It's kind of like having a really meaningless and boring job that drains all of the enjoyment out of anything, except you do it for fun! How do we know it's fun? Well you don't get paid, so it must be fun. Unless of course you are here on Goats: The Community Service Program, in which case shut up and pay off your debt to society, damn you!!

So how to proceed with the processing of data process?

• Go to the goats site and login
• Go to the data entry list

You now have choice of moderation (if you are a moderator, which not everyone is) or data entry. For now we'll explore data entry.

Data Entry Basics

Select a strip. Any date, doesn't matter. If you see one you know was really good choose that one (more people will see your name later and so you will become more famous).

Read the spiel about making a commitment. Click "edit this strip".

You will now see the strip for that date with the first panel but no data.

Click "edit". The world explodes with options.

Now it is time to use the grey matter a touch.

All props, characters and locations are objects. All objects have attributes. For example there is an character called Phillip. He has attributes. They include "drunk", "surly" and "as a bee". Some of these attributes already exist for him; others can be created when needed. There are also props such as the tuxedos that everyone wears for Phillip's wedding.

The art to good data entry is to enter the objects and their attributes correctly. So instead of entering the prop as tuxedo(s), the desired choice is Costume with the attribute Tuxedo(s).

To do this, select the objects you require (location, props, and characters) for your first frame. Then hit "update".

You will now be presented with the available attributes for each of the objects. Note that you don't have to choose an attribute; sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. If a desired attribute is missing, simply add it. Select the desired attributes, and hen type in the speech for each character. Note that a non-speaking character has an entry, but no text. Hit "update" again and you will see all your delightful text in there, the objects with their attributes and a new bonus: the speech order for each character.

Click "back to strip".

You will see a large labour saving device in the form of the "Clone" button. If you hit this, you get a copy of the cloned panel of your choice (sans text). Gee, isn't life grand! This single button will have publicans cheering worldwide as you finish your entry quicker and go to the pub earlier...

Repeat the above process for the remaining panels and then, when you are happy with the completed strip, change the "Status:" to "Mark For Approval".

So that's the basic mechanics of the process.

Data Entry Guidelines and Advanced Technique

Now the semantic aspects. What props are really props, and which things should be left out?

Here at Goats we strongly support both the pedants and the lazy (when you look at the 2 main characters that doesn't come as much of a surprise, does it now?), so....

• Pedant mode: EVERYTHING MATTERS!!! put the table in there, what? a collection of personal grooming implements? whack them in too.

  When in pedant mode you should be aware that you are likely creating loads of new objects and attributes. We like attributes. New objects are not as much fun. Especially as the majority of objects already exist. Before making a new object, please have a good look through the list of extant objects. Doubtless there will be one you can use even if you need to put a new attribute in there for it. Trust us when we say this is for your own good. We have your address, we know people in many lands, nowhere is too far!

• Lazy Mode: Some things matter. If it matters, put it in there. Try not to be too lazy... If diablo hits someone in the head with a chair, the chair is pretty important. Again, follow the pedants rule regarding new objects and attributes. There is also a short list of things which are to be included in a strips data regardless of whether they seem important to you:
  • Beer (if you don't think it's important you certainly hang out with odd people)
  • Couch
  • Boozles (they are the "drunk bubbles" some people get)
  • Cigarettes and ashtrays (for a reformed smoker he draws them pretty well and often...)
  Even in lazy mode, these items ought to be included, preferably with their attributes (e.g. Beer (Hefeweizen))

In addition to these two modes, there are some considerations for things that never happen. Jon never makes mistakes in the text so we don't need to worry about it; but the pedant in us all screams that we must make a guideline for it if such a thing should happen. Here it is:

The text in the panel is transcribed exactly. Do not "correct" things. You are wrong. Gonna is gonna, it's there for a reason. What you don't understand the artistic process? It's there for a purpose, a flavour if you will.

Of course if that happened, the search engine would have some difficulties. Hence there is a character called Correction. So, in the event that you were certain that a serious typo had occurred (not just an artistic choice of slang over queens english ) you could add the character Correction to the panel and have that character speak the "correct" lines. Of course you will reap much loathing if you use it unwisely.

-sl