FamilySearch's Record Search Pilot's collection of databases has had a substantial correction and update. Announced in a statement dated April 15, 2009, eighteen different collections were updated and corrected.
The collections updated include the following:
1920 US Census -- now 21% complete (no images)
Arizona Deaths 1870-1951
Arkansas County Marriages 1837-1957
California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records 1835-1931
Florida State Censuses for 1855, 1935 and 1945 (images only)
Illinois, Cook County Birth Registers 1871-1915
Louisiana War of 1812 Pension Lists (images only)
Michigan Marriages 1868-1925
Ohio Tax Records 1816-1838
South Dakota State Censuses 1905, 1915 and 1925
Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records, 1908-1949 (no images)
Wisconsin State Censuses, 1855, 1875, 1885, 1895, and 1905 (images only)
Also
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Civil Registrations, 1829-2006 (images only)
Costa Rica Church Records, 1595-1992
As a researcher who does work with in Hispanic records, I would note that these Latin American records are some of the first to be readily available in a major digitized collection.
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Showing posts with label Updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Updates. Show all posts
Friday, April 17, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Update on Ancestral Quest 12.1
I must admit that my first impressions of Ancestral Quest 12.1 were rather negative. But, after looking extensively at the program and working through all of Incline Software's online tutorials, I a majorly impressed with the program. I would be glad to recommend it to anyone, and especially, to those who have access to New FamilySearch.
The program tutorials are excellent and easy to follow. With the information from the tutorials, I was able to obtain a more accurate view of how the program was supposed to work and why. Initially, I thought the the interface with New FamilySearch was somewhat cumbersome, but have completely changed my mind. It does take some effort to understand, but the implementation of the program is very solid and had a real relationship to how you will have to clean up your files with New FamilySearch.
One real benefit of the process of synchronization is the fact that you also regularize and clean up your own database. Although for some, the mass of information, accurate and inaccurate, in New FamilySearch can be overwhelming. Ancestral Quest 12.1 gives the user a consistent and rational interface allowing the user to stand back from the New FamilySearch data and actually get something accomplished.
My perception is that the search engine used in the program is more efficient than any of the other options. I found many more hits on possible duplicates in New FamilySearch than I had previously seen or found.
The program itself, apart from the synchronization with New FamilySearch, has a very familiar feel given Incline Software's roots in the development of Personal Ancestral File. Although there the comparison stops. The features of Ancestral Quest go way beyond those limited features in Personal Ancestral File.
Overall, this a program that bears serious consideration as a contender for your personal use. I am supposed to teach this program, beginning on Monday, March 2, 2009 at the Mesa (Arizona) Regional Family History Center and it is a good thing that I got way into the program before I began teaching, in more ways than one.
The program tutorials are excellent and easy to follow. With the information from the tutorials, I was able to obtain a more accurate view of how the program was supposed to work and why. Initially, I thought the the interface with New FamilySearch was somewhat cumbersome, but have completely changed my mind. It does take some effort to understand, but the implementation of the program is very solid and had a real relationship to how you will have to clean up your files with New FamilySearch.
One real benefit of the process of synchronization is the fact that you also regularize and clean up your own database. Although for some, the mass of information, accurate and inaccurate, in New FamilySearch can be overwhelming. Ancestral Quest 12.1 gives the user a consistent and rational interface allowing the user to stand back from the New FamilySearch data and actually get something accomplished.
My perception is that the search engine used in the program is more efficient than any of the other options. I found many more hits on possible duplicates in New FamilySearch than I had previously seen or found.
The program itself, apart from the synchronization with New FamilySearch, has a very familiar feel given Incline Software's roots in the development of Personal Ancestral File. Although there the comparison stops. The features of Ancestral Quest go way beyond those limited features in Personal Ancestral File.
Overall, this a program that bears serious consideration as a contender for your personal use. I am supposed to teach this program, beginning on Monday, March 2, 2009 at the Mesa (Arizona) Regional Family History Center and it is a good thing that I got way into the program before I began teaching, in more ways than one.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Bug fix for Record Search Pilot
Apparently, FamilySearch Record Search Pilot had a compatibility issue with Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6. The program was down for maintenance and the announcement is that the compatibility issue has been fixed.
By the way, the 1920 U.S. Census index is now 5% complete but has no images as yet.
By the way, the 1920 U.S. Census index is now 5% complete but has no images as yet.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
New look and new software at Records Search Pilot
The FamilySearch Records Search Pilot underwent a major renovation and upgrade. The look and feel of the program has changed a little, but there has been a substantial reorganization of the records to reflect the steady increase in variety and depth of the upcoming additions. The announcement stated:
Record Search Pilot has the potential of providing substantial records for areas outside the U.S. and Europe, which is a major change in the record availability of the past. Check it out!
18 February 2009: Record Search has a new look and feel! The upgrade to Record Search has been completed, and we hope you enjoy using the new interface, as well as some of the new features, such as full-screen image viewing, the ability to print a selected area of an image and numerous other enhancements.A first impression is that the program is now much more well organized and has increase utility. I found it interesting that the sub-menus now include references to Africa, Australia and New Zealand and the Pacific Islands even though there are no records listed, as yet.
Record Search Pilot has the potential of providing substantial records for areas outside the U.S. and Europe, which is a major change in the record availability of the past. Check it out!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Updates to New FamilySearch
As of January 12 and 13, 2009 the Help Center on New FamilySearch published 135 new articles with changes and additions to the instructions for the program. The releases of the program were in June 2007, November 2007, February 2008, May 2008, August 2008 and the last one in November 2008. These changes to the Help Center seem to be clarifications of existing issues and previously issued instructions.
If you have had a problem with New FamilySearch in the past you may wish to re-visit the Help Center. When you do a search, click on the advanced search function. In the advanced search window you can choose to search articles published within the last week or month or six months or year. Depending on how long it has been since you last looked for help, so you can chose to search that time period.
I also understand that the Las Vegas Temple District went live with New FamilySearch this week. There is still no announcement on when Utah and Idaho will be added.
If you have had a problem with New FamilySearch in the past you may wish to re-visit the Help Center. When you do a search, click on the advanced search function. In the advanced search window you can choose to search articles published within the last week or month or six months or year. Depending on how long it has been since you last looked for help, so you can chose to search that time period.
I also understand that the Las Vegas Temple District went live with New FamilySearch this week. There is still no announcement on when Utah and Idaho will be added.
New update to FamilyInsight
According to OhanaSoftware, changes were made to the New FamilySearch Web site recently that make it necessary to update to the 2008.12.9 or later version of FamilyInsight for some searches to work without crashing. Users are urged to use the "Check for Updates" tool in the Help menu bar of FamilyInsight to update to the latest version of FamilyInsight. Updates may also be obtained by going directly to the OhanaSoftware Web site. The latest version appears to be 2009.1.5.0 of FamilyInsight.
This issue points up an important fact of life for computer users, especially those using Web based applications, like New FamilySearch and Family Tree, upgrades happen constantly. Computer systems are not like buying a non-electronic appliance. It is not like an electric razor or a drill, the Internet is constantly changing and your software, an ultimately your hardware needs to evolve along with the changes. Unless you keep your programs up-to-date, you may wake up one morning and find that the program no longer works.
By the way, the changes to FamilyInsight are more than cosmetic. The startup menu is more informative and several other changes have been made that make the program easier to use.
This issue points up an important fact of life for computer users, especially those using Web based applications, like New FamilySearch and Family Tree, upgrades happen constantly. Computer systems are not like buying a non-electronic appliance. It is not like an electric razor or a drill, the Internet is constantly changing and your software, an ultimately your hardware needs to evolve along with the changes. Unless you keep your programs up-to-date, you may wake up one morning and find that the program no longer works.
By the way, the changes to FamilyInsight are more than cosmetic. The startup menu is more informative and several other changes have been made that make the program easier to use.
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