Using the Wiki Part 1

The FamilySearch Wiki can be a valuable tool to help with questions on how to do research.  As people are becoming aware of the wiki they wonder how to get started.

Some of you were probably like me, went to the wiki.familysearch.org web site, and just typed in a location or topic.  We soon learned that portal meant a gateway to information on a topic – and we were off having lots of fun!

You don’t have to Register for the wiki before starting to search and use the information on the web site.

There is a more structured way to get started with the wiki!

On the main Wiki page find the Get Research Guidance section in the lower left.  At the end of the paragraph under the heading  Get Research Guidance is a link to Getting Started.  Clicking on this link will take you to the Getting Started Portal.

There is a lot of information in the Getting Started Portal, for now I would like to direct your attention to the centre of the 3 columns on the page under the heading Wiki Tutorial where you find a link to video demos.   The first demo “how to use the wiki” takes you to 8 topics, and there  are also 3 more links under video demos toMajor Features, Writing and Editing and Registering.

There is obviously a lot of information here!

Tip – click on the icon next to the title as this seems to work better than clicking on the words.

I  hope this has shown you another way to get started with the wiki – and lots of resources which perhaps you didn’t know were there

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The end of the beginning is in sight

This week notices went out to the remaining stakes in the Salt Lake Temple District announcing that all members can use nFS as of 23 November.   These are the last stakes in the last temple district in Utah to be added to nFS!

 The only temple districts in the world not using nFS are the 5 Asian temples which should be added next year.

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How often will items be posted?

I am trying to post something at least once a week – so checking back weekly should be enough.

or . . .

you can now subscribe to this blog and receive an email notification when something is posted!

Official announcements are sent by FamilySearch to every registered Consultant, FHC Director, and Priesthood leader by email. These announcements will not be repeated in the blog.

Your comments and suggestions for items are welcome!

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FamilySearch Alpha becomes Beta

Just noticed that there was a change at FamilySearch Labs on 17 Nov! The renovation of FamilySearch.org has reached the beta stage. Check it out!

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nFS available for the iphone and ipod touch

The list of FamilySearch Affiliates continues to grow! On Nov 14 an application for the iphone and ipod touch was released that allows you to download your family tree and even view local ipod photos in the tree! It also allows you to search nFS if you are where there is an internet connection and see a map of events. Think of this as a nFS reader!  Cost is $4.99 and available in the itunes store. Be careful as there is another app with a similar name! Go to Mobiletree and not MobileFamilyTree – not that the latter is not a good app – it works with MacFamilyTree5!
For more information go to http://mobileme.me – isn’t that a nice url! – and I see Dick Eastman wrote about this app in his online newsletter today http://www.eogn.com.

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Combining in nFS – is it 3 ways or 4?

I guess it depends on how you count!  I usually count combining duplicate spouses and duplicate children as one step when I guess you could count it as 2!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could get everyone to combine thoroughly and carefully before looking at submitting a name to the temple!

I notice there is an updated knowledge document in the Help Center on Combining.  KD 100986 ( you can search in the Help Centre just by putting in the document number if you have a list of favourites or by entering key words – in this case “combine four ways”).  You can print knowledge documents (To print this document, place your mouse pointer here, right-click, and choose Print Target) or copy and paste the content.

This looks like a thorough document.  Hope it is helpful.

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New FamilySearch Pioneer Song

(Sung to the tune of “The Handcart Song”)

When New FamilySearch moved to the west,
With courage strong, we met the test,
And learned the program all day long,
And as we learned, we sang this song:

You must combine or uncombine,
Those duplicates, you need to find.
Before you click the temple sign,
Or you’ll be wasting precious time!

Some folks are done, and some are not,
It’s up to you to sort the lot.
Oh, don’t do grandpa’s work again!
He’s te-ach-ing your waiting kin.

Posted on a missionary chat 11 Nov 09 – missionary said he heard it being sung while he was on a shift at his FHC – would like to give full credit to the creator – does anyone know who wrote this hit song?

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Help for people with Indexing problems

I see that a link has appeared on the Indexing.FamilySearch.org News tab:
“If you receive an error while opening the application, click here and go through the steps provided. For questions or further assistance, please contact FamilySearch at 1-866-406-1830 in the U.S. and Canada (for international calls, click here), or by e-mail at support@familysearch.org.”

I didn’t see this until after I called a Support missionary – but the helps in this link worked for me!
The link is to a knowledge document 103791 – with an attached tool to remove partially installed versions of the new application

Please reach out and help all the people you know who do Indexing – check to see they are OK

Thank you

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October 28 update to FamilySearch Indexing

Did you notice the update to Indexing?
Go to http://indexing.familysearch.org/ and take the 2 minute Test Drive and then click on the News tab at the top to get the details of the changes.
In addition to the new web site there is a new version of the indexing application to download – so be on the alert for people in your ward who may need your help.

Use the Help in the Indexing site and if necessary the  Help Center  in nFS  to seek knowledge documents to help e,g. kd 101708 for mac users

As Area Advisers we seem to have been given more detailed reports to access!

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