FamilySearch Indexing
WHAT IS FAMILYSEARCH INDEXING?
The Church has billions of family history records stored on microfilm. Searching microfilm is very slow.
1. You check the FamilySearch Catalog for the numbers of the films you are interested in.
2. Then you pay to rent the films.
3. Then you wait 3-4 weeks for the films to arrive at the Family History Center.
4. Then you go to the FHC and spend 2-4 hours per film reading the records, looking for the record you are interested in. You need to know approximately when and where the event took place.
When indexing, you create a computer searchable index, allowing researchers to search thousands of films in a few seconds. As a researcher, even if you do not know the exact time and place of an event, there is an excellent chance of finding it.
REGISTERING: In advance, LDS members should register for an LDS Account, if possible. This can be done at https://ldsaccount.lds.org/ or https://familysearch.org/ or https://new.familysearch.org/
If you do not have an LDS Account, you can register for a FamilySearch account. These are available to the general public. (Minimum age is 13 for indexing unless there is parental approval.)
Registering has the usual confusion over acceptable user names and passwords. Write down your user name and password and keep it with you. (User names must be unique. The password must be a combination of at least 8 letters and numbers.)
CONNECT TO THE WI-FI:
Our network in the chapel is ______________ and the password is __________________
INSTALLING THE INDEXING SOFTWARE:
If you are bringing a laptop, try to install the indexing software at home, as the wi-fi in the chapel slows to a crawl when you get 8 people trying to download the software at the same time. Get the software by clicking on Get Started at http://indexing.familysearch.org/ or https://indexing.familysearch.org/newuser/nuhome.jsf?3.7.11
Try the Two-Minute Test Drive to get an idea of how indexing works.
ORIENTATION:
If we can arrange for a projector, it will allow everyone to see the Indexing Test Drive. They can also watch and provide suggestions as someone does indexing. This is handy if you have more people than computers.
START INDEXING:
Once the software is installed, look on the computer Desktop for the FamilySearch Indexing icon, and double-click it to run the program.
Make sure that you select a Beginner batch. (usually a draft card registration or other simple document.) Beginner batches do not need to have records added, so when that box pops-up just close it.
Leaders can help you complete the batch and the Quality Check (which mostly looks for fields that have been left blank).
If the window to transmit the batch fails to pop-up, use the icon (second from the left above the data entry table).
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We had about 15 boys and leaders last night, and it worked out very well. The boys were 12-13 year-old Scouts, and quickly caught on. At least one completed multiple batches. Good job boys!
