FamilySearch Wiki

WikiProject:Use Check My Links to Find Broken Links

Revision as of 16:06, 10 July 2025 by Batsondl (talk | contribs) (→‎Step 2)

Use Check My Links to Find Broken Links

Purpose

Before a Wiki page can be approved, all the broken links on that page must be found and fixed. This is the first part that requires using Check My Links extension on the Chrome browser. After finding links, they will be added to a task sheet.

Project Contact

Danielle Batson

Task Page

Task List

Reporting Spreadsheet

You will use this spreadsheet to record your results.

Instructions

Step 1 - Add Check My Links to Chrome browser

1. You must have the Chrome browser to download this Chrome extension. If you do not have it on your computer, you can download Chrome from this Google website.

2. To download the extension, Check My Links, open your Chrome browser and go to this website: Broken Link Checker

3. Click on button to add the extension to Chrome.

4. Once it's loaded, restart Chrome. (Remember that you only need to add Check My Links to Chrome once)

5. Once you are back in Chrome, go to the Task List to select the Wiki page you will review.

6. Once on the wiki page, go to the top right hand corner of the screen click on the check mark. It will begin reviewing the page.

7. A dialogue box will appear in the top right corner and the page will fill with different colors over the links. Be sure to let the program finish the page before you do anything.

Step 2

1. Review the links in to dialogue box in the top right of the screen.

Meaning of links:

  • Green: Valid links (link is working)
  • FamilySearch Green: Valid redirect link (link is working)
  • Yellow: Double check this link, it may or may not be broken
  • Red: This link is broken.


Note: If a website does not respond fast enough, Check My Links will bring back a red link error when it isn't true. Ignore all links that go to another Wiki page. These pages do work. Examples of pages:


2. Go to the spreadsheet and begin recording the broken links you found in the dialogue box.

3. Record the necessary information in each column:

    • Date: Date you checked the Wiki page
    • Name: Your name
    • Wiki page URL: Copy the URL in the browser address field and paste it in Column c.
    • Section: Write the name of the section the broken link can be found.
    • Name of broken link: Write the name of the link so it can be found easily.
    • Language if not English: If the link appears to go to a website in another language, put the language in Column G
    • On other pages: If you believe this link will appear on many other Wiki pages, put, Yes in this field. Put, No if you think this link will only be on this page.
    • Additional Notes: If you have any other information about the link, please add it here



Step 3 - Check Yellow Links

1. Reviewing the yellow links, double check if they are broken by holding ctrl key and clicking on the link. This will open a new tab.

2. Review the tab to determine if the link is broken or not. If it is, got to Step 4. If the link is not broken, you will not put this on the spreadsheet.

Step 4 - Check Red Links


Step 5 - Fill out the Spreadsheet

5. Once you find a link fill out the information on the Broken Links Spreadsheet

6. Fill out:

  • Column A: Your name
  • Column B: Wiki page url
  • Column C: Header name where the broken link is (i.e., Military Records, Vital Records, etc.)
  • Column D: Name of broken link (what the link is called on the page)
  • Column E: Broken Link URL (right click on the link and on click on the menu, Copy link address
  • Column F: If the link goes to a foreign language page, list the language
  • Column G: If the link will be found on multiple pages, please put Yes. If it is unique to just the page, put no.
  • Column H: List any additional information you would like us to know
  • Columns I, J, and K you can leave blank (will be used when fixing the links)

7. You can now go to the next page on your task list.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Red links on a page (no wiki page) show up as pink and as broken. Just skip these.
  • Ignore broken links for FamilySearch.org. They will be fixed later.
  • Only concern yourself with pink links on the actual Wiki page. You do not have to worry about links on the left navigation bar or at the top of the page.
  • Note that the report may give more broken links than appear pink on the page. Just focus on the evident pink links on content we can change.
  • If you find a broken link that is on more than one page, we will have you report it on the spreadsheet. More information is below in Part B. Danielle can do a Replace Text to fix them all at once.
  • If the wiki page does not respond when you click on Broken Link Checker red A, try closing Chrome and opening it up again.
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