The system doesn't tell me when the length of a reason statement is too long, it just deletes it!!
I've been putting in reason statements for every source I attach. Because I am translating these records, I put the English translation in the reason statement so some of them do get a little long. The system doesn't tell me that it hasn't saved it! It looks like it is saved, and I move on. I only discovered it wasn't saving the longer ones by accident when I went back to correct something and there was no reason statement. By trial and error and refreshing the page I found that the length was the reason it wasn't saving. TELL ME THAT!! How many hundreds of sources have I entered and thought the translation was being attached because I didn't get an error message and everything looked fine when I saved and now there is no reason statement at all? How much time will that take me to go back and check them all because I didn't get an error message? Please, make it possible to have a longer reason statement, and tell me when it is too long!
Most of these records I am attaching from ancestry.com, I know that it will show an error saving (although it doesn't tell you why) if you put in too long of a reason statement from the "Attach Historical Records to Family Tree" page on FamilySearch.
Again, it would also be helpful to allow a longer reason statement so the document translation can be put there to save myself and others time translating again.
Answers
-
I understand your frustration. It seems we are often left in the dark.
FYI I usually put my reason statements - especially if they are lengthy and need details such as a translation and reference to multiple sources - as a document or a PDF in memories.
0 -
I agree that FS's failure to communicate is ...aggravating, at best.
However, the reason statement is entirely the wrong place for a translation. It's much too volatile or fleeting, even under the best of circumstances.
I think a translation of a source belongs in the "Describe the Record (Notes)" field, or if it's more than a paragraph or two, in a separate document uploaded to Memories, as Áine said.
1 -
Hello @Rea Jeppson Newell
While it may not be much consolation at this point, reason statements have a limit of 2,000 characters. You will notice that the number 2000 is in the lower right corner beneath the "Reason This Information Is Correct:" box. When you start typing the statement, the number counts down to 0.
Aine and Julia have given you some good advice about where to put lengthy statements.
Best wishes!
0 -
I type out the reason statement in the note section of my desktop genealogy program and then copy and paste into FS. So I'm not watching a countdown in the corner. And while I appreciate the thought of uploading it as a separate document, taking the time to create a PDF document for every source to upload isn't going to work for me. I do upload a copy of the image to memories, and also put the translation there in the description, but it is much nicer to have also have it with the source.
I appreciate you all taking the time to share your thoughts about other solutions!
FamilySearch does need to flag it as an error if it is too long instead of it looking like it saved fine and then having it go away.
0 -
@Rea Jeppson Newell When you copy/paste, the system does count down and show you that you are at 0 and the last word accepted is just above the 0 - possibly part of a word.
0 -
No, it doesn't show a counter. It accepts it all, and I click save, and it all shows that it is saved. Here are some screenshots:
I'm editing the source entry so I click ADD.
There is no counter in the corner or anywhere.
I've pasted in my statement. Still no counter. Everything shows that I have pasted in. I click save.
It saves and shows my entire statement as if it was saved. There is no error to say it was too long, it all looks good. Then I refresh the page.
It is gone!
0 -
It does. I've tested multiple times today by copying and pasting.
At the top, you can see that the paste terminated in the middle of the word consanguinity and shows there is no more space.
At the bottom, you can see that I deleted the i at the end of "consangui" and the counter now shows 1 character available.
0 -
FYI
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
'Yes', you 100% are CORRECT.
The 'Reason This Source Is Attached', relating to "Sources", DOES NOT have a "Character Counter".
There is NO "Counter", for the Number of "Characters", that are available in, the 'Reason This Source Is Attached', relating to "Sources".
There are "Character Counters", on a number, of the different "Reason Statements", throughout; but, that 'Reason This Source Is Attached' is NOT one of those "Reason Statements".
As such ...
IF, you have not already; THEN, ...
Can I humbly suggest that you post/submit/raise the NEED for a "Character Counter"; being, the Number of "Characters", that are available in, the 'Reason This Source Is Attached', relating to "Sources"; as, a NEW "Idea", of 'Feedback', to 'FamilySearch', in the "Ideas" Section, under the 'Topic' of the likes of, "Family Tree"; and/or, "General User Interface'"; and/or, "Sources" - or, ALL three (x3).
Just a thought.
Brett
ps: Here are the direct links to those aforementioned 'Topics':
"Ideas" Section
[ 1 ]
'Topic' = Family Tree
Home > Ideas > Family Tree
Family Tree
https://community.familysearch.org/en/categories/familytree
[ 2 ]
'Topic' = General User Interface
Home > Ideas > General User Interface
General User Interface
https://community.familysearch.org/en/categories/general-user-interface
[ 3 ]
'Topic' = Sources
Home > Ideas > Sources
Sources
https://community.familysearch.org/en/categories/sources
.
0 -
Thanks Brett! It is so hard to navigate where the best place to post is in this new help/community section, there are too many options. I liked the old one better.
I think that Áine Ni Donnghaile is talking about something different as you said. Her screen shots are from editing a vital event and putting in a "Reason This Information Is Correct". I see a counter there, also, and it does cut you off. I am talking about the "Reason This Source Is Attached" section for a source that is attached under the source tab as my screen shots show.
It really just makes me sick to think how many sources I have attached with a reason statement that now I have to go back and check and others looking at it don't see my reasons for thinking it is the right source.
0
