This is the initial release of a revised National Register Information System (NRIS). You issue queries against a database and qualifying entries are returned to your screen within Web pages. What is new about this release is that there are more reports you can run, you have some local control over the appearance, and there are thousands of links to individual Web pages about National Register properties. All you need on your end is a computer browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer to make it go. You are given more capabilities than most people need so most users are advised not to fiddle with the controls without a reason. In the months and years to come more reports and capabilities will be added as this new breed of software matures.
Don’t worry about capitalization when making requests. Records are sorted by the logic of your request and typically the fields returned are the state, county, resource name, address, city, date of listing, name of the multiple nomination it is a part of, and links to Web pages. The most common sort order is by state, then county, then name. Only some properties are in multiples or have Web links so many times the multiple name column will be blank or the Web page column will be null (meaning no entries). Links to Web pages typically contain a picture and some text describing a property. If there is more than one page per property the record is repeated.
Use the navigational features of your browser (such as the back and forward arrows) as appropriate to move around between menus and reports. When it comes to jumping around to previous menus that means in Netscape using "Go" at the top of the browser and in Internet Explorer using the History button (Netscape is easier because it does not intrude upon the screen).
A search returns 10 records at a time. Navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen perform as follows:
Like stock market systems, some reports requires codes you may have to look up online to begin a report. Clicking on "Execute" initiates data retrieval. Do not modify a report unless necessary since the queries are already constructed and you simply have to fill in the blanks to get a formatted report. However if you want to change the look of a report you may do so in a limited way by going to "Options". For example you can make a report with ten records per page default to one hundred records per page by upping the page size value in the page size and start row to 100. Or you can delete columns you do not want to view but you may not change sort orders or filters since these are already set. While this software allows you to customize the "look" of reports, it is recommended you do not do so unless you have a specific need. If you foul up the format locally you may want to exit your browser and return. Clearing your cache in Netscape or deleting your Internet files in Explorer may also help.
Since many reports are longer than can conveniently be seen in screen size bites and you may want to manipulate the data anyway, you are allowed to export to a MS Word or Excell format from within the searches. To do so you should have Office 97 or greater on your machine. Lacking that, Microsoft offers a free MS Word reader at www.microsoft.com. You may also delete fields from the export, such as Web pages. Remember to select all rows if you want the complete report.
A small percentage of relatively sophisticated users may want to manipulate database information in their local computer environment. To do so you can go to the "Download Center" through the Web page or FTP directly to FTP.NR.NPS.GOV. Database information is stored in fixed length fields in a universal dbf format, or dBASE III Plus format, which can be picked up by most computer systems. You will have to construct your own programs to manipulate this data if you download data. Currently the text of the nominations is not available online.
Or you may want to fill out National Register forms. If you want to prepare forms check with your State Historic Preservation Office or Tribal Preservation Office first since they probably have a preferred format for the submission.
