Chapter 6

_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 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).

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.