Still in trouble with the VWML website?

Subject: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: Nick Dow
Date: 21 May 26 - 04:55 AM

So many people have given up in despair, I thought it might be useful to start an advice thread. It takes a bit of getting used to and with no offence to the existing tuition on You Tube, problems may be solved by discussion. (I hope)

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 21 May 26 - 05:10 AM

VWML ?

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 21 May 26 - 06:53 AM

Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. A repository of resources concerning folk music and dance.

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 May 26 - 04:33 PM

I have given up trying to give advice, recently someone asked for my advice on their marriage, me of all people.
However i have cast my vote supporting jon Boden and brian Peters. perhaps the vwml library should be moved else where, notice i stress the word perhaps, to stowmarket?

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: Nick Dow
Date: 21 May 26 - 07:25 PM

Wherever they are, the website will be the same. However, I have spent considerable time working on the ins and outs of the new website, and I am quite happy to help anybody who is stuck. I have had quite a few people pulling their hair out trying to use it, and I must admit it is not easy, and I'll wager others are far more adept than I. I'm just offering a bit of help if it's needed. How do you get on with it, Dick?

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 May 26 - 02:05 AM

my apologies I did not understand your question

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 May 26 - 02:27 AM

6 out of 10, ok, but ifind being askeed for a donation a bit annoying as i am already a member, a bit over aggressive.
reminds me a bit of shopkeepeepers who were badgering you all the time to buy something

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: DaveRo
Date: 22 May 26 - 03:04 AM

Doesn't it only ask for a donation if you're not signed in (and have enabled cookies) - like wikipedia?

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 May 26 - 03:21 AM

imo, it is over the top. furthermore if they stopped bollocking about with the name, and ran a festival somewhere like they used to, sheffield might be a good idea, a festival based round good singing rather than so called names

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: Nick Dow
Date: 22 May 26 - 03:54 AM

All good ideas, Dick. Did you find it easy to access the songs you wished to view? If so, how did you manage?

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 May 26 - 04:29 AM

i searched for ball of yarn and ended up with adieu sweet lovely nancy, a sort of magical mystery tour, a bit like being led up the garden path by goosy goosy gander

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: Nick Dow
Date: 22 May 26 - 06:14 AM

LOL That's why I started this thread. When time allows, tell us what you did. I'll post my findings later on when I'm not so busy.

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 22 May 26 - 06:22 AM

The Sandman wrote: i searched for ball of yarn and ended up with adieu sweet lovely nancy, a sort of magical mystery tour, a bit like being led up the garden path by goosy goosy gander

That's because the Roud Index isn't organized by titles or first lines; it's organized by Roud Numbers. So a title/first line search will often pick up many different songs. Whereas a search by Roud Number will (usually) get you directly to what you want.

I'm not saying one is better than the other; one is serendipity, the other, directed search. You can choose the sort of search you want.

Incidentally, the next version of the Traditional Ballad Index (which I'm now thinking will come out in early to mid June) will also make serendipitous search easier.

Subject: RE: Still in trouble with the VWML website?
From: Nick Dow
Date: 22 May 26 - 10:14 AM

Meanwhile. If you are a casual browser, looking for 'The ball of Yarn ' here s how I would do it.
1. The opening page has no obvious links. In fact everything is a link. Go for the small typed 'Archive Catalogues'
2. Scrole down to the search engine, bearing in mind it is a bit complicated and sort of works backwards. Enter 'The Ball of Yarn' into the first box marked TEXT.
3.There is a drop down menu in the next box with asks WITHIN. Which at first sight means nothing until you read the options. Select TITLE and search. Geuss what!! You get one bloody song. Why because as Bob says above you need the Roud number to search properly. That's alright if you know it! Well now you do it's marked on your lonely song as Roud 1404.
4.Select the red button EDIT TEXT bin off the title type in the Roud number and add the Roud no. option on the Within box.
5.Dear reader geuss what! You get the same single song again and no others. Bloody wonderful. Why? because it was only collected in pen and ink once.How you are supposed to know that...well now you do. There are 75 sound recordings though. So lets select the box for that on the left of the page.
6. Success! You can listen to some of the recordings.
7. OK let's assume you are looking at a song that was collected in Manuscript form many times. You have finally got the copies up on your screen. You want to take a copy so you right click and bugger all happens. Eventually I figured out the you need to open in another window,(there is an option) and then the right click and the'Save as 'option' is available.
8. If you want to download a sound file use the three dot link by the recording on your screen and it should work.
My honest advice to you is copy as much material as you can, and put it in you own archive file. It saves as mp3 or jpeg, then browse to your hearts content without all the drama, I have copied the entire Hammond Manuscripts.
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE
There are Midi transcriptions of songs (if you can find them) It's lightning fast, and as long as you get the hang of the options you can refine your results. Keep your temper, and try try again, it does make some sort of sense when you get used to it.