joannavenneri
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I have been asked to answer this one.
SAVING AS .BRF FROM AN .ABT YOU CREATED: This strips away all the underlying file structure that is uniquely .abt and thereby removes the conflict that would prevent such a file from being opened in another program, like DBT or MegaDots. That's why we do it--to enable that braille file to work with different software. A .brf is just a file of ascii braille and form feeds every 25 lines. There is nothing left to conflict with DBT and that's why it works. However, what is holding paragraphs in position at this point, is just position. All the paragraph structure is gone. And so are the interpoint settings, even though nothing has physicall7y changed in the file itself. Everything stays in position.
Therefore, when sending a .brf, NEVER do any editing in the .brf format. Don't even open it to look at it. Do everything in .abt. Save as .brf only when you are ready to send the braille file to its recipient. If you set it for interpoint in .abt, it will retain the interpoint in .brf for the recipient. In fact, delete the .brf right after you send it. Keep the .abt. If any subsequent editing is necessary, do that in the .abt and create another .brf. Don't bother viewing the .brf. As long as your .abt is good, the .brf will be retain everything you did.
WHEN EMBOSSING .BRF's RECEIVED FROM ELSEWHERE THAT YOU DIDN'T CREATE--if the file was prepared as an interpoint file, it will retain that, just as a matter of where the pages break and the presence of a final even sided page at the end of the file. When you open this in Braille2000, as you have to in order to emboss it, the pages will be correct but the file will NOT have the interpoint setting even though it is, in fact, interpoint. If you have your embosser set up to recognize that interpoint setting, you may have a problem because your embosser will think it's single-sided.
You can open the .brf and save it as an .abt. In the .abt copy you can go to Adjust--Document and just click on interpoint. It might even already show that interpoint setting already, but you can change the setting if it doesn't show interpoint. Then you can emboss from this .abt file that is now bearing the interpoint settings that the embosser wants to see.
Please let me know if there are any problems with this and I will consult further and get clarification.
--Joanna
The ones I see over and over again in exercise materials, workbooks, questions after a story, test materials, etc. are always just a visual clue or eye-candy on the page. The only time I've seen it important to the material is in a math book. I've attached one page that has the question numbers in a box and one that has the answer choices circled.
Hi Joanna,
Thanks for the explanation. I still don't see wording that explicitly addresses boxes at the top of print pages starting at the top of a braille page, but I will take your word for it that that's the spirit of the Guideline 7.2.1 a. "A top box line can appear on line 1 when a running head is not used and line 3 when a running head is used." I was assuming that addressed the situation where the box appeared on line 1 with a continued print page number (in the middle of the print page), and the blank line required before the box appeared on the previous braille page.
Would this also apply to other material that normally is preceded and followed by a blank line, i.e. an epigraph at the top of a print page? Normally, if the print page change indicator occurred in the middle of the braille page, there would be a blank line between it and the epigraph. However, if it falls at the top of a braille page without a running head, the epigraph would appear on line 1 with the new print page number. Do I have that right?
Also, if the preceding material ended on line 25, would a box/epigraph begin on line 2 of the next page to include the required blank line?
Sorry if my wording is confusing. I'm just trying really hard to make sure I understand when the guidelines apply or not.
Thanks,
RebeccaI can see whey it's confusing. I was confused myself, but I now have clarification to share.
The repeated material (i.e., cast of characters, pronunciation key, etc.) is placed at the end of the front matter in all appropriate volumes. The PRINT PAGE NUMBERS of these items are listed in print order on the title page. If there is more than one repeated item, like both cast of characters and pronunciation, these would be placed at the end of the front matter in the print page order that applies just to them, but both are at the end of the front matter. All the print page numbers on the title page are listed in print page order.
Hope that helps.
--Joanna
I don't think the old Formats mentioned circled item numbers either. The only reference to that seems to be in that example. With the lack of a specific rule or even a comment, my own judgment is that's the way someone thought it should be done. What is the purpose of these shapes? Do they add to the meaning or are they simply a visual or decorative device to draw visual attention to the number of the item? Note that in several places in tne Formats, there is commentary about transcriber judgments, especially with regard to the omission or inclusion of font attributes.
Please send a print page and I'll be glad to take a closer look.
--Joanna
Hi Charles,
Yes, there is a grace period. Here's how it works. Right NOW, transcribers are to finish any books already started using the old 1997 Formats. A new book can be started EITHER in the new Formats or the old. In other words, we MAY start a new book with the new 2011 Formats if desired. There will be an implementation date given by BANA and we think it will be January 1, 2013. It hasn't been officially annoucned yet. Any book started after January 1, 2013 (or after whatever the implementation date is) MUST be done with the new 2011 Formats.
We will do our best to answer questions on both the old and new Formats here at the forum.
--Joanna
See Section 7.2 about blank lines and boxes. When a print page starts on a new braille page and a box starts there as well, the top boxing line is on line 1 when no running head is used. So, in your second example, the top boxing line should be on line, with the usual 3 blank cells between the page number and the box line.
--Joanna
Thanks for your patience. I now have a suggestion that comes from a truly higher authority, namely someone who helped write the new Formats. I am advised that much of the upcoming Early Literacy guidelines will refer back to our new guidelines. In the absence of a current Early Literacy document, there is enough in the guidelines themselves. See Section 1.6 on page size, line length and line spacing. Essentially, double spacing and uncontracted braille are agency decisions. so you need to have the agency (or the actual teacher) specify these things. There are no specific provisions for anything else, like transcriber's notes. I suggest that the wording of TN's match the vocabulary level of the surrounding text as much as possible. Follow the guidelines with regard to font attributes. The guidelines do encourage transcribers to make judgments. If the teacher or other appropriate person from the agency is available, you can utilize their directions as agency decisions.
Hope this helps.
Joanna
I have posted a personal message regarding this post. Click on my profile, which is just to the right of your user name and from there you'll see a personal message inbox.
--Joanna
I am sorry for the delay. I will be answering the questions you have sent later today. I have been away and not able to access my 2997 Formats book.
--Joanna
Wow thank you for getting back to me so quickly. The index is very nice! I searched in the portfolio on my desktop and it didn't find it, so thank you.
I can't give you a complete answer, but I will get some further information and post it here as I get it. If you have an an urgent transcription to start now, please continue with the guidelines you have been using. I do know that the BANA Early Literaracy Committee has been waiting for the new guidelines so that it can update early grade requirements. As I get more information about updated guidelines for early grades, I will post them.
--Joanna
