We met and discussed the Penn State database on Tuesday. Here is some
feedback/answers to your questions.
I agree completely with Jerry and John's response about using a "mixed"
hierarchy of dated entries and pages. This will only get you into
trouble.
One small thing I saw was that you have "image" selected at every level.
So for the highest level of "Minute book" you have image selected. At
dated entry you have image selected. And at the page level you have image
selected. The database is then going to expect you to actually provide an
image at some point for each of these--providing an image of a minute book
and of an entry will be tough! So be sure that you are only choosing
images at levels where you really want them--probably pages and details.
Transcriptions will most likely work the opposite way. You will have a
transcription at the highest level (minute book, say) and not at the lower
levels. Remember, each image and transcription is equal to one file.
We would like to have our discussion about best practice for vocabulary
for the database, but we are really making it up on our own without other
test databases. Also, we would like to be sure that everyone is
understanding how to fill in the database. So send them in!
Thanks,
Merrilee