The following field sizes will allow you to safely import the OCFA files into a database program without losing any of the field contents:
Surname: 30
Given: 45
Cemetery: 50
County: 20
Township: 20
Reference: 18
Soundex: 4
The smaller OCFA5CEM.ASC file is based on the following database
fields and sizes:
Reference: 18
Cemetery: 50
County: 20
Township: 20
Con: 16
Lot: 6
Pub: 16
Vol: 5
Year: 5
Surname
This field contains the Surname.
Given
This field displays the person's given name. Names in the Given field contained within (brackets) indicate a maiden name.
Cemetery
The Cemetery name as listed in the transcription or source document.
County
The name of the County as it was given in the transcription or source document.
Township
Township names containing "points of the compass" are listed with the primary first. Some may disagree with this convention, but it does ensure consistence. For example, we may be familiar with a township known as "North Dorchester" but it is entered in OCFA as "Dorchester North". This convention aids greatly when searching a database sorted on the Township name.
Reference
The designation numbers in the Reference field refers to the publication provider and the transcript reference number. Visit the Addresses page for information on contacting the contributing organizations.
Soundex
One of the main features and benefits of this database is the convenience of Soundex searches. As most family historians soon discover, surname spellings have to be taken with a grain of salt and creative flexibility. Electronic database searches on the Soundex code (rather than on a single spelling of a surname) may yield some surprising matches which would otherwise go undetected.