Part 16 (1/2)

_Filing Sequence_

The sequence must be arranged properly at all times to make possible the most accurate work. Prints are sequenced and filed in this order, according to:

I. _Primary:_

1 32.

- to -- 1 32

In the primary cla.s.sification the denominator remains constant until all numerator figures have been exhausted from 1 to 32. All prints with the primary 1 over 1 are filed together. These are followed by 2 over 1, 3 over 1, 4 over 1, etc., until 32 over 1 is reached. The next primary is 1 over 2, then 2 over 2, etc., until 32 over 2 is reached.

Eventually, through the use of each denominator figure and the elimination of each numerator over each denominator, the 32 over 32 primary will be reached.

Even in the smaller collections of fingerprints, it will be found that the groups which are arranged under the individual primaries filed in sequence, from 1 over 1 to 32 over 32, will be too voluminous for expeditious searching.

II. _Secondary:_

A. Secondary small-letter group:

A rW3r.

- to ---- A rW3r

Most intricate of all the individual sequences is the small-letter sequence. It is less difficult if the following method is used:

1. Sequence according to the patterns in the index fingers, grouped

A W.

- to - A W

When small letters are present, there are 25 possible combinations which can appear in the index fingers. They are as follows:

A T R U W - - - - - A A A A A

A T R U W - - - - - T T T T T

A T R U W - - - - - R R R R R

A T U R W - - - - - U U U U U

A T U R W - - - - - W W W W W

2. Within each group sequence:

a. The denominator, by--

(1) Count of the small letters (lesser preceding the greater).

(2) Position of the small letters (those to the left preceding those to the right).

(3) Type of small letter (sequence a, t, r).