Online Status
We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away eventually.
During that time changes have been made to Record Search, the availability of records has dramatically increased, but new records have not been added to Pilot, and the functionality has been improved. There were things with the Pilot Search feature that I thought were better, although I have recently noticed that the Record Search search feature has changed also. I’m not sure how the system works with accented letters, for example. I have found I cannot put in words with accents, but the results may have accents, depending on how the data was entered.
The advanced search works OK, but improvements could be made. The “match term exactly” check box seems to be “sort of” workable; I still get results that don’t match, but these seem to be separated from the others (ie, further down on the list).
A feature I like is that I can copy text from Record Search results, but could not from Pilot.
I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has been transferred to Record Search.
The older IGI, which is still available, has some features that are nice, but once again, it has been rather limited in the available data, and some of the search features there are subject to rather arbitrary constraints. New data is not being added. “Limited” is perhaps an odd term; there are millions of records in the IGI, but there are billions at Record Search.
I had considered the three systems complementary, rather than mutually exclusive, and developed some processes for effective and hopefully, thorough search. As Record Search continues to improve, the features that were in Pilot will seem less useful.
I can see Record Search continuing to evolve. As many more records go online, the current structure for finding specific record sets is going to get unwieldy, so changes will need to be made.
I can also envision the search functionality getting to be more sophisticated. I would like to see the addition of a wildcard search.
Rather than complain, I would suggest we offer constructive comments. We should note that the developers must look at our suggestions in view of the bigger user group. A change that effects only a small set of users, while not addressing the larger issues is not a good use of resources. This also goes with what records are made available when. There are certain areas that I would really like to see, but they may be further down on the list, and will eventually get there. I was thrilled when Aguascalientes came on line, and was a little dismayed that Zacatecas was at the end of the alphabet. Needless to say, when it came on line, I was pleased. We need some patience.
I look back at the hours I’ve spent at the old microfilm readers (not to mention the cost), and recall marking the spools of film with little pieces of paper so I could take it to the scanner/printer people to get a print, that was sometimes good, but more often not. The digital images we have today are really pretty amazing. We’ve come a long ways since then, and will continue to improve.
I, for one, am truly grateful for the resources we have been given.
George Fulton
Some thoughts on Record Search changes
It is my understanding that the LDS church has a ritual "Baptism of the Dead" which is why they gathered on microfilm all the documentation from as many countries as they could.
I once used a computer at my local Family Search Center where an LDS member had left it on with their password activated. When I entered my grandfather's name to search for his ancestors, I was astounded to see an unfamiliar form come up, one that "sealed" my grandfather and all his ancestors to the LDS, not once but several times from different locations that the LDS has. He and his had been baptized as a Mormons!
When I demanded an explanation, I was told about the ritual requirement of LDS members and "sealing". I explained that my grandfather and his ancestors had all been baptized Catholic for centuries, and that perhaps he was rolling in his grave. I was told my grandfather could "choose" to remain Catholic.
So, despite the revelation that my grandfather might not be too pleased, I, however, am pleased about the ability to "know" my ancestors.
I realize that the whole system was set up for Mormons for their purpose without our input, and that we are the beneficiaries of a system to come up with family trees even if we can't have it our way. The system is theirs, faith-based, and not a government program to which we can have input.
Emilie
Port Orchard, WA
> To: general@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
> From: gpf13@aol.com
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:18:19 -0700
> Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
>
> We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away eventually.
>
> During that time changes have been made to Record Search, the availability of records has dramatically increased, but new records have not been added to Pilot, and the functionality has been improved. There were things with the Pilot Search feature that I thought were better, although I have recently noticed that the Record Search search feature has changed also. I’m not sure how the system works with accented letters, for example. I have found I cannot put in words with accents, but the results may have accents, depending on how the data was entered.
>
> The advanced search works OK, but improvements could be made. The “match term exactly” check box seems to be “sort of” workable; I still get results that don’t match, but these seem to be separated from the others (ie, further down on the list).
>
> A feature I like is that I can copy text from Record Search results, but could not from Pilot.
>
> I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has been transferred to Record Search.
>
> The older IGI, which is still available, has some features that are nice, but once again, it has been rather limited in the available data, and some of the search features there are subject to rather arbitrary constraints. New data is not being added. “Limited” is perhaps an odd term; there are millions of records in the IGI, but there are billions at Record Search.
>
> I had considered the three systems complementary, rather than mutually exclusive, and developed some processes for effective and hopefully, thorough search. As Record Search continues to improve, the features that were in Pilot will seem less useful.
>
> I can see Record Search continuing to evolve. As many more records go online, the current structure for finding specific record sets is going to get unwieldy, so changes will need to be made.
>
> I can also envision the search functionality getting to be more sophisticated. I would like to see the addition of a wildcard search.
>
> Rather than complain, I would suggest we offer constructive comments. We should note that the developers must look at our suggestions in view of the bigger user group. A change that effects only a small set of users, while not addressing the larger issues is not a good use of resources. This also goes with what records are made available when. There are certain areas that I would really like to see, but they may be further down on the list, and will eventually get there. I was thrilled when Aguascalientes came on line, and was a little dismayed that Zacatecas was at the end of the alphabet. Needless to say, when it came on line, I was pleased. We need some patience.
>
> I look back at the hours I’ve spent at the old microfilm readers (not to mention the cost), and recall marking the spools of film with little pieces of paper so I could take it to the scanner/printer people to get a print, that was sometimes good, but more often not. The digital images we have today are really pretty amazing. We’ve come a long ways since then, and will continue to improve.
>
> I, for one, am truly grateful for the resources we have been given.
>
> George Fulton
Some thoughts on Record Search changes
I Second that.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: gpf13@aol.com
Sender: general-bounces@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:18:19
To:
Reply-to: general@nuestrosranchos.org, gpf13@aol.com
Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away eventually.
During that time changes have been made to Record Search, the availability of records has dramatically increased, but new records have not been added to Pilot, and the functionality has been improved. There were things with the Pilot Search feature that I thought were better, although I have recently noticed that the Record Search search feature has changed also. I’m not sure how the system works with accented letters, for example. I have found I cannot put in words with accents, but the results may have accents, depending on how the data was entered.
The advanced search works OK, but improvements could be made. The “match term exactly” check box seems to be “sort of” workable; I still get results that don’t match, but these seem to be separated from the others (ie, further down on the list).
A feature I like is that I can copy text from Record Search results, but could not from Pilot.
I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has been transferred to Record Search.
The older IGI, which is still available, has some features that are nice, but once again, it has been rather limited in the available data, and some of the search features there are subject to rather arbitrary constraints. New data is not being added. “Limited” is perhaps an odd term; there are millions of records in the IGI, but there are billions at Record Search.
I had considered the three systems complementary, rather than mutually exclusive, and developed some processes for effective and hopefully, thorough search. As Record Search continues to improve, the features that were in Pilot will seem less useful.
I can see Record Search continuing to evolve. As many more records go online, the current structure for finding specific record sets is going to get unwieldy, so changes will need to be made.
I can also envision the search functionality getting to be more sophisticated. I would like to see the addition of a wildcard search.
Rather than complain, I would suggest we offer constructive comments. We should note that the developers must look at our suggestions in view of the bigger user group. A change that effects only a small set of users, while not addressing the larger issues is not a good use of resources. This also goes with what records are made available when. There are certain areas that I would really like to see, but they may be further down on the list, and will eventually get there. I was thrilled when Aguascalientes came on line, and was a little dismayed that Zacatecas was at the end of the alphabet. Needless to say, when it came on line, I was pleased. We need some patience.
I look back at the hours I’ve spent at the old microfilm readers (not to mention the cost), and recall marking the spools of film with little pieces of paper so I could take it to the scanner/printer people to get a print, that was sometimes good, but more often not. The digital images we have today are really pretty amazing. We’ve come a long ways since then, and will continue to improve.
I, for one, am truly grateful for the resources we have been given.
George Fulton
Some thoughts on Record Search changes
I had hoped that the information stored in the different resources and their best features would be consolidted into one superior source.
--- On Tue, 8/23/11, paul.gomez@verizon.net wrote:
From: paul.gomez@verizon.net
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
To: general@nuestrosranchos.org, "George Fulton"
Date: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 6:27 PM
I Second that.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: gpf13@aol.com
Sender: general-bounces@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:18:19
To:
Reply-to: general@nuestrosranchos.org, gpf13@aol.com
Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away eventually.
During that time changes have been made to Record Search, the availability of records has dramatically increased, but new records have not been added to Pilot, and the functionality has been improved. There were things with the Pilot Search feature that I thought were better, although I have recently noticed that the Record Search search feature has changed also. I’m not sure how the system works with accented letters, for example. I have found I cannot put in words with accents, but the results may have accents, depending on how the data was entered.
The advanced search works OK, but improvements could be made. The “match term exactly” check box seems to be “sort of” workable; I still get results that don’t match, but these seem to be separated from the others (ie, further down on the list).
A feature I like is that I can copy text from Record Search results, but could not from Pilot.
I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has been transferred to Record Search.
The older IGI, which is still available, has some features that are nice, but once again, it has been rather limited in the available data, and some of the search features there are subject to rather arbitrary constraints. New data is not being added. “Limited” is perhaps an odd term; there are millions of records in the IGI, but there are billions at Record Search.
I had considered the three systems complementary, rather than mutually exclusive, and developed some processes for effective and hopefully, thorough search. As Record Search continues to improve, the features that were in Pilot will seem less useful.
I can see Record Search continuing to evolve. As many more records go online, the current structure for finding specific record sets is going to get unwieldy, so changes will need to be made.
I can also envision the search functionality getting to be more sophisticated. I would like to see the addition of a wildcard search.
Rather than complain, I would suggest we offer constructive comments. We should note that the developers must look at our suggestions in view of the bigger user group. A change that effects only a small set of users, while not addressing the larger issues is not a good use of resources. This also goes with what records are made available when. There are certain areas that I would really like to see, but they may be further down on the list, and will eventually get there. I was thrilled when Aguascalientes came on line, and was a little dismayed that Zacatecas was at the end of the alphabet. Needless to say, when it came on line, I was pleased. We need some patience.
I look back at the hours I’ve spent at the old microfilm readers (not to mention the cost), and recall marking the spools of film with little pieces of paper so I could take it to the scanner/printer people to get a print, that was sometimes good, but more often not. The digital images we have today are really pretty amazing. We’ve come a long ways since then, and will continue to improve.
I, for one, am truly grateful for the resources we have been given.
George Fulton
Re: Some thoughts on Record Search changes
I appreciate your thoughts, and realize that on a forward basis, it's all we have. Unfortunately, it is all we have.
>>We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away eventually.
True, but the suggestion was that something equally as good and functional would be the derivative. They have failed tremendously on that score.
>>I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has been transferred to Record Search.
So would I. Unfortunately, while I have given the new record search every chance, hundreds of times even, and it consistently fails to produce records that I have been able to locate rather quickly and easily on the pilot. But that may just be my experience.
When billions of records are added but a simple set of data will not produce the results - let alone identify a record we know to exist - the addition of billions of records becomes worthless. God knows I've entered specific data and received 1,500 solid matches at the Pilot, then found the similar data gets me 48 records on Record search - with fully half those records being well beyond the parameters identified and those bad matches are not relegated to the "these records don't match but maybe..." section, rather they appear in the main return.
Yes, the Record Search will grow and improve - I hope/pray - in time, because interim my research is at a standstill. I've been up half the night madly copying (and yes, I have been able to copy records out of the Pilot, not sure why you couldn't) in a Hail-Mary-Pass attempt.
It seems those of us who cannot get records from the new Record Search are doomed to keep visiting every so many months and pray. I'm hoping someone has solid suggestions to offer to revive my research instead of letting it gather dust.
Some thoughts on Record Search changes
Bunny---
I don't know if you've read my comment about how and why the LDS church gathered as much documentation from all over the world and put it on microfilm. They are not going to "un-baptize" my grandfather and his ancestors, who I feel were baptized as Mormons without their permission, them being dead for centuries. He and his ancestors are sealed as Mormons forever, as is everyone on those films, and only LDS members can access that info through their private passwords. Their system is not one we have input into. It is theirs, faith-based, and not a government program that we have any input into. They are trying to keep up with newer technology, but as we say about Microsoft, "if it ain't broken, why change it?" I am afraid that at my age, I will be only a memory before all the microfilms are digitized and indexed online.
The reason we can access some of what they have microfilmed is that that was the deal when they approached the church archives, etc to do the microfilming---the information gathered had to be shared with the public.
So, with the loss of the wonderful indexing that the Pilot program and the IGI gave us for so long, we are back now to tediously viewing microfilms, since without reliable indexes, we have no other recourse, and we still have to send for those microfilms not yet digitized and view them at our local Family History Centers. At least we can now do much of the viewing of the microfilms from the comfort of our homes.
If I could afford a better computer, I would help with the indexing, etc. since that is one way to speed up the process in conjunction with the LDS. I tried, but my computer didn't match the specs required to download the indexing program. Being on a fixed income I have to buy what I need, not what I want. I am blessed to have what I do have.
Emilie
Port Orchard, WA
> To: general@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
> From: bbbunny@aol.com
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:56:32 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
>
> I appreciate your thoughts, and realize that on a forward basis, it's all we have. Unfortunately, it is all we have.
>
> >>We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away eventually.
>
> True, but the suggestion was that something equally as good and functional would be the derivative. They have failed tremendously on that score.
>
>
> >>I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has been transferred to Record Search.
>
> So would I. Unfortunately, while I have given the new record search every chance, hundreds of times even, and it consistently fails to produce records that I have been able to locate rather quickly and easily on the pilot. But that may just be my experience.
>
> When billions of records are added but a simple set of data will not produce the results - let alone identify a record we know to exist - the addition of billions of records becomes worthless. God knows I've entered specific data and received 1,500 solid matches at the Pilot, then found the similar data gets me 48 records on Record search - with fully half those records being well beyond the parameters identified and those bad matches are not relegated to the "these records don't match but maybe..." section, rather they appear in the main return.
>
> Yes, the Record Search will grow and improve - I hope/pray - in time, because interim my research is at a standstill. I've been up half the night madly copying (and yes, I have been able to copy records out of the Pilot, not sure why you couldn't) in a Hail-Mary-Pass attempt.
>
> It seems those of us who cannot get records from the new Record Search are doomed to keep visiting every so many months and pray. I'm hoping someone has solid suggestions to offer to revive my research instead of letting it gather dust.
>
>
We all need patience, perseverance and perspective
I believe that we're all dealing with two religious entities, first of all the Catholic Church and second the Mormon Church.
1. Were it not for the well documented efforts of the Catholic Church that for many years functioned as the official government, we wouldn't have these records.
2. Were it not for the practices of the Mormon Church to take these records and seal them, we wouldn't have access to these records and we wouldn't be having this discussion.
I for one am very grateful to the religious and government entities that have provided the documentation and have made it available to us, sometimes free of charge and sometimes for a fee. As we've transitioned from the microfilmed records to the on-line familysearch, to the pilot site and now to the digitized records, we've had to adapt to whatever is provided and to the specified conditions, each new change brings it's joys and it's challenges.
Change is constant and on-going as evidenced by the records we see going back to the mid 15th century in the Americas. We adapt to the changes and learn to use what's available. We might grumble as we sift through marriage records that don't include the names of the parents for the bride and groom. We might get exasperated when we find mistakes, when we find what we know is an error but can't take it up to anyone to disupute the error or have corrections made. It takes patience, perseverance and perspective. It takes a little insanity and some imagination but most of all it takes patience, perseverance, a lot of hard work and dedication to do what we do.
Yes, frustration is just part of the process....there are days when I get so fed up and think to myself, that's enough, I'm not going to do this anymore, it takes sooo much of my time and even when I'm not doing research, my mind is still wandering telling me I must keep going. That's what I call my insanity and I know that I will keep going, roadblocks and all.
These are my cinco centavos and I'll get off my soapbox.
Alicia,
San Jose,Ca
From: Emilie Garcia
To: general@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 8:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
Bunny---
I don't know if you've read my comment about how and why the LDS church gathered as much documentation from all over the world and put it on microfilm. They are not going to "un-baptize" my grandfather and his ancestors, who I feel were baptized as Mormons without their permission, them being dead for centuries. He and his ancestors are sealed as Mormons forever, as is everyone on those films, and only LDS members can access that info through their private passwords. Their system is not one we have input into. It is theirs, faith-based, and not a government program that we have any input into. They are trying to keep up with newer technology, but as we say about Microsoft, "if it ain't broken, why change it?" I am afraid that at my age, I will be only a memory before all the microfilms are digitized and indexed online.
The reason we can access some of what they have microfilmed is that that was the deal when they approached the church archives, etc to do the microfilming---the information gathered had to be shared with the public.
So, with the loss of the wonderful indexing that the Pilot program and the IGI gave us for so long, we are back now to tediously viewing microfilms, since without reliable indexes, we have no other recourse, and we still have to send for those microfilms not yet digitized and view them at our local Family History Centers. At least we can now do much of the viewing of the microfilms from the comfort of our homes.
If I could afford a better computer, I would help with the indexing, etc. since that is one way to speed up the process in conjunction with the LDS. I tried, but my computer didn't match the specs required to download the indexing program. Being on a fixed income I have to buy what I need, not what I want. I am blessed to have what I do have.
Emilie
Port Orchard, WA
> To: general@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
> From: bbbunny@aol.com
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:56:32 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
>
> I appreciate your thoughts, and realize that on a forward basis, it's all we have. Unfortunately, it is all we have.
>
> >>We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away eventually.
>
> True, but the suggestion was that something equally as good and functional would be the derivative. They have failed tremendously on that score.
>
>
> >>I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has been transferred to Record Search.
>
> So would I. Unfortunately, while I have given the new record search every chance, hundreds of times even, and it consistently fails to produce records that I have been able to locate rather quickly and easily on the pilot. But that may just be my experience.
>
> When billions of records are added but a simple set of data will not produce the results - let alone identify a record we know to exist - the addition of billions of records becomes worthless. God knows I've entered specific data and received 1,500 solid matches at the Pilot, then found the similar data gets me 48 records on Record search - with fully half those records being well beyond the parameters identified and those bad matches are not relegated to the "these records don't match but maybe..." section, rather they appear in the main return.
>
> Yes, the Record Search will grow and improve - I hope/pray - in time, because interim my research is at a standstill. I've been up half the night madly copying (and yes, I have been able to copy records out of the Pilot, not sure why you couldn't) in a Hail-Mary-Pass attempt.
>
> It seems those of us who cannot get records from the new Record Search are doomed to keep visiting every so many months and pray. I'm hoping someone has solid suggestions to offer to revive my research instead of letting it gather dust.
>
>
We all need patience, perseverance and perspective
Alicia,
You brought a smile to the end of my hard day at work....You have aptly
expressed what all of us believe, I am sure!
Thanks!
Nancy
-----Original Message-----
From: general-bounces@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
[mailto:general-bounces@lists.nuestrosranchos.org] On Behalf Of Alicia
Carrillo
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 11:52 PM
To: general@nuestrosranchos.org
Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] We all need patience, perseverance and
perspective
I believe that we're all dealing with two religious entities, first of all
the Catholic Church and second the Mormon Church.
1. Were it not for the well documented efforts of the Catholic Church that
for many years functioned as the official government, we wouldn't have these
records.
2. Were it not for the practices of the Mormon Church to take these records
and seal them, we wouldn't have access to these records and we wouldn't be
having this discussion.
I for one am very grateful to the religious and government entities that
have provided the documentation and have made it available to us, sometimes
free of charge and sometimes for a fee. As we've transitioned from the
microfilmed records to the on-line familysearch, to the pilot site and now
to the digitized records, we've had to adapt to whatever is provided and to
the specified conditions, each new change brings it's joys and it's
challenges.
Change is constant and on-going as evidenced by the records we see going
back to the mid 15th century in the Americas. We adapt to the changes and
learn to use what's available. We might grumble as we sift through marriage
records that don't include the names of the parents for the bride and groom.
We might get exasperated when we find mistakes, when we find what we know is
an error but can't take it up to anyone to disupute the error or have
corrections made. It takes patience, perseverance and perspective. It takes
a little insanity and some imagination but most of all it takes patience,
perseverance, a lot of hard work and dedication to do what we do.
Yes, frustration is just part of the process....there are days when I get so
fed up and think to myself, that's enough, I'm not going to do this anymore,
it takes sooo much of my time and even when I'm not doing research, my mind
is still wandering telling me I must keep going. That's what I call my
insanity and I know that I will keep going, roadblocks and all.
These are my cinco centavos and I'll get off my soapbox.
Alicia,
San Jose,Ca
From: Emilie Garcia
To: general@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 8:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
Bunny---
I don't know if you've read my comment about how and why the LDS church
gathered as much documentation from all over the world and put it on
microfilm. They are not going to "un-baptize" my grandfather and his
ancestors, who I feel were baptized as Mormons without their permission,
them being dead for centuries. He and his ancestors are sealed as Mormons
forever, as is everyone on those films, and only LDS members can access that
info through their private passwords. Their system is not one we have input
into. It is theirs, faith-based, and not a government program that we have
any input into. They are trying to keep up with newer technology, but as
we say about Microsoft, "if it ain't broken, why change it?" I am afraid
that at my age, I will be only a memory before all the microfilms are
digitized and indexed online.
The reason we can access some of what they have microfilmed is that that
was the deal when they approached the church archives, etc to do the
microfilming---the information gathered had to be shared with the public.
So, with the loss of the wonderful indexing that the Pilot program and the
IGI gave us for so long, we are back now to tediously viewing microfilms,
since without reliable indexes, we have no other recourse, and we still
have to send for those microfilms not yet digitized and view them at our
local Family History Centers. At least we can now do much of the viewing of
the microfilms from the comfort of our homes.
If I could afford a better computer, I would help with the indexing, etc.
since that is one way to speed up the process in conjunction with the LDS.
I tried, but my computer didn't match the specs required to download the
indexing program. Being on a fixed income I have to buy what I need, not
what I want. I am blessed to have what I do have.
Emilie
Port Orchard, WA
> To: general@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
> From: bbbunny@aol.com
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:56:32 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
>
> I appreciate your thoughts, and realize that on a forward basis, it's all
we have. Unfortunately, it is all we have.
>
> >>We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away
eventually.
>
> True, but the suggestion was that something equally as good and functional
would be the derivative. They have failed tremendously on that score.
>
>
> >>I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has
been transferred to Record Search.
>
> So would I. Unfortunately, while I have given the new record search every
chance, hundreds of times even, and it consistently fails to produce records
that I have been able to locate rather quickly and easily on the pilot. But
that may just be my experience.
>
> When billions of records are added but a simple set of data will not
produce the results - let alone identify a record we know to exist - the
addition of billions of records becomes worthless. God knows I've entered
specific data and received 1,500 solid matches at the Pilot, then found the
similar data gets me 48 records on Record search - with fully half those
records being well beyond the parameters identified and those bad matches
are not relegated to the "these records don't match but maybe..." section,
rather they appear in the main return.
>
> Yes, the Record Search will grow and improve - I hope/pray - in time,
because interim my research is at a standstill. I've been up half the night
madly copying (and yes, I have been able to copy records out of the Pilot,
not sure why you couldn't) in a Hail-Mary-Pass attempt.
>
> It seems those of us who cannot get records from the new Record Search are
doomed to keep visiting every so many months and pray. I'm hoping someone
has solid suggestions to offer to revive my research instead of letting it
gather dust.
>
>
We all need patience, perseverance and perspective
Very well said, Alicia.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: Alicia Carrillo
Sender: general-bounces@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:51:51
To: general@nuestrosranchos.org
Reply-to: general@nuestrosranchos.org, Alicia Carrillo
Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] We all need patience, perseverance and perspective
I believe that we're all dealing with two religious entities, first of all the Catholic Church and second the Mormon Church.
1. Were it not for the well documented efforts of the Catholic Church that for many years functioned as the official government, we wouldn't have these records.
2. Were it not for the practices of the Mormon Church to take these records and seal them, we wouldn't have access to these records and we wouldn't be having this discussion.
I for one am very grateful to the religious and government entities that have provided the documentation and have made it available to us, sometimes free of charge and sometimes for a fee. As we've transitioned from the microfilmed records to the on-line familysearch, to the pilot site and now to the digitized records, we've had to adapt to whatever is provided and to the specified conditions, each new change brings it's joys and it's challenges.
Change is constant and on-going as evidenced by the records we see going back to the mid 15th century in the Americas. We adapt to the changes and learn to use what's available. We might grumble as we sift through marriage records that don't include the names of the parents for the bride and groom. We might get exasperated when we find mistakes, when we find what we know is an error but can't take it up to anyone to disupute the error or have corrections made. It takes patience, perseverance and perspective. It takes a little insanity and some imagination but most of all it takes patience, perseverance, a lot of hard work and dedication to do what we do.
Yes, frustration is just part of the process....there are days when I get so fed up and think to myself, that's enough, I'm not going to do this anymore, it takes sooo much of my time and even when I'm not doing research, my mind is still wandering telling me I must keep going. That's what I call my insanity and I know that I will keep going, roadblocks and all.
These are my cinco centavos and I'll get off my soapbox.
Alicia,
San Jose,Ca
From: Emilie Garcia
To: general@nuestrosranchos.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 8:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
Bunny---
I don't know if you've read my comment about how and why the LDS church gathered as much documentation from all over the world and put it on microfilm. They are not going to "un-baptize" my grandfather and his ancestors, who I feel were baptized as Mormons without their permission, them being dead for centuries. He and his ancestors are sealed as Mormons forever, as is everyone on those films, and only LDS members can access that info through their private passwords. Their system is not one we have input into. It is theirs, faith-based, and not a government program that we have any input into. They are trying to keep up with newer technology, but as we say about Microsoft, "if it ain't broken, why change it?" I am afraid that at my age, I will be only a memory before all the microfilms are digitized and indexed online.
The reason we can access some of what they have microfilmed is that that was the deal when they approached the church archives, etc to do the microfilming---the information gathered had to be shared with the public.
So, with the loss of the wonderful indexing that the Pilot program and the IGI gave us for so long, we are back now to tediously viewing microfilms, since without reliable indexes, we have no other recourse, and we still have to send for those microfilms not yet digitized and view them at our local Family History Centers. At least we can now do much of the viewing of the microfilms from the comfort of our homes.
If I could afford a better computer, I would help with the indexing, etc. since that is one way to speed up the process in conjunction with the LDS. I tried, but my computer didn't match the specs required to download the indexing program. Being on a fixed income I have to buy what I need, not what I want. I am blessed to have what I do have.
Emilie
Port Orchard, WA
> To: general@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
> From: bbbunny@aol.com
> Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:56:32 -0700
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Some thoughts on Record Search changes
>
> I appreciate your thoughts, and realize that on a forward basis, it's all we have. Unfortunately, it is all we have.
>
> >>We have been told for some time that the Pilot Site would be going away eventually.
>
> True, but the suggestion was that something equally as good and functional would be the derivative. They have failed tremendously on that score.
>
>
> >>I would like to think that everything that was available in Pilot has been transferred to Record Search.
>
> So would I. Unfortunately, while I have given the new record search every chance, hundreds of times even, and it consistently fails to produce records that I have been able to locate rather quickly and easily on the pilot. But that may just be my experience.
>
> When billions of records are added but a simple set of data will not produce the results - let alone identify a record we know to exist - the addition of billions of records becomes worthless. God knows I've entered specific data and received 1,500 solid matches at the Pilot, then found the similar data gets me 48 records on Record search - with fully half those records being well beyond the parameters identified and those bad matches are not relegated to the "these records don't match but maybe..." section, rather they appear in the main return.
>
> Yes, the Record Search will grow and improve - I hope/pray - in time, because interim my research is at a standstill. I've been up half the night madly copying (and yes, I have been able to copy records out of the Pilot, not sure why you couldn't) in a Hail-Mary-Pass attempt.
>
> It seems those of us who cannot get records from the new Record Search are doomed to keep visiting every so many months and pray. I'm hoping someone has solid suggestions to offer to revive my research instead of letting it gather dust.
>
>