How do I use Video History Today?
Video History Today is aware that the average user of the material from the site (students/young people in general) will be a bit more technically aware then the average subscriber (parents/ school teachers or adults in general).
Therefore the aim of this section is to help the average subscriber understand how to use the site and what to do with the material when it has been downloaded.
Finding the correct article
Each subject covered by Video History Today may have several articles which themselves contain several downloadable files. Articles may contain anything from one file to five files available for download (the short notes with each article should advise about the files contained).
Each article has been annotated in a consistently logical fashion:
COUNTRY: TOWN/REGION: LOCATION: AREA WITHIN LOCATION
Therefore The Changing of the Guard in London becomes:
England: Windsor: Windsor Castle: Views of the Castle
Not every file has four components but hopefully using this approach will make using the 'Search' facility more straightforward, (Initially in the case of London locations, the file opens under the heading 'England' only).
Where files are directly connected to one major historical event, an additional keyword will be added, (eg: Holocaust, American Civil War or French Revolution)
The Article
Older articles will generally contain either a series of short descriptions of particular downloadable files (all opened by double clicking on the photographs) or links to a viewable video (stored on YouTube and viewable without having to register) which is not downloadable.
Newer articles will contain a viewable clip of about 1 minute of the video index as well as information about the subject, details about the file file & how to download it. Web links are often added to provide quick links to additional information.
Where do I download the file to? (Need an UnZip application?)
In most cases the files you are downloading are packaged as Zip files, (you could think of a Zip file as a suitcase containing all your things in one container for convenience).
Once you have double-clicked on the photograph, your computer will normally ask you where you wish to download the Zip file to.
Video History Today suggests that you allocate a new folder on your computer hard drive to download the Zip file to and then stick with that file consistently.
Once downloaded to your allocated file you need to open the Zip file and access the contents.
Each Zip file has been carefully arranged to load into the correct area within your Video History Today filing system.
Each time you UnZip a file your computer will ask you where you want the file to open. Again allocate which hard drive (usually 'C:' is your main hard drive) you would like to use AND THEN ALWAYS STICK TO THIS DRIVE. Each Zip file is designed to open in the same order, 'Video History Today, Country, Location/City, area within Location etc. and place itself in the correct area of your hard drive (as long as you select the same hard drive each time).
Final point: You need two Video History Today folders
It is important to note that when you have UnZipped a file, you will have two versions of the same information, one as the original Zip file and the second as a useable Windows folder.
Video History Today would suggest these two folders are maintained separately as it is likely that once the video files start to be used they will inevitably become corrupted/damaged or accidential amended.
To save having to download the file again
KEEP THE ZIP FILE SAFE. Video History Today may remove or replace an underused or old file and you may not be able to access this file in the future.
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