US, Missouri - County Marriages
https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/batch/13a25a9a-c9e8-43df-a8a6-8690c330bd77
This project has some different instructions for when a given field does not have corresponding information given. The Field Helps for Bride and Groom's age and parents say to Tab past this field if there is no information given. The other fields - reference number, Bride and Groom's names, and date of marriage - you mark <BLANK> by pressing Ctrl B. As we review, how important is it to follow these instructions exactly? Will both options essentially give the same results in the published record?
Answers
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You can only index the information that is available. So when there is no age, or no names for the parents, you have nothing to index. Since they are not required fields, you do not need to put a Blank in them. Required fields with an asterisk must have a some value in them or the batch cannot be submitted. But, if it is not a required field, the indexer is correct to tab over.
It is very important that we follow instructions exactly.
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You will notice that there are some fields that have an * (asterisk) next to the field name. The asterisk indicates that it is a required field, meaning that there has to be something in that field in order to submit the batch. So for those with the asterisk you will need to make sure that Ctrl B Blank is indicated in that field if there is no other information that can be put in that field. The other fields that do not have the asterisk can be left blank.
Hopefully this makes sense. If you have information (even if it is just Ctrl B) in all the asterisk fields then you can submit the batch. If not you will have to go back and put Ctrl B in those required fields before submitting.
Thank you for helping Index. That helps so many find records about their ancestors.
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Thank you both for your comments. My question as to whether either option will result in the same published info didn't get specifically answered. I know about the *'s and being required in order to submit a batch. Where the directions specifically say "If the age was not recorded or was written as a variation of the word "unknown," press Tab to skip this field." and the Indexer has used the Ctrl B option to mark the field <BLANK> - Will the published record be the same as if it was just tabbed over? I would think so but just wanted to clarify that since each of the batches I've so far opened for this project have the fields marked <BLANK>.
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Hi Judy Anne. Yes, <blank> and tabbing over result in the same outcome.
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