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FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Waypointing: Difference between revisions
FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Waypointing (view source)
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== Introduction == | |||
Waypointing is a process used to group images together according to locality, record type, and year range in preparation for online publication. The Waypointing process creates a browse structure allowing users to focus their search to a single place and time. Waypointing is, in essence, a digital microfilm reader, allowing patrons of FamilySearch access to many images that they would otherwise have to access at a Family History Library on microfilm. | Waypointing is a process used to group images together according to locality, record type, and year range in preparation for online publication. The Waypointing process creates a browse structure allowing users to focus their search to a single place and time. Waypointing is, in essence, a digital microfilm reader, allowing patrons of FamilySearch access to many images that they would otherwise have to access at a Family History Library on microfilm. | ||
== Benefits == | |||
Waypointing is a way of describing images in less detail than Indexing, allowing Waypointing to publish images online using fewer resources. While creating a detailed index is the ultimate goal for all images, it will take years before all projects that need to be indexed can be completed. Waypointing allows the publication of many images that will not be indexed in the near future. Eventually, all images that are waypointed will be indexed as well. | Waypointing is a way of describing images in less detail than Indexing, allowing Waypointing to publish images online using fewer resources. While creating a detailed index is the ultimate goal for all images, it will take years before all projects that need to be indexed can be completed. Waypointing allows the publication of many images that will not be indexed in the near future. Eventually, all images that are waypointed will be indexed as well. | ||
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When a Waypointer treats a digital folder, they use Waypoint Markers to group the images together. Waypoint Markers are the first and last few images of a natural grouping, usually an individual book of records. The Markers identify the locality and record type of the group of images, and usually provide the year range. Because the year range for a group of images is provided by the Markers, and not all of the images in a group are examined, the year range should be considered the first and the last year found in the group. Not all of the years between may be found in that group. Focusing on the Waypoint Markers allows each project to be completed in a very short time frame, as little as one day and rarely exceeding two months. | When a Waypointer treats a digital folder, they use Waypoint Markers to group the images together. Waypoint Markers are the first and last few images of a natural grouping, usually an individual book of records. The Markers identify the locality and record type of the group of images, and usually provide the year range. Because the year range for a group of images is provided by the Markers, and not all of the images in a group are examined, the year range should be considered the first and the last year found in the group. Not all of the years between may be found in that group. Focusing on the Waypoint Markers allows each project to be completed in a very short time frame, as little as one day and rarely exceeding two months. | ||
== Limits == | |||
There are several limits to what the Waypointing tool can do. First, the Waypointing tool is not designed to describe the anomalies found within projects. For example, if a single page in a book of marriages has a single entry of baptisms, there is a good chance that the waypointer will not find that anomaly. It is expected that as the records are used, patrons will note the anomaly on the Family Search Wiki. Then, when the project is indexed, the anomaly will be identified and described. | There are several limits to what the Waypointing tool can do. First, the Waypointing tool is not designed to describe the anomalies found within projects. For example, if a single page in a book of marriages has a single entry of baptisms, there is a good chance that the waypointer will not find that anomaly. It is expected that as the records are used, patrons will note the anomaly on the Family Search Wiki. Then, when the project is indexed, the anomaly will be identified and described. | ||
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Waypointing is still a new process. It has been around for only a few years. It has taken time to define and refine the process, and there are ongoing efforts to improve it. Many of the problems that can be found in the earliest projects have been identified and repaired in subsequent projects. | Waypointing is still a new process. It has been around for only a few years. It has taken time to define and refine the process, and there are ongoing efforts to improve it. Many of the problems that can be found in the earliest projects have been identified and repaired in subsequent projects. | ||
== Published Records == | |||
To find projects that have been Waypointed, go to [https://beta.familysearch.org/ https://beta.familysearch.org/]. Beneath the search area there is a list of regions under the heading Browse by location. By browsing the record collections, users can find all of the projects that have been posted on the Beta site. Projects that have been indexed, or are in the process of being indexed will list the number of records in the project, while projects that have been published without being indexed will have Browse Images. Some Waypointed projects are already in the process of being indexed, so they will not have the notice next to them. Waypointed projects that are being indexed will have an option to browse through the images under the search criteria for the project. | To find projects that have been Waypointed, go to [https://beta.familysearch.org/ https://beta.familysearch.org/]. Beneath the search area there is a list of regions under the heading Browse by location. By browsing the record collections, users can find all of the projects that have been posted on the Beta site. Projects that have been indexed, or are in the process of being indexed will list the number of records in the project, while projects that have been published without being indexed will have Browse Images. Some Waypointed projects are already in the process of being indexed, so they will not have the notice next to them. Waypointed projects that are being indexed will have an option to browse through the images under the search criteria for the project. | ||
The Waypointing team has recently started accepting volunteers. Because Waypointing is a new process, the tool can only be accessed by members of the LDS Church. Waypointing projects come from all over the world in a variety of languages. Projects are divided into folders, which can usually be completed in 10-15 minutes. Waypointing is fun and rewarding. There is no minimum time that is required to be a Waypointing volunteer. Most volunteers dedicate 2-4 hours in a week, though more hours a week are always welcome. Volunteers get to work on complete sets of records, usually whole record books, instead of isolated pages. It’s fast and easy to sign up, and those interested can start right away. Through Waypointing, volunteers will help increase the number of records available on FamilySearch, helping to increase accessibility to important genealogical resources. Anyone interested in learning more about | == Volunteering == | ||
The Waypointing team has recently started accepting volunteers. Because Waypointing is a new process, the tool can only be accessed by members of the LDS Church. Waypointing projects come from all over the world in a variety of languages. Projects are divided into folders, which can usually be completed in 10-15 minutes. Waypointing is fun and rewarding. There is no minimum time that is required to be a Waypointing volunteer. Most volunteers dedicate 2-4 hours in a week, though more hours a week are always welcome. Volunteers get to work on complete sets of records, usually whole record books, instead of isolated pages. It’s fast and easy to sign up, and those interested can start right away. Through Waypointing, volunteers will help increase the number of records available on FamilySearch, helping to increase accessibility to important genealogical resources. | |||
Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a Waypointing Volunteer can contact Travis Mecham at: [mailto:tqmecham@familysearch.org tqmecham@familysearch.org] | |||
=== Current Projects === | |||
*[[Philippines Manila Civil Registration (Part 2)]] | |||
*[[Italy Mantova Civil Records]] | |||
[[Category:Waypointing]] | [[Category:Waypointing]] | ||