Ringing World News

1. BellBoard Developments

   We are pleased to announce that BellBoard now lists the contents of each issue of The Ringing World. This new facility will make it easier for subscribers to find articles and for existing readers to point potential readers/subscribers towards articles of interest.

   From the BellBoard front page look out for ‘View the contents of this issue’ under the front cover image, and on the ‘Issues’ page, issues with contents have a small ’i’ icon next to their issue date. A list of articles is displayed with links to individual RW pages – subscribers can view the page with just one click, and non-subscribers will be invited to purchase a pdf copy of the issue.

   At first only new issues will have their contents listed, but we will work to extend the archive backwards as well as develop search facilities. If you are interested in helping with this – or indeed any other aspects of BellBoard development or data – please get in touch with the Editor.

   Developing BellBoard is made possible by the donations we receive from our subscribers and supporters and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your ongoing support. Through your generosity we are able to improve this valuable resource.

2. National Day of Reflection

   The Church of England has partnered with Marie Curie on 23rd March 2021 to mark the first anniversary of the first lockdown in the UK with a national day of reflection.

   Ringing can be associated with the event at this link.

   A Central Council note can be found here.

3. 2021 RW Calendars and Diaries - now discounted

   2021 Ringing World Calendars and Diaries are now reduced to clear - 50% off while stocks last. Go to the shop to buy yours.

4. Corrections

   Messages about possible corrections to performance records can now be sent to us through BellBoard. The ‘pencil’ menu at the top of the performance screen has a ‘Submit correction’ option which allows you to fill in a form to be sent to your helpful BellBoard elves.

5. Footnotes added to CSV download

   We frequently receive feedback that users would like footnote data included in the CSV files available for download. We have been reluctant to change this as we know many users have set up automated scripts to download records, and changing the format would disturb them.

   We have now implemented a new version of the download on a slightly different URL, which includes footnotes (in the final field before band details) and header information. Note also that where more than one bell is rung by a single ringer (e.g. in handbell performances), the relevant bells cell will now start with a tab character. This will force spreadsheet software to interpret the cell as text and prevent it from trying to format it as a date or number.

   If you download a CSV file from the browser you will receive a file in the new version, while automated scripts will continue to receive the old format. If you wish to change, the old query ends &fmt=csv and the new ends &fmt=csv_header

   A reminder, if you are downloading the results of a large search from the browser, that you can append ‘&pagesize=1000’ or some suitable number to increase the records shown.