A few weeks ago I wrote an article on LDS Accounts (8 February 2010 – I have added a link to it under categories on the right side of the blog page) and warned you that they were coming. This past week Indexing converted to using an LDS Account for the sign in. Your stake web site and wiki.familysearch are already using LDS Accounts. nFS will be moving very soon to LDS Accounts with the next imminent update.
What happens when you now go to Indexing.familysearch.org for the first time since the change? 1. It asks if you have an LDS Account or offers to make one for you. If you make an LDS Account you will need your membership number and birthdate – at least you should know the latter! 2. After signing in with your LDS Account it offers to help you merge information from your old Indexing account – you want to do this! 3. To do the merge it will want you to enter your old (before LDS Accounts) user name and password for Indexing. 4. Assuming you remember your old sign in it will bring up a summary screen of your old account including how many names you have indexed so far. 5. When you click on the Merge button you get one of two results. Either it says “Successful” – you like this one! – or “Failed” – not so nice! Do not be discouraged by the Failed message – that is what I got the first time – just try again to merge . . . and maybe try again with a little wait if more that 2 or 3 tries are necessary.
There is information on the change at indexing.familysearch.org under the News tab and this includes a link to a knowledge document on known issues and resolutions (kd 109578)
One of the really nice things about LDS Accounts is that you can edit your profile and change not just your password but also your user name. May I suggest that you use a simple fairly short user name. Obviously no two people can have the same user name – so first come first served on the good ones! As many of you know mine is just my firstname and first initial of my last name – but I got mine a long time ago.
What is the difference between LDS Accounts and FamilySearch Accounts? LDS Accounts are for members of the church and FamilySearch Accounts are for members of the public. Sometimes they use the term FamilySearch Accounts to refer to both.
If all else fails call the April 6 number (1-866-406-1830) and ask for Indexing support or email support@familysearch.org if you having difficulty getting into your indexing. They might be busy this week . . .
Please help as many members as you can.
