2. Analyze the SFM File

The second phase is analyzing the SFM file. There are 5 steps to this phase:

A. Preliminary text cleanup (unwrap lines, check line endings, )

• Line ends

• Remove trailing blanks and look for tabs that should be spaces

• Join lines

B. Assess Writing Systems [needs a page, needs work]  

• • Determine if file is already in Unicode, or if encoding conversion is needed (if so, seek expert help)

  • Ensure linguist has a Unicode font and keyboard

  • Create an inventory of the characters

  • Learn what sort orders are used

  • Be prepared to add these to the empty database

C. Enumerate the markers

D. Assess fixed fields

• • Which fields have list content

  • Is it consistent?

  • Are custom lists or list items needed?

E. Inline formatting [needs a page, needs work]

• • Does it exist?

  • Is it applied correctly?

  • Should any be applied that isn't there?

  • Link to script for numbering examples

  • Script for applying formatting to headword in examples?