If 'Page 1 of 0' is displayed when you click the 'View digital copy' link, this indicates that the digital images were transferred to RecordSearch only within the last few hours, and will be available for viewing the next day. When you check again the following day you may need to refresh your screen to see the images.
If two versions of an image are available, the 'Read' version will display unless you select 'Enlarge'.
Select 'Enlarge' if the 'Read' version is not legible.
If the 'Enlarge' option does not appear, only a 'Read' version is available.
Use the FORWARD and BACK arrows to move through the pages of an item.
Items such as files are copied from the top (ie the front cover) down, to try to replicate the experience of reading the file in a reading room. This means that page 1 will be the most recent document on the file, and the last page will be the oldest document. If you prefer to read the file in date order, you can go directly to the last page and scroll backwards, a page at a time.
You can jump to a specific page by typing the page number in the navigation box and pressing ENTER.
To avoid having to select 'Enlarge' for every page, select it for the page you are currently viewing, then, instead of clicking the FORWARD or BACK arrow to scroll to the next page, type the next page number in the navigation box and press ENTER. This displays the large version of each page, regardless of whether you type the next or previous page, or jump a number of pages.
If you want to come back to a specific page later you can bookmark it by using the normal 'bookmark' or 'favourite' option on your desktop.
To close the window in which the image is displayed and go back to your original link, click the EXIT DIGITAL COPY button.
You can print either the 'Read' version or the 'Enlarge' version. Only the page currently displayed can be printed.
'Read' version – In many instances a legible copy of the image can be obtained by printing the 'Read' version. This will print the page currently displayed in portrait style. Because the top and bottom navigation borders are included, the image will usually print on TWO pages.
You can print the image on one page by excluding the top and bottom navigation borders. To do this, right click on the image, select 'Copy', then 'Paste' the copy into a Word document and then print the Word document. You must do this individually for each page.
'Enlarge' version – If the 'Read' version does not print legibly, select the 'Enlarge' version. Note that the 'Enlarge' version prints in landscape format. You will need to change your page setup (located under the File menu) to 'Landscape' orientation before you print the image. It will print out on THREE pages.
You can also download a copy of each page to your PC or to disk. To do this, right click on the image, select 'Copy', then 'Paste' the copy into your chosen location. You must do this individually for each page.
The digital copying of records for RecordSearch is a largely automated process that enables large quantities of records to be digitised quickly.
In keeping with our aim to digitise large volumes of records, the image capture process is designed to produce legible copies that are adequate for online research, not high quality images.
You should expect that the images are legible, that each page is copied in its entirety, and that the whole file is copied (if it is not, we will say so, and explain why). Because of issues associated with file size and downloading, we cannot presently digitise formats larger than A3.
If you find images that are illegible, let us know and we will re-digitise them.