FIND TAKE TEACH

There is a pamphlet that isn't available yet in print, but is available to see online.  You can see it by clicking "Download PDF" on this webpage.

https://familysearch.org/find-take-teach

BYU Family History Library Webinars

BYU is creating webinars to help with family history research.  Go to the webinar page by clicking HERE .
Scroll down the page to "Quick Looks,"  "Webinar Handouts," and "30 to 60 Minute Webinars."

Don't forget that the BYU Family History Library is open the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.  They have classes and help on those days.  On that same page, look at the left hand column under "Navigation."  Click on "In-Library Classes" to see what is available.

Mary

FamilySearch Family Tree: How to Work with Possible Duplicate Records

How to Work with Possible Duplicate Records

To merge duplicate records:

Family Tree finds records that may be possible duplicates. After comparing two records, you can

merge them. After you have identified the information to keep, Family Tree will:

• Keep the original record.

• Add to the original record the information that you selected from the duplicate record.

• Remove and archive the duplicate record.

• Record these actions on the change history so that they can be unmerged if needed.

Before you start the merge process:

• Do your research to determine the accuracy of the information and to attach sources.

• Write down the ID number for both persons on a FamilySearch Family Tree Cleanup Worksheet.

• Compare the temple work for both persons. Write it down.

After the merge, recheck the temple work for the remaining person.

• Understand the full picture - you are adding the family and extended pedigree of the merged person too.

Proceed slowly - cautiously - carefully.

First – if you already know two records to merge, Write down the ID numbers for both persons on your FamilySearch Family Tree Cleanup Worksheet. If you do not know of any duplicates yet, use Possible Duplicates in step 2 to look for them.

1. Open the person’s details page.

2. Click Possible Duplicates in the Tools box. Review the results and do either A or B below.

A. If a record is displaying, go to Step 4.

B. If the record is not displaying, click Merge by ID in the header.

*  Enter the ID number of the duplicate record that you want to compare with.

            *  Click Continue. Go to Step 3.

3. Click Review Merge.

The record on the left is the one that will be preserved. The record on the right will be deleted

and then stored in an archive. Have the more correct record on the left-hand side. If needed,

click Switch Positions (if available) above the two names to switch the two records.

4. Click Open Details beneath Vital Information to review who last modified the information and

to review any reason statements.

5. Compare the information of the record on the right side with the information on the left side.

• If the information on the right is not on the left, and is correct, click Add.

• If the information on the right is more correct, click Replace.

• If the information on the right is the same or less correct, click Reject.

• If you need to change your selection, click Undo.

6. After reviewing each piece of information, then do either A or B below.

A. If the two records are a duplicate, click Continue Merge.

Enter the reason why you feel they are a match.

Click Finish Merge.

B. If you determine the two records are not a duplicate, at the bottom of the page

click Not a Match.

Enter the reason why you feel they are not a match.

Click Not a Match.

To indicate that two records are Not a Match:

Family Tree finds records that may be possible duplicates. After comparing two records, you can

indicate that they are not a match. Family Tree will no longer suggest that they are possible

duplicates.

1. Open the person’s details page.

2. Click Possible Duplicates in the Tools box.

3. Compare the information between the two persons.

4. Click Not a Match if the two persons do not match.

5. Enter the reason why you feel they are not a match.

6. Click Not a Match.

To remove a record from the “Not a Match” list:

1. Open the person’s details page.

2. Click Possible Duplicates in the Tools box.

3. Click Not a Match in the header.

4. Find the person that needs to be moved back to the list of possible duplicates.

5. Click May Be a Match at the far right of the person’s name.

6. Enter the reason the information is correct.

7. Click May Be a Match.

To undo a merge - if the record has not been changed:

If the merge needs to be undone, and if the preserved record has not changed since the merge,

then you can undo the merge.

1. Open the person’s details page who needs a record unmerged.

2. In the Latest Changes box, click Show All Changes.

Changes that resulted from a merge are identified with a colored box around them. Merge is

at the top left of the box.

3. Find the name of the deleted person and then click Unmerge to the right of the name.

4. Enter the reason why you feel the merge should be undone.

5. Click Unmerge.

6. In the Latest Changes box, click Show All Changes.

Changes that resulted from an Unmerge are identified with a colored box around them.

Unmerge is at the top left of the box.

To restore a record that was deleted after a merge - if the record has been changed:

When two records are merged, one record remains in Family Tree, the other is deleted and then

stored in an archive. If the merge needs to be undone, and if the remaining record was changed

after the merge, then you have to restore the archived record.

1. Open the person’s details page of someone in the person’s family.

2. In the Latest Changes box, click Show All Changes.

Changes that resulted from a merge are identified with a colored box around them. Merge is

at the top left of the box.

3. Click on the name of the person listed beneath Deleted Person.

4. Click Person on the summary card.

Review the information as to why the record was deleted.

5. Click Restore Person.

6. Enter the reason

  

309 Individuals FSFT © 2015 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. (12 May 2015)  Utah South Area Family History Training Center - Orem

Thank you to the Utah South Area Family History Training Center for these instructions.

Mary Pletsch

FamilySearch Family Tree Tutorial Resource

I met someone who created a website for FamilySearch Family Tree users.  It has many lessons and links to tutorials and videos and power point presentations that you can go through as you have questions.

It is the FamilySearch Family Tree Users Group at  http://fsfamilytreeusergroup.com/resources.php

Click on the Green titles and it will take you to the presentations.  If a PowerPoint presentation comes up, just click on the forward arrows in the bottom left to go through it page by page.  If there's a video, click on the arrow in the middle of the video to watch.

The nice thing about resources like this is that you can go over and over them until you understand them.

Mary Pletsch

FamilySearch Family Tree SOURCES

Here are some instructions that can help you find documents and sources in FamilySearch and attach them to your relative in Family Tree.  I have modified more lengthy instructions and have tried to keep it fairly simple.  I hope this helps.  -Mary Pletsch

WORKING WITH SOURCES IN FAMILYSEARCH FAMILY TREE

BASIC

Getting Started

Go to: familysearch.org and then sign in.

Click Family Tree in the FamilySearch menu line.

To open the person’s details page, click on the name to see the summary card, and then click Person.

Information:

There is more than one way to find a record or source. (Method A, B or C  below). 

Method A - Search Records

1. Open the person’s details page.

2. In the Search Records box, click FamilySearch.org. 

·        3. Review the search results. 

·                 Click a name in the search results to review the indexed information.

·                  If available, click View the Document to evaluate the original record.

·                  Go back to the indexed information.

·                  Click Attach to Family Tree  (Instructions under “Source Linker View”)

Note:  The search feature may not find all possible results. You can refine your search by changing the  search terms in the fields of the template on the left-hand side of the page. For a female, change the Last Names field to her married surname to get different search results for censuses, death records, etc.

Method B - Research Help

1. Open the person’s details page.

2. In the Research Help box, click the person’s name for one of the Record Hint suggestions.

·                A window will open with the indexed information.

3. Review the indexed information. 

·                If available, click View Image to evaluate the original record.

·                The indexed information does not include all of the information found on the record.  Look for additional  information in the image of the   original record.

o   Click the “X” in the upper right corner of the image to return to the indexed information.

·         Click Review and Attach (Instructions below under “Source Linker View”)

       NOTE: If you don’t see an Attach link, but see View in Family Tree, it means the source has already been attached. Click on Review Attachments below View in Family Tree, to see if it is attached to everyone you want it attached to in your tree.

Method C – SEARCH Tab on the Menu Bar

An alternate way to find a record is to search without being on a person’s Details page.  You can search all indexed records, or search by location or a specific collection in FamilySearch Historical Records. 

1.       In the header at the top of the FamilySearch page, mouse over SEARCH. 

2.       Click on  RECORDS.

This will take you to a page where you can fill in the fields to search all indexed collections.  The search results page will be the same as when you use “Search Records” from the person’s details page. 

Find a Collection:  You can also fill in the field under “Find a Collection” by typing in the name of the collection (Like U. S. Census Records).  Fill in the search fields to only search that collection.  Or you can search for records by location by clicking on the map, or clicking on “Browse All Collections.”

When you click on Browse All Collections, you can search for a place or a type of record or a record name.  Typing in a location will list all records for a location that are both indexed and not indexed.  You can browse unindexed records on your computer.  No microfilm reader needed!  

EVALUATE RECORD INFORMATION

What does this record prove? What additional information is on the record that is not on the indexed

page? What other records does this lead you to find? Use this information to edit the Vital Information on the person’s details page.  (Click on information you want to change, click "Edit" tab, type the information into the correct fields, give a reason you are using that information, "Save.")

SEARCH RESULTS EXPLAINED

The Search Results page is organized as follows:

TOP – If you have started your search from a person’s details page by clicking on FamilySearch under “Search Records,” you will see the person you are researching across the top of the Search Results page,  with basic vital information and relationships.  This helps you to remember the details you will compare records to. 

LEFT – “Refine your search” is on the left side.  It has various fields that you can fill in and open and close to change your search.  Changing spelling and the amount of information you give helps you to get different search results and helps you to find records. Any writing in blue is a link to open more filters or to show you additional information.

RIGHT – Search Results from Historical Records takes up the main part of the page.  It will tell you how many results there are.  It will show you the name on the record, the record collection name, the information that has been indexed and if there is an image of the original record that you can view. 

Compare the information in the table with the information at the top to judge if you want to look more closely at the record or not.

RECORDS vs COLLECTIONS

You can view the results two ways.  The default or usual way you will view the results is the RECORDS view.  Under the Records tab, the records are organized as to how close the computer thinks they come to the search criteria. 

Click on the COLLECTIONS tab and you will see the results organized into groups of records:  Birth, Marriage & Death; Census & Lists; Migration & Naturalization; Military; Probate and Court.  This is a good view if you are looking for specific information.

TO VIEW A RECORD

You can view the record several ways:

1.           Click the little arrow next to the name in the Preview column. 

2.               Click on the person’s name

3.               OR  click on the paper icon under Details.

     It will open up a window that will show you more about the record.  You can then preview the record,          open an image of the document, if available, and click “Attach to Family Tree,”  if needed.

4           You can click on the camera icon from the Search Results page to look at the image before you look at      the indexed information.

 SOURCE LINKER VIEW -ATTACH SOURCES TO FAMILY -

A.      The Attach Historical Records to Family Tree screen has two halves.

• On the left are the people that are mentioned in the historical record.

• On the right are the people that are mentioned in Family Tree.

B.      The first person in the list is called the focus person.

C.      A green section indicates that the record has already been attached to a person‘s details page. It will say Detach between the two columns.

1.       Compare the first person with an Attach link.

·         To see more details, do either of the following in the right column:

• Click on the person’s name.

• Click Details to the far right of the person’s name of the Family Tree record.

Note: Some records, such as a census, may list others in the household as live-in-relatives, guests,

servants, etc. Study and compare the information carefully! If you do not know the person, DO NOT ADD the name into Family Tree. Whoever they are related to will find them in the household and then attach it at a later date.

2.        If the person on the left is the same as the person on the right, click Attach between

        the two columns.

3.     If you want to add the event information from the historical record, click Add.

4.     Enter a reason statement to attach source. (What the source proves, why you are attaching it)

5.    Adjust the tagging, if needed.

6.    IF you want this source added to your source box, click the box by Add Source to Source Box    

7.    Click Attach.

8.    Repeat Steps 1-7 for each person that has an Attach link. Modify the “reason to attach”

       statement if needed.

 To change the focus person:

The first person in the list on the Source Linker page is called the focus person. This person can be changed on both the historical record and on the Family Tree record.

Do either of the following:

• On the historical record side, click Change to the far right of Person of Record and Spouse.                  Choose the name you want to be the focus person and click on it.

• On the Family Tree side, click Change to the far right of Selected Person and Spouse. Click on another family member’s name OR enter the ID number in the Go To field.

To select a different spouse:

If there is more than one spouse, click on the triangle to the left of the spouse name.

Click on the name of the spouse.

Note: If you are working with a record of a married woman, Family Tree displays her maiden name.

If FamilySearch has matched the source to an incorrect family, click Not your Family? Find your family To search for the correct family. You can search using Possible Matches, the History List, or enter the

person’s ID number.

 To move a mismatched person to his / her correct position:

If the person on the left and the person on the right aren’t matched up correctly, you can align him / her.  As you mouse over the person in the left column, the pointer will change to a hand or four-pointing arrow.

Press and hold down the left mouse button and drag the person to the correct spot.

Note: This works only when the source is not attached.

To detach a source:

You can detach the source from an incorrectly linked person.

Click Detach between the two columns. The Detach Source From window appears.

Enter a reason statement to detach the source.

Click Detach.

The caution sign:

If you see a caution triangle icon, located between the two columns, it indicates the source is attached to someone else in Family Tree. Mouse over the triangle, read the explanation. These are possible causes:

• An incorrect ancestor has been linked in Family Tree.

• There are duplicate records for this ancestor in Family Tree.

• The record has been linked to the head of household instead of the correct person in the family.

• The person is living.

Note: If you have questions regarding sources, hover over the Light Bulb in the bottom

right corner to show TIPS. Click on TIPS to open the Search Help options.

Here you can view these how-to tutorials and read their instructions:

* Attach a record to a Person

* Add a person to the tree - Match Not Found

* Add a person to the tree - Match Found

* Attach a person from “Other on Record”

* Attach Multiple Families from One Record

Modified from Instructions created at the Utah South Area Family History Training Center 2015