FreeCEN Handbook

This page has download links for the various guides that help Transcribers, Proofreaders, Validators and Coordinators in the transcription of census documents.

Introduction to FreeCEN for New Transcribers
Dave’s FreeCEN2 New Transcriber Guide
FreeCEN2 Handbook —
- Part 1 — Transcriber and Proofreader Handbook, for England and Wales — last updated Mar 2025
- Part 2 — Validator Handbook — last updated Mar 2025
- Part 3 — Coordinator Handbook — last updated Mar 2025

Links and tabs

What has changed?

We have set nearly all the links on this site to open in the same browser tab rather than a new one. This puts you in control and makes it easier for all users to understand what has happened when they select a link.

The one and only exception to this is that the link to the Gazetteer, both in the main menu and on ‘Your Actions’, will continue to open automatically in a new tab, for your convenience.

You are in control

Sometimes, it makes sense to get a link to open in a new tab: you can choose to do exactly that. The details will depend on your OS (Operating System) and how you move around the page. For example, a Windows user with a mouse will right-click on the link to get a context menu. They can then choose “Open link in new tab” or “Open link in new window”.

Keeping a useful page available

The items in the main menu are links. The list of Actions on the ‘Your Actions’ page look like buttons, but they too are links. You can open a link in a new tab at will. For instance, you can open this page in a new tab from the Your Actions page; you can open any of the Handbook links on this page in a new tab. Your decision.

Please note that the ‘Report a problem’ buttons are buttons — you cannot choose to open a new tab with them.

Please make sure you have read Links and tabs before going any further.

Introduction to FreeCEN for New Transcribers (England and Wales)

This Introduction is suitable for New Transcribers: it is a simple guide to get you started. You can use this together with Dave's Guide for New Transcribers. Once you get going, please use Part 1 of the FreeCEN2 Handbook for England and Wales.

Download the Introduction Guide (PDF, 258 KB)

The Guide might appear on your screen in Acrobat Reader or directly in your browser:

select the Download Icon (an underlined downward arrow)
you will be asked where you want to Save the Guide. Save it.
open the Guide in Acrobat Reader (or in Preview on a Mac)
select the Print Icon (or File … Print)
select your Printer
set Pages to ‘Print to All’
select ‘Booklet’
set Booklet option to ‘both sides’
set the Orientation to Portrait
select Print

The Guide will now print on 4 pieces of A4 paper back to back. These can be folded into an A5 booklet.

The various guides and Handbooks are PDF (Portable Document Format) files. Most browsers can show the contents of a PDF file directly: if not, you’ll see a dialogue box rather than the Handbook itself. Follow the instructions from step two.

Dave’s FreeCEN2 New Transcriber Guide

This Guide was written by Dave as he learnt to Transcribe for FreeCEN. It aims to explain things from the point of view of you, the Transcriber.

Download Dave’s FreeCEN2 New Transcriber Guide (PDF, 4.71 MB)

select the Download Icon (an underlined downward arrow)
you will be asked where you want to Save the Guide. Save it.
open the Guide in Acrobat Reader (or in Preview on a Mac)
select the Print Icon (or File … Print) (it will print on about 15 sheets of A4 back to back)
select your Printer
set Pages to Print to All
select Back-to-back (flip on long side)
set the Orientation to Portrait
select Print

Sample Completed Spreadsheet

This is the beginning of a sample transcription (about 6 pages of images). It contains a range of entries so that you, as a new transcriber, can see what a completed spreadsheet looks like.

If your spreadsheet software can open Microsoft Excel format files, .xls, then we recommend looking at that one. It has some formatting that makes it nicer to look at and so easier to read than the CSV file. In particular, the first row of every census page has been given a yellow background as per Dave’s suggestion.

Download Sample Spreadsheet (.xls, 54 KB)
or
Download Sample Spreadsheet (CSV, 12.2 KB)

Depending on your operating system and browser, you might find that you are starting at step two rather than step one:

select the Download Icon (an underlined downward arrow)
you will be asked where you want to Save the spreadsheet — save it
open the spreadsheet using your spreadsheet software (any spreadsheet software can open a .csv file)

FreeCEN2 Handbook part 1A

for Transcribers and Proofreaders
England and Wales Censuses

(including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man)

Part 1A of the Handbook is suitable for all Transcribers (including new ones) and Proofreaders working on England and Wales censuses. It can be used on your computer or printed as a desktop reference on A4 paper, either one-sided or back-to-back.

Download the FreeCEN Handbook part 1A (PDF, 6.5 MB)

When the Handbook appears on your screen:

select the Download icon (a downward arrow)
choose where you want to Save the Handbook. Save it.
open the Handbook in Acrobat Reader (or Preview)
select the Print icon (or File … Print)
select your printer
set Pages to print all
if you want to print on both sides of the paper, tick the ‘Print on both sides of the paper’ box
set the Orientation to Portrait
select Print

The Handbook will print on about 60 sheets of A4 paper, single-sided (or 30 if you print on both sides).

We are still updating the Handbook from time to time. We will let you know when a new version is available. Make sure you are using the latest version.

FreeCEN2 Handbook part 2 — Validation

The Validator Handbook has detailed information for Validators. It explains how to manage pieces within CSVProc. It is a continuation of the Handbook Part 1 for Transcribers and Proofreaders and should be read in conjunction with that part of the Handbook.

Download the Validator Handbook (PDF, 4 MB)

FreeCEN2 Handbook part 3 — Coordination

The Coordinator Handbook has detailed information for Coordinators. It explains how to manage a County. It is a continuation of Part 1 of the Handbook for Transcribers and Proofreaders and Part 2 for Validators and should be read in conjunction with those parts of the Handbook.

This is a comprehensive guide to working with FreeCEN2. It should be your first point of reference whenever you have a question or a problem.

We suggest that you save the Handbook to your computer. It is quite large, so printing is probably not a viable option.

Download the Coordinator Handbook (PDF, 7.2 MB)

The Handbook will appear on your screen:

select the Download icon (a downward arrow)
choose where you want to Save the Handbook. Save it.

Whenever you need to refer to the Handbook, open it in Acrobat Reader (or in Preview on a Mac).

We are still updating the Handbook regularly and will let you know when a new version of the Handbook is available. Make sure you are using the latest version.

Make a suggestion to improve the Handbook

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