INSTRUCTIONS FOR
TRANSCRIBING A
SHELDON TOON

(Keep this page open while transcribing...it'll walk you through the process)

FIRST: WHY ARE WE TRANSCRIBING STRIPS?
By transcribing all the dialogue from Sheldon toons, you're helping to make the archives searchable. Want to find that one strip where Arthur meets an Oompa Loompa?  Or Sheldon hires the Superman 2 villains?  By transcribing this and other strips, we can make this possible.

INSTRUCTIONS
To keep things simple, we break down each strip into individual panels. You'll be entering the characters and dialogue that appear in panel 1...and then doing the same for panels 2 and 3. There is a 5-minute learning curve...but once you get it, it's easy as pie.

(Note: As you enter data, the only truly critical things are the characters and the text. On occasion, though, a prop or location will play a big role, and should be noted. For example, if Sheldon is stuck in a cave, or gets hit by a ball, those are important details to put in.)

  1. To start, you'll need to select a strip to transcribe. The simplest way is to select one from the full list of "strips needing editing". Select any from from that list.
  2. This will bring up that day's strip, along with a brief heads up. Read it, and then click "Transcribe This Strip".
  3. You'll be taken to the transcription page...and is already prompted for the first panel. Here, you'll first use the drop-downs to select the characters (and props and locations) you see in that first panel. But go easy on the props and locations...people have kinda gone nuts with those. :)
  4. When you've added in the characters that appear in the first panel, click "Update".
  5. The page will refresh with those drop-down details now added in. On this updated page, you can now
    - Add in any attributes for locations and props. 99% of the time, we can skip attributes. So ignore 'em.
    - Add in the dialogue text for each character. Type it in exactly as it appears. Please don't "correct" anything...it should look exactly as it does in the strip. (Also note: if a character is present in a panel, but doesn't speak, no text should be typed in.)
  6. When all the dialogue and text for that panel is entered, click "Update". Now, that panel is done!
  7. Time Saver! If the characters re-occur in the next panel, clicking "Clone for new panel" creates a copy of everything in the last panel, except for the text boxes. Saves you from having to re-enter data.
  8. Repeat steps 1-6 until all the panels are done.
  9. When you finish, click "Back to Strip", and click the drop-down to change status to "Mark for Approval". And you're done!
  10. If you want, you can do another strip, just by going back to the full list of "strips needing editing".

...I know the system is a little wonky, but know that I am SO, SO THANKFUL for your help in using it as it is. You rock!

Thank you!
Dave