Tikal Digital Access Project Digital File Naming Conventions

 

As we continue to create digital facimilies of other types of documents, file naming conventions will continue to be added to this list. The list below represents the range of types of catalog cards we have scanned to date.

These file naming conventions are based on the system of numeration and nomenclature developed by William R. Coe for the Tikal Project - the system used for the physical archive. With minor modification, it shouold, in theory, be flexible enough to name all potential digital files, without duplication, and still provide sufficient information about the contents of the digital file.

An index to the acronyms/abbreviations used in the file names can be found here.

Explanation of table column headings:

  • The "TP" prefix in the PROJECT column distinguishes these digital files from others at the UPM or SCETI as containing documents from the Tikal Project archive.
  • OBJECT refers to the type of physical document.
  • CONTENTS (A-E) refers to the subject matter of the physical document. For more detailed explanations of the alphabetic or numeric designations in any file name, roll your cursor over the in any contents column.
  • SIDE is a sequential number referring to the number of sides or pages related to the physical document.

The maximum characters in any column in the table below represents the maximum numbers of characters/digits for any object in the archive. The maximum length of any file name, therefore, should be 25 characters.

Questions, comments, problems? Please contact Sharon Misdea.
 
Project Object Contents A Contents B Contents C Contents D Contents E Side Example
Catalog Cards
TP
CC OP Abbreviations here and in the 9 cells below refer to the main subject of the catalog card. 003 Alpha-numeric sequence in this and the three cells below refer to the Operation and Suboperation numbers.       See Note TP_CC_OP_003.tif
TP  CC  SO  003B       01 TP_CC_SO_003B_01.tif
TP CC  LO 003B 123 This is a sequential Lot number within the Suboperation referenced in the previous column. It should not exceed three digits.     01  TP_CC_LO_003B_188_01.tif
TP  CC  OB  003B 1234 This is a sequential Object number assigned to objects in Suboperation 3B. It should not exceed 4 digits.     01 TP_CC_OB_003B_1234_01.tif
TP  CC  GI  GP Alpa sequences here and in the four cells below refer to the main subject of the General Index cards. 7F This 2-3 character designation (in combination with the cell to the right) refers to architectural groups at the site. For example, Group 7F-1. 01   01  TP_CC_GI_GRP_07F_01_01.tif
TP CC  GI  STR  7F This 2 character designation refers to the Group in which the Structure is located. 030 This sequential number refers to individual Structures within Groups. It should not exceed 3 digits. 1 This single digit refers to the sequential construction phase of a building. For example, the earliest construction phase of of Structure 30 in Group 7F would be labelled STR. 7F-30-1st. 01  TP_CC_GI_STR_07F_030_1_01.tif
TP CC GI BU 123 This is a sequential number assigned to Burials regardless of where in the site they were located. It should not exceed 3 digits.     01 TP_CC_GI_BU_100_01.tif
TP CC GI CA 123     01 TP_CC_GI_CA_100_01.tif
TP CC GI PD 123     01 TP_CC_GI_PD_100_01.tif
TP CC NC CX This alpha sequence refers to the size and type of photographic negative that is the subject of the Negative Card. 56 This is a 2 digit number that refers to the year that a photograph was taken. 115 This is a 1-3 digit number that refers to the Tikal Project member who took the photograph. 1234 This is a sequential number assigned to photographs taken by an individual photographer in a given year. 01 TP_CC_NG_CX_63_115_1234.tif