ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 32

January 2006
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest :enigma2000-owner@yahoogroups.com

Writing the Enigma 2000 master index

We now have an Index section – read on ……………….

The more discerning reader will have wished for an Index. On 14 Novemeber, 2005 we were able to upload the index written by Mike, mndbs. It was huge task for him and here he gives a recount on doing the task.

I could hardly have imagined what lay ahead of me when on the 8th November I decided to try and write an index for the E2K newsletters.

This came about after reading the editors comment in Issue 31 that Arrived a few days earlier.

This stated that “We earnestly encourage new members to take the time to read through, and understand, the contents of the Newsletters”

Initially I have to admit to feeling a little chided! How could we be expected to trawl through all that material looking for maybe just one entry?

So that’s how it happened, I would sit and write out a simple index of all the newsletters, that way I could use Acrobat Readers powerful search tools to locate the sections I wanted.

Currently the total page count of Newsletters 1 to 31 is 1220 packed with interesting facts not only about our radio hobby but about the state of the world as well.

The fact that I would need to view each of these pages while compiling the index escaped me at the time (and just as well)

I set out with the intention of noting the main and interesting number events, first heard, new stations and references to my favourite stations was high on my agenda.

However it soon became apparent that all the “read the news letter” comments had been for a very good reason. These documents are in fact full of facts that amaze you the more you read.

For example on page 3 of issue 15 March 2003 we find ‘AF has sent a log in of Arabic Man transmissions’ Wow could it be related to E22 I wonder.

There are many such revelations throughout the newsletters possibly forgotten just waiting to be rediscovered.

You can also see what happens when a new station is discovered and the in depth research that follows. Just look at Issue 3 March 2001 Page 1. First mention of E25, you can then follow the progress of this station to our current understanding.

Another aspect that I had totally overlooked before is the News sections.

From events such as ‘Stasi files expose British Mole’ to ‘Britain changed for ever as the long expected terrorist attack finally took place’ its all there our own history documented and ready for anyone who cares to take a look?

So that’s why I did it now for some of the practicalities of the task.

One of my first jobs was to convert all the Newsletters to Acrobat pdf format.

Once done all the newsletters can be placed in a folder on your hard drive. This allows you to make the Acrobat search engine look at every pdf file in that folder in search of your chosen phrase or text string.

Great now all we need is an easily found phrase or string.

This lead to the red *** and blue E2Kpic strings being created. The red stars are used when I felt an article was of general interest or was new on the scene. You will find it used whenever a new station is located or a new Control List identifier is issued.

In the later issues of the Newsletters there are many high quality pictures supporting the text.

I felt that some of these just have to be highlighted so I devised the blue E2Kpic string. (not every picture is highlighted)

You will also note that the relevant Issue and News headings are presented in a different font, this allows Acrobat to create the bookmarks you see on the left of your screen.

Use these bookmarks to quickly jump to the issue or news heading you require.

You can also see a list of al the pages and jump to these as well. With these search facilities you can easily find what you want in the newsletters.

So there it is, after many hours work (1252 mins editing, 119 revisions) I am pleased to offer you my fellow E2K members the index.
Its 39 pages long and has 13635 words to its name.
Clearly I will have missed some things out.
I needed to avoid simply re-writing the newsletters!
But the bulk of the work has been done now.
If you think I should add or change things please let me know.
It’s my intention to update the index with each new Newsletter. I hope it’s of help, it was a very interesting if a little tiring journey!

I even wore some of my keyboards symbols off, as you can see from the illustration above! Mike 14/11/2005 [tnx for a task well done Mike].

Mikemndbs has agreed to continue with the upkeep of the Index for ENIGMA 2000 -- thanks Mike.

Before we go onto the voice logs a few thoughts on our Numbers Interest:

JMAnon, a recent member, writes..... 'The material available to Group Members is above all else fascinating … and I have to admit (mixing a metaphor perhaps) that my appetite is truly whetted !

I have been pondering as to what may have been the initial cause of my interest in such things, and guess it must have been during my time in the Army some fifty years ago.

After the initial National Service "square bashing" and trade training I signed on for the then 3 years with the "Colours" + 4 as a Reservist in the Royal Corps of Signals, and eventually after volunteering for service in the Far East found myself in Malaya at a Commonwealth Brigade HQ.

Looking back I wished I had trained as a Radio Operator… but in fact spent my time there as an Orderly Room clerk. (This admission designed to quash once and for all any ideas that everyone who was in "The Signals" knew the Morse code !)

At the HQ inside the Signal Centre there were two rooms; one where the radio operators worked, and the other known as the Cipher Centre.

A place of mystery from which the majority - including myself were excluded, and consequently shrouded in strict secrecy.

As far as I was aware, the UK (and Australian) military presence in that country at that time ( generally known as the Malayan Conflict) had been counter insurgency measures against Communist Terrorists, viz. protecting Rubber Plantations & Tin Mines against sabotage.

Now, I cannot help but wonder if our Cipher Clerks were ever linked to a number station ….'

Thank you JMAnon.

If anyone can set JM's mind at rest over Number Transmissions feel free to do so via Group, or the pages of the next Newsletter