FamilySearch Wiki

FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Fixing USGenweb links

Fixing USGenweb links

Purpose

This project is to fix the 4,000 plus broken links that used to go to USGenweb websites. You must find the link and then replace it on the corresponding page.

Project Contact

Danielle

Task Page

Task List

Project Instructions

Step 1

  • Go to the Task List and choose a line to that has a broken link to work on. Note: there may be more than one on a page. Put your name in column A, so no one else will work on the link.

Step 2

  • Click on the link to the Wiki page you signed up for and click on the tab, "edit source."

Step 3

  • Once the Wikitext is seen, click on the control key and the F key at the same time so you are able to do a search of the page. Type in Rootsweb and search the page.

Step 4

  • Once you have found the link on the page, copy it and paste it into a new tab to see if the link works.
  • IF THE LINK STILL WORKS: You will still search for a better link for this page that does not include Rootstweb in the url. Go to Step 8.
  • IF THE LINK DOESN'T WORK: Go to Step 5.

Step 5

  • Go to: https://archive.org/web/. This website has the Wayback Machine. The Wayback Machine has a history of what a URL used to contain. This will help you know which USGenWeb page it used to be on.

Step 6

  • In the Wayback machine URL field at the very top of the page, paste in your link. Then press the “Browse History” button
Wayback.jpg

















Step 7

  • You will now see a calendar that lists when the web page was archived. Choose a date that has a blue or yellow circle around it to see what the page looked like. It is suggested to try a day 2 or 3 years earlier. If the page shows up as a broken link, then try a date a year earlier until you see a web page.


Wayback1.png















Step 8 - Find the new link

After determining what the page used to look like, use the following ideas to locate the correct page:

  • Google the name of the page as found in the Wayback machine
  • Go to the USGenWeb website and navigate to the correct page
  • If it wasn't in the Wayback machine, try deciphering the type of page it was by 1) reviewing the page where the link is or 2) by looking for key words in URL - For example, in the URL: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inboone/military/civwar-co-i-10th-reg.htm
    • Notice inboone means the county is Boone and it's in the state of Indiana
    • Notice the word, Military and that civwar means, Civil War
    • Notice co-i means Company I, and 10th-reg means 10th Regiment
    • You can now google the keywords: Boone County Indiana Military Civil War 10th Regiment Company I

What if the GenWeb links aren't up yet?

  • If while googling you find a better or substitute page for the information it use to link to, feel free to replace it with the new link.

For, example, you may find a different website that lists a history for Civil War regiment.

Step 9

  • Once you locate the correct new URL, go to the wiki page found on the Task List and replace the broken link with the new one you have found. Once you save the page, be sure to check the page once you have updated it to be sure the new link you added works.

Step 10

  • Return to the spreadsheet and record the date in column B. If you were unable to locate a new URL, still fill in column B and put, "No" in Column C and add any notes you would like to share in Column D.

Step 11

  • Return to the page you have signed up for and review it to see if there are additional Roostweb links on the page that need to be fixed.
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