Getting your Oral History to a usable web format:
While PastPerfect doesn’t have a function that can convert your audio file to a usable web format, there are many packages out there in the retail sector that will. The key is knowing what you have and making the transition (if needed) from analog tape to digital media. Our procedure utilizes MP3 format which is quickly becoming the standard for fast downloads and acceptable quality. Please note: we have chosen MP3 as a format for sharing audio on the web, not necessarily as a format you should use to permanently store the digital file.

It all starts in PastPerfect: (attaching the audio file to the record)

1. Select a user defined field to use as your audio link. I suggest using one of the memo fields if you are not using it for anything else.
2. On the Setup tab, click Custom Fields, then select the tab for the catalog you will be working in.
3. Rename your custom field something like “Audio file” then exit.
4. Open PastPerfect to the record you want to have audio associated
5. In the user defined field you selected, put in the following code. (Careful: there is a period before the first forward slash!!!)

<embed src="./images/yourfilename.mp3" width="200" height="50"></p>

1. Save the changes to the record That’s it for the PastPerfect side, now when you create your exhibit, make sure you include this record and the UDF that the code is in!

Getting it all in the Right Place:

1. Build your VE Website and make note of the “Exhibit Number” where the audio is attached.
2. Save your MP3 file into that exhibit’s “images” folder. (Ex: C:\VeWebsite\exhibit1\images)
3. Open the webpage (View Exhibit) and navigate to your audio record. The sound should start automatically.

After testing on the local computer:

1. Make sure you move the new image folder and the exhibit folder to your web server / host.
2. Test the site on the internet using a dialup connection to ensure everyone can receive it!