Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
CHARTS
Q. What are Ancestry Charts?
A. Ancestry Charts show an indefinite number of ancestors for every person on the site - you decide the maximum number of generations - with links to each person's individual page. You can collapse or expand each generation. For each descendant listed you can also click to view a graphical tree tracing the line of decent. You can also switch easily between Standard and Register formats.
Q. What is an Ahnentafel Chart?
A. It's an Ancestor table which tabulates the ancestry of one individual by generation as text rather than in a pedigree chart format. A comprehensive ahnentafel gives more than the individual's name, date and place of birth, christening, marriage, death and burial. It can give biographical and historical commentary for each person listed, as well as footnotes citing the source documents used to prove what is stated.
Q. What is an Ahnentafel Number?
A. It's a unique number assigned to each position in an ancestor table. Number one designates the person in the first generation. Numbers two and three designate the parents of number one and the second generation. Numbers four through seven designate the grandparents of person number one and the third generation. As the ahnentafel extends by generation, the number of persons doubles.
Q. What are Decendency Charts?
A. Decendency Charts show an indefinite number of descends for every person on the site - you decide the maximum number of generations - with links to each person's individual page. You can collapse or expand each generation. For each descendant listed you can also click to view a graphical tree tracing the line of decent. You can also switch easily between Standard and Register formats.
Q. What are Pedigree Charts?
A. Pedigree Charts can display an indefinite number of generations - you decide the maximum number you see - in four different formats for every person, plus the Ahnentafel format. Any photos, biographies, documents and dropdown data boxes with additional information, make them the centerpiece of the site. A single click takes you to the individual page, or a new pedigree chart, for anyone on the chart. You can even switch parents!
Q. What is a 'Relationship Chart'?
A. Relationship Charts show the relationship between two individuals on the site.
FILES
Q. What is a GEDCOM file?
A. GEDCOM is an acronym for GENealogical Data COMmunication. A GEDCOM file contains information on a family in a specific format - GED. Generally a GEDCOM file is produced by entering data into a genealogical program such as Family Tree Maker, and exporting the results as a GEDCOM file. Most genealogical software programs - will import and export GEDCOM formated data.
Q. What is a GENDEX file?
A. In the easiest explanation, a GENDEX file is simply a file that contains an index of all your genealogy surname information including the name, birth, death and owner information. It also contains links back to the owner of the information. By generating and contributing a gendex.gdx file it allows any researcher a chance to search for names and then click over to the site that contains the information.
ICONS
Q. What are all the icons for that are located on the upper right of the page?
A. These icons let you access additional information that is contained in the database. You can hover your mouse pointer over each or press the Question Mark icon to obtain a description of what each icon does.
MENU
Q. What is the 'List of Surnames' option?
A. This option presents you with a list of all surnames on the site and allows you to easily select any of your choice.
Q. What does the 'List of Places' option show?
A. This option presents you with a hierarchal view of all places listed on the site and allows you to easily drill down through all "lesser" localities.
Q. What does the 'Dates & Anniversaries' option show?
A. This option allows you to find quickly, all individuals associated with any date in history. You can search for just a month, just a year, or even day (e.g. 'Show me everyone born on the 7th of any month').
Q. What does the 'Odds & Ends' option show?
A. This option shows you with a list of assorted items with nowhere else to go . . . . . unless you can suggest otherwise!
Q. What does the 'Biographies' option show?
A. This option allows you to quickly find a biography, if one is available, of any individual on the site.
Q. What does the 'Documents' option show?
A. This option allows you to quickly find the image of an documents, if available, relating to any individual on the site.
Q. What is a Census?
A. A census is an official enumeration of the population in the UK. In addition to counting the number of people in a building, the census collects other vital information, such as their names, ages, sex, occupations, citizenship status and places of birth - but the information can change from census to census. The UK government began collecting census data in 1841 and has done so every 10 years since.
The images shown in the 'Documents' section of this site are reproductions of the Enumerator's actual records taken that year for that particular individual.
Q. What does the 'Photographs' option show?
A. This option allows you to quickly find photographs, if any are available, of any individual on the site.
Q. What is the 'What's New on the Site' option
A. The 'What's New on the Site' option shows the date of the latest GEDCOM import and the most recently added and updated components of the site - photographs, biographies, documents, headstones, and individual and family records etc.
MISTAKES
Q. If I see a mistake in the information presented can I correct it?
A. The suggestion tab allows you to send corrections, updates, comments or any other information to the database administrator. Information on which individual you are referencing is automatically attached to the message when you make a suggestion using the Suggestion tab. The database administrator will take your suggestion and, if agreed, add it to the database in the next web update cycle.
PRINTING
Q. Is there a way to print the display without all the headers and icons?
Yes, just click on the Print link locate above the control tabs. A format that is simplified for printing is presented and you can use the print function of you browser to print the page.
REGISTERED USERS
Q. What are the benefits of Registering as a User?
A. You must Register as a User, and Log In when registration is approved, to see the details of Living Individuals and their records, documents, photographs and biographies. Registration also ensures the 'Project' managers can e-mail you with any major changes to the 'Project' or the site.
When you register, an email is sent to me automatically - if I am unable to process your application due to absence, illness, computer problems, etc , there will be a delay for which I apologise in advance.
Your access to information about living people will be determined by whether you are a family member, contributor or researcher. I may reassess your access rights, and adjust your registration profile, after some email correspondence to establish your bona fides.
Q. What if I forget my password?
A. I do not have access to your password. So, if you forget it, you can ask the system to retrieve it for you via the 'Log In' page. Just enter the email address you supplied when you registered. If you can't remember that, then I will be happily to supply it!
RELATIONSHIPS
Q. Is there a way to tell if two individuals are related?
A. Yes, the Relationship tab will show a graphic display of all the people between two relatives. To display the relationship between two people first press the Relationship tab, then use the 'Find' buttons to locate the individuals - or keep the individuals as displayed - then click 'Calculate' to display their relationship. If the individuals are not related the program will tell you that
SEARCHING
Q. What is the Search' option?
A. This simple option allows you to select a known individual.
Q. What is the 'Advance Search' option?
A. This choice presents you with a detailed search option for all individuals on the site.
Q. How do I find who I am looking for?
A. There are a number of ways, but the search function provides the most straight forward method. The advanced search form allows you to enter information about the individual you're looking for and presents you with a list of possible matches from the database.
You might also want to try looking at the surnames in the database if you don't have a clear picture of who you're looking for.
