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 classification the denominator remains constant until
all numerator figures have been exhausted from 1 to 32. All prints
with the primar
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).
b. The numerator, by--
(1) Count.
(2) Position.
(3) Type.
Thus
A T
- precedes -
A A
A A
--- precedes ---
rAt A3t
A A
-- precedes --
aA Aa
A A
-- precedes --
At Ar
aA aAa
--- precedes ---
aAr aAr
rA Ar
---- precedes ----
aA2a aA2a
aAtat aAtar
----- precedes -----
tA3r tA3r
The following table represents the full sequence of the denominator of
the group having A over A in the index fingers. The full sequence as
listed may be used as the numerator for each denominator as set out
below. Following the group with A over A in the index fingers is the
group with T over A in the index fingers, the sequence being the same
otherwise. Then R over A, U over A, A over T to rW3r over rW3r.
A tAra aA2at tA2tr
aA tArt aA2ar tAtra
tA tA2r aAata tAtrt
rA rA2a aAa2t tAt2r
Aa rAat aAatr tAr2a
At rAar aAara tArat
Ar rAta aAart tArar
aAa rA2t aAa2r tArta
aAt rAtr aAt2a tAr2t
aAr rAra aAtat tArtr
tAa rArt aAtar tA2ra
tAt rA2r aA2ta tA2rt
tAr A3a aA3t tA3r
rAa A2at aA2tr rA3a
rAt A2ar aAtra rA2at
rAr Aata aAtrt rA2ar
A2a Aa2t aAt2r rAata
Aat Aatr aAr2a rAa2t
Aar Aara aArat rAatr
Ata Aart aArar rAara
A2t Aa2r aArta rAart
Atr At2a aAr2t rAa2r
Ara Atat aArtr rAt2a
Art Atar aA2ra rAtat
A2r A2ta aA2rt rAtar
aA2a A3t aA3r rA2ta
aAat A2tr tA3a rA3t
aAar Atra tA2at rA2tr
aAta Atrt tA2ar rAtra
aA2t At2r tAata rAtrt
aAtr Ar2a tAa2t rAt2r
aAra Arat tAatr rAr2a
aArt Arar tAara rArat
aA2r Arta tAart rArar
tA2a Ar2t tAa2r rArta
tAat Artr tAt2a rAr2t
tAar A2ra tAtat rArtr
tAta A2rt tAtar rA2ra
tA2t A3r tA2ta rA2rt
tAtr aA3a tA3t rA3r
B. Secondary loop and whorl group:
R W.
- to -
R W
When no small letters are present, there are 9 possible combinations
which can appear in the index fingers. They are as follows:
R U W
- - -
R R R
R U W
- - -
U U U
R U W
- - -
W W W
At this point it is well to note that it may be preferable in some
instances where small files are concerned to use only a portion of the
classification formula in the filing sequence. In such cases, only
those parts of the filing sequence which are necessary should be used
along with the final and key.
III. Subsecondary:
III OOO.
--- to ---
III OOO
The sequence of the subsecondary is as follows:
III IIM IIO IMI IMM IMO IOI
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
III III III III III III III
IOM IOO MII MIM MIO MMI MMM
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
III III III III III III III
MMO MOI MOM MOO OII OIM OIO
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
III III III III III III III
OMI OMM OMO OOI OOM OOO OOO,
--- --- --- --- --- --- etc., to ---
III III III III III III OOO
each numerator in turn becoming the denominator for the complete
sequence of numerators as listed above.
IV. Major:
The following sequence is used when loops appear in both thumbs:
S M L S M L S M L
- - - - - - - - -
S S S M M M L L L
When whorls appear in both thumbs the sequence is:
I M O I M O I M O
- - - - - - - - -
I I I M M M O O O
When a whorl appears in the right thumb and a loop in the left, the
sequence is:
I M O I M O I M O
- - - - - - - - -
S S S M M M L L L
When a loop appears in the right thumb and a whorl in the left, the
sequence is:
S M L S M L S M L
- - - - - - - - -
I I I M M M O O O
V. Second Subsecondary:
SSS LLL.
--- to ---
SSS LLL
The sequence for filing the second subsecondary is as follows:
SSS SSM SSL SMS SMM SML
--- --- --- --- --- ---
SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS
SLS SLM SLL MSS MSM MSL
--- --- --- --- --- ---
SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS
MMS MMM MML MLS MLM MLL
--- --- --- --- --- ---
SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS
LSS LSM LSL LMS LMM LML
--- --- --- --- --- ---
SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS SSS
LLS LLM LLL, LLL,
--- --- --- etc., to ---
SSS SSS SSS LLL
each group of the numerator becoming in turn the denominator for the
complete sequence of numerators as listed above.
VI. W C D X Extensions:
W xX3x.
- to ----
W xX3x
The sequence is as follows: Prints with c, d, or x in any finger
other than the index fingers constitute the small-letter group. A
sample of the sequence follows:
W cWc xWd Wdx
cW cWd xWx Wxc
dW cWx W2c Wxd
xW dWc Wcd W2x
Wc dWd Wcx cW2c
Wd dWx Wdc cWcd
Wx xWc W2d cWcx
As may be readily seen, the sequence proceeds in the same fashion as
the a, t, r, small-letter sequence.
VII. Special Loop Extension used by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation:
111 777.
--- to ---
111 777
The following is a partial sequence for filing this extension:
111 112 113 114 115 116 117
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
111 111 111 111 111 111 111
121 122 123 124 125 126 127
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
111 111 111 111 111 111 111
131 132 133 134 135 136 137
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
111 111 111 111 111 111 111
141 142 143 144 145 146 147
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
111 111 111 111 111 111 111
151 152 153 154 155 156 157
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
111 111 111 111 111 111 111
161 162 163 164 165 166 167
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
111 111 111 111 111 111 111
171 172 173 174 175 176 177 777.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- etc., to ---
111 111 111 111 111 111 111 777
No matter how many of these divisions may be used, the order should
remain the same; and no matter how many of these divisions are used,
each individual group should be sequenced by:
VIII. Final:
Filed in numerical sequence from 1 out. For example, assume that there
are 15 prints in a group having a final of 14. All of these should be
filed together and followed by those prints in the same group having a
final of 15, etc.
IX. Key:
All prints appearing in a designated final group are arranged by key
in numerical sequence from 1 out. For example, assume that there are 5
prints in a group having a key of 14. All of these should be filed
together and followed by those prints in the same group having a key
of 15, etc.