is used.
Older versions are kept in the history files.

=== Bulk uploads ===

== copyright issues ==

== metadata and structured data ==
* add creator
* add licence
* add provenance of the document or source
* add creation date and place

== Preferred and allowed document types ==

''See [[Help:document_types|the help page about document types]]''

== Naming conventions documents ==
''See [[Help:naming_conventions|the help page about naming conventions]]''

== Bulk renaming of documents ==
If you need to rename a large amount of documents, you can use specialised software

> example with Excel files

Help:Uploading files

2026-03-23T12:37:42Z

NickHunt: /* Filetypes and upload size */

[[Help:Main|Help index]]
-------------------

== Using the repository==
The repository is the place where we keep all document files used in Canonbase (image files, audio files, PDFs, and so on). Once they are stored in the repository, they can be used in any item of the database and in the wikipages. The documents are enriched with metadata. These are structured elements of extra information about the document.
* '''Media ID''': the unique number of the file that is used to reference in Canonbase (automatically generated)
* '''Media item''': based on the file type (automatically generated)
* '''Date''': the month the file is entered in the repository (automatically generated)
* '''Project''': to keep a large group of files together, we can assign them to a project. For example, “lighting design” or a magazine.
* '''Source type''': is related to the source types in Canonbase and is mainly used to help find a specific type of document
* '''Language(s)''': the language(s) of a document
* '''Creator''': the original creator of the item
* '''Access type''': is the document public, or only available to those logged in to the database? (for example, documents under copyright but allowed to use for research)
* '''Copyright''': the type of copyright licence
* '''Copyright Holder''': the current holder of the copyright
* '''Contributor''': the person that uploaded the file (automatically generated)
Other metadata:
* '''Attached to''': refers to Qid in the Canonbase. Providing this is not necessary, but is useful.
* '''Date taken''': this information is read from exif data in the image itself.
In the future, we will also add:
* '''AltTxt''': a description used for the visually impaired (image only)
* '''Caption''': a caption that can be used under the image (image only)

===Logging in===
The repository is a separate application from the database, with a separate login. To login, go to https://repository.canon-project.eu/login and fill in your credentials.

===Browsing the media===
Click on the media library.

You will see a list of files that are available with their metadata. You can filter and search the media based on the metadata.

You can select the metadata you want to see and define how many items you want to see on each page in the screen options.

Hovering over the image or name of the file provides different actions that can be performed:
* '''Edit''': opens the page to edit the metadata of a single file
* '''Delete Permanently''': removes the file and its metadata permanently
* '''View''': shows the original file
* '''Copy URL''': copies a URL to refer to the picture outside the database.
* '''Download''': downloads the file

===Editing the Metadata (single file)===
You can edit the metadata of a single file by clicking on the file. A new page will open where you can edit the metadata. To save the information, click the '''Update''' button.

FIXME – need to add this capability to the WordPress.

Each item in the repository can have a Q number associating it with an item in Canonbase. Add the Canonbase Q number to the repository metadata value Attached To. Over time, these will be connected to Canonbase automatically, or you can do it manually – see Using Files in Canonbase below.

===Editing the Metadata (series of files)===
To edit a batch of files, you first need to select the files by ticking the checkboxes to the left of each file you want. You can use the “select all” checkbox (top left of the list) to select all the files shown on the current page.

Next put the metadata to be added in the Add Metadata in Bulk frame at the top of the page, and click apply. All files will be updated.

To remove Metadata, select the files, select the values to be removed and click Remove. For example, if I want to remove the language Dutch in a series of files, I select the files, I select Dutch in the language drop down language and then click Remove.

===Naming of files===
Once a file is uploaded, the name in its url can’t be changed, so before uploading files, check the clarity and consistency of the filenames. Ideally the names represent the content of the file and are understandable for other users.

Avoid using special characters with accents in the file names, as they can cause issues later in the process. The other fields such as title, caption etc. are all changeable later.

For detailed guidance on naming files, see Naming of Files in Canonbase Help files) FIXME add link

===Filetypes and upload size===

For the file types preferred and allowed by the repository, see [https://canonbase.eu/wiki/Help:Document_types|Preferred and allowed document types].

The maximum file size is 256 MB.

===Uploading files===
Click Add Media File in the left-hand menu bar.

Fill ''before uploading'' the metadata that are common for all files you upload in this batch. These metadata will be added only to this specific batch.

Drag the files into the upload window or select a series of files.

The files will be added to the repository, including their metadata.

Check the files you uploaded in the library and adapt or add metadata that is unique for individual files.

===Adding new Metadata values to the lists===
You can add languages, source types, and projects by clicking the appropriate link and add a value.

Avoid adding too many values to ensure clarity. Please think if it is really necessary to add a new value, or if a combination of metadata will be sufficient to find the files.

===Using files in Canonbase===
To use a file in Canonbase, copy the Media ID and put it in the correct property of the item in Canonbase:
* '''[[Property:P71|Canon document public ID (P71)]]''' Documents (PDF etc.) for public access
* '''[[Property:P369|Canon document private ID (P369)]]''' Documents for only for private access use – these will not be accessible at all to the public and should be set to Private Access in the repository
* '''[[Property:P74|Canon image ID (P74)]]''' for public images.
Note that images are treated separately to other documents, with a different property, as images will be displayed when viewing the item in the Canonbase.

==OLD==

Files are pictures, documents, videos, 3D objects, ... that are used to illustrate the information in the items. We only use files when they are not available on other sustainable sources or when needed for the functioning of the database.

== Used Properties ==
1. Repository
Documents are stored at https://repository.canon-project.eu/, CanonBase interact with their id from there,

P71 for documents (PDF etc.) for public public access
P369 for copyrighted documents
P74 for public images

2.
External images with full source url can be used with property P361

3. Other media
P116 Youtube
P351 Vimeo

4. CanonBase site itself

== Uploading files for P24 ==

Images can be uploaded to Canonbase as well with property P24.
Video with P76

To upload a file, go to the "Upload files" page.
* search the file on your computer
* check the destination filename (the name that will be used in the database) and correct if necesery.
* add additional information and provide a summary
* click upload file
* once the file is uploaded, you can copy the filename and use it in the items.

=== Maximum file size ===

* The maximum file size for all document types is 160 MB

=== Updating files ===
If you have a new version of a file, you can upload this, it will be replaced in all items where it is used.
Older versions are kept in the history files.

=== Bulk uploads ===

== copyright issues ==

== metadata and structured data ==
* add creator
* add licence
* add provenance of the document or source
* add creation date and place

== Preferred and allowed document types ==

''See [[Help:document_types|the help page about document types]]''

== Naming conventions documents ==
''See [[Help:naming_conventions|the help page about naming conventions]]''

== Bulk renaming of documents ==
If you need to rename a large amount of documents, you can use specialised software

> example with Excel files

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T12:32:39Z

NickHunt: /* Document files */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.pdf/A (most preferred, as this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
.pdf (other PDF versions)
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T12:32:15Z

NickHunt:

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.pdf/A (most preferred, ask this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
.pdf (other PDF versions)
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T12:31:26Z

NickHunt: /* Images */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.pdf/A (most preferred, ask this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
.pdf (other PDF versions)
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T12:31:03Z

NickHunt: /* Document files */

== Preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Preferred file type'''
.pdf/A (most preferred, ask this PDF variant is designed for archival use)
.pdf (other PDF versions)
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Naming conventions

2026-03-23T12:23:19Z

NickHunt:

== Naming conventions for files ==
All files such as images or digital documents are placed in the Canon repository that so they can be used in multiple places in the database and elsewhere. Therefore we need to give each one a unique name that makes it possible to find it again.

* the name has to be a title without spaces, therefore we use underscores to fill the spaces.
* the name can be given during the file upload process, but it is easier to rename them in advance.

=== Images ===
The principal idea is that image files should have a human recognisable file name that differentiates it from other files.
* '''IMG1234''' is hard to read or understand
* '''John_Doe_portrait''' is recognisable

==== Logos ====
* naming: brand_name_logo
* a time span can be also added
Example
* ADB_Logo_till_1950s

==== Collection pieces ====
* naming: Collection_collection_number
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content can be added
** _top, _back, _front, _detail, _logo, _type_plate, …

Example
* TEAD_0123_front
* KSB_0386

==== Persons ====
For persons, we follow the naming conventions in the item:
* naming: Last_name_First_name
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* John_Doe
* Jane_Doe_early_1960s
* Louis_Inconue_1

==== Buildings ====
For pictures of buildings we follow the conventions of the item:
* naming: Country code_city_building
** to find the country code, search for the country in Canonbase, and find its ISO code
** Use the English name of the city as stated in the item's Canonbase entry
* when there are multiple pictures, a reference to the exact content or a number can be added

Example
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre
* BE_Antwerp_Bourla_theatre_House

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T12:04:12Z

NickHunt: /* preferred and allowed document types */

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T12:00:55Z

NickHunt:

== preferred and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''preferred''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''preferred file type'''
.pdf
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''preferred file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''preferred file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''preferred file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''preferred file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a preferred document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''preferred file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T11:53:37Z

NickHunt: /* Video */

== Prefered and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''prefered''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.pdf
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
For optimum quality: FFV1
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: H.264 or H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
For optimum quality: FLAC, WAV/PCM
For good quality and much smaller file sizes: AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Prefered file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a prefered document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Prefered file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T11:32:10Z

NickHunt: /* Video */

== Prefered and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''prefered''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.pdf
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
H.264
H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Prefered file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a prefered document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Prefered file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T11:30:59Z

NickHunt: /* Video */

== Prefered and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''prefered''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.pdf
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===

Video file formats involve three parts:
* the video codec (a codec is the definition of how the video is en'''co'''ded and '''dec'''oded)
* the audio codec
* the container format, that holds the video and audio data, and metadata about the video.

'''Preferred video codec'''
H.264
H.265

'''Preferred audio codec'''
AAC

'''Preferred container type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed container type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Prefered file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a prefered document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Prefered file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T11:16:42Z

NickHunt: /* 3D */

== Prefered and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''prefered''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.pdf
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed file type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Prefered file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp the native file format of the design program SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a prefered document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Prefered file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T11:14:50Z

NickHunt: /* Images */

== Prefered and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''prefered''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.pdf
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed file type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Prefered file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp het eigen bestandstype van het gebruiksvriendelijke ontwerpprogramma SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a prefered document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Prefered file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T11:14:20Z

NickHunt: /* Prefered and allowed document types */

== Prefered and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''prefered''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.pdf
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg,
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp

=== Vector artwork ===
'''Preferred type'''
.svg

=== Video ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed file type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Prefered file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp het eigen bestandstype van het gebruiksvriendelijke ontwerpprogramma SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Prefered file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a prefered document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Prefered file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip

Help:Document types

2026-03-23T11:12:39Z

NickHunt: /* Images */

== Prefered and allowed document types ==
Some document types are '''prefered''' over others. The reasons for the choice for a specific type are
* sustainability of the type, in other words if the document will still be readable over a long period of time.
* Usability in the wikibase, in other words if the software can handle and show it.

Not all document types are '''allowed'''. This can be because of a high risk it could damage the system, or it is not usable within the software.

=== Document files ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.pdf
'''Allowed file type'''
.odt (Open Document Text)
.doc (Microsoft word)
.docx (Microsoft word)
.ps (Adobe Post script)

=== Images ===
'''Prefered file type'''
.tiff
.jpg
.jpeg,
'''Allowed file type'''
.png
.gif
.bmp
.svg

=== Video ===
'''Perfered file type'''
.mp4
'''Allowed file type'''
.mkv (container files that support unlimited picture, audio, and subtitle tracks)
.avi

=== 3D ===
'''Perfered file type'''
At the moment, there is not a sustainable file format for 3D objects
'''Allowed file type'''
.gltf (standard file format for three-dimensional scenes and models)
.glb a standardized file format used to share 3D data
.skp het eigen bestandstype van het gebruiksvriendelijke ontwerpprogramma SketchUp

=== Tables ===
'''Perfered file type'''
None, tables should only be added as table if the information needs to be interactive, filtered, ...
'''Allowed file type'''
.xls
.xlsx
.ods (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)

=== Presentations ===
'''Perfered file type'''
None, presentations should only be added as presentation if the information needs to be interactive, Otherwise they should be stored as pdf-A
'''Allowed file type'''
.ppt
.pptx

=== Other ===
* some sector specific files are not usable in the software, for exaple 3D images, showfiles or visualisation software files.
* when these files are not transferable to a prefered document type, they can be added in a zip file
'''Perfered file type'''
none
'''Allowed file type'''
.zip