Tips During Busy Indexing Times

Here's a post on the Indexing Facebook Wall that might be helpful:

Tips to avoid possible issues during busy indexing times

by FamilySearch Indexing on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 10:48am

A message was just posted to the indexing program--you can find it under My Messages--with 10 steps to follow if you want to try to avoid possible issues today. We know that's a lot of steps and you don't have to follow them, but we'd love to hear feedback from those who did. Did the steps work for you?

Here are the steps with an important note at the end:

1.  Before 1:00 p.m. on Sunday (MDT, UTC-6), download up to 10 batches.
2. Open each batch to make sure the information is saved to your computer.
3. On the indexing start page (or the My Work page), click the Work Offline box.
4. Click OK. Note: You do not need to disconnect your computer from the Internet; you are simply telling the program not to connect to the indexing server while you index these batches.
5. Do not close your indexing program. Keep your computer on and your indexing program open until you have completed and submitted all 10 batches.
6. Work on your batches. You will not be able to submit or save your batches while in "offline" mode.
7. When you have completed all of your batches, return to the indexing start page, and click the Work Offline box to remove the check mark and return to "online" mode.
8. Click OK on the dialog box. Note: You should already be connected to the Internet.
9. Highlight each batch, and click Submit Batch.
10. Download more batches if you like, and start over at step 2.

If, while submitting your batches, you receive a message to update your program, this is an error. You do not need to update. Simply click OK. Let the program close. Wait a few minutes, and open the program again using the desktop icon. Once the program is open, try submitting your batch again.

Indexing Tips and Tricks Training

  I appreciate each of you who attended our indexing training last night, June 2.

Thank you for attending!

All of your indexing work is so wonderful.

A sweet treat to end the evening--homemade

cinnamon rolls with cream cheese/orange icing. 
Yummy!

A great big thanks to

Edna Stowell for sharing her delicious talents
with us!

Perhaps you picked up on some things that you hadn't noticed before. I hope you picked up a tip or two to help you enjoy indexing even a little more.

A few of the tips we discussed:

Indexing Rule #1

Index what you see

Not what you think
it should be!

(Place names are the

exception to this rule.)

Get to know your icons, what they stand for and do.

Read and follow the

"Field Help."

Use the drop down "place list" to help with correct

spelling and reference.

Record the place as a state or country--not the language.

One not mentioned:  Include initials with the first name.

Do not index punctuation marks except
in a name like O'Niel.

My favorite shortcuts:

(Use "Shortcuts" link
at the top of the blog)

  1.  Use "CTRL" & mouse to move the highlights in each corner.  (census records)

2.  Choose "Ditto Fields Below" or CTRL+D by right clicking on the typed word.  Make sure you change any to match the record.

3.  Look at the previous record to get important information
(last name and family #.)

4.  Use "CTRL T" to quality check yourself immediately.

Please call if you'd like help at any time.

Remember we can look at the same batch over our computers to view your questions using

"Share a batch."

May's Monthly Totals

 Sandy, UT Midvalley Stake Totals

YTD                                      299,586

  189,983 Indexed & 109,648 Arbitrated

May's Total                        63,051

 42,142 Indexed & 20,909 Arbitrated

Please Attend -- June 2, 2011 Indexing Tips & Tricks

2011 Monthly Totals

     Month          Indexed         Arbitration        # Participants   Returned   

January         27,657        23,590            40            8

February       38,717          21,359            38              2

March           34,370          19,999            35            10

April              46,552          23,741             33            11

May                42,142         20,909             32           5
 _____________________________________________

YTD               189,938        109,648      60/160        36