Do I just put Blank if there are no more entries to be made but the program is asking for more?
I have been indexing for a short time. What if there are more entries that the program wants me to make, but there is no more data to enter? For example, there are only 4 records to record but the program is asking for 25 entries. Do I just put "BLANK" on all the entries?
Answers
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No. Please don't. Go to the garbage can in the icon row above. Click on it and tell it to delete all blank entries. Mind if you have typed anything in the default extra entries then either delete what you typed or delete each entry alone but make sure you are on that entry so it deletes to correct one.
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@annewandering . I agree. But, look at the example found by following the link below from the US, Minnesota, Brown County—Obituaries, 1855–1990 Project Instructions (What to Remember…). There they instruct us to use Ctrl+Shift+B to put <Blank> indicators into those extra empty entries.
https://fh.familysearch.org/system/files/team/ait/indexing/IndexingObituaries.pdf
Here is the pertinent section.
Also, I believe that the Web Indexing System automatically deletes <Blank>ed Entries. Maybe this example is a bit outdated.
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I had this problem on enlistment rolls, it automatically puts 40 entries, to fill out and sometimes there are far fewer. Just index whats there, then delete the blank entries. Do not go through each of them and put <BLANK> in every field. Its a newbie mistake and its a pain to delete them one by one. (they no longer count as blank entries because they are now filled with a <BLANK>.)
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The trashcan icon, when used with the option "all blank entries" and "Delete," will delete both empty entries and those that are filled partially or wholly with Ctrl+B (<Blank>) values. Only if there is a non-(<Blank>) value in one of its fields will an entry fail to be deleted.
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"According to the Project Instructions on This Project, under What to Remember about This Project, bullet point 4 tells us:
'Images may show multiple records. You may need to add or delete entries in the data entry area to index all of the records on a document or remove any unused entries.' "
It is always wise to check the individual Project Instructions and Field Help for the instructions for that particular project. They do vary and they do get updated on occasion.
The example you posted is outdated. This is the current general guideline: note: it does not address the blank entry issue.
"Use the guidelines below to index obituaries and other documents that include death information.
- Read the project instructions, field helps, and other training materials.
- Read the entire obituary before indexing any names. Reading the entire obituary helps you know what information is available.
- Index all documents that give death information. Obituary collections can include a variety of death notices, such as traditional obituaries, estate sale notices, reports of unidentified bodies being found or car accidents, and various kinds of newspaper articles. If documents contain death information, please index them unless the project instructions say not to.
- Index the information about the deceased person first.
- Many obituaries do not include an exact death date. Do not try to determine the date meant by statements such as “He died last Wednesday.” If a death date is not stated, you typically should use the most recent date on the document other than a birth date.
- Index only place-names, such as towns, counties, states, or countries, that were mentioned in the document. Do not assume a place, and do not index locations such as “Galion Community Home” or assume that the community home is in a city called “Galion.”
- Index the names of all individuals, including nonrelatives, unless the project instructions say otherwise. If a name includes the name of a spouse or is given with the name of a spouse, index both names as separate entries in the data entry area. For example, if an obituary lists “Mrs. Ben (Mary) Wilson” as a surviving daughter, index an entry in the data entry area for “Mrs Mary Wilson” and then one for “Ben Wilson.” If the obituary instead uses “Mrs. Ben Wilson,” index an entry only for “Mrs Ben Wilson.”
- Add entries in the data entry area as needed to index all the names on the document. Index each name on the documents as an individual entry in the data entry area.
- Index the names of relatives and nonrelatives in the order the names appear.
- Select the closest relationship from the relationship list. For example, if a record identifies a relative as a stepson or adopted son, index him as a son. Consider how that individual would appear on a family tree, and index him or her in that way.
- See additional instruction for how to index information about multiple deceased individuals in a single death notice."
- https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/how-should-i-index-obituaries
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