What to do if a batch is indexed badly.

Colin Yamamoto_1

Ok so ive gotten some batches to review, and the indexer sometimes wasnt the best. Ive come across batches where only a couple names on the entire record were indexed. Some have none of the date fields filled out, and some have filled multiple records mixed inbetween the named records with just <BLANK>. Recently also, ive seen some threads here of other malicous or incorrectly indexed records as well. Is there a process to return a batch submitted for review, back to a batch to be indexed? Or does it not need to be?

So far ive just changed all the incorrect info in the record to the correct ones and submitted it. Im worried that since its already a record for review, me fixing it up and submitting it wont give it a chance to be reviewed by someone else, and it will be technically just a plain indexed record. However, Ive heard rumors that if you correct anything in a record as you review, it will get recycled into review for a second time and someone else will review it again. Is this true? Am i on the right track? Any advice would help a bunch. thank you :)

John Empoliti

Hi Colin.

Only if a Reviewer changes more than 20% of the Fields in a batch will the reviewed batch go to a second Reviewer. Fewer than that and it goes forward towards publication.

Some (including me) believe that Reviewers should review and not essentially reindex a whole batch. The reason is that the queue of batches already reviewed for a project is often half as long as the one for batches already indexed.

So, faced with a very badly indexed batch, I would return it for reindexing (and generally delete the indexed data to give the second Indexer a clean slate. (Batch>Reindex Batch). Correcting a reasonable number of errors is part of the Reviewer’s job; but approaching or crossing that 20% threshold IMO wastes at least one Reviewer’s time.

However, your review session of such a badly indexed batch can be can be an opportunity to give indirect corrective feedback to the a Indexer. If you go to Help>Labs and activate the “Reasons to Reindex” option, when you next select Batch>Reindex Batch, you will see an alternate form that allows you to alert Family Search about the issues with the batch. They will follow up with the Indexer - counseling, training or other action in the case of malicious behavior.

Be sure to refresh your Indexing browser window (Ctrl+R, or F5 or the curly arrow after you activate the Labs feature. You may find that the system “forget” that activation and you may need to do it again. Below Is the alternate form:

Colin Yamamoto_1

ok will do, Thank you so much for your help :)

RichardsonHelene1

I tried doing this with a badly indexed batch of an indexer who repeatedly makes these same mistakes. And when I chose reindex batch it didn't allow me to make comments and just sent it off. The indexer needs some serious help in Nederland, Noord-Holland, Amsterdam-Burgerlijke stand, overlijdens akte 1811-1950 [Deel D] [MM88-MV3 They don't know when a name is a patroniem and uses it as a middle name field, the use of wijlen as a name, not recognizing the death date, using blanks when not needed, etc.

Mirevo

Hello RichardsonHelene1 

You are saying that you chose Reindex and it did not allow you to make comments and it just sent it off.?

Make sure you have activated the Labs.

While on the batch click on Help, it will take you out of your batch to a new page, now there click on Labs, and click on it to successfully activate. Refresh the page.

Go back to your Batch and proceed to:

1. In the top menu, click Batch, and then, in the drop-down menu, click Re-index Batch, do not Return Batch because it will go with any other message- you would be returning the batch only. Click on Re Index batch to open more option to report your findings.
2. In the box that opens, indicate whether to keep or delete the data.
   • If many records are missing, but what’s there is correct, select Keep the indexed data.
   • If all or most of the information is incorrect or doesn’t match the image, select Delete the indexed data.
3. Click Return Batch for Re-indexing.

If you find another batch that need to be Reindexed, and it does not give you the options as the graph posted previously, please let us know. We have no heard of problems with this feature (Reindex batch), unless what is clicked is Return Batch- this function will not give you any message, the record goes away from your screen.

Let us know how it goes.

John Empoliti

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/384533#Comment_384533

You might have accidentally clicked on Batch>Return Batch, which sits just above Batch>Reindex Batch (see @Mirevo snip above). That immediately (with no warning) sends it back to the pool for another Reviewer to review. If you click Batch>Reindex Batch you should at least see a little box appear that asks if you want to keep or delete the indexed data. If your Labs activation doesn't "stick" the first time, try again. And, as I mentioned in my original comment:

Be sure to refresh your Indexing browser window (Ctrl+R, or F5 or the curly arrow after you activate the Labs feature. You may find that the system “forgets” that activation and you may need to do it again.